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Written by James McMahon, Ph.D. “… no man stands higher in business and social circles in the city of Lancaster than this man, who has been crowned with success.” Portrait and Biographical Record of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1894 Milton Snavely Hershey, the man behind the chocolate bar, was in many ways a son of Lancaster. […]
Read MoreWritten by Elizabeth McIlhenney Wilbur “Willie” Siple (1904-1966) was the operator of Siple’s News Stand for many years. He was originally a professional boxer when he was younger, and he had a successful, but short, boxing career. During those six years, Willie fought in 131 exhibitions with 71 wins, 9 losses, 22 draws and 29 […]
Read MoreThe last in a series of three articles on the Kegel: World War I Papers of Thomas, James and Victor Kegel, 1917–2014 (MG-798) Written by Elizabeth McIlhenney The Kegel Chronicles, Part Three: In the Hospital and Heading Home All three Kegel brothers ended up in the base hospital at one time or another while fighting […]
Read MoreThe second in a series of three articles on the Kegel: World War I Papers of Thomas, James and Victor Kegel, 1917–2014 (MG-798) Written by Elizabeth McIlhenney “Somewhere in France” After months of hard work and preparation, the Kegel Brothers and the 1st Company 109th Machine Gun Battalion, shipped off overseas. First was a pit […]
Read MoreThe first in a series of three articles on the Kegel: World War I Papers of Thomas, James and Victor Kegel, 1917–2014 (MG-798) Written by Elizabeth McIlhenney The Kegel Chronicles, Part One: Life at Training Camp After the United States’ entrance into the First World War on April 6, 1917, many of the men in […]
Read MoreMG-360: Paul A. Mueller, Jr. Collection written by Elizabeth McIlhenney, Archives Volunteer The Paul A. Mueller, Jr. Collection is a collection of family heirlooms passed down from generation to generation in the Zahm, Shreiner, and Cochran families, from the years 1774 to 1916. The collection features many interesting pieces that are of historical value, such […]
Read MoreThe Farmers’ Fair Collection, MG-146 written by Elizabeth McIlhenney, Archives Volunteer LancasterHistory.org is home to the extensive Farmers’ Fair Collection. The collection contains premium lists, fliers, stock certificates, entry blanks, and much more memorabilia from Farmers’ Fairs in Lancaster County spanning many years. A premium list is a guide to the fair containing entry categories […]
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 MoreThe Slumbering Order of Hibernating Governors (ie. the Groundhogs) was founded by George Hensel in Quarryville in 1908.