During Pennsylvania’s colonial period, the colony’s magistrates relied heavily upon a small group of people who could act as translators and help to negotiate agreements between Pennsylvania and the original occupants of the land, principally the Lenape (Delaware) and the Iroquois (Five Nations). Some of these translators were Europeans who had learned something of the…
The Conestoga River has once again been nominated for the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers “River of the Year” award. There are two other streams in the running (no pun intended), the Lower Schuylkill River and the Chillisquaque Creek. Vote for the Conestoga at the following link: https://pawatersheds.org/vote-for-a-2026-river-of-the-year/ The River of the Year designation…
Yesterday (November 19), the Susquehanna Ramblers invited me to visit the ruins of an old mill site down in the south-east corner of Peach Bottom Township, York County. This time of year is ideal for these kinds of treks because the normally dense underbrush has died back enough to make it easier to see the…
The Society for the Preservation Of Old Mills (SPOOM) holds a photography contest each year. Members can submit exterior and interior photos for inclusion in the contest. The following video highlights the entries and winners for the contest for 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_IdY7MhZoY See www.spoom.org for more information about the society.
On July 28, 2025, the Marquis de Lafayette visited General Edward Hand’s plantation at Rock Ford. This post features a few images from that day. Many people attended the events that day. There was something for everyone but the Marquis and Marchioness were the stars of the show. Rock Ford Mansion The Triumphal Arch A…
During the American Revolution, a French aristocrat who held the title “Marquis de La Fayette” joined Washington’s Continental Army in which he served as a major general. Known in America as “Lafayette”, he was a key figure in the Siege of Yorktown that set up the decisive victory that secured American independence. Later, he returned…