Henry E. Leman was born in Lancaster on March 8, 1812, the eighth child of Jacob and Catherine Leman. Jacob served with the Pequea Rangers during the Revolutionary War. Jacob’s father, Henry’s grandfather, was Daniel Leman who was a...
On Saturday, April 10, I had the opportunity to participate in a kayaking trip on a portion of the Conestoga at the invitation of Todd Roy, president of the Conestoga River Club. One of the goals of this trip was to scout out some locations for an...
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)...
During the 17th century, the North American fur trade was big business. Fur-lined coats with fur collars were highly prized in the European markets. Beaver fur was especially desired because the underside of the coat was waterproof. This lining of tightly packed hairs was used to make...
Happy New Year!
2020 is in the books. To paraphrase Pumbaa, “Let’s put our behinds in our past.” In the last few years, our country has become more and more divided. This divisiveness reached a new high during the stressful times of 2020. But...
December 14 marks the anniversary of a day of infamy in Lancaster History. It is the day when a band of vigilantes from upriver attacked and destroyed Conestoga Town. The...
November is designated as “Native American Heritage Month”. On Thanksgiving Day, many Americans remember the story of the Pilgrims and Native Americans sharing a feast together. Today, some Native Americans observe Thanksgiving Day as...
James D. Law was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1865. After his marriage to Agnus Duff in 1886, he emigrated to the United States and lived in Camden, New Jersey. Law was a business man, involved in various industries. He, together with his son, began making motion pictures...
Adam Reigart, Jr. (1765-1844) was a prominent Lancaster citizen who seems to have been involved in many organizations around the borough/city. He apparently was well respected by his peers because he seems to have been elected president of every new enterprise in the town. His father, Adam Reigart Sr. (1739-1813), was...
When the Erie Canal opened in 1825, linking New York to the Great Lakes, Pennsylvanians became concerned that their markets would be left behind. So Pennsylvania began building its own canal called the "Main Line of Public Works". The Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad connected to port...
