USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Maytown > Bicentennial celebration, July 1, 2, 3, 4, 1960 : Maytown, Pennsylvania, Lancaster County, 1760-1960 > Part 6
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When the Columbia bridge was burned during the Civil War, refugees, fleeing the guns of Gettys- burg, brought their families, belongings, and cov- eted teams to the many ferries along the river; and one of the most important was Vinegar Ferry leading to the asylume of the Maytown district. Even later in 1900 plus, families who owned cot- tages on the York County side took their belong- ings via Vinegar Ferry Road across by pole-pro- pelled flat boats, there at the landing to be met by team and wagon to transport their summer equip- ment to the respective sites. Many a politician also went quietly through Maytown to the ferry for rendezvous with others at famed Wild Cat Inn.
The "Road to the River" also was a local com- mercial trail, for in those days the river teamed with fish, and especially when the shad were run- ning, Maytown natives secured great hauls which were salted down, barrelled for personal use or shipped out, adding to the village's economy.
51
Then
BAND RALL
Band Hall
Now
MERVIN S. ARNOLD
=
IHHH
Guff
Same building remodeled
Right-angling from Vinegar Ferry Road at the edge of Maytown is the one to Bainbridge, Fal- mouth, and, thence, to Harrisburg. This too was an early road and most logically would have been the one previously mentioned to Carlisle Barracks. Pioneer trails or roads were routed along water- ways for man and beast had to drink, and many of the trail blazers didn't blaze, they just followed the ways and means of their smart predecessors, the Indians. Old Peter undoubtedly had his sturdy hand in opening this road also when he took up the 700 acres for his wife, Martha.
A road from Maytown to Elizabethtown was laid out by Barnabas Hughes and named for his wife in 1751. It was over this road that news from Carlisle came in 1755 of the disaster Braddock's forces had sustained in the attack on Fort Du- quesne, ( Pittsburgh).
The road to Marietta became a "turnpike," not at all in today's sense of the word, but designated so as a toll road. The road to Florin (called Cen- terville as late as 1875) and on to Mt. Joy was
part of the network of "Old Peter's Roads." It wound through the countryside, lending its accent to the history of Donegal Church and the patriots who gathered at the Witness Tree. (According to Mr. H. Roy Nissły, of Florin, who was a supervisor in 1915, this road from Maytown, pasi Donegal Church and into Florin was the first oil-bound road out of Maytown.)
Roads are vital, living symbols of the dim past, the present, the future. They are tied in irrevocably with the settlement and expansion even survival -of cominunities and country. From the crudest trails to stone-filled rutted, muddy, dusty or snow- bound, according to the seasons, roads were an every day part of the lives of the indomitable pio- neers who carved for themselves a new life in a new land, and they too necessarily progressed in improvement as generation followed generation.
The horse gave way to the horseless carriage, and roads had to parallel this progress. But the history of their origin, during the growing pains of the country and its settlements, belongs to the ages.
MAYTOWN BAND HALL by Catharine Clepper Simons
Do you remember the many festivals held in the old Band Hall when we ate delicious home- made ice cream and chicken corn soup, 5 and 10 cent plates ?
All the activities of the town centered here.
Plays, suppers, banquets, high school commence- ment, alumni, Lyceum, elections, Farmers' Insti- tute and basket ball games.
Not to be forgotten are the concerts by the band and band practice which the public was free
BAND
Back row: Clinton Longenecker, Christian Peck, Andrew Albright, Dr. G. A. Harter, Fred Peck, Charles Roath
Middle row: William Worral (Bandmaster) Irvin Masterson, Unknown, Frank Kraybill, Charles Barn- hart, Thomas Loucks, George Glattacker, George Welchans, Kaiser Markley
Kneeling: North Loucks, Charles Henderson, Harlan Buller, Moses Snyder, Claude Buller
53
to enjoy.
Very little is known of the early history of the building on South River Street. It was used as the Methodist Church and later as the town's general store, operated by Henry Fletcher.
We believe it was purchased by the band about 1888 because expense accounts for years '84, '85, 86 and '87 show payments for rent to J. Shaffner.
