I recently acquired three 1907 McCalls Ferry Dam (now called Holtwood) postcards. Being a firm believer…
Category: Local History
Lock 12 Historic Area
I recently came into possession of an out-of-print booklet published by Holtwood LLC detailing the Lock…
In the News: ‘Mysterious Rock Art Island Of The Susquehanna River’ with TopoRanger
In August, YouTuber Topo Ranger and I journeyed out to see the petroglyphs of the Susquehanna…
Seeking information about Private Earl J. Lynn from 1921
When you own a property as old as the Drumore Mill, it is not uncommon to…
Meet Hannah Hetherley, the ‘pow-wowing’ witch doctor know as the ‘Sorceress of Lititz’
In 1879, a rag-tag group of Christmas day-born treasure hunters led by the "Sorceress of Lititz"…
Rediscover the almost-forgotten Pequea Magnetic Ore Mine deep in the heart of Horse Hollow
Deep in the heart of Horse Hollow, spanning both sides of the Pequea Creek lies a…
Forgotten Places: Conestoga Centre’s Horse Hollow
Forgotten Places: Conestoga Centre's Horse Hollow. Did the Union Army really herd reserve horses there during…
LiDAR imagery reveals the site of Mt. Gretna’s proposed Maximum Security Prison
In October 1938, workers broke ground near Mt. Gretna to build an escape-proof maximum security prison.…
The Beautiful Drumore Mill: Home to the Peach Bottom Slate waterfall, former Civil War lookout, and underground railroad stop
Discover the magically retreat known as The Drumore Mill on Harmony. This 30-acre property nestled among…
Susquehanna pastimes at the River View Hotel in Pequea
It's hard to imagine today, but the now sleepy village of Pequea once entertained tourists from…
LiDAR imagery of Safe Harbor reveals razed ghost town
Prepare to have your mind blown because I recently gained access to LiDAR imagery of Lancaster…
Ice Found on the Susquehanna…in August!
Imagine finding a giant chunk of ice nearly five feet in length in the Susquehanna. Not…
On this Day in History: Enola Low Grade officially opened in a section called the “Deep Cut”
At noon on July 27, 1906, the Atglen & Susquehanna Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad officially…
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…