Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania; History of Lancaster County Pennsylvania

1843. The history of Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, is recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this NEW 86 Page Booklet, reprinted primarily from four hard-to-find vintage books. The spiral-bound booklet is printed one-sided on 60# paper, with the print size adjusted to fit 8 1/2 x 11 paper. A vinyl sheet protects the front cover. Source books include: Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania (1843) by Sherman Day; An Illustrated History of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1876) by William Egle, M.D.; Pennsylvania, a Guide to the Keystone State compiled by WPA writers; and My Pennsylvania, a 1946 project of the Bureau of Publications, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (Some Information may be repeated in various excerpts, but often with a different slant or with additional details.) The communities mentioned include: Lancaster, Ephrata, Columbia, Adamstown, Reamstown, Akron, Oregon (formerly Catfish), Lampete, New Providence, Quarryville, Wakefield, Paradise, Bridgeport, Mountville, Marietta, Washington Boro, Safe Harbor, Landisville, Mount Joy, Blue Ball, Brickerville, Lititz, Manheim, Elizabethtown, Schaeffertown, and Donegal Church. The Day and Egle histories cover the early development of this area, while excerpts from the WPA book, give a nostalgic glimpse from a 1940 vantage point, including interesting historical notes, especially as they relate to sightseeing possibilities. There is occasionally some duplication of material, but often with a different slant or with additional details. Among the many and diverse subjects in the booklet are: Early Settlers: Mennonites, Lutherans, Quakers, Moravians, and Redemptioners (bond servants); News notes on legal disputes; Tavern Signs; a Look at the "Olden Days" (written in 1838); the Annual Fair where young men gave young ladies "Fairings"; "Ground Rents"; Meeting of Six Nations and 3 Governors; Murder of the Conestoga Indians by Paxton Men; Fries' Tavern, later known as the British Prison; Exciting tale of a Prison Break, complete with Spies, Ghosts and an Old Woman; Turnpike to Philadelphia, first road of its kind; the First Commercial Telegraph; Railroads; the Conestoga Navigation; Bios of Gov. Thomas Mifflin, Robert Fulton (steamboat inventor), Samuel Blunston, John Wright, Susannah Wright, Andrew Work, Baron Stiegel (glassmaker); James Mitchell, Lord James Annesley, Robert Barber, Bertram Galbraith and others; the first Ground Hog Day; Reminiscences of Columbia; Early Indian Picture Writing and Relics at Safe Harbor, White Friars Monastic Society at Ephrata and other interesting bits of history and trivia. The recently added excerpt from the fourth book includes a 1940s map of the county, several photos and a concise update of the county's progress as it looked shortly after World War II. ILLUSTRATIONS include: North Queen Street in Lancaster (full page); Columbia; Public Square in Lititz; Brothers and Sisters Houses at Ephrata; Old Court House at Lancaster; Franklin and Marshal College; Lancaster County Court House; Lancaster City High School; Lancaster County Soldiers Monument; Monument of Thaddeus Stevens; Town Hall and Locust St. in Columbia; Wright's Ferry Mansion; Spring and Walk at Lititz; Rock Inscriptions at Safe Harbor; State Normal School, Millersville; and New Lancaster County Hospital. . Limited Edition Reprint. Spiral/Comb . New/No Jacket. 8.5" x 11". Private Press.