USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Lancaster > The story of Lancaster, old and new : being a narrative history of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, form 1730 to the centennial year 1918 > Part 2
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Drawing from his vest-pocket a slip of paper on which was a miniature picture of the United States flag, he read the following:
For right is right, since God is God, And right the day must win, To doubt would be disloyalty, To falter would be sin.
Glancing at his timepiece, he was about to depart when, hesitating, he went on uninterrupted, "You would scarcely believe that it was only a week ago that my boy-comrade of more than sixty years ago and your veteran friend went our way to the great big city of Philadelphia, not however, on a packet boat but in an automobile, both as octogenarians. Viewed through his narrow boy vision, its streets were lighted by the dim gas lamps, but now by elec- tricity, making night almost as bright as day.
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LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW
"It's a great age, isn't it?" he continued, as his voice grew stronger; "Why, think of it, seven de- cades ago, my young chummy rode in an omnibus; later, on this our visit, we took the underground tube from the Pennsylvania station to the Delaware. At the time referred to, 'Old Phildelphy' extended but a short distance west of the Schuylkill, beyond which even Fairmount Park was little more than an un- broken wilderness-now a perfect 'Garden of Eden,' and wherein even Adam and his beloved Eve would be willing to rest content were they permitted to return to live their lives over in this earthly Para- dise."
Rushing to the window, my veteran exclaimed, "Whence comes the music reaching our ears? Oh, it's only the town-band saluting more of the young soldier boys on their way to the recruiting stations; but mark an octogenarian's predictions, it won't be many days until the letter carrier will be coming along with letters for sweethearts and dear old mothers!
"And now," resuming his seat, "have you ever seen a mother clasp her son to her bosom as he stepped over the threshold to go forth in patriotic devotion in support of home and country? This is what happened more than half a century ago, and may happen again. Who can tell?
"In mention of letter carriers," he resumed, "have you ever seen a fond, anxious-hearted mother standing at the front door, awaiting the carrier as he approaches with a bundle of letters, but none from her dear boy? But watch this same disap-
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A PRELIMINARY WAR EPISODE
pointed mother of the day previous, maybe, the morning following: If close by, you cannot fail to hear her exclaim, 'At last, at last has come the long looked-for letter from my dear son!'
"Keeping within hearing distance, you may hear her as she breaks the seal and reads aloud page after page of how the absent one is getting along away down by the Rio Grande! 'Oh, oh! And just listen, he writes his mother that he will soon be back with the other boys! And where is "Daddy"? Call him in.' And as he sits himself down with both ears wide open what more can he do but to give way to a deep sigh, as he recalls how he himself left his good old mother years before to join the Army of the Potomac at the sound of the drum and fife?"
Changing his trend of thought as he sat blowing the blue smoke of a stogy in graceful ringlets, he continued, "By some writer, it has been said that the boys of this twentieth century are actually dropping out of their home-nests before they can fly, and that scarcely one out of a hundred continues to live in the same house in which he was born. Taking unto himself wings, away he flies, leaving the old mother bird thinking how long it will be until her wandering child returns. But who, with a family of either boys or girls, would ever think of keeping them forever at home? And possibly for the reason that home is everywhere, and no longer as in ye olden time, embraced in one's city or county."
And before taking his departure, my octogenarian friend added, "It used to be said before the breaking out of the European war, that home was to be found
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on an Atlantic steamer. This must have been so before the 'Lusitania' went down, otherwise there wouldn't have been so many excursionists making these ocean palaces of splendor their migratory homes. But-but, when the war is over, all travel will be resumed."
And as the narrator bade his veteran friend a final goodbye before leaving for the Soldiers' Home in the city of Washington, his last parting words were, "There is after all compensation; instead of going to Florida in the winter or to the Yellowstone in the summer, those who cannot afford the expense can, for a dime or a nickel, go to a picture-show, there to witness scenes from every part of the world. And after having feasted their eyes on sights such as we octogenarians had never witnessed, all they have to do on reaching the pavement is to enter a trolley or an automobile to be taken to their homes whether far or near."
