At its founding, Lancaster was English in name only. Had you walked down the streets of…
Tag: Lancaster
Haunted Lancaster: Christopher Franciscus and the Hungry Wolf
With urban sprawl spreading across the county, it is easy to forget there was a time…
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…
Mr. Washington Goes to Lancaster
It's Presidents' Day! As such, we celebrate the life of George Washington. But did you know…
Enjoy the 40-page 1929 City of Lancaster Comprehensive Plan
Enjoy the 40-page 1929 City of Lancaster Comprehensive Plan. It's data analysis and policies guided the…
Peruse the 1976 edition of the ‘Watt & Shand Employee Handbook’
At this year’s The Friends of the Lancaster Public Library book sale, I came into possession…
View the only contemporary image of Lancaster’s first “real” courthouse
View the only contemporary image of Lancaster's first “real” courthouse in this 1757 sketch by Nicolaus…
Lancaster Central Market: The oldest, continuously running public farmers’ market in the country
Lancaster Central Market is the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the United States with fresh…
Sehner-Ellicott-von Hess House: Home to the surveyor who helped define America
Today, 123 North Prince Street houses the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County, but in the…
The American Revolution comes to Lancaster
When did the American Revolution begin for Lancaster? June 15, 1774.
‘Spanish Flu’ in Lancaster
COVID-19 isn't the first pandemic to strike Lancaster. In 1918, "Spanish Flu" exacted its toll on…
Lancaster’s surprising royal connection
Pop Quiz: What connection does King George, Queen Caroline, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke…
Lititz answers the call of freedom; becomes a hospital town for Revolutionary War wounded
For eight months in 1778, the town of Lititz served as a hospital caring for hundreds…
America’s first documented Christmas tree was here in Lancaster
Many of America's Yuletide customs were brought to Pennsylvania by European immigrants. Of them, a various…
The surprising message of Lancaster’s first commercial telegraph
Lancaster was home to the first commercial telegraph in 1846 after Morse's successful proof of concept…
This Lancaster bookworm has been reading the newspaper daily for 40 years
Lancaster's metallic bookworm has been reading the newspaper daily for nearly 40 years. But how much…
Haunted Lancaster: All aboard! The Rock Point Tunnel Railroad Ghost
Even if you don't believe in ghosts, Chickies Rock is a place of death. At least…
Haunted Lancaster: The Laughing Ghost of Gonder Mansion
Behind the walls of the Strasburg's most beautiful home lies a dark secret. More than 100…
Death by Dynamite: The 1906 Shenks Ferry TNT factory explosion obliterates 11 men
Here's a tale of the macabre detailing the worst accident in Lancaster County history. On June…
Hang’em High! The macabre history of public hangings in Lancaster
Almost as soon as people started living in Pennsylvania, we started executing them. Lancaster's first hanging…