USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Lititz > Lititz, 1756-1956 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
In 1766 the Gemeinhaus was taken down (being made of logs) and moved the
northeast corner of what is now the intersec- tion of Main and Water Streets in Lititz. The principle of separate schools for the boys and girls was then instituted. The boys attended school in the re-located Gemeinhaus, while the girls were taught in the Sister's House-the present Castle. Here the school, later to become Linden Hall, expanded its in- fluence as girls from Moravian families in Lancaster and elsewhere were enrolled. In 1769 the growth of the school demanded lar- ger quarters and accordingly the building which is now occupied by the school officers and a part of the dining room, was erected.
The threatening clouds of the Revolutionary War temporarily darkened the bright pros- pects of the school. During the war the num- ber of students dwindled until the few who were left were moved to the Sister's House.
With the return of peace, and in 1794, an event took place which meant the broadening of the scope of the school and the widening of its influence in education for women in America. In that year Peggy Marvel of Balti- more, Maryland, was admitted to the school. She was the first pupil from other than Moravian families and the first scholar in what was in the next few years to grow into a boarding school. During that decade the enrollment reached sixty-three pupils. As a result of this increase the building erected in 1769 was again made a part of the school. A third story and a wing were added in . 1804.
During the years of depression and the years of prosperity of the early part of the nineteenth century the courses of study under- went considerable development, for as early as 1822 the patrons of the school could be ad- vised that girls might remain in the institu- tion until they had reached the age of sixteen.
36
to
1756
200th ANNIVERSARY
In the decades from 1838 to 1858 the school was to experience a remarkable growth under the administration of the Reverend Eugene Frueauff when the enrollment reached above a hundred girls and when the institution at- tained a sound financial condition. It was during the term of "Pappy" Frueauff, as he was affectionately known, that basswood sap- lings were planted on the play area and the name "Linden Hall" was given to the school.
The passing of the old choir-house systent in Lititz, made available to Linden Hall the Castle for permanent use. In 1863, during the administration of the Reverend William C. Reichel, the school was incorporated, by an act of the Pennsylvania legislature, as Linden Hall Seminary, the corporate name of today.
Linden Hall Seminary enjoyed a season of great prosperity during the years following the civil war and under the able administra- tion of the Reverend Herman A. Brickenstein. Courses of study were established in accord- ance with standards that gradually attained to general acceptance among schools of like scope and character. In January, 1877, the Linden Hall Echo made its appearance as an organ of expression of student opinion and student literary effort. This publication has made its way with credit among academy and secondary school journals, it being one of the oldest in its field. The year 1880 saw the be- ginning of the post-graduate course, and the first of the annual commencements with elab- orate programs. From these latter emerged the Alumnae Association in June, 1891. Dur- ing the period of Mr. Brickenstein's principal- ship, the buildings were renovated and en- larged and the beautiful Memorial Chapel, planned and presented by Mr. George W. Dixon in memory of his daughter, Mary Dixon, was erected.
A useful complement to the existing build- ings was added during the administration of the Reverend Charles D. Kreider when the gymnasium-auditorium was erected in 1907. This auditorium was used for recitals and concerts and served to stimulate interest in good music on the part of the students of the school and of the people of the community. The Music Department of Linden Hall came to be widely known during this period.
The most fruitful and in many respects the inost properous period for Linden Hall came during the more than three decades of the administration of the Reverend F. W. Stengel, D. D .. He, with his wife, Elizabeth High Stengel, came to Linden Hall in 1915 to be- gin what proved to be their life work. Fruit- ful efforts were directed toward debt reduc- tion, plant improvement, and the creation of
an endowment fund. The four story annex was added to the Castle, buildings, furnishings and equipment were thoroughly modernized to meet prevailing educational needs. An in- door swinuning pool was built, faculty resi- dences were purchased, a central heating plant was installed. In 1926 the campus was expan- ded to forty-two acres. An athletic field of ample proportions and six all-weather tennis courts were built. A riding stable, with a ca- pacity for twenty horses, was erected during the principalship of Doctor Stengel.
During this same administration inner de- velopments kept pace with external improve- ments, The curriculum was developed to conform to the standards of secondary schools as fixed by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, and accreditation was secured in 1928. The post-graduate depart- ment, in existence since 1880, was expanded into a junior college in September, 1935. In June, 1946, Linden Hall, with justifiable pride observed two centuries of service to young wonien. This occasion was celebrated with impressive academic exercises, and appropri- ate pagentry. In July of 1947 Doctor Stengel was succeeded by the Reverend Byron K. Horne, the present incumbent.