November 19, 1929, the Citizen's Cornet Band sold the hall to Elmer G. Strickler, who at great expense remodeled the building, at a cost of $3,500. The glass front made a beautiful show- room for Chevrolet and Buick cars.
In 1932 Mr. Strickler sold it to Mervin Arnold who built a garage in the rear.
Old Home week records show the hall decor- ated for the occasion, 50 years ago.
E. B. Grove has in his possession the deed to the Maytown Armory purchased by the trustees of the Maytown Infantry from Dr. A. D. Brene- man the 29th day of May, 1859, on West High Street.
On the 6th day of January, 1872, a charter was granted to the Maytown Hall Association to re- model, refit, and improve the Old Maytown Arni- ory Hall for holding lectures, exhibitions, etc.
Through the kindness of H. P. Frank, Jr., we had access to the band minute books from 1871 to 1913.
Minutes of November 3, 1872 stated "we met in Armory to practice" showing the Armory Hall was being used.
The Band Hall was owned by the Maytown Band, who were known for their good music and of whom the town was very proud. Some quotes from their minutes arc:
1873-For a serenade we get $2.
1874-Members fined 25c for absence from prac- tice.
Inside Band Hall
1882-Fellow that gets dry, bring water.
1882 -Put key where member that comes first can get in Band room.
1882-We pay 10c a man to get measured for suits.
1885-Dues 10c a month.
1885-Every person has his horn brightened.
1885-We all help R. F. Markley butcher tomor- row.
1885-We put on only caps to play at Bainbridge.
1901-Articles received from R. F. Markley, coats, caps, pants, helmets, deed to prop- erty.
1910-Give Dr. Harter the right to pay all bills contracted by Band during Old Home week.
1913-Basketball games be discontinued in Hall.
BICENTENNIAL CHORUS
Marilyn Fink, Chairman
Margaret Frank, Co-Chairman
Members of the Chorus
Miriam Acri, Mabel Arnold, Glen Arnold, Dale L. Andrews, John Adams, Sandy Barnhart, Margueritc Beatty, Wilbur Brubaker, Vesta Charles, Hoffman Charles, Patrick Chankshaw, Avis Cross, Ruth Drager, Beryl Drace.
Dottie Engle, Sharon Enroughty, David Greer, Adamı Greer, Frances Greer, Harold Gerber, Martha Gerber, Anna Mae Gable, Miriam Greider, Nancy Gable, Har- rison Gingerich, Helen Good, Nancy Hertzler, Mary Hoffman, Joseph Hollenbaugh, James Houseal.
Pattie Hollinger, Dorothy Johns, Robert Linard, Mil- dred Mohr, Joyce P. Miller, Rufus Miller, Daniel A. Mowrer, Elsa Mowrer, Clifford Morrison, Ruth New- comer, Joyce Newcomer, Dorothy Nissley, Gerald A Nellenbach, Mildred Peifer, Estella Prescott.
Walter J. Prescott, Ann Reuter, Jane Roland, Beu- lah Smith, Barbara Seaman, Marilyn Strominger, Ann Shank, Vera Stokes, Charles Shank. JoAnn Shank, Janics Shank, Bruce Smith, Ronald Singer, Henrietta Trostle, Doris Weidman, Henry Weidman, Sara Weaver, Miriam Watto, Sylvia Warfel, Goldie Yordy, Carol Zeigler.
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CLIPPINGS
June 20th 1877
A Treat for Maytown-A number of the citizens of Maytown being informned by Hon. Simon Cameron that the distinguished ex-Senator purposed entertaining the citizens of his native place by a grand picnic at his resi- dence, Donegal Springs, on the fourth of July, a meeting was called on Saturday evening last to make arrange- ments for the event. The meeting was organized by appointing Mr. J. S. Roath, Chairman, and Mr. H. A. Haines, Secretary.
The object of the meeting was stated, and the follow- ing committees were then appointed:
On Finance-M. M. Hoffman, Dr. M. M. Wither;, Joseph L. Brant, David Grove.
Flour and Groceries - James B. Henderson, R. F. Markley, Jesse Klugh, Vincent Wilson, John H. Houseal.
