History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 150

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372

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C. E. Ehrehart, George D. Gitt, F. H. Shel- ton, L. R. Dutton and R. H. Dutton. The new company made additions to the works and in 1906 extended their mains to Mc- Sherrystown, supplying to that borough the first gas in June, 1906. In 1907 the gas mains were extended to all the suburban parts of the borough of Hanover.

The officers and owners of the street rail- way company in 1907 were Captain W. H. Lanius, president ; Ellis S. Lewis, secretary and treasurer; J. W. Steacy, George P. Smyser, George S. Billmeyer, all of York; and William A. Himes, of New Oxford. These same gentlemen own and operate the Hanover Light, Heat & Power Company, In December, 1900, the company with 440 meters sold three and one-half million cubic feet of gas ; in 1907, with 1,275 meters in use, the output was fifteen million cubic feet of gas. R. H. Dutton is president; L. plant. R. Dutton, secretary ; George D. Gitt, treas- both interests. which they purchased in 1903. New ma- chinery was added and a line extended along the turnpike to Littlestown, which is lighted by electricity from the Hanover Robert E. Manley is manager of urer.

In September, 1893, Charles E. Mt. Olivet

Electric

Ehrehart, Thomas E. Ehrehart, Cemetery.

Light J. H. Schmuck, John A. Poist, C.

and D. Smith and A. H. Melhorn Railway. as directors of a company, erected a power plant for electric light and constructed a trolley line from

This cemetery was originated

through the efforts of L. F. Melsheimer, J. J. Naille and D. Q. Albright, at a meeting held December 20, 1858, and a charter was ob- tained early the following year. The original cemetery property, containing fif- teen acres, was bought of Adam Forney for

838

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

$2,146. It lies on the summit of a hill, a $30,000 the present opera house was short distance south of town, with a com- erected. The first story has since been used as a public market, and the second story as an opera house. It was opened by an interesting play, the title of which was "Caprice," of which Miss Minnie Maddern was the star, in the presence of a very large audience. It was chartered as the Hanover Opera House & Town Hall Company. In 1907 Robert M. Wirt was president of the company and R. O. Wirt secretary and treasurer. J. Percy Barnitz was the first manager and Harry C. Naill has served in that capacity for the past twelve years. manding view of the surrounding country. The land was laid out in lots and winding walks during February, 1859, by Joseph S. Gitt. The dedicatory services occurred on June 2, 1859. The officiating clergymen were B. H. Nadal, M. J. Alleman, and Mar- tin Lohr. Alfred E. Lewis wrote a hymn which was sung at the time of dedication. Many of the lots are enclosed with iron rail- ing and granite curbing, and adorned with flower beds. The grounds are ornamented with trees and shrubbery, which make the place an attractive resort. There are a The Hanover Agricultural large number of handsome monuments of granite and marble worthy of admiration

as works of art. The tomb of Colonel Richard McAllister, the founder of Han- over, is near the centre of this cemetery. held June 16, 1884, at which it was resolved An iron octagonal pavilion, of tasteful de- sign was erected in 1872. The first board of directors was composed of Daniel Q. Al- bright, president; L. F. Melsheimer, secre- tary; Horatio W. Emmert, treasurer; Wil- liam Wirt, J. J. Naille, Harry Kurtz, F. M. Baughman, George W. Welsh and Joseph Slagle. Two large swinging iron gates for carriages, and two smaller ones for footmen, similar to those at the National Cemetery at Gettysburg, were placed at the entrance in the year 1877 at a cost of $600, including granite blocks for posts.

The cemetery has been enlarged by the purchase of additional land and contains about twenty-five acres. In 1907 the board of directors was composed of N. B. Carver, president : Julius W. Fischer, secretary ; J. D. Zouck, treasurer ; William Boaden- hamer, H. A. Bair, Valentine Wentz, Henry D. Shriver, L. H. Eckert and Lewis G. Pfaff.

The town hall at the southwest

Society was organized in.

Agricultural Society. 1884 and held its first annual fair September 29, 30, Oc- tober 1, 2, 1885. A meeting of citizens was to raise a capital stock of $10,000 in shares of $25 each, with which to establish a local fair. General interest was manifested in the project and by July 21, the entire amount had been subscribed. July 26, of- ficers were elected, thirty-three names being submitted for directors, eleven to be chosen ; three for secretary and three for treasurer. The result was as follows: Stephen Keefer, president; M. O. Smith, secretary; Joseph G. Keagy, treasurer; George Bowman, L. P. Brockley, R. M. Wirt, William Boaden- hamer, George A. Long, H. Y. Sprenkle, W. C. Stick, David McG. Newcomer, Harry J. Little, E. H. Hostetter, directors.