Linden Hall Junior College and School for Girls today enrolls on an average of one hundred and forty girls each academic year. As many as seventeen states and nine foreign countries are represented in its student body in one year. A staff of twenty-five people is in charge of its program. From a log build- ing, which it shared with other enterprises of the church in 1746, the physical plant has expanded until it now comprises ten build- ings completely modernized. From a school of very humble beginnings, it has grown into an institution with graduates in every state in the union and a large proportion of the coun- tries of the world.
The physical facilities changed, the school has increased in size, but the purpose has been the sanie throughout the year: to develop en- lighted Christian women who will recognize and accept the opportunity to serve their day and generation. The school motto, adopted early in the history of Linden Hall, "We educate not for scholarship but for life" still prevails.
37
1756
200th ANNIVERSARY
History of Fire Protection Past and Present
In April 1790, at the instance of the Morav- ian authorities, a subscription paper was cir- culated in which the necessity of having a fire engine was stated, and donations were solicited. The cost of the engine was estimated at from seventy to eighty pounds. The appeal evidently had its effect for an account says that an en- gine was ordered from Brother Wahlin New- eid, Germany, a famous maker. The engine was made, however, by Brother Schmutz, of the same place. It was finished in August 1792, at a cost of three hundred and fifty florins. ($75.00) . The hose cost seventy five florins ($37.50), and packed in the same box with the hose was a wax-cloth bag containing a half dozen silk handkerchiefs which cost sixteen florins ($8.00) . The engine was named the "Assistance" and was horse drawn.
The Assistance Fire Company was organized in 1838, after a fire consumed several build- ings and endangered the entire village. Another engine, the "Friendship" was then purchased from Messrs. Agnew and Merrick of Philadel- phia. The "Friendship" was housed in the up- per part of town and the "Assistance" in the lower part in buildings especially built for this purpose. Both engines were pumped by hand, and fed by a line of buckets passed from one person to another. The old engines are still in existence. They are the property of the Moravian Congregation, and are ordi- narily on display in the building at the corner of Broad and West Main Streets, which is the home office of The Lititz Mutual Insurance Company.
The first officers of the company were Samuel Lichtenthaler, president; Rufus A. Greider, secretary; Levi Hull and Francis W. Christ vice-presidents; Frederick A. Zitzman, treasurer; Aaron Traeger and William Keller, engineers. The Assistance Fire Company orig- inally had sixty-one members.
For some time previous to 1855 there was no organized fire company in existence, and the lack of sufficient protection in case of fire resulted in the organization of the Friendship Fire Company in that year. This company functioned until 1884 using the same engines that had been used by the Assistance Fire Co.
At a meeting of citizens of Lititz and War- wick held in Lyceum Hall on October 13, 1884, a committee was elected to serve in the fire department.
After disbanding of the Friendship Fire Co. in 1884, the town had no adequate protection.
LITITZ, PENNSYLVANIA
1956
This prompted the Fire Committee of the town council to call a meeting of citizens to take some action regarding the formation of a company. The present organization, known as The Lititz. Fire Company No. I, was organ- ized on February 15, 1894 with the following officers: Dr. J. L. Hertz, president; William N. Amer and Elmer E. Ritchie, vice-presidents; Henry R. Gibbel, secretary; A. R. Bomberger, financial secretary; T. R. Kreider, treasurer; Herman Fisher, W. S. Diehm and H. K. Gon- ter, trustees. E. E. Kautz was elected as chief hose director and A. R. Bomberger, Frank Meiskey and M. J. Steiner as assistants; H. E. Sturgis, Emmanuel Hall and Henry Heiserman' as play pipemen.