Beef-Henry Houseal, J. S. Roath, Abram Geltmacher. Ice Cream-C. M. Peck, Frank Johnson, Solon Z. Landis, H. S. Book, John A. Eagle.
Butter-Christ Longenecker, Cyrus Sherbohn, W. H. Englen, John Hays, S. F. Albright, John Markley.
Small Beer-Henry Houseal, Henry Johnston, A. Mor- ton, Henry Haines, Sr.
Lemonade-Jacob Heistand, F. P. Houseal, John P. Albright, John Hoffman, John Brown, Abel Houseal.
Tables-Jacob C. Murray, N. Reikard, John L. Hayes, W. W. Henderson, Samuel Griffith, G. Longenecker, Samuel Sload, John Diblen, George Warner, G. H. Hen- derson, Cameron Albright, B. Rombach, Albert Clepper.
Teams-Ellis Eckman, Jacob C. Murray, Frank Al- bright, Samuel G. Pence, Henry E. Longenecker, David Henderson.
Managers of Grounds-H. A. Haines, Henry Bowman. Henry Terry, H. Beschler, John Johnston, John Bullen, John Beschler, F. A. Houseal, F. P. Houseal, Thos. Shaffner, William Fisher, Samuel Welchans, J. Hender- son, Jr., William Bance, George Gladtaker, Henry Ken- dig, Frank P. Geltmaker, Charles Murray, William Mc- Clure, Lewis Hall, William Brown, Samuel Dreben- stadt, W. W. Bullen.
The invitation, it was stated, was exclusively for the entire population of Maytown, and of course, such guests as the General might see fit to invite.
June 1877
Another Treat by Ex-Senator Cameron. A corre. spondent furnishes the following account of a banquet given by Hon. Simon Cameron on Thanksgiving day:
Mr. Editor- One of the grandest social and festal gathering that took place on the late Thanksgiving day, and that thus rendered that day a memorable occasion to the people of Maytown, was the brilliant and sump- tuous hanquet given to the citizens of said place by the whole-souled fellow-feeling and lavish hospitality of ex- Senator Simon Cameron. He is ever trying to make the young feel happy and gay; and his merry disposition and conversation made this occasion one of unusual de- light. The benefit was to be given to Mr. Geo. Boyer, proprietor of the oldest and leading hotel Elizabeth- town. The guests having assembled at Maytown at about eleven o'clock, therefore stepped into private conveyances and drove to Elizabethtown where the banquet was given. They arrived at their destination about one o'clock. Having spent the intervening time in a pleasant social chat; at three o'clock the guests were conducted to the dining-room where was placed before them the most magnificent and sumptuous feast - the choicest and rarest lavish hospitality could afford. But the table was as elegantly decorated as it was pro- fusely loaded. Not only was the occasion hugely enjoyed
by all, but it deserved and won the heartfelt gratitude of all present.
This praiseworthy act was but another evidence of the ex-Senator's sincere sympathy and hospitality, prov- ing himself, again, as ever, the man of the people. Long will he be remembered and revered by the people of Maytown.
February 2, 1878
Republican Primary Election came off in Maytown for East Donegal township officers. It was the liveliest "setting day" known to politicians of the present time and a large crowd was constantly in attendance. The following is the full vote for each candidate:
Assessor
Frank Paulus* 135
William Buller
130
Enos Engle 29
John A. Garter
28
Supervisors
William Portner* 198
Horace Gladfelter* 162
William Kinard 124
Amos Lehman 82
School Directors
Henry S. Musser* 272
F. U. Gantz* 148
Ephraim Nissley 118
John Shank 92
Justice of the Peace
Solomon B. Epler, by acclamation.
Constable
Silas Spiese*
127
Jacob Bostick 39
Those marked with an (*) were nominated.
The following were nominated by acclamation: Auditor- John Musser.
Township Clerk-Daniel B. Nissley.
Judge- Solon Landis.
Inspector-John G. Engle.
1895
School Appointments
Last Tuesday the following teachers were appointed in East Donegal township:
Maytown High School-D. W. Wilder
Maytown Grammar-Ezra Briner
Maytown Intermediate-Miss Sue Beck
Maytown 2nd Primary-Miss M. Yetter.
