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 4
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The second complaint was against butchers who had been caught in the act of "blowing-up" their meat by the use of pipes. As the minutes fail to make mention of what the "blowing-up" of meat actually meant, the process has been explained by one whose great-grandfather had actually been guilty of this crime, practiced on poor, suffering humanity by the olden-time butchers.
When a slab-sided sheep, calf or other quadruped was slaughtered without the proper outward quality
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for market, a tube was inserted lengthwise within one side and air pumped into the parts with a bellows! After the whole had become well inflated, a coating of hot tallow was carefully poured over the end of the opening, making it difficult for the buyer to discover the trick until the quantity was hung up in the fireplace, no doubt to be cured, as was the custom. As the minutes show, this butcher was fined five pounds with a warning that, for a repe- tition of this trickery, his license would be forfeited.
The next petition signed by some of the women was of so much importance as to cause the clerk to visit "the owners of all 'public bakers,' and weigh whatever bread he finds, which, if deficient according to the standard as provided by act of Assembly, it shall be taken to any one of the burgesses who is empowered to dispose of it for the use of the poor."
What may seem strange to the average twentieth- century housewife is that no complaint was made about the "public bread bakers" in "blowing-up" their bread as had the butchers their meat through pipes. It may have been that the bread bakers had not as yet learned the art of creating "vacuums" in their bread loaves so common at the present day in all cities except "New Lancaster." As it hap- pened, bread was sold by weight in accordance with an act of Assembly. Of course, the minutes fail to show how the bread bakers' scales were adjusted like those of today.
Judging from what is to appear, most of the trickery practiced during recent years must have been handed down from remote times. Again,
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"Whereas, frequent complaint has been made of farmers disposing of their cord wood and not giving sufficient measure, it is ordered that any cord wood so deficient in measure shall be sold for the benefit of the Corporation." Whether this embargo made farmers more careful in knowing just how many sticks a cord was to contain, the clerk had not figured out. However, it is a sorrowful story we have related with others to follow. And now, ye automobile speeders, give ear: "It is ordered that if any persons whatsoever shall presume to gallop any horse or horses through the streets or any part of them, they shall be compelled to pay a fine of twenty shilling for each and every offence for the use of the Corporation." It has been said that the once-upon-a-time "Devil Dave Miller" rode his horse to the second floor of the North American Hotel, where today stands the Hotel Brunswick. He must have learned the trick from some of his ancestors.
"It is also enacted that no firing of guns or other fire-arms loaded with bullet or shot be permitted within the inhabited parts of the town. This shall not be allowed until permission is first given. And whereas, the evil consequences which formerly have arisen by people selling cider and spiritous liquors on the streets to persons in getting 'drunk,' be it ordered that whosoever shall expose cider, beer or intoxicants, at any time hereafter, shall pay a fine of twenty shillings for each and every offence. And whereas, the assembling of persons around the court house in playing ball, has resulted in a breech
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of the peace, to the injury of country people on horseback-for a violation of this order, five shillings shall be paid and collected by the clerk of the market."
It must appear evident to the clerk of the present market committee that this overworked servant of the town must have had his hands full in looking after butchers, public bread bakers, chapmen and, maybe, candlestick makers. And for the clerk of the burgesses, the minutes show the number of small accounts he was compelled to keep, and the time required.
Reformers in the strictest sense of the word these goodly burgesses may have been, having drawn their inspiration from the Pilgrim Fathers. But it should not be overlooked by all twentieth century critics that, apart from correcting certain evils which had been only too common for a dozen years previ- ous, it was money they needed to keep the wheels of the borough in motion. And a portion of this they got from barbers for shaving on the Sabbath day.
At the time of the burgesses' appointment, no- where do the minutes show that they had a single dollar in the treasury; and, as this was needed, the only source of income came from markets, fairs and fines! They were surrounded by plenty of land, but this belonged to the proprietor, James Hamilton. Even what they bought had to be paid for in pounds, shillings and pence or on the ground-rent plan. Of the founder's liberality more may be said as the narrative continues.