Purely a flight of the chronicler's imagination? In part only, for, on the fourteenth of January, came the boys referred to, to gladden the hearts of loved ones anxiously awaiting their return from the Rio Grande. And as a fitting conclusion, let it be said that, while the narrative is not to be turned into a war-story, who can say that the foregoing episode does not touch a tender chord in the hearts of all patriotic mothers in knowing what has hitherto happened may happen again before the volume reaches this or that home with anxious mothers standing at the front door awaiting the delivery man?
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A PRELIMINARY WAR EPISODE
As a final passing, fitting tribute to the boys, it is the duty of all true-hearted American citizens of whatever nationality to stand shoulder to shoulder by the President of this great Republic-the young men possibly to go to war, the mothers, wives and sweethearts to give encouragement in upholding their country's flag of red, white and blue, the emblem of our cherished liberty, with the pledge that right must prevail though the heavens fall.
In weaving into the story the foregoing imaginary episode, if you please, dear reader, no apology needs be made by the chronicler; he has only given way to such thoughts as have permeated all sections of our common country, such as each bulletin inspires as displayed from each newspaper window. With these sentiments, it is the chronicler's hope that before the volume is issued from the press, the war- clouds which darken the horizon may be lifted with each bulletin bringing the cheerful news that right over wrong has prevailed. If exception be taken by the critically disposed, let them not forget that all things are fair in love and war. The chronicler can only conclude the musings of a young girl as she sat in a corner repeating,
In dust lies genius and glory, But ev'ry-day talent will pay. It's only the old, old story, But the piece is repeated each day.
PART I
CHAPTER I
THE START OF THE TOWN IN 1730
ONE hundred eighty and seven years ago, forty- eight years after the arrival of William Penn on the shores of the Delaware, two years before George Washington was born, and fully four decades before the Declaration was proclaimed in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the name Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania, was already on the map, and there it has remained down until the close of this, the year of our Lord 1917.
During these one hundred and eighty-seven years, more than seven generations of dwellers have come, played their part and then passed silently away to be remembered for a time, then forgotten. The history of this city of fifty thousand, if gathered by the chronicler, must be largely from musty records stored away among the archives of other decayed volumes that have served their day and generation. To resurrect these has been not only a duty but a pleasure on the part of the chronicler, actuated with the same desire as have others in rummaging through some old book-shop, sometimes through idle curi- osity, at others, to bring into light things that have
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BIRDS-EYE-VIEW OF OLD LANCASTER, DRAWN BY A LOCAL ARTIST, 1810
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THE START OF THE TOWN IN 1730
long since become old! In tiring of what is new, and by which he is daily surrounded, the souvenir hunter is ever on the go in search of bric-a-brac and other mementoes bearing the mark of age.
Having undertaken the task of compiler, we think we can measure the depth of understanding of most readers who, in addition to statistics, want a little of the human presented in readable shape to while away many a gloomy moment during these times of trouble in the midst of war and rumors of war. And so, if, in the narrative, anything appears to provoke a smile, well and good; on the other hand, if what you cannot approve, let it pass muster, for the reason that in this world there are "many minds of many kinds," all differing as one star differs from another, and yet all able to trace their beginning back to the "Garden of Eden," where both Adam and his beloved Eve lived happily together, until, through Eve's wanting to have the last word in an argument as to the proper way of bringing up their two sons, both were compelled to pass from the garden to end their days pretty much as their de- scendants down even to the present day.
However, our city is not to end its career over trifles. Unless greatly mistaken, it is to take on a new lease of uninterrupted prosperity. The same spirit which has dominated our people in the past will carry them along through this war, only to reap greater blessings at its close.
In the year 1730, when the name Lancaster was placed on the map, the plot of two miles square didn't have as many homes as in this twentieth
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LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW
century, nor was it as well and favorably known as were a few of the New England towns following the arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers at a somewhat earlier period.
At the time when the name Lancaster was placed on the map, there were but three other counties in Pennsylvania-Philadelphia, Bucks and the mother- county, Chester, from which our own was separated in 1729.
