for ours, their descendants, pass down to us in tangible form the story of their lives and times. The student of our early local history is confronted all along the way with un- settled questions, matters merely hinted at and doubts without number, the solving of which will always re- main to vex and

an age-long custom. History does not record a time when monuments were not the customary means of commemorating great events, historic occasions and distinguished services. Standing in the midst of your people, on a central and commanding site, in the shadow of your ancient church, this shaft will

Odds and Ends of Local History. It will be very generally conceded, I believe, that the four or five histories of Lancaster county which have been given to the public during the past sixty years have covered the field fairly well, both in their fullness of detail and their accuracy in the state

, the petitions for the laying out of roads in the Road Dock- et of the Court of Quarter sessions between 1740 and 1775 ask for these conveniences to enable the people to more easily reach "mill and market." But horses were not numerous in these early days, and mere bridle paths were sufficient for a

Early Lancaster Playbills and Playhouses. Public shows and amusements are probably nearly as old as the human race itself. We know they have exist- ed among all civilized nations from their earliest history. In Greece, where they reached their highest early development, they were in existence five

confirm- ed by a grand jury, and the work was done. This was the first permanent improvement of which we have any record. The bridge was promptly opened to traffic early in the same year. It must have been a work of some pretensions, as we find that on July 1st considerable work was order- ed to be done

became the County Prothonotary soon after coming here, and held the office until 1778. In early life he laid out and founded Shippensburg, Pa. He was the Chief Burgess of Lancaster at the time of the Indian massacre at the Working House. His son, Edward Shippen (1729-1800). was the father of "Peggy

which to carry on their operations. The Newspaper Press. Impulse and direction was given to this literary tendency during the early period of our history by the news- paper press. Beginning with that little bi-lingual paper (it was only 13x8 inches in size), printed by Miller & Holland, there has been a

AN EARLY NEWSPAPER The importance and value of news- papers in the study of local history can not well be overrated. They come next in importance to the original records of State and county. In more recent times they have lost somewhat of their value from the coloring given to public questions as