# DonaldKautz.com

> Author, Historian, Photographer


## Posts

- [The Story of Seneca George](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/the-story-of-seneca-george/): 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 Indian culture and languages. The most notable of these was the German immigrant, Conrad Weiser. Conrad had spent some time among the Mohawks in New York as a teenager and had become fluent in that language. The Mohawks were the eastern-most tribe of the Iroquois. Other […]
- [River of the Year](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/river-of-the-year/): 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 comes with a $15,000 grant which would go a long way to help the Conestoga River club sponsor water cleanups, Lancaster Water Week events, and other educational events. Some of the money could also go toward the Ad Crable Environmental Writing Lecture series in honor of […]
- [Cooper's Mill](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/coopers-mill/): 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 ruins. This site was especially interesting to me because it does not appear on any of the other lists of York County mills. The mill was located along Michael Run less than a mile from the Susquehanna Canal. The 1860 map of York County shows a […]
- [SPOOM Photo Contest 2025](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/spoom-photo-contest-2025/): 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. See www.spoom.org for more information about the society.
- [Lafayette Reenactment - Part II](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/lafayette-reenactment-part-ii/): 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. A fife and drum corps played patriotic tunes as the guests waited for the Marquis’ arrival. Soon, a boy ran down the lane proclaiming, “The Marquis is coming!” First the escort band marched in, followed by the “Committee of Arrangement” made up of the 1825 Mayor of Lancaster and other local dignitaries. Then, […]
- [Lafayette Reenactment - Part I](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/lafayette-reenactment-part-i/): 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 to France where he was also a major player in the French Revolution of 1789. He wrote the first draft of the French civil rights document, “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen”. In 1824, at the invitation of President James Monroe, Lafayette […]
- [Turbine Maintenance at the Ressler Mill](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/turbine-maintenance-at-the-ressler-mill/): After 118 years of operation, one of the water turbines at the Ressler Mill needed to be refurbished. This article describes the project engaged in 2024/25 to remove, refurbish, and replace the turbine. The Ressler mill employs two turbines, an 18” S. Morgan Smith turbine powers the corn (feed) mill and a 24” Fitz-Burnham turbine powers the roller mill (flour) side of the mill. Jacob Ressler replaced the older, overshot water wheels with these turbines in 1906. The mill has been in more-or-less continuous operation through 1977. Since that time the mill has been open as a museum. The museum operates […]
- [Mendelssohn's Birthday](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/mendelssohns-birthday/): On February 3, 1899, on the 90th anniversary of the German composer Felix Mendelssohn, Dr. William A. Wolf opened a premier piano studio in Lancaster City. For the next six decades, students would travel from far and wide to attend lessons at the Wolf Institute of Pianoforte and Organ Playing. Dr. Wolf founded the Pennsylvania Council of the National Association of Organists. He was the founder and director of the American Guild of Master-singers in Lancaster. Dr. Wolf loved to travel and was the director of the Lancaster Travel Club. He was the author of numerous compositions for piano, and many […]
- [A Conestoga Ramble](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/a-conestoga-ramble/): Two hundred years ago, in November 1824, Captain Ephraim Beach completed his survey and map of the Conestoga River for the purpose of making the river navigable from Lancaster City to Safe Harbor. Captain Beach was the principal engineer for the Schuylkill Canal which opened in 1827. Beach was accompanied by another canal engineer, Canvas White, who worked on the Union Canal. They presented their survey and plan for the Conestoga Navigation to the newly formed Conestoga Navigation Company, headed by Adam Riegart. It was fitting then, that the Conestoga Scramblers (Ben Webber and I) joined the Susquehanna Ramblers (Jay Mackley, […]
- [Lancaster's Historic Waterway - Part V](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/lancasters-historic-waterway-part-v/): This is the fifth and final article in the series covering a brief history of the Conestoga River. The first article outlined some general information about the Conestoga River Watershed. The second article covered the conditions of the Conestoga prior to European settlement. The third installment covered the colonial era and the formation of various industries along the river. The fourth article covered the Victorian era and described how the river served the conflicting services of recreation and waste disposal. In this article we will look at the impacts of that use (or misuse) of the river’s resources and what is […]
