At noon on July 27, 1906, the Atglen & Susquehanna Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad officially…
Category: Local History
In the News: Hidden history of Lancaster County’s Shenks Ferry nature preserve – ABC27
I recently had the pleasure of giving ABC27 journalist Avery Van Etten a guided tour of…
In the News: George Washington visits Lancaster on Independence Day 1791 – Lancaster Connects
I recently had the pleasure of again doing the "Local History Nugget" segment for Lancaster Connects.…
White Chimneys: Celebrating 300 Years of American History
Joining the Hans Herr House, another Lancaster County institution—White Chimneys—recently joined the 300 club. To celebrate,…
In the News: ‘Devil Dave’ Miller – The Lancaster Sheriff Who Helped His Prisoners Escape – Lancaster Connects
With the approaching holiday of #Juneteenth, I enjoyed doing the "Local History Nugget" segment for Lancaster…
Could Marie Warenbuer Ferree’s grave be the oldest in Lancaster County?
Could Mary Ferree's grave be the oldest tombstone in Lancaster County? If it is, in fact,…
Meet ‘Devil Dave’ Miller: The Colorful Sheriff of Lancaster County
One of the expectations for the local sheriff is that he put people in jail, not…
Curious carvings on Conestoga Boulevard
Mystery abounds in Lancaster County, especially the closer you get to the Susquehanna. A short distance…
Visiting Safe Harbor’s petroglyphs during a low water event
Last week, I had a once-a-year opportunity to venture out to see the petroglyphs at Safe…
Soldiers and Sailors Monument: honoring America’s veterans
It's Memorial Day. Located in the heart of Penn Square is Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Original…
The History of Lancaster County’s Borders
Happy Birthday, Lancaster County! It was on this day, May 10, in 1729 that Lancaster County…
Canassatego and the Great Seal of the United States
I recently had the opportunity to speak to the second graders at Lafayette Elementary about Native…
Christopher Franciscus: the Daniel Boone of Lancaster County
Kentucky had Daniel Boone, Lampeter had Christopher Franciscus. Learn more about the pioneering character who wrestled…
Side Quest: Marietta’s Mystery Monument – ‘Speak, friend, and enter.’
It doesn't get any better than this: enigmatic petroglyphs with possible secret society connections hidden on…
16 Roads, Bridges, and Places worth knowing about in Lancaster County
If you love old maps like I do, then you will enjoy this one from 1978…
1978 map of Lancaster County’s creeks, towns, and hills
If you love old maps like I do, then you will enjoy this one from 1978…
Baumgardner’s Mill: Grinding out property disputes, sabotage, and foul play
Today Baumgardner's Mill sits quietly along Covered Bridge Road in Pequea Township. But more than 100…
Southeast view of the City of Lancaster in 1978
If you love old maps like I do, then you will enjoy this one from 1978…
Take a trip back in time with this historic canoeing guide to the Conestoga
In 1976 the Conestoga Valley Association created a detailed canoeing guide to the historic Conestoga that…
Where did Lake Aldred get its name?
Located on the Susquehanna between Safe Harbor and Holtwood lies the 2,400-acre body of water known…