Lancaster’s History AFTER YOU’VE VISITED THE AMISH SIGHTS … Edwin Malet
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FTER YOU’VE CHECKED OFF ALL THE AMISH sights on your bucket list and had your fill of shoo-fly pie, you still won’t have discovered what Lancaster County is all about. The fact is that the County’s history—at least the recorded history—dates back to the 17th century. Even before that, there were Native American tribes who lived in villages, farmed and hunted their lands, conducted ceremonies and made wars amongst themselves. Yet until the beginning of the 18th century, when several European immigrants began to settle the area, few permanent marks were left on the land for visitors to see today. Eventually, their major settlements grew into Lancaster City and other towns, like Columbia and Ronks. We think it’s well worth a short drive to discover some of the history in Lancaster County. BIRTH OF THE TOWN OF LANCASTER The oldest still-standing structure in Lancaster County is the Hans Herr House, located in the town of Willow Street and built in 1719 by his son Christian Herr. Like others who came to the area, Hans, his family, friends and fellow Mennonites were seeking a place to practice their religion in peace. Today, the Hans Herr House is a museum on an 11-acre campus with other early buildings.
In 1725, Benjamin Witmer built a tavern—actually more of a wagon stop—on the old Kings Highway between Philadelphia and Lancaster. Witmer’s Tavern is still standing and considered one of the best surviving structures of its type. Marked by a historic marker, the tavern is on Route 340, at 2014 Old Philadelphia Pike, just east of the junction with U.S. Route 30 (aka Lancaster Pike). By 1729 Lancaster County had separated from Chester County. Far from being a city, the main settlement was originally called “Hickory Town,” with a population of just 15. Later renamed Lancaster, the town was declared the county seat, and construction began on a county courthouse, a prison and a market. In 1734, James Hamilton, a lawyer, acquired the town site of Lancaster for 5 shillings from his father. Not a bad investment! Today Lancaster City has plenty to recommend it. Vibrant First Fridays, Art Gallery Row and more lend it a cosmopolitan air with plenty of attractions beyond its historic sights. RELIGIOUS HERITAGE But back to history. Lancaster County blossomed during the 1730s. In 1732, The Ephrata Cloister, founded by Conrad Beissel, was established about 15 miles northeast of the town of Lancaster. The Cloister, essentially a monastery, became a site where Beissel and his followers prepared for the Second Coming of Christ. Later CountyLinesMagazine.com | April 2022 | County Lines
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