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However, by the year 1757, through the closest economy, they had accumulated enough to erect a market house on the site where stands the building over which Lodge No. 43, F. & A. M., was built in 1798. On the completion of the first market house, they must have felt themselves deserving of praise, according to the following: "Whereas, the inhabi- tants of the Borough have, at a very great expense, built a convenient market house on the space speci- fied by the founder for said purpose-Therefore, be it resolved, that, from and immediately after the publication hereof, any butcher found selling or exposing for sale fish, flesh, fowl, or other market products at any other place than within the market house, other than on Wednesdays and Saturdays, shall forfeit the sum of fifteen shillings for each and every offence."
We have no means of knowing how much growling there was over this edict, by farmers and others, but, judging them as a class, they no doubt were compelled to obey the burgesses' mandates or sub- mit to a fine which, with money scarce, ended in their obeying the law.
This convenient (?) market house, as the cost goes to show, was but a temporary structure, built upon poles with a straw covering, common to many of the houses at the time. And here follows what may prove of interest to members of the various fire companies before the paid service came to take their place. It was in 1763 that the burgesses ordered "That forthwith a hose house be built on the northwest corner of the market house, to take
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up in length three pillars, and not more than four feet of the inside of the market house, which space is to contain three engines." This was the first hose house built in the borough of Lancaster. The same year, a company was formed by name "The Sun." To settle a long-disputed question as between the "Union" and the "Sun" as to which had pri- ority, the narrator called on Mr. Henry Demuth, and from the minutes of the "Sun's" proceedings it was ascertained that it was in this same year, 1763, that the "Sun" hose company came into being. On the other hand, the "Union" members claim to have organized their company in 1760.
We have no means of learning from the minutes what kind of fire-engines were in use; no doubt they were like those of the writer's boyhood, requiring what was called "The Bucket Brigade" to draw water from wells and then to be poured into the box-reservoir to be forced out of the nozzle of the hose by a hand arrangement. Compare then this old-time method of fighting fires with engines of the present day run by gasoline and ladder-trucks reaching almost to the tops of the highest buildings.
In this same year, 1763, on the twenty-seventh of December, while the burgomasters were engaged in the solemnities of the sanctuary, came the startling news that a gruesome murder had been committed in the workhouse of the Lancaster jail by a number of Paxton men with a grievance against the Indians who had previously murdered several families of the white settlers along the lower Conestoga.
The following account is taken from a letter by William Henry, Esq., to a friend in Philadelphia:
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"The first notice I had of the affair was when I saw a number of people running down the street toward the jail. About six or eight yards from there, we met from twenty-five to thirty men, well mounted on horses with rifles, tomahawks, and scalping-knives, equipped for murder. Running into the prison-yard, oh, what a horrid sight pre- sented itself to my view! Near the back door of the prison lay an old Indian and his squaw. His name was Will Soc, and across their remains lay two children of about the age of three years whose heads were split open and their scalps taken off."
As the remaining portion of this letter is too grue- some to repeat, it shall be omitted. This in addi- tion history records: "After the Indians had been killed, all parties busied themselves to ascertain who was to blame. The burgesses were charged with remissness of duty, and the people with being in collusion and connivance with the Paxton men. But as history further shows, no convictions were the result."
The chronicler having gone carefully through the minutes of the burgesses, was surprised to find no mention of the occurrence, no doubt for the reason that they didn't want to give too wide publicity to what might reflect upon the town's future. And as for the town's newspaper, there were no reporters meddling with everybody's private and public affairs; they had not as yet been discovered, be- longing as they did to a much later epoch. For this much, at least, the burgesses had cause to be thank- ful.
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But if the burgesses had managed to eliminate from their proceedings all mention of this massacre, the "press" of Philadelphia teemed with pamphlets, letters, appeals, pasquinades, and caricatures, many of which are still preserved in the Philadelphia Library. This one act of violence gave the town- stead more notoriety throughout the Province of Pennsylvania than anything that had occurred since its founding. Reasons for the actions of the Paxton "Boys," as they were called, if at all justifiable, were swept aside. And yet, what occurred at a much later epoch, called the "Christiana Riot," ended in pretty much the same way, with no convictions to follow. Nor have atrocities ceased even down to the present day. If at all justifiable, the massacre of 1763 would seem to have been excusable, owing to conditions at the time of its occurrence between the Indians and white settlers, the former wishing to retain their lands, the latter to possess them.
