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Ulysses S. Grant has the distinction of being our first American president to write an autobiography. Grant’s two-volume autobiography, The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant, was published by Grant’s close friend Mark Twain shortly after General Grant’s death in 1884. Many have speculated that Twain served as a “ghostwriter” for Grant; it is almost […]
Read MoreSince it’s Women’s History Month, I thought it only appropriate to highlight some lovely stained glass dedicated to the women of the world. These particular panes are found in the Women’s Memorial Room at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Lancaster. Located at the corner of Pine and West Chestnut Streets in Lancaster, the church is […]
Read MoreFraternal organizations have formed for various reasons over the years – from doing charity work to sports and recreation to military service to just getting together with your friends and neighbors for a cold beverage and a good time. In some cases, all of the above. The Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the […]
Read MoreIn June of 1800 an enslaved man from North Carolina walked into the courthouse in Lancaster and demanded his freedom. And he got it. The man was Peter Oliver, a literate, bilingual brickmaker and potter from the Moravian community in what is now Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He knew that the law in Pennsylvania prohibited anyone […]
Read MoreReaders of the popular new novel Lincoln in the Bardo might recall the tale recounted by author George Saunders about an “immense Japanese punch bowl” used by President Lincoln in the White House to hold “ten gallons of champagne punch.” Although much of Saunders’ book is historical fiction, that part is distinctly factual. But what […]
Read MoreOn a warm June Saturday in 1902, Frank Reid Diffenderfer, his family and his neighbors from North Duke Street in Lancaster – the Slaymakers and the Fondersmiths – set out by train to see Miss Blanche Nevin at her home near Churchtown in Caernarvon Township. Miss Nevin had recently taken up residence at […]
Read MoreHappy New Year 1918! Considering that LancasterHistory.org (LHO) has a large collection of old newspapers available to our patrons, I thought that I would take a peak back 100 years to see what news stories were being read by Lancastrians on the eve of New Years in 1918. It will not surprise you that I […]
Read MorePerhaps it’s not the most traditional image of him, but, yes, that’s Santa Claus getting a chest x-ray. Even Santa needs to take care of his health with the occasional wellness screening. He’s got to stay in shape so he can deliver presents to all the good girls and boys all over the […]
Read MoreOn Tuesday, November 14, LancasterHistory.org (LHO) conducted a “History Harvest” for World War I items. One of the items reaped in that harvest was a 1918 copy of Fleisher’s knitting & crocheting manual, published by Fleisher Yarns in Philadelphia. This book, which features knitting and crocheting patterns, was donated by LHO member Denise Lahr. Crocheting […]
Read MoreNewspaper Ad from 1798 A number of healthy German MEN and WOMEN Redemptioners, (among which are several Mechanics) just arrived in Lancaster, and to be sold for a term of years. Apply to Adam Reigart, Jun. This advertisement ran in the Lancaster Journal newspaper on December 29, 1798. Why are German men and women being […]
Read MoreArmor Frey established Turkey Hill Dairy in 1931.