Louis Hensel Reproductions

Louis Hensel came to Hawley in 1878 and began his photography business in a small portable gallery. In 1882 he purchased property and built a studio with a skylight for natural lighting of his subjects. In his earliest years, Hensel spent a great deal of time taking landscape and exterior views of the Hawley and the surrounding areas. As his business grew, his studio and portrait work demanded more and more time. But through the years he managed to record views of passing history – the gravity railroads, the Wallenpaupack Creek before the dam was built, and other local sites. In July of 1887 Hawley was struck by one of the most disastrous fires in its history and Hensel’s studio was one of the many buildings totally destroyed. But by November he had rebuilt and reopened with what was called the largest and finest studio in the county. The negatives in the Hawley Library’s Hensel collection all date from 1987 to 1927 when Hensel died. The imaged demonstrate Hensel’s continuing commitment to record both the people and the places of northeastern Pennsylvania and let us see various aspects of the lives of those who lived in Wayne and Pike Counties just after the turn of the century.

Hawley Public Library has reproduced hundreds of pictures from Hensel’s original glass negatives. The pictures are available for viewing at the library during regular library hours. You may purchase copies of these reproductions which are printed on high-quality photographic paper and suitable for framing. Most pictures are black & white, but a few are available in color.

Louis Hensel

Main Street, Hawley, PA

Hawley Volunteer Fire Dept.

Camp Lenape

8 x 10                         Unmounted Black & White                         16.00
8 x 10                         Un mounted Color                                       20.00
15 x 24                       Un mounted Black & White                          45.00
15 x 24                       Un mounted Color                                        60.00
33 x 45                       Un mounted Black & White                          100.00
33 x 45                       Un mounted Color                                        120.00