The chronicler can readily imagine what is upper- most in the reader's mind-why resurrect from the pages of the "Corporation Book" what should have been allowed to rest in oblivion?
CHAPTER IV
AN AWAKENING OF THE BOROUGH OF "OLD LANCASTER" TO HIGHER IDEALS
FROM now on, extending through succeeding years, the reader shall learn of the town's awakening to higher ideals. The first departure from old- time methods came on the seventeenth of September, 1770, with William Atlee following James Rallfe as Chief Burgess. Previous to the election of Burgess Atlee, all oaths were administered in a shorter way. Quoting from the minutes we find the following: "On the 17th day of September, 1770, William Atlee as Chief Burgess of the Borough of Lancaster did take and subscribe to the oath of allegiance, suppremacy and abjuration, and did also take his oath of office before Edward Shippen, Esquire, of the same Borough, appointed by the Hon. John Penn, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania by his Didimus Potestatem, to ad- minister the oaths aforesaid-On the same day, 17 of September, 1770, William Atlee in pursuance of the powers to him given in and by the charter of the said Borough, did administer the oaths of allegiance, supremacy and abjuration to Christian Voght, Burgess, John Hobson, William Henry, George Mayer, Ludwick Lawman, Christian Boogh, assistants."
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This oath taken by Chief Burgess Atlee was in conformity with the new charter passed shortly before by the Provincial Assembly. To divert the reader's attention momentarily from what occurred during the four years of Burgess Atlee's stewardship, mention will be made of certain business pursuits conducted within a square or two from the court house. This mart had already become a beehive of trade and commerce, as business commercially speaking went in those early days.
Few possibly living at the present day have ever heard of Joseph Simon, a worthy, honest Jew. He was agent for the Philadelphia "Gratz Brothers" in many lines of business. As early as 1747 Joseph Simon and some of his friends purchased and laid out what is known as the Jewish graveyard, lying in Manheim Township, south of the Pennsylvania Railroad "Cut-off." This plot has ever since been cared for by the Gratz descendants.
In 1773 Joseph Simon was managing two stores in "Old Lancaster" in partnership with Mr. A. L. Levy, as leading merchants and fur traders in the Ohio valley. Their advertisement, being rather unique, ran as follows:
"Simon and Levy, of Lancaster, take this oppor- tunity of acquainting their friends and the public in general that they have for sale in their stores near the court house, opposite Mr. Thomas Poultney's, a large and general assortment of East India and European goods, suitable to all seasons; these they are determined to sell upon the lowest terms. They have just imported a general assortment of saddlery-
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ware which they can and will sell lower than any other merchant in Lancaster, and take saddles in payment for saddlery.
"Those who will be pleased to favor them with their custom, may depend upon being well treated. They give the highest prices for furs, skins, beeswax and tallow. In the same places I have just imported a general assortment of Iron-Mongry, which they will sell at wholesale and retail on the lowest terms, and will be oblige to their friends, and the public in general for their custom."
While the following were not mentioned in the foregoing advertisement, it can be assumed that they did have on sale at the time a full assortment of articles worn by the well-to-do at that early period, namely, "Garnet colored, paste sleeve and waist coat buttons; paste, fancy cluster earrings and necklaces, sorted, colored; French and colored ditto; stone shoe, knee stock and girdle buckles; shagreen and silver instrument, and tweezer cases; filagree pick tooth cases; silver-joint garnet eyes; neat bracelets and lockets, set with garnets, garnet-heart shirt buckles, set in gold; stone stay hooks, set in silver; true lovers' knots; kneckless and silver rings; patch boxes with looking glasses; black and colored silk cloaks; cardinals and lockets; black and satin flounced hats; plain, flowered and colored hander- chiefs; lace caps; gause ruffles; an assortment of new fashion ribbon; tandem and Irish lace; silver stomachers and sleeve knots; India damask; colored calimancoes; course hair shag and honeycomb shag; superfine duroys; dyed jeans and pillows; corded
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dimity; cotton gowns; fine Dresden tape; scarlet and black everlasting; tailors' sheers; sheep shears and sundry other goods too tedious to mention."