Maytown Ist Primary-Miss Bell Shetter
Fairview-Miss Martha Oherholtzer
Donegal -- Gabriel Root
Rock Point-Joseph Strickler
Curtin-Miss Anna McCleary
Lincoln Grammar-I. O. Fry; Assistant, Miss Lanra Beck
Furnace-Principal, C. G. Miller; Assistant, Miss Mary Shall
Union -- Principal. A. B. Root; Assistant, Miss M. Herring
Florin-Principal, C. G. Hunter; Assistant, Miss Katie Witmer
February 2, 1878
Democratic Primary in Maytown-The Democrats of East Donegal township held their nomination election
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on Saturday evening and selected the following: Assessor-Joseph Shireman.
School Directors-M. S. Moore and Joseph Schle- gichmilch.
Supervisor-William Haines and Ellis Eckman. Justice of the Peace-Joseph L. Brandt. Auditor-David Grove. Judge-Vincent Wilson. Inspector-Franklin P. Houseal. Constable-George P. Grosh.
July 15, 1876
Gift by General Cameron-The dwelling house of the late Daniel K. Heisey in Maytown was sold on Saturday last by David M. Eyer, Executor, to General Simon Cameron for $1710. We understand that it is the intention of General Cameron to present this build- ing to the Lutheran Church of Maytown to be used as a parsonage. The dwelling stands upon the spot on which stood the house in which the General was born, and he therefore feels an interest in the property. This is a munificent gift to the Maytown church, and we have no doubt the members will highly appreciate it.
July 20, 1877
TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS-At the meeting of the School Directors after the examination on Tuesday last, the following were elected as teachers of the East Done- gal schools:
Donegal-J. D. Tuckey.
Union- Principal, J. H. Martin; Asst., Kate Druck- enmiller.
Washington-Principal, Mary E. Buckwalter; Asst., Zady Witmer.
Curtin-J. H. F. Hendricks.
Furnace-John Albright. Fairview-Jos. Foultz. Rock Point-J. F. Johnson.
Franklin-Principal, C. M. Peck; Asst. Kate W. Tay- lor.
Maytown High School-Jos. Brandt. Maytown Primary-Harry McCully. Maytown Secondary- not filled. Lincoln High School-Wm. Greist. Lincoln Secondary -- Principal, not filled; Asst., Laura Beck.
The vacancies will be filled at the next meeting of the School Directors, August 4.
January 19th 1878
Maytown Hall Co .- The annual election for officers of the Maytown Hall Co., was held on Saturday last, when the following were chosen:
President-Simon Cameron.
Vice President David Shutter. Secretary-John L. Jacobs. Treasurer-David Grove. Trustees-John G. Hoerner, Abram Martin, M. M. Hoffman, John A. Garber, John Farmer.
January 19, 1878
"Among The Breakers." - The High School of May- town, assisted by some of the young ladies and gentle- men of that place, will repeat the play of the piece en- titled "Among The Breakers," which they performed so well in Maytown a few weeks ago. The actors are all young people who have not devoted a great deal of time in training for the stage, but perform. as well as
many we have seen who make acting a business. We feel certain that all who go will feel well paid for their trouble. In addition to the acting the Marietta Orches- tra will be present and favor the audience with several selections. The Orchestra performance alone will be worth the price of admission as their music is of a high order, and they play well. The play will be held in Engle's Hall, Mount Joy, this Saturday evening, January 19th, 1878.
February 2, 1878
THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION IN EAST DONEGAL - The nomination election of the Repub- licans of East Donegal township comes off to-day at one o'clock at the old school house in Maytown. There will be to select 1 assessor, 2 school directors, 2 supervisors, 1 township clerk, 1 auditor and 1 constable. The follow- ing persons have been named for the various offices: Wil- liam Bullard, John A. Garber and Frank Paulus, for as- sessor; for School Directors, F. U. Gantz, John Shank, Henry S. Musser and Ephraim Nissley; for Supervisors, Horace Glatfelter, Amos Lehman, W. Portner and Wm. Kinard; for Clerk, Daniel B. Nissley; for Audi- tor, Christian Reesor. In addition to the above, a Jus- tice of the Peace is to be chosen in place of H. E. Al- bert, removed to another State. Mr. S. F. Albright is the only one we have heard named for this position who will accept.