In searching the pages of history, the compiler has been unable to find any reference to the state of mind in which the goodly Quakers found themselves after having parted with such an extended scope of country as that contained, at least, in our present nine hundred square miles, rich in all things that should make a people contented and happy.
As the part lying west of the Octoraro had, as early as 1709, become settled by Swiss Mennonites and Scotch-Irish, with the Conestoga Indians causing trouble, the inference to be drawn is that the quiet, peaceful Quakers were only too willing to cast off their troublesome neighbors. And yet it is only reasonable to infer that, before a century had gone by, it began to dawn upon the minds of their descend- ants that they had parted with the richest plot of soil in the United States. Of course, as a soothing balm to their wounded pride, came the consoling reflection that their forefathers had gotten rid of many of the "Dutch," better able and at the same time more willing to remove the tall oaks and hickories before the soil could be utilized for farming purposes.
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THE START OF THE TOWN IN 1730
At the time the county of Lancaster was separated from Chester it covered a pretty large number of acres of Penn's extended domain of about 45,000 square miles. As this was more land than the people of Lancaster County cared to farm even on the shares, in 1749 it gave enough of its broad acres to form the county of York. Again, in 1752, when "Old Berks" wanted to set up housekeeping, Lan- caster, with Philadelphia and Chester, gave another allotted portion of her soil. Next came Dauphin in 1785, taking yet another slice. Again, for the last time in 1818, Lancaster joined Dauphin County with enough of what couldn't readily be utilized, in forming the small Dutch county of Lebanon. It will be observed, however, that while the people of Lancaster County were liberally disposed, they took good care to hold fast to the very best of their former holdings, aggregating some nine hundred square miles. And for this our fore-parents are to be con- gratulated. They might have thrown to Lebanon the Conewago hills with the numerous boulders cropping out here and there, of little use even for ballast.
Not to claim all the credit, each of the counties separated from Lancaster gave enough of their land to form some sixty odd other counties, all embraced within William Penn's forty-five thousand square miles extending from the Delaware to the Ohio and from the lakes to its southern boundary.
However, in seeking still another reason for the separation of Lancaster from the mother county of Chester, it might have been owing to the dialect of
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LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW
various nationalities to suit the English-speaking Quakers; for, at the time, under the wise dispensa- tion of Penn, all were allowed to worship according to their conscience and in their own way without asking permission of the Quakers, and in any language, provided they observed the laws of the Province and those of Great Britain. Of course, the narrator hasn't submitted the foregoing reflec- tions to the Chester County Historical Society to deny or affirm their correctness.
Having settled the question of how the county of Lancaster happened to be formed, the query natur- ally arises, "Who was James Hamilton, the town's founder?" Born in the townstead of Philadelphia in 1710, at the death of his father, Andrew, he became one of the wealthiest, as well as one of the most influential citizens of Pennsylvania. Like most pub- lic men of that day, the father of James had selected and purchased lands in various parts of the Province in expectation of a rise in value. Some of these were where "New Lancaster" now stands. Whether it was one single plot of twenty-five hundred acres handed over to his son James, or in parcels, may be . made the more clear as the narrative continues.
It has been said that young Hamilton was one of the wealthiest of the townstead of Philadelphia. He was a member of the Provincial Assembly in 1834; mayor of Philadelphia in 1745; Lieutenant Governor, 1748. Again appointed Governor, 1759; and for the third time, 1763. He was the only Pennsylvanian appointed to the position of Lieu- tenant Governor after the death of Penn, 1718. James died in New York, 1783, at the age of 73.
Fr
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POSTLETHWAIT'S TAVERN, WHERE COURTS WERE HELD IN 1729-30
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THE START OF THE TOWN IN 1730
At the time the county was separated from Chester in 1729, this young man couldn't have been more than in his twentieth year, and yet a year later, in 1730, he was handed over, if not all, at least the larger portion of what constitutes the city of Lan- caster of today. It would be adding stupidity to Andrew Hamilton's shrewdness and alertness even to suppose that he didn't know what was going on at Postlethwait's. Well he knew that the court of the county was being held at the tavern of John Postlethwait, with another rival a dozen miles further up the river, called "Wright's Ferry," and where a jail for evil-doers had already been erected and around which hangs a tale of absorbing interest, as set forth by historian Rupp in his "History of Lancaster County," published in 1844.