- [Lancaster's Historic Waterway - Part IV](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/lancasters-historic-waterway-part-iv/): This is the fourth article in the series in which we are taking a journey through time on the historic waters of the Conestoga River. The first article outlined some general information about the Conestoga River Watershed. The second article covered the conditions of the Conestoga prior to European settlement. The third installment covered the colonial era and the formation of various industries along the river. In this installment, we will cover the Victorian era. During this time, the river ceased being a means of transportation, but recreation became the primary focus. And, as the population grew, the urban areas depended […]
- [Lancaster's Historic Waterway - Part III](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/lancasters-historic-waterway-part-iii/): 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. The first article outlined some general information about the Conestoga River Watershed. In the second article, I covered the conditions of the Conestoga prior to European settlement. We looked at how the Conestoga watershed looked very different than it does today. And we looked briefly at some of the early inhabitants of the area and how the river provided their sustenance. In this installment, we will cover the colonial settlement era. We will look at how […]
- [Lancaster's Historic Waterway - Part II](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/lancasters-historic-waterway-part-ii/): This is the second article in a series of five which are taken from my book, “The Conestoga River: A History”. The first article outlined some general information about the Conestoga River Watershed. This article deals with the long period of time that preceded the settlement of the area by the European immigrants. Presettlement Conditions Prior to the arrival of European settlers in the 17th century, the Conestoga Valley was much different than it is today. The valley was more like a swamp than the single channel that we know today. The valley was made up of numerous, interconnected streams that […]
- [Lancaster's Historic Waterway - Part I](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/lancasters-historic-waterway-part-i/): 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 the river, providing new recreational activities as steam power drove innovative forms of transportation and waterpower. As the region developed and the population grew, the river paid a heavy price in increased pollution from sewage runoff and industry. Conservation efforts toward the end of the twentieth century through the present day have restored the […]
- [Mercer's Mills and Bridge](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/mercers-mills-and-bridge/): Out on the eastern border of Lancaster County, spanning the Octoraro Creek between Sadsbury Township, Lancaster County and West Fallowfield Township, Chester County lies the Mercer’s Mills Covered Bridge. Thomas Kipphorn calls this “Captain John Mercer’s Mill Bridge”. Who was Captain John and where were the mills?
- [An Institute of Note](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/an-institute-of-note/): On February 3, 1899, a new piano teacher hung his shingle at 214 North Mulberry Street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The teacher was Dr. William A. Wolf, and the date was the 90th anniversary of the birthday of German composer, Felix Mendelssohn. On this day, Dr. Wolf and his wife Lottie opened what would become the premier music studio in the county. Students would travel long distances by trolley to receive their lessons at the Wolf studio. For the next approximately seventy years, the Wolf Institute of Music trained many of the best musicians in the area. Dr. Wolf was only twenty-three […]
- [My Name is  Burr, Sir](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/my-name-is-burr-sir/): Many of the covered bridges in Lancaster County utilize an architectural style called the “Burr Truss” or “Burr Arch-Truss”. It’s easy to see the arch, but what is the “Burr”? Does it refer to the rough edges of the woodwork? Or maybe it’s the sound that your car makes as you drive over the bridge? None of the above. The term refers to the American bridge builder who patented this bridge-building technique. His name was Theodore Burr, and he patented his innovation in 1817. The Burr Arch-Truss consists of multiple kingposts flanked by curved arches that are set in the abutments […]
- [Peter Bezaillon](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/peter-bezaillon/): This is the third installment on the topic of the early fur traders that operated in Lancaster County. The first article introduced Jacques LeTort, who with his wife, Anne, and son, James traded on the Schuylkill and later on the Susquehanna. The second article told the story of Martin Chartier, who after many adventures, ended his career in what would become Lancaster County. This post is about another French Huguenot named Pierre (Peter) Bezaillon. Pierre (aka Peter) Bezaillon immigrated to New France (Canada) in 1680 along with several of his brothers when he was 18 years old. In 1684, Rene-Robert Cavelier […]
- [Martin Chartier](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/martin-chartier/):   This is the second installment on my series about the fur traders that had some connection to the area of Pennsylvania that would later become Lancaster County. These traders were the frontiersman that explored the territory and interacted with the native Americans that inhabited the area at the time. They learned the native languages and lived among them at times. In this article we will look at the story of Martin Chartier, who not only lived among the Shawnee tribe most of his life, but also married the daughter of the chief.   Martin Chartier was a French Huguenot who […]
