Farmer: Dr. John L. Farmer, Abbeville Collection
Call number: MG-228
3 boxes 61 folders 2 cubic ft.
Repository: LancasterHistory.org (Lancaster, Pa.)
Shelving Location: Archives South, Side 6
Description: Collection contains deeds for the Abbeville property from 1750-1929, when it was purchased by C. Dudley Armstrong. Mr. Armstrong did extensive renovations and kept over 75 blueprints of the work that was done. A landscape drawing includes a variety of plantings, dated 1937. Also, an 1889 colored ink drawing of the plot plan. Includes correspondence, deeds, maps, photographs, calendar, newspaper and articles, drawings, registration and certificate for the National Register of Historic Places, detailed renovation drawings and notes, concert and tour materials, and burglary reports.
Creator: Farmer, John L.
System of Arrangement: Organized by document type.
Conditions for Access: No restrictions.
Conditions Governing Reproductions: Collection may not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.
Language: English
Source of Acquisition: Gift of Mrs. Elizabeth Farmer Jarvis, 23 April 1994, in honor of Dr. John L. Farmer.
Box 1 Oversized
Folder 1 Brief Description of Title To Abbeville, 1717 – 1917 also a letter from Dr. John L. Farmer to Richard Appel, 1968.
Folder 2 Deed, from Christian Stoneman to John Jacob Brubaker, 1750
Folder 3 Deed from Christopher Brenner to William Coleman, 1825.
Folder 4 Deed from William Coleman to Langdon Cheves, 1826.
Folder 5 Deed from William Coleman to Trustees of Abbeville Institute, 1835.
Folder 6 Deed from Trustees of Abbeville Institute to Alexander L. Hayes, Esq. 1840.
Folder 7 Deed from Alexander B. Hayes to William F. Boone (Peter Stout), 1847.
Folder 8 Deed from Peter Stout to John Kelly, 1849.
Folder 9 Deed from John Kelly to Joseph Gonder & Ann Gonder, 1850.
Folder 10 Deed from Ann Gonder to William Mathiot, 1852.
Folder 11 Deed from William Mathiot/Ann Gonder to John Herr, 1852.
Folder 12 Deed from John Herr to Tobias Herr, 1854.
Folder 13 Deed from Tobias Herr to Henry Campbell, 1855.
Folder 14 Deed from Henry Campbell to Christopher Hager, 1855.
Folder 15 Deed from Henry Campbell to Christopher Hager, 1855.
Folder 16 Deed from Henry Campbell to Christopher Hager, 1856.
Folder 17 Deed from John Hager et al to Charles Hager, 1871.
Folder 18 Deed from Charles F. Hager to John S. Gleim, 1888.
Folder 19 Deed from John S. Gleim to Dr. M. S. Herr, 1894.
Folder 20 Deed from Wm. Herr, et al to John W. Appel, Jr., 1921.
Folder 21 Deed from John W. Appel, Jr. to C. Dudley Armstrong, 1929.
Folder 21.5 Map
Item 1. Services Directory of Lancaster Township 1986.
Item 2. Index map of Lancaster County, 1899.
Item 3. Page of Lancaster Union Newspaper, 1837. (in mat)
Item 4. Negative of First floor plan by Andrew Jarvis, 1977.
Item 5. Folder of photocopies of newspaper articles.
Item 6. Stencil of “Abbeville”
Item 7. Two cyanotypes of Abbeville in mat, 1991.
Item 8. Photograph calendar, 1916 and one photograph.
Item 9. Pen and ink sketch of Abbeville by Paul Ripple.
Item 10a. Photocopy of Lancaster New Era, August 14, 1995, article of the current owners of Abbyville, Robert and Ruth Ecklin: “The Sky Is The Limit”.
Item 10b. Page 2 of the above.
Item 10c. Original newspaper of item 10a and 10b.
Box 2
Folder 22 Photograph, Gleim Family (1888-1894). (1 + 1 copy)
Folder 23 Photographs, early 1900s, no dates. (6 + 2 copies)
Folder 24 Photographs, 1920s. (7)
Folder 25 Photographs, 1928. (2 + 2 copies)
Folder 26 Photographs, 1928. (2 + 2 copies)
Folder 27 Photographs, 1928. (2 + 2 copies)
Folder 28 Photograph of jail door, before WW II. (1)
Folder 29 Photographs 1948, Mrs. C. Dudley Armstrong. (2 + 2 copies)
Folder 30 Photographs, 1973. (4 + 4 copies)
Folder 31 Photographs, 1973. (5 + 5 copies)
Folder 32 Photographs, Mrs. John Farmer, 1973. (10 + 10 copies)
Folder 33 Photographs, No dates. (4)
Folder 34 Application to Pennsylvania Register of Historic Places for Abbeville, (included: Abbeville in 1970 by Clyde Groff), 1977.