July 4th, 1876
General Cameron's Picnic-Ex-Senator Cameron hav- ing invited all the citizens of Maytown, together with a number of personal friends and old acquaintances in the vicinity, to spend the Fourth with him at his resi- dence at Donegal, an assemblage variously estimated at from six to eight hundred persons availed themselves of the General's invitation, and had a jolly good time together. The ex-Senator was in his happiest mood, and did his best to make his numerous friends feel at home. The tables were abundantly supplied with the best of everything necessary to the comforts of the inner man, and to which the company did ample justice. After din- ner the Rev. J. V. Eckert read the Declaration of Inde- pendence, and General Cameron gave a sketch of his life from the time he left Maytown in his boyhood to the present. In the course of his remarks he said he had long had a desire to buy the old church farm, on which his grandfather was a tenant, and that when he bought the "Watson farm," his present home, he thought he was buying it; but he has since learned that only 15 acres of the farm on which his grandfather lived are in- cluded in his recent purchase. His grandfather, he said, came to this country with an old Scotch preacher named McFarquhar, who was stationed for a time at Donegal church.
The General at the age of seventy-eight still retains the vigor and executive ability for which he was ever remarkable, and considering the stock from which he is descended, the Camerons of Lochiel on one side, and the Frazers of Lovat on the other, two of the most daring and enterprising of the Scottish clans, one may readily account for the combination of elements that has made the General play so conspicuous a part in the politics of his native state, and in the government of the country.
The gathering at Donegal would doubtless serve to revive some of the boyhood scenes of the veteran Statesman. A joke is told at the expense of his son Don, which is characteristic of Simon.
Some time before the party, Don said to his father: "Well, I don't know whether I will come down to your party or not." The old man said: "You'd better wait till you get an invitation. You ain't a Donegaler." Don wasn't there.
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DONEGAL HISTORY
INTERESTING STATISTICS OF EARLY MARI- ETTA AND DONEGAL - HOW OUR BOROUGH WAS NAMED.
Samuel Evans, Esq., of Columbia, has been writing sketches of the people who settled in this section about the time of the building of Donegal Church, for the Columbia "Herald." In his article of this week he says:
Donegal church and Maytown, which was laid out as a town about 1750, were closely identified and were points of interest on the westward march of emigration and civilization.
MAYTOWN
We must not neglect to make mention of our ancient friends in Maytown, as they were part and parcel of Donegal. As stated heretofore, Maytown was laid out by Jacob Downer between 1750 and 1760. Christ Keesey and others laid out additions to the place subsequently. I find that Mr. Downer deeded a lot of ground to Ludwig Lindemuth and Peter Thiel, members of the congregation of the Lutheran church of the High Dutch at the corner of Jacob and Queen streets; the lot ad- joining Joseph Tate's land, and that of Jacoh Shire- man, in 1770.
The present stone church stands on a portion of this lot, but there was one of logs erected before that. Although Maytown could boast of two churches, the people there were not considered over-burdened with piety. Dancing and frolicking were common pastimes.
It was thought at one time that Maytown was going to be a very important inland town, but Marietta took the wind out of its sails, and Maytown has never re- covered from the blow since.
During the Revolutionary War, it was the place where the militia of Donegal were mustered. From that day until thirty-five years ago it was considered rather a gay place.
The taxables in Maytown for the year 1774 were Christ Betsler (now Beshler), Frederick Reigh, Daniel Ort, Henry Hinkle, Stophel Albright, Thomas Carr, Enoch Hastings, Abraham Etter, Abraham Long, Dan- iel Kilman (Gilman), Adam Nase, John Emet, John Michlas, Jacob Shireman, Ulrich Doner, George Barr, the grandfather of Col. John Barr of Columbia; Fred- erick Saylor, Henry Ferr, Fred Kalback, John Krits, Walter Bell.
In 1790 the following names appear upon the list of taxahles:
Walter Bell; James Eagan, was a redemption, and purchased hy John Haldeman at Philadelphia for his passage. After he served a term of years with Mr. H., he was very saving of his means and obtained enough to start a little store in Maytown. His husiness there increased rapidly; his customers came ten and fifteen miles to his store to purchase tea and iron, articles that could not be had in the county west of Lancaster, at that time. He became wealthy. I helieve there are some of his descendants living in Philadelphia.