Further mention might be made of Postlethwait's were it not that only a few years ago the Lancaster County Historical Society erected a tablet there to the memory of landlord Postlethwait and numerous descendants, no doubt for their great-grandfather's disappointment.
But how came the townstead to be named Lan- caster? It was given by that invincible Quaker, John Wright, in honor of his own home town, Lancashire, England. If at the time the name Lancaster seemed appropriate for the new-born county, it was equally appropriate for the county seat.
Having made perfectly clear that young James Hamilton did start out in search of his legacy after receiving full instructions from his father, it only
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LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW
remains for the chronicler to describe his journey through an almost unbroken wilderness beset with dangers on every side.
And what were his father's instructions? To make post-haste in reaching the plot in time to have it made the seat of justice, for well he knew or should have known that, unless this could be accom- plished, all his plans might come to naught. But how did young James go? In a four-horse chaise surrounded by a retinue of personal friends? This isn't likely for, at the time, the only pathway was an Indian trail. The one sensible conclusion to be reached is that he started out on a beautiful spring morning with an Indian guide-both on horseback. Following the same line of reasoning, his first stop- over must have been in the village of West Chester, where he rested over night with the Quaker landlord who had no doubt been advised of his coming. That he was kindly received by the young ladies of "sweet eighteen" is scarcely open to doubt. Young, wealthy, well-groomed, with a most striking per- sonality, as his life-size picture shows, in addition to his being a bachelor, it would indeed have been strange for this gallant young man of twenty to have entered the hamlet without his advent becoming known to the leading citizens. Of how he was entertained can only be imagined. And yet, apart from the town's social life, there must have been a few trappers ready to interview their distinguished visitor as to his purpose in going so far from home. Nor is it assuming too much to infer that James wasn't likewise a little anxious to learn what had
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THE START OF THE TOWN IN 1730
taken place with reference to the location of the permanent seat of justice. The danger he well knew lay in procrastination, for, at the time, a week's delay might in all probability have decided the question in favor of one or the other of the sites already mentioned.
Following James Hamilton in imagination as he followed the trail, it is safe to assume that he did reach the Conestoga over which spans the present Witmer bridge. However, as this magnificent struc- ture was not erected until nearly sixty years later, he must have forded his way across. Safely over, on reaching the crest of the steep incline known as "Pott's Hill," who can say that he did not feel himself as much rejoiced as had De Soto after reaching the mighty waters of the Mississippi? Being religiously inclined, who can deny that he knelt down to offer up a prayer on reaching the line separating his two miles square from the county's other acres? The chronicler can only regret his inability to locate the exact spot where this prayer was offered, otherwise a tablet might long since have been erected by the Lancaster County Historical Society to his memory.
What occurred after the weary traveler had reached the Gibson Inn, certain local historians have given as follows: "James Hamilton offered the four commissioners, Caleb Pierce, John Wright, Thomas Edwards and James Mitchell, five places, 'Old Indian field,' 'High plain,' 'Gibson's pasture' with 'Sanderson's,' the other, 'The Waving Hills,' bound- ed by 'Roaring Brook' on the west. Whether the
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LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW
two swamps, one called 'Dark Hazel,' the other 'The Long's,' were included in the offer to seal the bargain may be taken for granted, inasmuch as these were a part of the land grant of two miles square."
History makes only too clear that the founder did transact business with the afore-mentioned commis- sioners under the hickory tree close by the famous spring, also that at least three of the four did possibly yield their former convictions to the persuasive elo- quence of James Hamilton! Had this been otherwise, the plot whereon our city now rests might never have been the seat of justice of the new-born county of Lancaster. Had this actually happened, no one living in this twentieth century can imagine the result. Thankful then that the seat of justice was not permanently continued at the tavern of John Postlethwait, or, if not there, at Wright's Ferry, now Columbia.
