Papers filed for construction and repair of bridges. The types of petitions presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions include: petitions for bridge construction and repair, petitions for inspections, and petitions for bridge funds. Other types of items include: specifications, proposals, and contracts for bridge construction and repair; bridge blueprints and plans; correspondence; bills for materials; and bridge condition reports. Many papers show date; court term and case number; names of petitioners, viewers, inspectors, and contractors; costs and fees; location of bridge; and name or number of bridge. The order and report of viewers documents are of particular interest as they usually include a copy of the original petition; the order and names of viewers to inspect the site; the public announcement for the viewers meeting; the report and recommendation of viewers, often with a drawing of the site and surrounding area; and the court decision.
System of Arrangement
Records are arranged by township, then chronologically within each township.
This record group contains canceled orders that were issued by the county commissioners for payment to be made by the county treasurer. The orders show date, order number, amount, name of payee, purpose, and signatures of the county commissioners. In the case of "poor children," teachers were reimbursed by the county for tuition and/or the supplies purchased for students whose parents were unable to pay. Orders include: Poor Children, Almshouse, Bridges, Coroners' Inquests, Prisons, Roads, Court House, and Tax Exonerations.
System of Arrangement
The record group is organized chronologically, then arranged by order number within each year.
Page 24: Lancaster County Prison, "Only castle in town, May 17, 1902"; Lancaster Cemetery Entrance, May 17, 1902; Advent Lutheran Church, May 17, 1902; Anna Fondersmith with doll in a little stroller, "County Prison Park, May 17, 1902"; Ann Palmer, Mrs. Leon Dodge's niece, May 19, 1902; Anna Fondersmith with unidentified Mennonite woman.
Provenance
First of two Diffenderfer family albums. Compiled by Frank Reid Diffenderfer, a former member of LCHS and an editor of a Lancaster city newspaper. Album documents his family as well as that of his neighbors on North Duke Street, Lancaster, between 1901 and 1903. Neighbors include Charles Fondersmith, Robert Slaymaker, and his daughter, Ida, who married Frank Fondersmith.
View of Lancaster taken from Zion Lutheran Church steeple, by moonlight. Shows Trinity Lutheran Church, the county courthouse and St. James Episcopal Church.
Page 25: Dirt road by a creek; Woman with large painting; Group of people seated on lawn; Group of people with unhitched wagon; Peach Bottom Ferry; Four photos of a man working in back yard.
Provenance
Second of two Diffenderfer family albums. Compiled by Frank Reid Diffenderfer, a former member of LCHS and an editor of a Lancaster city newspaper. Album documents his family as well as that of his neighbors on North Duke Street, Lancaster, beginning in 1903. Neighbors include Charles Fondersmith, Robert Slaymaker, and his daughter, Ida, who married Frank Fondersmith.
Page 29: Railroad tracks and Ferncliff Club House in background; Stone arch bridge over Benton Hollow Creek; Peach Bottom Ferry; Group of people in front of Ferncliff Club House; Three people on bridge, one girl on log in front fo bridge and a dog near the creek at Benton Hollow; Peach Bottom Ferry.
Provenance
Second of two Diffenderfer family albums. Compiled by Frank Reid Diffenderfer, a former member of LCHS and an editor of a Lancaster city newspaper. Album documents his family as well as that of his neighbors on North Duke Street, Lancaster, beginning in 1903. Neighbors include Charles Fondersmith, Robert Slaymaker, and his daughter, Ida, who married Frank Fondersmith.
Page 31: Cows getting off the Peach Bottom Ferry; Group at Benton Hollow; Benton Hollow; Men sharpening tools at whetstone; Benton Hollow; Group at Ferncliff Club House.
Provenance
Second of two Diffenderfer family albums. Compiled by Frank Reid Diffenderfer, a former member of LCHS and an editor of a Lancaster city newspaper. Album documents his family as well as that of his neighbors on North Duke Street, Lancaster, beginning in 1903. Neighbors include Charles Fondersmith, Robert Slaymaker, and his daughter, Ida, who married Frank Fondersmith.
