South Sterling: Peggy Bancroft Hall and Haag’s Mill Bridge

South Sterling brings together two distinct historical interests for a trip: Peggy Bancroft Hall and Museum and Haag’s Mill Bridge. The museum focuses on a historic building and several exhibit areas; the bridge also tells the story of former milling activity. When planning your trip, it is important to check the museum’s visitor information and event dates.

Peggy Bancroft Hall: Museum and Exhibits

Peggy Bancroft Hall and Museum was built in 1904 by the Patriotic Order Sons of America of South Sterling. Peggy Bancroft Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum complex includes a museum on the second floor, a barn with agricultural exhibits, an ice house exhibit, an outbuilding, and an original root cellar. So, in addition to the museum, the site includes exhibits related to agriculture and other historic building features.

Specific conditions apply to visits: Peggy Bancroft Hall is open from April through November during scheduled events and by appointment. Group tours of the museum buildings are also available by appointment. Check the annual events calendar for your trip and arrange a group tour in advance.

The Greene-Dreher Historical Society is also located in South Sterling. It is one of Wayne County’s six major museums and places the site in a broader historical context within the county.

Haag’s Mill Bridge and Milling History

Haag’s Mill Bridge was completed in 1873 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Two information panels have been installed on either side of the bridge in South Sterling. The site of the bridge is also associated with Haag Gristmill, which operated until the 1920s. The bridge’s construction history and the mill’s former use are therefore both part of the site’s historical story.

The two sites offer different areas of interest: Peggy Bancroft Hall takes you through the museum and its agricultural exhibits to the buildings in the complex; at Haag’s Mill Bridge, information panels add to the story of the structure and the mill. If you are interested in a particular subject, this can help you decide what kind of local history you want to focus on during your visit, without assuming that the two sites form a single sightseeing route.

Events and Seasonal Offerings

The annual July Open House takes place at Peggy Bancroft Hall and Museum in South Sterling. The 2025 edition included tours of the historic museum and outbuildings. The annual Halloween program “Grave Matters” was scheduled to take place at Peggy Bancroft Hall in South Sterling in 2026. Check the date and program details again for any later edition.

The 2026 Harvest Open House program includes tours of the museum and, weather permitting, access to the barn and outbuildings. Offerings for this edition include homemade fruit jams and jellies, freshly made quick breads, and soups to go. These food offerings are specific to the 2026 edition; later programs may differ.

The annual Jam & Jelly Day also offers a date to plan around: at the October 11, 2025 edition, homemade jams and jellies in a wide variety of flavors were offered for sale. If you are interested, check the dates and offerings for the relevant edition. Wallenpaupack Creek Farm in South Sterling also has a ceremony area along Wallenpaupack Creek. This is part of a private event offering, not a general public park amenity.

If you want to plan your hotel stay around a particular event, start by checking its visitor requirements and date. At Peggy Bancroft Hall, this means planning for a scheduled event or arranging a group tour in advance; the Open Houses and seasonal offerings mentioned have their own program conditions. You can then search for accommodations based on your travel dates.

Explore more destinations: Bushkill, Matamoras, Tafton

For the main travel overview: Pike.