A tract of land, 23 acres and 148 perches, adjoining the borough on the east, was bought from Peter Flickinger and the ex- ecutors of John Flickinger, deceased, at $275 an acre, and shortly afterwards 4 acres and 38 perches adjoining were bought from Henry Wirt at the same price. A fine half mile racing track was laid out and graded, the grounds were fenced, stalls and pens, a poultry house, an exhibition building and a

Opera corner of Centre Square for more House. than a third of a century was the only place for holding public lec- large grand stand erected. A liberal policy tures, entertainments and theatrical plays. was adopted as to premiums to exhibitors and purses for races, and the fairs were suc- cessful from the start. Large sums were expended for attractions and performances to be given on the grounds without extra charge and these added in drawing to the annual exhibition large crowds of people. While on account of bad weather, the re- After the market house was removed, in 1872, there was no public market place in Hanover. In 1886 Frank A. Zieg- ler and others organized a company for the erection of a town hall, opera house and a market place, which was built the following year. The company was chartered with a capital of $25,000, and at an expense of ceipts were only slightly in excess of ex-

839

THE BOROUGH OF HANOVER

penses, in some years, in no case has there ough council entered suit, and then offered been a loss, and the society has always been to compromise for half the damages in a prosperous financial condition. The assessed. March 17, 1858, the matter was fairs have been regularly held each Septem- settled, the company paying $50 cash, and ber for twenty-two years. The officers in

agreeing to pay a yearly rent of $12 forever. 1907 were: R. M. Wirt, president; M. O. After the railroad was opened, lots on the Smith, secretary; T. J. Little, treasurer; Common were in demand. This led to a William J. Young, T. J. O'Neill, A. R. Brodbeck, C. J. Delone, C. S. Shirk, John J. Schmidt, William B. Allewelt, and Frank Rodgers, directors.

Colonel Richard McAllister,

proposition to sell or lease, in perpetuity, the entire tract. The legislature was ap- pealed to, but that body was opposed to having lands leased in perpetuity. Efforts were then made to get authority to sell the tract, and Michael Bucher surveyed it and laid it off into streets and building lots. A strong party of the citizens opposed this scheme and desired to see the land remain a public common. To sell this land in lots would doubtless result in removing the center of the town business thereto, and in thus reducing considerably the value of real estate in parts of the town remote from the railroad, whose directors had contributed liberally toward the building of the road.

Public founder of Hanover, died in Common. 1795. The original draft of the town having been lost, his ex- ecutors, Archibald McAllister, Jesse McAl- lister and Jacob Rudisill, caused McAllis- ter's entire tract, including the town site, to be resurveyed in 1797, and sold off all the land and town lots belonging to the estate. The tract known since as the " Public Com- mon " belonged to the estate and was par- tially covered with timber. The citizens determined to secure this tract, which con- The other side urged the unproductiveness tained twenty-three acres and seventeen . and uselessness of the Common. They perches, as a public common; the executors argued that it might easily be made a source agreed to sell it for 351 pounds I shilling 10 of revenue to the borough, and considerably pence. Over 100 persons subscribed to the reduce the taxation. Many trips were made purchase money in sums ranging from 7 to Harrisburg by representatives of both shillings 6 pence to 8 pounds. July 17, 1798, sides, but all attempts to secure legislation the land was granted by the executors to failed. In 1854 lots began to be leased at $14 each. Then in 1858, a contract was made with Evans & Mayer, attorneys at York, to secure a fee simple title to the land for the borough authorities for the sum of George Carl, Paul Metzger, John Hinkle, Henry Welsh, and William Gitt, as trustees, to be held " in trust for the proper use of an open air and free public common for all and every one of the citizens and inhabitants of $500. An order was obtained from the the town of Hanover and their successors court, appointing F. E. Metzger trustee for the people of Hanover; and soon after, in accordance with an order of the court, Mr. Metzger offered the tract at public sale. It was bought by Henry Wirt for the borough forever, and for no other use or purpose." The land was used for a public cow pasture for many years. About 1839 lots began to be leased by the borough authorities. Par-

ties who leased the ground generally re- at the nominal sum of $5,400. Under this fused to pay the rent, claiming that the land title the borough holds the Public Common. Lots are leased to various parties, who have erected buildings upon them. Larger tracts have also been leased to railroads and to private parties for lumber and coal yards. did not belong to the borough. Suits were commenced and continued for years, with offers of compromise made and agreed to and then rescinded. In 1852, when the Hanover Branch Railroad was extended Wirt Park, an attractive resort, is across the Common, a depot and warehouse Wirt situated in the Third Ward of Han- over. It extends 210 feet on Frank- lin Street, 391 feet on Park Avenue, were built upon this public ground. The Park. borough authorities ordered the railroad company to stop work until the damages 223 feet on High Street and 313 feet on an were assessed. In 1853 the damages were alley. Its entire area is nearly two acres. fixed by a jury at $775. The railroad com- Henry Wirt, a prominent citizen of Han- pany declined to pay this amount; the bor- over, interested in the future welfare of the