Folder 35 Nomination and correspondence re National Register of Historic Places, 1978.
Folder 36 Registration in National Register of Historic Places, 1978 and Certificate for Abbeville, 1979.
Folder 37 Correspondence of Elizabeth Farmer regarding Abbeville, 1976-1978, 1982, 1983, 1993.
Folder 38 Dr. John Farmer’s Letters and Notes, 1954, 1967.
Folder 39 Letter and Notes from Mrs. Dudley Armstrong regarding Abbeville, 1959.
Folder 40 Correspondence and Papers of Property Alterations, 1929-1930.
Folder 41 Specifications for Additions and Alterations, 1929.
Folder 42 Hardware for Alterations, 1929-1931.
Folder 43 Builders Notes and Quote Letter, 1929-1931.
Folder 44 History of Langdon Cheves, 1967.
Folder 45 Photocopies of Abbeville, 1920s-1970s.
Folder 46 Newspaper Articles on Abbeville, 1925-1979.
Folder 47 House & Garden Magazine Photo of Abbeville, 1941.
Folder 48 News Clips, Abbeville Mill, etc., 1972, 1979.
Folder 49 Ticket to a Concert at Abbeville, 1975.
Folder 50 Garden Tour, 1980.
Box 3
Folder 51 Burglaries at Abbeville, 1981, 1982.
Folder 52 Tea and House and Garden Tour, 1982.
Folder 53 Appraisal of Abbeville, 1955.
Folder 54 8 Colored Slides of Abbeville, 1955.
Folder 55 Abbeville Photo Negatives, 1977-1994.
Folder 56 Small Pen and Ink Sketch of Abbeville.
Folder 57 Abbeville Stationary and Photo.
Folder 58 “Abbeville in 1970” by Clyde L. Groff. Research papers included.
Folder 59 Papers on the Site of the Abbeville Mennonite Church and Cemetery, 1750-1792.
Folder 60 Letter to Dr. Farmer from Fairfield Historical Society, Fairfield, CT, 1988.
Blueprints
B-1 First and second floor plans (pre-alteration). Feb. 6, 1929.
B-2 Basement and third floor plans (pre-alteration). Feb. 6, 1929.
B-3 Plan of Abbeville Property (torn). Feb., 1929.
B-4A,B Proposed first floor, Feb.- Mar., 1929.
B-5A,B Proposed second floor, Feb.- Mar., 1929.
B-6 Proposed third floor Feb – Mar., 1929
B-7A,B,C Proposed entry Feb – March 1929
B-8 Proposed first floor Mar – Apr 1929
B-9 Proposed second floor Mar – Apr 1929
B-10 Proposed second floor detail Mar – Apr 1929
B-11 Proposed third floor Mar – Apr 1929
B-12 Proposed restoration base floor plan 6/20/29 drawing #1 (job 169)
B-13 Proposed restoration first floor plan 6/20/29 drawing #2 (job 169)
B-14 Proposed restoration second floor plan 6/20/29 drawing #3 (job 169)
B-15 Proposed restoration third floor plan 6/20/29 drawing #4 (job 169)
B-16 Proposed restoration first floor service wing detail 6/20/29 drawing #5 (job 169)
B-17 Proposed restoration second floor service wing detail 6/20/29 drawing #6 (job 169)
B-18 Proposed restoration rear entrance and service wing elevations 6/20/29 drawing #7 (job 169)
B-19 Proposed restoration dining room and library details 6/20/29 drawing #8 (job 169)
B-20 Proposed restoration breakfast porch details 6/20/29 drawing #9 (job 169)
B-21 Proposed restoration present basement floor plan 6/20/29 drawing #10 (job 169)
B-22 Proposed restoration present first floor plan 6/20/29 drawing #11 (job 169)
B-23 Proposed restoration present second floor plan 6/20/29 drawing #12 (job 169)
B-24 Proposed restoration present third floor plan 6/20/29 drawing #13 (job 169)
B-25 Proposed restoration cellar and piping plan, hot water 6/20/29 drawing #14HA (job 169)
B-26 Proposed restoration first floor plan, hot water 6/20/29 #15HA (job 169)
B-27 Proposed restoration second floor plan, hot water 6/20/29 #16HA (job 169)
B-28 Proposed restoration third floor plan, hot water 6/20/29 #17HA (job 169)
B-29 Proposed restoration cellar and piping plan (vapor) 6/20/29 #18HB (job 169)
B-30 Proposed restoration first floor plan, vapor 6/20/29 #19HB (job 169)
B-31 Proposed restoration second floor plan, vapor 6/20/29 #20HB (job 169)
B-32 Proposed restoration third floor plan, vapor 6/20/29 #21HB (job 169)
B-33 Entrance gate (no date)
B-34 Reception room elevation (no date)
B-35 Sketch of third floor chimney construction (no date)