A special meeting of The Lititz Fire Com- pany was held on May 11, 1894 to devise ways and means to raise funds for the purch- ase of a hose cart which would carry additional hose, as well as other necessary equipment. For this purpose a committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions from the fire insurance companies carrying insurance in Lititz; anoth- er committee to make a house to house canvas for aid, and still another to arrange for a strawberry festival to be held on the Springs grounds a few weeks hence. This festival pro- duced a net profit of $79.87 and has since de- veloped into the chicken corn soup festival which is held annually and produces a profit of $2500.00
The Borough Council procured a hose cart for $100.00 from Bethlehem for the use of the new company. It proved so unwieldy that per- mission was granted to exchange it for a hose cart which was manufactured by Addison C. Pfautz in his carriage shop at 305 East Main Street. (This hose cart was donated to the Pennsylvania Farm Museum at Landis Valley in 1949 and is presently on display there) . Another hose cart was received by the Lititz Fire Company on October 17, 1894 from Glea- son and Bailey Manufacturing Co., Seneca Falls, New York, where it was made. The wheels were quite large, being five and one half feet in diameter. It was fully equipped with axes, crowbar, bell, torches, and-so forth. The cost of this hose cart was $125.00, of which $25.00 was contributed by the Borough Council. (It is still intact and is being stored in a garage owned by Paul F. Diehm) . Each cart carried five hundred feet of two and one half inch fire hose, the gift of the Borough Council.
The fire equipment was housed in a build- ing on East Orange Street (presently the lawn of the Lititz Public School building) , which building also served as a council cham- ber. An eight hundred pound alarm bell
38
1756
200th ANNIVERSARY
mounted on the roof of the building was part of the Stevens electric fire alarm system hav- ing eight alarm boxes located in various parts of the town, and Lititz was one of the few towns of its size so supplied. This system was battery operated, and being rather difficult to maintain, was abandoned after a time.
A two story brick building was erected near the square in 1917 to serve as a fire house in anticipation of the era of motorized fire ap- paratus and to serve as a suitable meeting place for the Borough Council. In 1921 the first motorized apparatus, a 650 gallon per minute triple combination pumper was pur- chased from The Seagrave Corporation of Columbus, Ohio at a cost of $11,500. Realiz- ing the need for additional equipment to pro- vide adequate protection for the growing community, another Seagrave pumper was ac- quired in 1931, the cost of which was $12,640. This was a class A type pumper having a capacity of one thousand gallons per minute. In 1938, The Lititz Fire Company purchased another Seagrave pumper of the seven hun- dred and fifty gallon per minute class to re- place the first pumper which had been in ser- vice for 17 years. The cost of this apparatus was $7,939.92. Having added various applian- ces and equipment such as portable pump, portable lighting plant, masks, boots, coats, inhalator, resuscitator and acetylene cutting unit, an additional unit was necessary to trans- port this equipment, and a Dodge truck chassis was purchased in 1953, upon which a body was fabricated by the Snyder Body Works of Greenmount, Maryland, an expen- diture amounting to $9,284.42. The latest ad- dition to the fire fighting equipment is a one thousand gallon per minute Seagrave pumper purchased in 1956 at a cost of $19,929.00. All of the fire. apparatus is equipped with mobile short wave radio transmitting and receiving units and the company has two portable short wave radios, which are a part of the fire and Civil Defense communication system in Lan- caster County.
The present officers of the company are: Paul F. Diehm, president; Carl V. Foltz and George Kling, vice-presidents; David Bauer, secretary; Edward S. Grosh, treasurer, Eric Buckley, Sr., Charles Rineer and Arthur Bach- man, Jr., trustees; LeRoy Bare, fire chief; Wm. Carper, chaplain; and Paul Diffenderfer, fi- nancial secretary. The present membership of the company is 1017.
LITITZ, PENNSYLVANIA 1956!
A BRIEF HISTORY OF LITITZ FIRE CO. NO. 1, LADIES AUXILIARY
On April 9, 1926, twenty-five women met in the Lititz Borough Council Chamber for the purpose of organizing an auxiliary to The Lititz Fire Company No. 1. Mrs. Sarah Beckler served as temporary chairlady for this meeting. An election. of officers was held which resulted as follows: President, Mrs. J. F. Stoner; Vice-president; Mrs. J. L. Hertz, Treasurer, Mrs. E. E. Habecker; Secretary, Mrs. Victor Wagner. The annual dues were set at twenty-five cents and are still in effect at present.
The next meeting of the Auxiliarv was held one month later at which time the sec- retary reported a membership of 410.