840

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

town, presented this park to the borough on during the following year, at a public meet- June 5. 1890. The deed of transfer states ing of citizens, the borough was divided into two fire districts. All the able-bodied men residing on Frederick and Carlisle Streets were organized into what was termed the Hanover Fire Company, with Jacob Eichel- berger, president: Frederick Bentz, secre- tary; Jacob Metzgar, treasurer; George Frysinger, engine director; Jacob Hostet- ter, lineman; Peter Winebrenner, Frederick that "it is to be set apart forever as a public park for the free use of the inhabi- tants of Hanover and a play ground for chil- dren." The deed also specifies that no buildings can be erected on the park, except for the use of a public library or a town hall, and if such building be erected it must be at a place that will not interfere with the original plans and purposes for which the Berkman, George Grove, axmen; Peter park was given to the town. Eckert, Nicholas Newman, ladder-men.

For a period of fifteen years the park was used only as a play ground. In 1905, when the battle monument was erected in the oval in Centre Square the fountain which had occupied that site since 1873 was re- moved to the centre of Wirt Park, which it now adorns. The borough authorities ap- The residents of York, Baltimore and Abbottstown Streets were organized into the Union Fire Company with John Sholl, president ; Daniel P. Lange, secretary; Jacob Metzgar, treasurer ; Adam Ault, Peter Grumbine, engine directors; Jacob Kline, lineman; Jacob Britcher and Adam propriated money for the erection of a band stand and other improvements. The Civic League, composed of enterprising women of Hanover, raised money and laid out flower beds on the park, placed a drinking curred, and soon after this event at a public fountain, and also furnished settees. Fisher, axmen; John Shultz, George Buvin- ger. ladder-men. When fires occurred, the entire population of male citizens was ex- pected to turn out. A destructive fire oc- The. meeting, a resolution was adopted to peti- borough council had a large number of trees tion the council for the purchase of an im-

proved engine, and that a tax be laid on the

planted on the park.

The first outfit for extin- real estate within the borough to pay for it.

Department.

Fire guishing fires in Hanover, as well as all other inland towns, was the leather fire bucket. Tiger.

These were usually owned by citizens, who at the breaking out of a fire, arranged them- selves in rows, extending from the fire to a ments bought as they were needed, com-

well or spring. Buckets full of water were sent along the line to the scene of the fire,

The In July, 1830, the town council pur- chased from Asa Cummings, of Boston, an engine which was called the " Tiger " at a cost of $275. The Lion and the Tiger with additional equip- posed the entire outfit of the department for many years. As the town grew, im- and thrown on the flames by the man near- proved fire apparatus was needed. In 1856 est the burning building. These buckets a committee was appointed to visit Balti- were then passed along another line to the more and inspect the fire apparatus there. water supply. In this way, small fires could be extinguished. These leather buckets were used in Hanover as early as 1780, and four of them are now owned and kept as mementoes of the past by Hanover Steam Fire Engine Company No. I, at their build- ing on Chestnut Street.

The . An engine called the "Lion " was

purchased by the people of Hanover Lion. about 1800. This engine was sup- plied with water by means of the leather buckets. The water was then pumped on the fire by this hand engine. It was a rather crude affair, but doubtless did efficient service a century ago.

Hanover was incorporated in 1815, and

This visit resulted in the purchase, at a cost of $450, from the Washington Hose Com- pany, of an engine which had done good service in that city. It bore the name " Gazelle," but after its arrival at Hanover, it was called the "Washington." This en- gine, still the property of the fire depart- ment, is on exhibition in the parlor of the engine house on Chestnut Street. The Washington engine was used by the Balti- more fire department in the great parade at the National Capital, when the cornerstone of the Washington monument was laid. The Lion was destroyed about 1890, but the Tiger is in the possession of the Han- over fire company.

841

THE BOROUGH OF HANOVER

The small building used many years for fire department headquarters was situated on Chestnut Street. On this same spot the

PHYSICIANS, DENTISTS, LAWYERS.