Abraham Albert.
John Haldeman owned some lots in Maytown, but I do not think he resided in the place. He was a mem- ber of Assembly in 1790 and 1791. He removed to Co- lumbia where he died in 1836, at an advanced age. He was a very successful farmer and merchant. He was a cooper; he was the father of the late Jacob, of Harris- burg; Henry, of Columbia.
Daniel Orth, widow Haines, Jacob Long, George Barr, Daniel Gilman, William Kite, Ulrich Tanner, Henry Haines, Anthony Dominick Egle, John Nicholas, John Hollinger, William Peck, Conrad Alhright, Jac.
Clepper, Adam Cline, John Warner, John Whitehill, Samuel Cook, Richard Kays, Robert Ballance.
Samuel Cochran was born in the parish of Ballachran, near Colerain, in the north of Ireland, in the year 1751. He came to America and settled in Maytown, about the year 1783. He married Elizaheth Shireman, sister of Jacob Shireman, spoken of previously, in the year 178/. He died in the year 1807. The late James Me- haffey, of Marietta, married a daughter of Mr. Coch- ran. The mother of John A. Hiestand, the editor and publisher of "The Examiner and Express," was also a daughter.
Mr. Cochran was probably a Presbyterian, as there are few if any of the name who do not belong to that denomination. I regret that I have no more data in relation to this family, as it was a prominent one in Donegal.
William Price, Henry Lutz, Christian Vinegar, rent- ed the ferry above Marietta, and lived there many years. Daniel Gilman married a daughter, as did also I be- lieve Dr. Brenneman.
George Roup, Howel Hastings, Fred. Sailor, Christ Kunk, Fred. Albright, Jacoh Hoffman. About the year 1778, Fred. Stump came from Hesse Cassel, and set- tled at Vinegar's Ferry. The place did not agree with him, when he removed to Maytown early in the year 1783, where he kept tavern, whence he removed to Columbia and kept tavern there. The late Jacob Goss- ler, of Columbia, married his daughter. Jacoh L. Goss- ler, of New York, is a grandson.
OTHER BIOGRAPHIES WATSON - PATTERSON - CLARK
James Stinson, sometimes called Stevenson, settled upon the land adjoining the Donegal Meeting House property, now owned hy General Cameron and lately in the possession of Dr. N. Watson. I am not able to state the precise year Stinson canie to Donegal, but it was hefore 1740 as his name appears as one of the ad- joining landholders, in the deed from the Penns to Donegal congregation in 1740. My impression is (and I regret that I have no way of verifying the fact) that his son, Nathaniel Stinson, married Miss Jane Watson of Leacock township, who was probably the sister of Col. James Watson who commanded the 2d Battalion of the Lancaster county militia at the battle of Brandy- wine. He had also a brother William and John. The latter received a collegiate education and entered the medical profession. He married a Miss Clemson, daugh- ter of James Clemson, Esq., who settled in Pequea, and was connected with the Penns. About the year 1782, Dr. Watson purchased the Stinson farm at Donegal, and for more than sixty years he was the most promi- nent and successful practitioner in the neighborhood. He was born December 25. 1762, and died Novemher 16, 1843, aged 80 years. He left surviving him, his wife Margaret, who died August 14, 1850, aged 88 years; and son, John, was born April 14, 1798, and died April 24, 1852, aged 52 years. David, a son, studied medicine and was a very successful one. He died about thirty years ago.
1906-The residents of Maytown were very much interested and excited when the first house lights were turned on by the Elizabethtown Electric Company in Hick's Store Room in 1906.
The town lights followed some months later. The residents gave voluntary contributions, and these col- lections were taken monthly.
Some years later the line was sold to Pennsylvania Power & Light Company.
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Then
Dr. G. A. Harter at the Donegal picnic
Now
Dr. Michael Gratch in front of his new home in Maytown
FACTS! FUN! FANCIES! REMEMBRANCES OF OUR HOME TOWN by Josephine Beshler
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