‘Strange Tales from the Southern End’ at the Quarryville Library

Join local historian Adam Zurn on October 22, 2026, at Quarryville Library Center for a free presentation, “Strange Tales from the Southern End.” Discover eerie legends and unexplained mysteries of Southern Lancaster County, including ghostly guardians and haunting stories that reveal a captivating yet unsettling past.

What if some of Lancaster County’s strangest and most unsettling stories were hiding in your own backyard?

From a mysterious face that has watched travelers for more than a century to restless spirits guarding buried treasure along the Susquehanna, Southern Lancaster County is filled with eerie legends, forgotten tragedies, and unexplained mysteries.

On Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., join local historian and Uncharted Lancaster founder Adam Zurn at the Quarryville Library Center for Strange Tales from the Southern End.

This free, one-hour presentation explores the darker side of the Southern End, blending documented history, eyewitness accounts, and local folklore into an entertaining journey through the region’s haunted past.

When: Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Quarryville Library Center, 357 Buck Road, Quarryville, PA 17566
Admission: Free, but registration is required.

Prepare to encounter ghostly guardians, mysterious creatures, and strange curiosities that have captivated generations of Southern Lancaster County residents. Some stories are eerie, others are downright bizarre, but all reveal a fascinating side of Southern Lancaster County’s past that many residents have never encountered. Featured tales include:

The Haunting of Shenks Ferry
In the quiet valley of Shenks Ferry, the ghosts of a forgotten dynamite factory and its tragic explosions still linger. Beneath the cliffs, old tunnels whisper with memories of workers lost to fire and smoke. Some say an even older spirit stalks those woods—a wendigo-like creature that watches from the shadows, especially when the wind carries the smell of sulfur.

Safe Harbor’s Spectral Guardian
Along the Susquehanna River near Safe Harbor lies a story of hidden treasure guarded by a seven-foot-tall Native American ghost. Sightings of this towering figure have terrified generations of treasure hunters who dared to search for the fabled gold. Whether he protects sacred ground or cursed riches, one thing is certain: no one leaves Safe Harbor without a story to tell.

The Head in the Window on Carter’s Hill
For nearly 130 years, a pale, expressionless face has stared from the third-floor window of an old brick house along Route 222 in southern Lancaster County. According to legend, it belongs to a heartbroken Civil War widow who waited endlessly for her husband to return from battle, even after learning of his death. But the truth behind the mysterious head is just as strange. Some believe removing it brings terrible misfortune, leaving generations of travelers wondering what really watches from the window on Carter’s Hill.

You may have driven these roads, explored these woods, or passed these historic places countless times without realizing the strange stories connected to them. After this presentation, you might never look at the Southern End quite the same way again.

The presentation takes place Thursday, October 22, at 6:00 p.m. at the Quarryville Library Center, 357 Buck Road, Quarryville. Admission is free, but space is limited and registration is required. Reserve your seat today!