- [Jacques LeTort](https://donaldkautz.com/blog/jacques-letort/):    During the seventeenth century continuing into the eighteenth, the fur trade was big business among the Swedish, Dutch, French, and English traders. Many people wanted to get in on the action. There was intense competition between the governors of New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, each wanting to keep their ports busy. And then there were the French Canadians who, it was rumored, wanted to conquer the territory to their south.   The Indians supplied the traders with animal pelts of various kinds, deer pelts for leather, and the furred animals like mink, otter, and the highly coveted beaver. In exchange […]

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- [Privacy Policy](https://donaldkautz.com/privacy-policy/): Who we are Our website address is: https://donaldkautz.com. The administrator of this site is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA. Comments If visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection. An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the […]
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- [Water-Powered Grist Mills](https://donaldkautz.com/mills/): There was a time, several generations ago, before electricity was widely available, even before steam powered engines had been perfected, when farm production was performed by manual labor, animal labor, or water power. Prior to 1710, most of the Pennsylvania territory was considered the frontier. It was mostly occupied by native Americans with a few Quaker settlers and fur traders along the streams. The first significant European settlement in the area began around 1710. At that time, the Pequea and Conestoga Valleys were part of Chester County. Lancaster County would not be “erected” until 1729. As the new settlers arrived, built […]
- [Lancaster's Historic Waterway](https://donaldkautz.com/lancasters-historic-waterway/): 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 the river, providing new recreational activities as steam power drove innovative forms of transportation and waterpower. As the region developed and the population grew, the river paid a heavy price in increased pollution from sewage runoff and industry. Conservation efforts toward the end of the twentieth century through the present day have restored the […]
- [Calendar](https://donaldkautz.com/calendar/): Events of Interest This is a list of upcoming events related to Lancaster County history or the Conestoga River.
- [Mills of Lancaster County](https://donaldkautz.com/mills-of-lancaster-county/): The grist mills of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania were once the hubs of their local communities. People came to the local mill not only to get their corn and wheat ground, but also to catch up on the local news. In many cases, the mill served as the local post office. At one time there was a mill for every 2 1⁄2 square miles. Now there are less than one hundred still standing. This book serves as a record of those mills, relating some of the stories of the men and women who worked the mills. Organized by watershed, the book contains […]
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- [Books](https://donaldkautz.com/merchandise/): Mills of Lancaster County The grist mills of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania were once the hubs of their local communities. At one time there was a mill for every 2 1⁄2 square miles. Now there are less than one hundred still standing. This book serves as a record of those mills, relating some of the stories of the men and women who worked the mills. Organized by watershed, the book contains the full catalog of mills past and present with details and timelines. Winner of the 2024 C. Emlen Urban Preservation Publication Award presented by the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County. […]
- [The Conestoga River: A History](https://donaldkautz.com/conestoga-river-book/): 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. Conservation efforts toward the end of the twentieth century through the present day have restored the river’s beauty and recreational reputation. To learn more about Lancaster’s Historic waterway, order your copy today! “If you want a brief, reliable overview of the Conestoga – from “river” to “creek” to “river” – this is it.” – Jack Brubaker View the short trailer below to get an idea of what you will find in the pages of this book. […]
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- [Home](https://donaldkautz.com/): Welcome to my website! On this site you will find articles and images related to the history of Lancaster County Pennsylvania. I grew up and have lived in Lancaster County Pennsylvania all my life. Lancaster County is a beautiful place and I enjoy photographing that beauty as the seasons pass. The county is also is rich in history. I enjoy tracking down interesting stories from the past and writing about them. This site is a collection of photographs and articles that I post from time to time with stories about Lancaster County history that I find intriguing. So, grab a cup […]
- [About](https://donaldkautz.com/about/): I grew up and still live among the beautiful farmland and rolling hills of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. After retiring in 2022, I dedicated more time to my photography hobby by photographing along the Conestoga River. That led to my first book, “The Conestoga River: A History”. Then I began photographing mills around the county which, in turn, led to my second book, “Mills of Lancaster County”. You can order these books on the Books page of this website. In the summer season, I serve as a guide at the Mascot Mill near Leola, Pennsylvania. I also serve as the treasurer for […]
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