John M. Hart Jr., the son of the late John and Berniece Gilmartin Hart, who founded and served as the publisher of The Dunmorean and TheDunmorean.com, for the past 30 years, passed away unexpectedly on August 23rd in Scranton. He was a longtime resident of Scranton, PA, but was born and raised in the city of Carbondale. A product of Carbondale’s public school system, he graduated in 1971 from Benjamin Franklin High School and pursued further studies at the University of Scranton, earning degrees in history and English from the institution in 1975-76.

While in college in 1973, he accepted a position as a neighborhood reporter with the former Scrantonian-Tribune. Hart remained with the newspaper for 13 years, serving in nearly every editorial role, including the position of night city editor. In early 1983, Hart became deeply involved in a community effort to establish the world’s largest steam railroading museum in Scranton – Steamtown. 

After successfully leading a $2 million public fund-raising campaign, he joined the museum’s board of trustees and later rose to the positions of executive director and chief operating officer. During this period, in 1986, Hart initiated contact with elected officials in Washington and Harrisburg to develop the museum into a national park. In late 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the Steamtown National Historic Park Act into law, allocating $88 million to establish Steamtown as the nation’s newest historic site. 

The National Park Service honored Hart as the linchpin in the establishment of the historic site. Concurrently, he was appointed by the Lackawanna County Commissioners to a task force aimed at preserving freight railroad service in the county. Later, he played a pivotal role in founding and served as the inaugural chairman of the Lackawanna County Railroad Authority, which oversees freight service in Lackawanna, Wayne, and Monroe Counties, safeguarding numerous local jobs to this day.

After his tenure at Steamtown, Hart ventured into the private sector, establishing a commercial printing business in the city. Following the acquisition of one of his competitors, he rekindled his involvement in journalism, creating several community newspapers, including The Dunmorean, which continues to serve the borough of Dunmore today.

His first wife of 26 years, the former Mary Margaret (“Meg”) Holland, passed away in 2005 and they had two children: Elizabeth Mary McDonald, a clinical dietitian with Geisinger Community Medical Center, and John M. Hart III, Esq., the owner of Hart Law and a solicitor for the City of Scranton. His second wife of 16 years, the former Maureen Garcia-Pons, currently serves as the editor of The Dunmorean.

Beyond his business pursuits, Hart founded and commanded GAR Post II, Camp 299, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) in the Union League of Philadelphia. He also held the position of past commander at Griffin Camp 8 in Scranton and was the founder and former commander of the Delaney DeLacy Guard, Sons of Veterans Reserve, also located in Scranton. He received the Distinguished Service Medal of the Sons of Veterans Reserve twice, along with a Unit Citation Medal for his community service. He was a two-time recipient of the SUVCW Benjamin Stephenson Award.

Hart was a past president of The Scranton Club and member of the Union League of Philadelphia. During his tenure as president of the Scranton Club, he was credited with preserving the club’s future during a period of uncertainty. He held a genuine fondness for youth and progress, attributing the club’s survival to increased involvement from younger generations.

He also contributed to the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) finance committee, aiding in the development of the national antique automobile museum, which opened in 2003 in Hershey, PA. Additionally, he served as the president of the Scranton Region of the Antique Automobile Club. Alongside his membership in the SUVCW, national and local AACA, he belonged to The Confederation of Union Generals, a living history organization, and sat on its Board of Directors. He was also affiliated with The Newspaper Guild, The International Federation of Journalists, and the Columbia Hose Co. of his hometown, Carbondale.

In addition to his extensive involvement in various clubs and organizations, John M. Hart Jr. was acclaimed for his diverse collections. Many visitors to his home found delight in his expansive miniature toy soldier dioramas, diecast cars, and model trains. He also had a penchant for collecting unique hats, pipes, canes, bow ties, and various other curiosities. Drawing from his historical background, he held a deep admiration for historical figures and even took on the roles of General Winfield Scott and Winston Churchill. He was also the co-founder of the local Diogenes Society, a small organization that paid tribute to Sherlock Holmes.

Hart’s life was guided by his father’s final words to “leave the world better than you found it,” a principle he successfully and enthusiastically embraced. He took up the cause of erecting several monuments in Scranton and Gettysburg, PA, firmly believing that a thorough understanding of history served as a cornerstone for the successful future of the community.

Among his many accomplishments, Hart was most renowned for his captivating stories, earning him widespread appreciation throughout the community as a skilled and beloved storyteller.

Survived by his wife, children, and three grandchildren—Padraig Liam McDonald, John Martin Hart IV, and Jameson Maxim Hart—John M. Hart Jr. also leaves behind a son-in-law, Marcus McDonald, a daughter-in-law, Hannah Thebarge Hart, a stepdaughter Rebecca Garcia Pons, her partner B.J. Wallace, and an “adopted” son Michael Masucci. He is also survived by numerous McGraw cousins in Carbondale, whom he cherished as his brothers and sisters.

For those who would like to honor Hart’s memory in a lasting way, the family has decided that a fitting tribute to his enduring legacy is to  support a cause he was truly passionate about. In recognition of his significant charitable contributions to the community, donations can be made to the Hart Free Library Fund, c/o 1175 Morel Str., Scranton, PA 18509. This fund will be used for much-needed  renovations to the iconic phone booth, ensuring that the Little Free Library remains a beacon of knowledge and community spirit for years to come.