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...
This is the third article in the series in which we are taking a journey through time on the historic waters of the Conestoga River. In the first article, I covered the conditions of the Conestoga prior to European settlement. We looked at how the Conestoga watershed...
This is the second article in the series in which we are taking a journey through time on the historic waters of the Conestoga River. In the first article, I covered the conditions of the Conestoga prior to European settlement. We looked at how the Conestoga watershed...
The Conestoga River meanders for sixty miles through the fertile farmlands of Lancaster County. From early Native American inhabitants to the European settlers who made the Conestoga Valley their home, the river has provided sustenance and transportation for generations. Victorian era resorts and hotels were built along...
Welcome to the third installment of “Amazing Milling Machinery”. In each of these articles I highlight an object that might be found in a typical 19th century, water-powered grist mill. Today’s featured gadget is a dust collector. This device collects flour dust from the air and vents...
Many of the first European settlers of Lancaster County (originally part of Chester County) came to this part of the world to escape religious persecution. Among these were the French Huguenots with names like Feree, Lefevre, and Leman. Others were the Swiss-German anabaptists named Herr, Funk, Bowman,...
If you travel on the old Strasburg Pike, you have probably noticed an old mill that is sitting almost on the road, about one half mile south of the Lincoln Highway. On the side of the mill is painted a fading sign that advertises John H. Bonholtzer’s...
It’s Monday morning! As I mentioned last week, today is the last installment of my Mill Monday series. I haven’t covered all the mills that are still standing in Lancaster County, and I apologize if I didn’t feature your favorite mill. But all good things must come...
It’s Monday morning! Time to feature another one of Lancaster County Pennsylvania’s water-powered grist mills. Today I will feature a popular destination on the Pequea Creek in Conestoga Township. Sickmans mill has featured a campground and tubing excursions on the Pequea for many years although, like many...
It’s Monday morning! Time to feature another one of Lancaster County Pennsylvania’s water-powered grist mills. Today we travel back to Manor township and visit another mill on the Little Conestoga just downstream from Maple Grove. This is one of the oldest mill sites in the county, dating...
