The Woodward Hill Cemetery Collection contains records of the cemetery from 1851-1997, such as the charter and by-laws, board minutes, lot holder records, plans, programs, financial documents, and grant proposals. The records include the names of thousands of people who were employed by, buried at, served on the cemetery board, or were otherwise associated with the cemetery.
Admin/Biographical History
For more than 150 years, Woodward Hill Cemetery has been one of Lancaster’s most significant historic sites. As the final resting place of numerous prominent citizens including President James Buchanan, with a layout reflecting Victorian ideals of landscape design and containing fine examples of funerary monuments, Woodward Hill’s national significance was recognized in 2005 when the cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Woodward Hill was the largest and most elaborate of the new rural cemeteries established in Lancaster during the mid-nineteenth century. Rural cemeteries were designed as vital open spaces or public parks for the community; they provided a place for recreation as well as veneration of the dead. As a final resting place for illustrious citizens, Woodward Hill is a “museum” of notable clergy, educators, civic leaders, and veterans. Today the cemetery occupies 32 acres and contains approximately 13,750 grave markers ranging in date from the late eighteenth century to the present day. They illustrate the 200-year evolution of funerary art, sculpture and associated symbolism. In addition to tombstones, there are numerous obelisks and mausoleums representing Victorian, neoclassical, and early modern architectural styles. Founded in 1852 by Trinity Lutheran Church, Woodward Hill Cemetery is one of Lancaster's significant historic sites. The cemetery was the largest and most elaborate of the new "rural" cemeteries established in the mid- nineteenth century. It was designed as vital open space, allowing for recreation as well as veneration of the dead. The final resting place of many notable clergy, veterans, education, civic and business leaders, Woodward Hill's best known grave site belongs to James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States http://www.woodwardhillcemetery.com/ 8/11/17
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Woodward Hill Cemetery Collection (MG0264), Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Folders 11-15 contain restricted materials.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org. Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
This collection contains deeds, articles of agreement, descriptions of property, and a land draft pertaining to property on Gibney Road in West Lampeter Twp. and one deed for property in Penn Twp.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Gibney Road Property Records, 1846-1955 (MG0919), Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Please request at the Reference Desk or contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Accession Number
2004.MG0919
Other Numbers
MG-919
Classification
MG0919
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Transferred from Document Collection Box 33, Folder 9, 15 April 2022.
Property Records for Shank's Tavern (Marietta, Pa.)
Description
Deeds and property records regarding present day Shank's Tavern at 36 South Waterford Avenue, Marietta, PA 17547. 1807-1995:
Deed #1 (James Anderson to Jacob Bitner) 1807 [original]
Deed #2 (James & Mary Anderson to Henry James Corey) 1813 [original]
Deed #3 (James Corey to Jacob Nicholas & Henry Long) 1813 [original]
Deed #4 (Jacob Nicholas to Benjamin Long) 1813 [original]
Deed #5 (Sheriff Frederick Hambright to David Rinehard) 1822 [original]
Deed #6 (John Beidler to John Heistand) 1828 [original]
Deed #7 (Benjamin Long to David Riehard) 1842 [original]
Typed document excerpt from Ellis & Evans History of Lancaster County re: David Rinehart
Deed #8 (Russel Child to Jane Hogan) 1865 [original]
Sheet of Confederate currency 18?? [original]
Deed #9 (Charlotte & George Mehaffey to John Waller) 1894 [original]
Mortgage (John Waller) 1894 [original]
Deed #9 (John Waller to Catherine Waller) 1897 [original]
Fire Insurance Policy (John Waller) 1898 [original]
Deed #10 Mortgage (John & Catherine Waller to Amos Bowman Executor of James Duffy Estate) 1899 [original]
Judgment Bond (John Waller to Catherine Waller) 1899 [original]
Catherine Waller will (1928) [photocopy]
Catherine Waller will (1932) [photocopy]
Catherine Waller to Ruth Rothrock envelope re: Bernard V. Santaniello Office of the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans Court Division [original]
Stock Certificate Providers Benefit Company (Kathleen D. Shank) 1970 [original]
Deed #11 (Ruth Rothrock Frey to Jack S. Frey) 1972 [original]
John P. Hohendal to Jack S. Frey legal correspondence (1972) [original]
Nikolaus & Hohenadel invoice for deed preparation (1972) [original]
Deed #12 (Jack & Janet S. Frey to Frey Heirs) 1991 [original]
Deed #12 (Jack & Janet S. Frey to Frey Heirs) 1991 [photocopy]
David T. Mountz to Jack S. Frey legal correspondence (1991) [original]
David T. Mountz invoice for deed preparation (1991) [original]
Deed #13 (Jeffrey Shank to J. Robert Shank, Jr.) 1995 [photocopy]
Receipt Sign for Shank's Tavern (1991) [photocopy]
Handwritten inventory of antique furniture in Shank's Tavern (private residence)
This collection has not been cataloged, but may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Accession Number
2022.014
Other Numbers
MG-953
Classification
MG0953
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Given by owner Bob Shank to one of Jean-Paul's students who was researching Shank's Tavern for a class project. Bob confirmed that he did not want the documents back.