B-36 Library book shelving (no date)
B-37 Shelving detail (no date)
B-38 Detail of radiator enclosures (no date)
B-39 Radiator recess details (no date)
B-40 Chair rail, baseboard, and stair platform (no date)
B-41 Suggestion for dining room (no date)
B-42 Suggestions for breakfast porch (no date)
B-43 Rear entrance (no date)
B-44 Rear entrance door (no date)
B-45 Section through cornice – new rear addition (no date)
B-46 Change details – service wing (no date)
B-47 Kitchen and pantry dressers (no date)
B-48 Bathroom detail (no date)
B-49 Dormer detail (no date)
B-50 Detail of new rear dormer (no date)
B-51 Detail of frame for aqualator (no date)
B-52 Reception room elevation – new door to hall 8/3/29
B-53 Detail of key block (archway) 9/10/29
B-54 Details of living room 10/8/29
B-55 Detail – head of over mantle – living room 10/10/29
B-56 Detail – living room cornice 10/10/29
B-57 Detail – living room cornice (revised) 10/23/29
B-58 Mantle detail – jamb and elevation 10/10/29
B-59 Library shelving f.s.d. 9/27/29
B-60 Library shelving f.s.d. omitting ornament 10/8/29
B-61 Library shelving f.s.d. omitting ornament 10/8/29
B-62 Detail of library book shelving 9/26/29
B-63 Detail of library book shelving omitting ornament 10/8/29
B-64 Detail of library book shelving – rev. ornament 10/25/29
B-65 Detail – dining room fireplace 9/25/29
B-66 New dining room door 9/24/29
B-67 Dining room 9/24/29
B-68 Dining room 9/24/29
B-69 Breakfast room 9/21/29
B-70 Breakfast room (added details) 9/21/29
B-71 Breakfast room details 9/25/29
B-72 Breakfast room fireplace hood 11/23/29
B-73 Detail of kitchen and pantry dressers (see B-47 also) (no date)
B-74 Kitchen details 7/19/28
B-75 Kitchen fireplace hood 10/29/29
B-76 New window (servant’s room?) 8/16/29
B-77 Closet in rear entrance vestibule 11/ /29
B-78 Detail of screen doors 3/13/30
B-79 Radiator enclosure 5/11/30
B-80 Radiator enclosure detail 5/16/30
B-81 Details of 2nd and 3rd floor closets 9/18/29
B-82 Wardrobes in guests’ bedroom 9/20/29
B-83 Wardrobes in west wing bedroom 10/31/29
B-84 Plaster cornice – west wing bedroom 10/29/29
B-85 Bookrack in daughter’s room 7/21/30
B-86 First floor trim list (no date)
B-87 Second floor trim list (no date)
B-88 Third floor trim list (no date)
B-89 Landscape sketch plan (no date)
B-90 Topographical survey (Very fragile, corner missing) 1/30
B-91 General landscape design plan 1930
B-92 Tentative grades, gutter and storm sewer 4/ /30
B-93 Existing conditions plan (buildings and tree variety, location and description) 7/37
B-94 Septic tank 8/5/29
B-95 Details of arbor 3/10/30
B-96 Plan for trellis east wing 7/19/30
B-97 Scheme for Abbeville entrance (no date)
B-98 Details of brick octagon and fencing 3/10/30
B-99 Proposed screen enclosure for rear porch (rev.) 5/4/31
B-100 Arbor at rear porch 5/4/31
B-101 Addition to rear porch trellis (no date)
B-102 Guest house reference print 5/19/27
B-103 Garage/stable house – alternate east elevation (no date)
B-104 Garage/stable house – alternate east elevation (no date)
B-105 Garage/stable house – alternate east elevation (no date)
B-106 Garage/stable house – plan of 1st and 2nd floors (no date)
B-107 Alterations to barn (garage/stable house) (no date)
B-108 Preliminary drawing of squash/tennis court 5/13/37
B-109A Enclosure for greenhouse (kept both for legibility, pencil notes, and poor condition of both) 2/6/64
B-109B Enclosure for greenhouse (kept both for legibility, pencil notes, and poor condition of both) 2/6/64
B-110 Property survey for Herr Estate 12/54
B-111 WGAL-TV plot plan 9/12/55
B-112A Property description – subdivision of Farmer property adjoining WGAL-TV sold to Thomas Barry 11/28/55
B-112B Plot plan of above 11/25/55
B-112C Envelope for above – date stamped 12/27/55
B-113 Plot plan of ABBEVILLE, 5 acres and 78 perches, Lancaster, PA, 1889. 17″ x 36″ colored ink topographical drawing, includes buildings.