The healing art had not yet been reduced present handsome two-story engine house to a science, when the town of Hanover was was erected in 1882 at a cost of $3,800 by founded in 1763. Medical practice as car- the borough under the administration of L. ried on by pioneer physicians in York F. Melsheimer, as chief burgess.

County, is described in the medical chapter in this book, beginning on page 515. In the year 1789, Frederick Valentine Melsheimer settled in Hanover as the pastor of St.

The first floor of this building contains the apparatus, consisting of a combination hose and chemical wagon, a La France en- gine, and a Hayes extension hook and lad- Matthew's Lutheran Church. While per- der truck. In the rear are stalls for the four forming his duties as pastor of this church, horses maintained by the company, and a he also practiced the healing art among his hose tower in which a reserve supply of parishioners and all his friends and neigh- 1000 feet of hose is kept, in addition to the bors, even to the time of his death in 1814. 1000 feet carried on the wagon. The sec- Dr. John Baker seems to have been the ond floor comprises handsome sleeping first physician to practice medicine at Han- apartments for the drivers, a finely furnished over as his sole occupation. He settled in parlor, and a room for the monthly business meetings of the company.

the vicinity about 1775, and continued to follow his chosen profession during the Rev- olution and until 1795.

Hanover Steam Fire Engine Company was organized in the year 1878, and has Dr. Patrick Smith, a regular graduate of since done efficient service at many fires. medicine, settled at Hanover about 1790. William H. Long has been foreman of the

Biographies of Peter Mueller, Henry C. company for a period of twenty-four years, Wampler, John Culbertson, George W. Hinkle, Henry C. Eckert, J. P. Smith, Hor-

while H. O. Young has filled the post of secretary of the organization for twenty- ace Alleman, A. J. Snively, F. A. H. Koch, seven years. S. C. Garber was president of L. W. Goldsborough, physicians of Han- the company in 1907. The roster of the over, will be found in the medical chapter. company contains over 125 names. Dr. Plowman, a regular graduate of med-

The

Chemical.

The Eagle Chemical Company, icine, followed his profession at Hanover of Hanover, was organized on for ten years. Dr. J. H. Winterode prac- November 17, 1903. The first ticed here in 1850. His office was on Car- officers were: H. M. Stokes, lisle Street.

president ; W. O. Dell, vice-president ; H. F. Heilman, secretary ; D. M. Anthony, assist- here from 1844 to 1848, and since the latter ant secretary ; C. L. Trone, treasurer ; A. R. date has practiced at Gettysburg.

Brodbeck, N. D. Bankert and W. W. Smeach, trustees.

Dr. J. W. C. O'Neal practiced medicine

Dr. John Metzgar engaged in the prac- tice of medicine in his native town for sev- eral years and then moved to the west.

Soon after organization the company pur- chased a lot on Hanover Street for the sum of $500, upon which a frame building, cost- Hanover, since his graduation from Jeffer- son Medical College in 1878, has been a lead-

ing $2,000, was erected by the company. A chemical engine and 1500 feet of hose were ing physician at Hanover. For many years purchased and did excellent service at the he has been surgeon for the P. R. R. Co. and fires which occurred during the succeeding the W. M. R. R. Co. He also served as three years. In 1906 the borough council president of the Peoples Bank and of the furnished money for the purchase of two Hanover Board of Education. fine horses used in drawing the engine.

The original membership of this company was thirty. Owing to its successful efforts the membership was increased, and in 1907 numbered 200. W. W. Smeach was chosen president during that year.

Dr. J. H. Bittinger, who was born near

Dr. A. C. Wentz, who was born in Man- heim Township, received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1882. Since that time he has been actively engaged in the pursuit of his profession at Hanover. Dr. Wentz has filled several

842

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

local offices, including that of treasurer of He practiced homoeopathy the remainder the school board.

Dr. R. N. Meisenhelder, a graduate of Jef- War, Dr. Everhart was assistant surgeon ferson Medical College, Philadelphia, for in the United States army hospitals in Har- twenty years or more was a physician at risburg and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. East Berlin. In 1891, he removed to Han- Dr. D. B. Grove, who was born at Han- over in 1860, received his medical education over, where he continued his profession.

Dr. H. M. Alleman, son of Dr. Horace at the Homoeopathic Medical College of Alleman, succeeded his father in the prac- New York City, from which he graduated tice of medicine. He is a graduate of Jef- in 1883. He was surgeon for the W. M. R.

ferson Medical College, and has served in prominent local offices, being twice presi- surgeon. dent of the Hanover School Board.