This collection contains letters, family papers, deeds, diaries, and mill records from three generations of the Gibbons family. The collection starts with documents focused on James Gibbons, then contains papers central to Daniel Gibbons, and finally end with the third generation papers surrounding Joseph Gibbons. The letters in this collection span from 1783 until 1865. The contents within the letters describe the daily happenings within the family and on their property which was located in Lampeter Township, Lancaster County. The family deeds in the collection detail the exchanging of property to and from the Gibbons family mostly within Lampeter Township and Upper Leacock Township, Lancaster County. The deeds span from 1727 to 1879. Also included are some miscellaneous family papers that span from 1799 to 1871. The content of these family papers ranges from anonymous stories about the Gibbons family, an independent order of Good Templars of Joseph Gibbons, to a land draft of James Gibbons' Land. This collection also contains diaries from various members of the Gibbons family, spanning the three generations. These diaries detail the day to day lives of the Gibbons family and also include historical anniversaries of important events or detail the passing of members within the Gibbons family and the surrounding community. The Mill Records in the collection contain information about [ ]. Overall, the Gibbons Family collection includes the regular happenings over the family's three generations in both business and secular life.
The Groff Family Papers contain patents issued to Frederick F. Groff, deeds and related documents for the property of Fred F. Groff, Inc. Funeral Home, and a booklet about the history of cremation in Lancaster. Patents include drawings, petition and specifications, and signatures of Mr. Groff, his attorneys, and witnesses. The property records show the purchase of lots at 234, 236, 238, and 240 West Orange Street, Lancaster.
The Diffenderffer Family Papers collection contains items that have been passed down through generations of the Diffenderffer family. Deeds for tracts of land in New Holland date back to the creation of New Design, the village that preceded New Holland. Correspondence and some manuscripts pertain to J. P. McCaskey's life and accomplishments. F. R. Diffenderffer's manuscripts on Easter Day and Conrad Weiser are preserved with this collection, as well as poems, a program for the C. Elvin Haupt School, and a claim of F. R. Diffenderffer & Co. against the State of Texas.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Deeds in folders 1-18 were a gift of Fianna Diffenderffer and the Diffenderffer family, 4 November 2006.
Items in folders 19-23 were a gift from her nephew, David Diffenderffer, 14 August 2006.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Restrictions are noted at the item level--please use photocopies or transcriptions for those items. Other original documents may be used by researchers--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit or request at Reference Desk.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org. Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this collection must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Accession Number
2006.MG0410_NOV
Other Numbers
MG-410
Classification
MG0410
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Cataloged by HST, November 2008. Added to database 28 July 2021.
The Rossmere Sanatorium Records contain a 1908 membership list for the Society for Prevention of Tuberculosis of Lancaster County, a charter for the Tuberculosis Society of Lancaster County, property records and annual reports for Rossmere Sanatorium and programs for commemorative events.
Admin/Biographical History
The Rossmere Hotel, which was located in Manheim Twp., opened in 1898. The building became a tuberculosis sanatorium in 1925; the ballroom was converted into a ward for female patients. The sanatorium closed in 1957 and was eventually demolished.
American Lung Association of Lancaster County Records (Archives, not cataloged)
Banners in the Curatorial Collection
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Rossmere Sanatorium Records (MG0588), Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-588
Other Number
MG-588
Classification
MG0588
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed and finding aid prepared by CS, December and January 2011. Added to database 28 August 2021.
The papers in this Pennsylvania Railroad Collection are largely the documents of legal actions against the Pennsylvania Railroad. Among the items are property records, agreements, a construction contract, correspondence, and a proposal for a footbridge.
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this collection must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-131
Other Number
MG-131
Classification
MG0131
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
This collection was cataloged prior to 1997. Added to database 7 September 2021.
The Isaiah D. Stehman Papers contain property records, such as deeds and agreements, for the flour mill in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, as well as personal papers of Isaiah D. Stehman. The property owners included Martin Spickler, William and Margaret Kuhn, John M. Brandt's family, and Isaiah D. Stehman. Mr. Stehman's personal papers include a broadside for a public sale in Manor Twp., passport and certificates of church membership.
Admin/Biographical History
The Mount Joy Steam Mill was build in Mount Joy borough in 1854 by gabriel Bear. in 1870, Bear sold the mill to John M. Brant. When A. K. Manning joined Brandt as a business partner in 1881, they added rollers and searators for a more modern way to make flour. The company was renamed Mount Joy Roller Mill. More rollers were added in 1883 and 1886. Manning retired in 1891 and Brant & Sons continued production until they were joined by Isaiah D. Stehman in 1905. New equipment was added in 1912. By 1920, Stehman was the sole owner. he partnered with a party named Newhauser in 1937, but was again the sole owner by 1946 until his death in 1950.
Information from MillPictures.com, https://millpictures.com/mills.php?millid=506
Deeds and other records for properties in along South Queen in the vicinity of Andrew St.; the earliest note the Bethelstown lots. Many of the papers go back to Christian Haller Sr. who emigrated with his brother, John, from Germany to Lancaster County. They both established butcher shops, John at 606 North Queen St. (just north of W. Frederick) and Christian at 402 South Queen St (SW corner of S. Queen and W. Andrew). They did well and built the two homes at 1294 and 1296 Wheatland Ave in 1926 and 1927.
>Emanuel C. and Barbara Reigart to John F. Steinman for property on S. Queen St.,1822. Jacob Seibley to Christopher Franciscus, 1833 and the executor for Christopher Franciscus to Susannah Franciscus, 1838 for the same property. Bethelstown, Lot #67. (402 S. Queen Street)
>Jacob Demuth to Jacob Bowers for Bethelstown, Lot G, 1830.
>Deeds, bond, and agreements for 402 S. Queen St. and other properties along the 300 and 400 blocks of S. Queen St. 1850s-1959. Names on these records include Haller, Franciscus, Ochs, Faltine, Miller, Schmid, Mountis, Brinkman, Bair, Shertz, Moedinger, Hawkesworth, Kreider, Spindler, Johns, and Goodman.