The first attempt of the Auxiliary to raise funds took place in the form of a Sauer Kraut supper, held in the Fire House. Members pre- pared 49 gallons of Sauer Kraut in their homes for the supper. The cost of the meal was forty cents, and a profit of $173.57 was realized at this affair. Various benefits, ama- teur plays and rummage sales have been held by the Auxiliary and the proceeds given to the Fire Company to augment their income. One of the major projects undertaken by the Auxiliary was the remodeling and refurnish- ing of the Fire House Kitchen. In addition to purchasing raincoats and boots for the Fire Company, the Auxiliary has also assisted fi- nancially in the purchase of new fire fighting apparatus. In 1928 Mrs. M. C. Demmy was elected to the presidency of the group and held that office for twenty-two years. During her tenure of office, The Ladies Auxiliary assisted in the organization of four other Fire Company Ladies' Auxiliaries in Lancaster County. ... Upon completion of her term of office, Mrs. Demmy was presented with a watch as a gift from The Auxiliary and The Lititz Fire Company.
Present officers are: President, Mrs. Jacob Yerger; First Vice-president, Mrs. Viola Meis- key; Second Vice president, Mrs. Sallie Tem- pleton; Treasurer, Mrs. Ada Eberly; Financial Secretary, Mrs. Anna Carpenter; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Fred E. Shenk. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month in the Fire House and the present membership is 1350.
OLD HOSE CART
39
: % .
1756
200th ANNIVERSARY
LITITZ COMMUNITY CHEST
During the darkest years of the depression, Manheim, Ephrata and other of our neigh- boring communities saw a need for a local organization or Board of Assistance. Mr. Frank Dengate was the main instigator for such a move in Lititz. The Lititz Community Chest was organized in 1928, at first with an "all man" Executive Board. Later, the personnel was changed to include the present member- ship of three women and six men, elected for three year terins. The President and Vice presidents are elected from the membership and non-members are appointed as Secretary and Treasurer.
During the depression, the Executive Board of the Chest set up a Commissary on the second floor of the old Post Office building, where food and clothing was "doled out" on presentation of a voucher. Mr. Ralph Gonder was the "store-keeper". The Board members took upon themselves the responsibility of interviewing each family who came to the Commissary, in an effort to educate them to wiser budgeting and better and more nutritious food selection.
Our first Community Nurse was the famil- iar "Auntie" Sara K. Jenkins, who first made her daily rounds on a bicycle, and later in the first Nurse's car, a second-hand Model T Ford.
Today, the primary function of the Chest is to supply for Lititz our own Community Nurse, Mrs. Mildred Meiskey. Financial assis- tance is now given very infrequently, and only in emergencies. Public Assistance Administra- tion is now handled entirely by the State Department.
Our present Board membership includes; Dr. C. W. Eshleman, President; Elmer Bom- berger, first Vice President; Mrs. George Keehn, second Vice President; Wilbur Miller, John Beck, Mrs. William Spacht, M. C. Dem- iny, Mrs. Lloyd Sheaffer, and John Badorf. Mrs. Elvin Kreider is Secretary and Myrtle Bushong, Treasurer.
LITITZ RECREATION CENTER
In 1944 a generous citizen of Lititz, Mr. Ralph Spacht, donated to the Borough a building,located on North Spruce Street next to the Lititz Spring Park, to be used as a Recreation Center for residents of Lititz.
The organization meeting of the Commun- ity Center Group was held in May, 1944. The following officers were elected for an office term to be one year.
LITITZ, PENNSYLVANIA 1956
Mr. M. C. Demmy, Chairman; Mr. J. W. Keehn, Vice Chairman; Mrs. Bette Krane, Secretary; Mr. Roy Shaffstall, Treasurer.
Among the most important of the Recrea- tion Center activities are the following:
(1) Saturday night teenage dances.
(2) a four week summer playground pro- gram for youngsters from six to thirteen years old.
(3) a program of ping pong, pool, dancing and other social activities three nights a week and Sunday afternoons.
(4) a center for meetings of local organiza- tions.
In '1954 the Center, in accord with the School Board, entered the State Aid Program and employed a full time Recreational Direc- tor. Mr. Bernard Lehmann, from Missouri, has been the Director. This has enabled the Center to expand its recreational program.
In 1955 a Junior Board of Directors was organized. It consists of ten teenage members. Its purpose is to help in planning a practical youth program. Since its organization, the Junior Board has planned and completely conducted the Saturday night dances.
On February 13, 1956, a Parent's Group was organized, consisting of parents and other in- terested persons. They have been a great asset, and have taken over full responsibility for the chaperoning of the Saturday night dances.
