Historic Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the Restoration of Its Downtown: Mary K. Kreider Scrapbooks, July 1964-June 1987

Collection: The Scrapbook Collection

Call No.: MG-434, Boxes 015-020

Title:  Historic Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the Restoration of Its Downtown: Mary K. Kreider Scrapbooks, July 1964-June 1987

Dates: July 1964-June 1987

Extent: 6 volumes

Creator: Mary K. Kreider, compiler.

Repository:  LancasterHistory.org (Lancaster, Pa.)

Shelving Location:  Archives South, Side 20

System of Arrangement:  

Book 1: Historic Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the Restoration of Its Downtown: Mary K. Kreider Scrapbook, July 1964-July 1978

Book 2: Historic Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the Restoration of Its Downtown: Mary K. Kreider Scrapbook, March 1975-March 1979

Book 3: Historic Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the Restoration of Its Downtown: Mary K. Kreider Scrapbook, April 1979-November 1979

Book 4: Historic Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the Restoration of Its Downtown: Mary K. Kreider Scrapbook, December 1979-November 1980

Book 5: Historic Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the Restoration of Its Downtown: Mary K. Kreider Scrapbook, December 1980-July 1983

Book 6: Historic Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the Restoration of Its Downtown: Mary K. Kreider Scrapbook, July 1983-June 1987


Description:   Historic Lancaster Pennsylvania and the Restoration of Its Downtown: Mary K. Kreider Scrapbooks is a collection of six scrapbooks of newspaper clippings depicting the restoration of historic sites and businesses located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  With the help of non-profit organizations and government aid, the Lancaster community was able to begin a beautification project of architectural structures throughout the county. Each volume contains information about the preservation of different sites.

Book 1 shows the beginning of the project and the layout of the historical markers to be placed throughout the county.  It shows Lancaster’s downtown walking tour, as well as the locations of several businesses and historic sites located in the city.  Some of the places cited are Central Market, Landis Valley Museum, Strasburg Railroad, Hager’s Store, Lancaster County Court House, Wright Mansion, Hotel Brunswick, M. T. Garvin’s Department Store, Lancaster General Hospital and Cabbage Hill. 

Book 2 mentions a variety of new places including Franklin and Marshall College, Hans Herr House, Wheatland, F. W. Woolworth’s Department Store, Swan Hotel and historic homes. This book displays articles about Lancaster’s Annual Summer Arts Festivals that occurred between 1975 and 1978.  Kreider placed the published results of a United States Historic Register survey in this scrapbook.

Book 3 was compiled by Kreider from April to November 1979.  Although book three does have some articles about restoration, the majority of it contains articles about new buildings and public issues that were facing the community. The historical restoration portion covers the Ephrata Cloister, Hamilton Watch Company and Swan Hotel.  The new building development occurred throughout the county and included new housing and luxury condominiums.  Some of the major issues that were focused on were gas rationing, development of the city, and standardizing education.

Book 4 returns to focusing on historic Lancaster and the need for building restorations.  Like books one and two, this scrapbook contains articles about Lancaster Heritage Center, Cabbage Hill, Central Market, Hotel Brunswick, Hager’s Store, Hans Herr House and Lancaster General Hospital.  However, it also introduces new projects that include Millersville State College (Millersville University of Pennsylvania), Lancaster Paint and Glass Company, Thaddeus Stevens’ house, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Ellicott house, White Chimneys (also known as the Slaymaker Mansion) and covered bridges throughout the county.  Kreider also collected articles written about the new Horse Mounted Patrol Unit of the Lancaster City Police Department. 

In Book 5, Kreider compiled articles about Lancaster City, Mount Joy and Strasburg.  Cameron Estate Inn and Restaurant, located in Mount Joy, was part of the restoration project to aid the tourist industry. Lancaster City restoration projects included Rossmere Sanatorium, Lancaster General Hospital, Williamson’s Department Store, Lancaster County Prison, Lancaster Newspapers Inc., Hamilton Technology School, Bowman Technical School, and the Demuth Home and Museum. The Strasburg Railroad and Railroad Museum were also being updated during this period.  Articles about the dedication of Steinman Park, American Bank and Trust Company, National Trust for Historical Preservation and the Heritage Center of Lancaster were collected and secured into the scrapbook.

Book 6 is a conglomeration of articles that concludes the restoration books.  Although some new projects are being introduced, Kreider displays clippings that show the final outcome of the restoration projects.  The new projects were Rock Ford Plantation and Germantown.  Prominent Lancastrians are also mentioned including John Ward Willson Loose, Lloyd Mifflin, J. P. McCaskey and Charles Demuth.  The Junior League of Lancaster and Hamilton Club are two organizations that are mentioned throughout book six.  The projects that were completed include Penn Square, Bowman Technical School, Lancaster County Courthouse, Hamilton Apartments, Strasburg Railroad, Franklin and Marshall College, Central Market and Hans Herr House.  Overall, the six scrapbooks show the restoration of Lancaster and the development towards the tourist industry.

 

Conditions for Access:  Books 1-6: Please fill out a call slip for viewing.

Conditions Governing Reproductions:  May not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.

Language:  English

Source of Acquisition:  Source unknown.

 

Subjects:  Loose, John Ward Willson.

Demuth, Charles, 1883-1935.

McCaskey, J. P. (John Piersol), 1837-1935.

Central Market (Lancaster, Pa.)

Ephrata Cloister.

Franklin and Marshall College.

Hamilton Club of Lancaster.

Hamilton Watch Company.

Heritage Center of Lancaster County.

Historic Rock Ford Plantation and Kauffman Museum (Lancaster, Pa.)

Lancaster General Hospital (Lancaster, Pa.) — History.

Landis Valley Museum (Lancaster, Pa.)

Millersville University of Pennsylvania.

Museum Council of Lancaster County (Pa.)

National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

Strasburg Rail Road.

Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant (Pa.)

Watt & Shand and Company.

Young Men’s Christian Association of Lancaster, Pa.

Courthouses.

Historic buildings.

Trolley cars.

Scrapbooks.

Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)

Lancaster (Pa.)

Cabbage Hill (Lancaster, Pa.)

Penn Square (Lancaster, Pa.)

Lancaster County (Pa.). — History, local.

 

Custodial History: Previously housed in the Scrapbook Collection, Book 159-164.

Cataloged by: CRB, October 2007.

This project was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, ME60112, 2007-2008.