The foregoing has been copied from the "Gratz papers" to show that at the time, in 1770, when William Atlee was elected chief burgess, the borough of "Old Lancaster" had already assumed some importance as a center of commercial activity, not only at home but extending among the fur traders of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys.
In passing along any one of the thoroughfares of "New Lancaster," there are not to be seen ladies decorated with garnets and other costly adornments such as were worn by the better classes during and preceding the Revolution. Expensive gowns im- ported from Paris took the place of the cheaper material on sale in most of the stores here and else- where of this twentieth century.
It will be noticed that in the advertisement no mention was made of hoops, no doubt for the reason that they had not as yet come into style; and so large were they during our boyhood as to go thrice round a sugar hogshead with a few remaining. Shawls for men took the place of overcoats. But what has become of the "Walking Gentleman" with high black silk hat, satin vest, and trousers fastened with a strap under his calf skin boots to keep them from bagging at the knees?
However, dress, travel, education, amusements- all have changed so completely as to cause the octo- genarian narrator to wonder from what source the girls are to draw their styles of dress a six months
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hence? In seeing a bunch passing along this or that street, arm in arm, with no two hats alike, no two gowns of the same color, cut or finish, we step out of their way, wondering what the world is coming to! But it is easily to be seen that the old-time dress- maker is no longer in evidence. Stopping in front of a show-window, all that a twentieth century girl of the "period" has to do is to step within and disrobe, when a half hour later out she emerges a new made being. And as she goes her way trippingly along in her white shoes and silk hose a yard in length, who will say that the girls of "New Lan- caster" haven't outdone the girls of Revolutionary times, and at one third the cost?
There is yet one class of farmers' daughters and sons who have not grown poor from over dress. We feel like congratulating the rosy-faced country girls, and for the reason that they don't have to sit up for a six months worrying over what the Parisian styles are to be a half year later.
Begging our dear girls' pardon for having tres- passed upon their exclusive domain, it may be neces- sary in order to determine what had remained in doubt at the time of Burgess Atlee's first year in office, to bring to the attention of the historical student the question of ownership of the ground given by the founder for market purposes.
"One of Mr. Atlee's first acts was to write James Wright, at Columbia, requesting him to make search among his deceased father's, John Wright's, papers, also among those of the late Samuel Blunson's, for the deed given the trustees for the market ground
ISTEINMANS
CASTORE
framan ambrotype. taken by Dr. Fahnestock. from his house.
WEST KING STREET ABOUT 1850, LOOKING TOWARD THE COURT HOLIOF JU! -
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belonging to the Corporation." The following is the answer to Burgess Atlee's letter:
"That Mr. Wright has informed Mr. Atlee of his having found the deed, which matter having been considered by the Burgesses, it is agreed that said deed be recorded after Mr. Atlee and the High constable shall have called on him for the same."
Let it be said that upon this deed much litigation is to follow. It was ordered by the burgesses to be recorded in the Recorder's office here in Lancaster. But the narrator has been unable to find it any- where on record.
This plot of ground whereon stands our city hall, and that portion over which Blue Lodge was erected as a superstructure in 1798, consisted of one hundred and twenty feet square. It extended northward and where now stands the present brick market house, formerly occupied by rows of frame shops and offices. If the reader has the patience to await the time, the minutes of burgesses and councils may set at rest the disturbing question as to the ownership of city hall, called at times "The State House."
Ever active in well-doing for the uplift of the borough, at a meeting in 1772, Burgess Atlee sub- mitted to his colleagues the draught of a bill prepared by Mr. Ross and himself, to be laid before the Assembly of the Province to be enacted into a law. As the minutes of the Corporation Book show, it was the first call upon the law-making power of the Province for the elimination of certain evils, called "nuisances," with which the town had been afflicted. And here follows the action of the Burgesses.