Having settled the question of the location of the capital of Lancaster County right here in our midst, what the chronicler would like to do is to picture to the reader the status of the hamlet during the twelve years of its village life. This cannot be done for the reason that down to the time it became a borough in 1742, if any minutes were kept, they must have been lost. However, enough has been written by travelers to show that this community of about two hundred trappers, settlers and Indians residing around the log court house must have been a strange mixture, but how governed we have no means of knowing. We have made diligent search among at least a half dozen families who can trace their
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THE START OF THE TOWN IN 1730
ancestors back to 1730, but without recompense for the time and labor required. It cannot be that they were fearful lest the chronicler give the public what they desired most to suppress, their political and financial status.
Only recently the narrator was met by a gentleman residing in a mansion surrounded by all the com- forts which twentieth century prosperity can bring. Having decided to make inquiry into his family tree, his purpose was to enlist the chronicler in looking up his lineal ancestors. This thankless task was undertaken, only to discover that his pro- genitors were poor in this world's goods, that neither of his numerous family had ever held a public office except that of town constable. Reference is here made to this inquiry to show that it is not well for anyone to go too far back in looking up his family record.
And here the question may arise, What reason had James Hamilton in 1742 to turn the village into a borough? Judging himself as little different from the present-day land-owner, his purpose must have been to find a more ready sale for choice lots around Penn Square, either for ready cash in pounds, shillings and pence, or on the ground-rent plan. And who among the business men of "New Lancaster" can say that the founder did not have an eye single to what was coming to him when it is recalled that these desirable business sites have been growing in value ever since 1742 down even to the close of this year 1917?
From the best information obtainable from writers who visited the hamlet as early as 1742, there could
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LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW
not have been enough inhabitants to seat the Hamil- ton Theatre with a capacity of at least a thousand. Imagine the whole town's population crowded into the "Hamilton" on a Saturday evening?
However, as we come to think it over, the owner of this handsome structure is to be congratulated in naming it "The Hamilton," although few of its frequenters know after which Hamilton it was christened. Making inquiry from the owner as to his right to the name, he replied, after a moment's hesitation, "To keep the founder's name on the map." "
In glancing over the city directory, the chronicler was surprised to find that at least three others had appropriated the name Hamilton without a permit from the agent of the Hamilton estate. Entering the largest watch factory in the world, designated "The Hamilton," in answer to certain pointed questions as to how the company had come by the slogan, the inquisitor was politely informed that the name had been handed down by "James" himself, and for the reason that the identical timepiece he had carried with him in the laying out of the town- stead of two miles square had been manufactured by the company at present bearing the slogan "The Hamilton." Having been shown the relic, the author was assured that it had been running without winding for one hundred and eighty-seven years! Whispering in the off ear of the office boy, the , chronicler impertinently asked how long it would run if wound occasionally?
The reply not being very satisfactory, the chron- ielcr went his way in search of the "Hamilton Hat
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THE START OF THE TOWN IN 1730
Company." Asking to be shown a high-top beaver of the latest design suitable for attending a funeral, from a case came one bearing the name inside, "James Hamilton." This was handed the searcher with the assurance that it had been discovered on the loft of the Gibson Inn before it had been dis- mantled.
Satisfied that the dealer in hats was justified in having appropriated the name Hamilton without having had it copyrighted, the chronicler went his way in search of the "Hamilton Club" for a little something soothing to ward off a congestive chill. eting "George,' the accomplished truthful cat- erer, his guest was handed a draught from a decanter labeled "Gibson." Being a little skeptical as to the genuineness of the brand, his friend was assured that the first invoice had just arrived by parcel post from the Gibson still around which there weren't any twentieth century members of the town's Law and Order Society. Satisfied beyond all doubt that the business men of "New Lancaster" knew how to boost their trade in honor of James Hamilton, off to the "Hamilton Apartment" house the chronicler went his way in search of the builder. Seeing the name "Hamilton" carved over the entrance, up one flight of steps, then another, the octogenarian trudged his weary limbs to be informed by two score inmates that the builder, Hamilton, had been summoned before Saint Peter for having appro- priated the slogan without a written permit from founder Hamilton.
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