Dr. Charles Wagner, a graduate of

Dr. John A. Melsheimer, since his gradu- Hahnemann Medical College, succeeded Dr. ation from the medical department of the Grove as the homoeopathic physician at University of Pennsylvania, has been en- Hanover. During the administration of gaged in the practice of his profession at Presidents Mckinley and Roosevelt, he was president of the U. S. Board of Pension Ex- aminers for York county. Hanover. He is a great grandson of Fred- erick Valentine Melsheimer, pastor of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church from 1789 to 1814.

Dr. M. M. Fleagle, a graduate of Hahne- mann Medical College, and his sister,

Dr. A. Z. Buchen, a graduate of the Uni- Roberta Fleagle, are homoeopathic physi- versity of Maryland began to practice here cians in this borough. in 1876.

Dr. Wesley C. Stick, who practiced medi- cine for thirty years at Glenville removed to Hanover in 1905.

Dr. J. D. Keller, formerly of Glenville, removed to Hanover in 1903. He is a grad- uate of Hahnemann Medical College, Phila- delphia.

Dr. L. M. Bailey, a graduate of Jefferson During the year 1906, the physicians of Medical College and George H. Jordy, Uni- Hanover, organized a Medical Club which versity of Maryland, practiced at Hanover.' meets regularly in the office of members for

the discussion of questions relating to the

Rev. Jacob Geiger, who resided at Man- chester, Maryland, and who performed the practice of medicine and surgery.

duties of pastor for eight Reformed con- Before the year, 1840, the duties of a dentist at Hanover, were performed by the local gregations in York and Harford counties, Dentistry. introduced the practice of homeopathy into Hanover and vicinity about 1835. Rev. physicians. The medical doctor never at- Geiger practiced the healing art over a tempted to fill or make artificial teeth, but

large section of the country in connection he had to be supplied with the old time with his pastoral duties. He died in 1848. tooth pulling instrument, called the " pulle-

About 1840 he interested Rev. Peter Sheurer of Hanover, who was the pastor of seven Reformed congregations in York County. Pastor Sheurer became a devoted follower of Hahnemann. He spent his leisure time in the study of medicine and

acquired considerable ability as a diagnos- into Hanover in a crude way by travelling tician. For several years after Pastor Sheurer's death, no one practiced homoeo- pathy in Hanover.

gen" or tournequet. With these he ex- tracted the aching teeth for the relief of his patients, and carried his instruments with him on his trips to the country and every- where he went on his professional duties. The art of modern dentistry was introduced dentists, who made periodical visits. Their principal business was that of cleaning teeth, pulling out the defective ones, and were driven into the roots of the natural teeth whose crowns had been removed. Occasionally these pioneer dentists would attempt to fill teeth with some kind of a

Dr. O. T. Everhart, who was born near putting in artificial teeth on pivots which Manchester, Maryland, in 1832, was gradu- ated as a physician from the University of Maryland in 1856. He practiced medicine at Goldsboro and Marysville near Harris- burg, until he settled in Hanover in 1878. composition, which was covered with tin

of his professional career. During the Civil

R. Co., and was a successful physician and

8.43

THE BOROUGH OF HANOVER

foil. In 1828, J. Walker, dental surgeon, for twenty years and also transacted much was the first recorded travelling dentist, who visited Hanover.

Dr. William H. Bange was the first pro- fessional dentist to follow this occupation in the borough of Hanover. He was a na- tive of the town and began to practice in the year 1840. During the first few years of his professional duties, Dr. Bange used

legal business before the courts at York for his friends and neighbors. Jacob Rudisill, who became one of the associate judges in 1791, and Colonel Henry Slagle, who filled the same office, were legal advisers of the citizens of Hanover and vicinity as well as judges of the courts.

When the town was incorporated in 1815, the old time tooth pulling instruments. At John L. Hinkle, a hardware merchant, be-

this period, sets of artificial teeth were put in plates of silver and gold, and the teeth were made by the dentist himself. These metals continued to be used by dentists, until the introduction of celluloid, about 1870. Dur- came the first justice of the peace, and also served for twenty-three years as an asso- ciate judge of York County. Judge Hinkle was also a land surveyor. George Fry- singer, Jesse Frysinger, C. W. Forney, ing his early career, Dr. Bange travelled James E. Naille, John M. Wolf, Hezekiah Trone, Jacob Gundrum, Lewis D. Sell, Barton H. Knode, Adam E. Kohr and Isaac R. Witmer served as justices of the peace for the borough.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 150

Author: Prowell, George R. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1372

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372