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"As Mr. Ross is at present in Philadelphia, attend- ing the Assembly, he is requested to use his influence in giving Magistrates the same power as have justices of the peace in the county in determining controversies and other matters which affect the inhabitants of the Borough of Lancaster. Also, to enable the Burgesses to make rules and ordinances for the town's government in some constitutional way less troublesome and more convenient than formerly."
Space alone forbids the narrator from giving a sketch of the life of plain George Ross, Esquire, and consequently the Corporation Book must be relied on for what is to follow.
It was at a meeting of the burgesses on the third day of October, 1772, "that several reputable citi- zens were present with the request that the thanks of the Corporation be given Emanuel Carpenter, Esquire, and George Ross, Esquire, for their services as Representatives of the General Assembly of the Province." The following addresses were presented to these gentlemen, to wit:
"In behalf of the services rendered by you, Emanuel Carpenter, as one of the Representatives for the county of Lancaster for these seventeen years past, the Burgesses have directed that the thanks of the Corporation be offered you, with the assurance of their approbation of your steady and uniform conduct in that station. And as you have declined serving your county in that capacity, I am charged that it is the earnest wish of the inhabitants of Lancaster that you may be continued in the com-
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mission of the peace and a judge in our County court, where you have so long presided, and de- servedly acquired and supported the character of an upright, impartial magistrate."
Signed, "CASPER SHAFFNER, Town Clerk, dated Lancaster October third, 1772"
Here follows the reply:
"Gentlemen: The approbation you express of my conduct both as a representative and a Magistrate for this county gives me great satisfaction. I hope to continue to deserve your good opinion by en- deavoring to discharge any trust reposed in me with impartiality and fidelity."
Signed, "EMANUEL CARPENTER."
Letter of thanks to George Ross:
"To George Ross: I am authorized, Sir, to say that the inhabitants of the Borough intended to have shown their sense of your services and be- havior by re-electing you, but as, by an unexpected opposition of a part of the county whose Deputies had agreed with them in fixing you on the ticket; and thereby rendered themselves less active in sup- porting you, that hath been prevented; they there- fore take this method of testifying their approbation of your conduct as one of the Representatives in Assembly. And I am directed, Sir, in this public manner to communicate it to you.
"CASPER SHAFFNER, Clerk."
Here follows the answer:
"Accept my thanks for your kind and public appreciation of my conduct while I had the honor
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of representing you in the Assembly-permit me also with the greatest sincerity to assure you that my actions while I had that honor, were altogether governed by what I conceived in conscience would tend to increase the advantage and happiness of this Province, the trade whereof I have always had in view and endeavored to promote: The same principles and motives induced me to oppose the unreasonable request made for an additional number of Representatives for the city of Philadelphia. As I conceive it a just balance necessary for pre- serving the liberties of the whole Government. As the city and county of Philadelphia are now fully represented in Assembly, I shall at all times, when within my power, render every acceptable service to the Borough and county of Lancaster. And shall always retain a proper sense of this, your kind ad- dress, being sincerely your and my country's friend."
Signed, "GEORGE Ross."
These were tributes worthy the cause these two great men had espoused in behalf of their constit- uents. However, it was at the close of Burgess Atlee's fourth consecutive term of office that the following substantial tribute of confidence and respect was paid him by the Corporation. That mention has hitherto been made by other historians, makes it none the less worthy of finding a place in the chronicler's narrative:
"In consideration of the services Mr. Atlee has done for the Borough in penning and preparing the above laws, and refusing to accept a draft on the Treasurer for the same, it is unanimously agreed
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(he having retired at the request of the other gentle- men present) that Mr. Henry Lowman and Mr. Hobson have some piece of plate made as shall be agreeable to Mrs. Atlee-genteel and not too ex- pensive, and present the same to her as testimony of their approbation of Mr. Atlee's conduct in serving the Borough." Where this presentation was made, and its value, is not material to the chronicler.
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