THE LITITZ SPRINGS PARK
As Lititz celebrates the 200th aniversary of its founding, Lititz Springs Park can justly feel a part of this observance, for in those early days, long before it actually became a park, the pond, fed by numerous springs, provided a spot for folks to spend their leisure hours.
The early history of the "springs" and its development into a park is covered extensive- ly in this booklet in the story of the early history of our town.
Although the grounds are owned by the Moravian Congregation of Lititz, the area has provided a "community park" throughout the years. Operation of the park is in the hands of a Park Committee, which consists of inter- ested men of the community. A small appro- priation is received from the Borough Council and the other funds necessary for its operation and maintenance must be derived from the annual July 4th celebration, other activities sponsored by the committee, and from picnics and reunions.
Although a July 4th program was held in the "park" as early as 1818, it was not until
40
1756
200th ANNIVERSARY
1843 that the first July 4th celebration was held with 400 candles, and admission was charged to the grounds. Proceeds amounted to $12.00.
When the improvement of the grounds first got underway, the Church was reluctant to grant permission, fearing that such a "Lush- platz" would engender too much worldliness. Their objections were finally overcome and work was started by a group of young men to improve the grounds.
Throughout the years the improvements con- tinued and included the wall around the "head-end" or basin, the sandstone and lime- stone walls along the creek, filling in the grounds to provide proper drainage as much of the area was swampland, and similar pro- jects.
In 1937 a major improvement program was completed, sponsored by several civic groups. It resulted in the erection of the Paul E. Beck Memorial Bandshell, clean, modern rest rooms and a sanitary drinking fountain. These im- provements continued and in more recent years driveways and walks were macadamed and a modern refreshment stand erected.
One of the outstanding attractions in the park is the annual July 4th Celebration, which each year attracts thousands of people with its unique display of candles, fireworks, band concerts, baby parade, etc. The crowning of the Queen of the Candles precedes the illumination of the grounds.
In the earlier days of the park, the Reading Railroad and the trolley line from Lancaster provided transportation for those visiting the park from out of town. Today, however, the automobile has replaced these earlier modes of transportation and a portion of the park, and the old ball diamond are now used as parking arcas.
The ravages of nature have resulted in the destruction of many of the fine old trees in the park and a program is now underway, through the help of local organizations and individuals to promote a long range tree planting prgram.
The General Committee of the park in- cludes approximately fifty men. The Execu- tive Committee consists of: John W. Keelin, president; Willis Bucher, secretary; Ford Gochenaur, treasurer; Joseph Carl, Robert Posey and Roy S. Reidenbaugh.
-
1756
200th ANNIVERSARY
LITITZ, PENNSYLVANIA 1956 <
Lititz Parent Teachers Association
The P. T. A. was organized and chartered in the fall of 1951. At the present time it has a membership of approximately .seven hun- dred. The organization meets the third Tues- day of each month at cight p.m.
The first regular meeting was January 10, 1951, with the newly elected President, Mr. Albert Ebbert presiding. The other officers were as follows: Vice President, Robert Trim- ble: Recording Secretary, Mrs. Howard Min- nich: Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. W. O. Henderson; and Treasurer, Mr. Joseph Carl.
The P. T. A. is affiliated with the County, State, and National Parent Teachers Associa- tion. It will be established with the National Honor Society in the fall of 1956.
The organization sponsors four projects an- nually. 'They are as follows: the P. T. A. fes- tival, winter square dances, seafood dinners, and card parties.
The financial success of these projects has made it possible for the P. T. A. to purchase special equipment for the Lititz High school. They are as follows: inter-communication sys- ten, which will be installed in the Elementary school this fall; equipment for school dispen- sary including an audio meter, games for the children, apparel for Safety Patrol, lights for the stage, sixteen MM sound projector and films to be used in the Elementary school, etc.
Among our activities we give a tea in hon- or of the members of Lititz School Faculty. We also give a Post Prom Dance for the Jun- ior and Senior students of our school.
The purpose of the organization is to pro- vide a better relationship between schools and the honic with the P. T. A. seeking to aid the children of today to become more respon- sible adults of tomorrow. It works with other groups of similar purpose to achieve this goal of a better community.
All work by P. T. A. members is performed by volunteer persons desiring to help the community through the children.
One of the important aspects of the P. T. A. organization is that it provides a sounding board for public opinion at the municipal, but more often at the neighborhood, level.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.