P.95.02.01 A: Crystal ball is a sphere of clear glass containing tiny interior bubbles and barely perceptible striations on the surface corresponding to lines of latitude. Used in Pow Wowing.
P.95.02.01 B: Base for ball is a turned disk of pine with recessed top in which to rest the ball. Appears to be a modern turning.
Provenance
The crystal ball and base are part of a pow wow collection belonging to Mrs. Gertrude (nee Teuch) Probst, who reportedly practiced the art of pow wowing. She was born July 1, 1879 in Coblenz, Germany, and died April 18, 1959 in Lancaster.
Glass ball has minor surface abrasions or imperfections; some small nicks and scratches in the base and a .5-inch area of finish loss on the center of the bottom.
P95.02.01A: Crystal ball is a sphere of clear glass containing tiny interior bubbles and barely perceptible striations on the surface corresponding to lines of latitude.
P95.02.01B: Base for ball is a turned disk of pine with recessed top in which to
Place of origin is unknown.
Provenance
9/07/2012 - Transferred from HC Collections; 12/29/94 - Purchase from Book Haven 146 N. Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
Glass ball has minor surface abrasions or imperfections; some small nicks and scratches in the base, and a 1/2" area of finish loss on the center of the bottom.
Pewter basin, part of the Warwick Congregation's (now known as the Brickerville United Lutheran Church) communion service.
High, rounded sides flare out to a flattened rim with rolled edge. Booge appears to be unhammered. Barns struck his large circular mark with an eagle on the inside of bottom. The left portion of the eagle as well as the letters "BAR" on the bottom are discernible, as well as the "HE" above the eagle.
Probably made in Middletown or Wallingford, Connecticut.
Provenance
The entire communion service remained in use over the years until the congregation decided in 1997 to find a safe place for this valuable communion set. Purchased by the Heritage Center of Lancaster County.
Silver beaker or handless cup; flared form with double lip.
Engraved "J C M" in script lettering on the side; engraved "C. MAYER" in block letters on the underside of the base. The base also has maker's mark in the center, "W H" in a small rectangle with a scrolled serif on the bottom of the left stroke of the "H".
According to John J. Snyder, Jr, "C. Mayer" is Christopher Bartholomew Mayer (c. 1756 - Aug. 11,1815 and son of George Ludwig Mayer), a wealthy Lancaster hardware merchant who lived in the elegant stone house built by his father-in-law, George Burkhard (c. 1721-1783), a prominent Lancaster joiner, in 1764, at the NW corner of Orange and Duke Sts. Christopher B. Mayer married Jan. 2, 1783, to Susannah Burkhard(t) (1761-1848), later producing 8 children. Mayer was prominent in politics, and twice represented Lancaster in the state Senate."
Snyder continues: "The "JCM" of the monogram may be identified, tentatively, as Juliana (Julia) Catherine Mayer (1806-1857), later the wife of George May Keim of Reading." They married in 1827. Keim was a US Congressman, representing the 9th District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1838-1843) He also served as Mayor of Reading in 1852. They are buried in the Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading. Juliana (Julia) was apparently a daughter of Christopher & Susannah Mayer.
At time of acquisition,this beaker was believed to be the only piece of Wm. Haverstick hollow ware then known. With its history of early ownership by a very prominent Lancaster family, it adds a valuable historical dimension.
Provenance
Purchase from dealer Harry Hartman. Previous history unknown.
Pewter beaker or handleless cup. Part of the Warwick Congregation's (now known as the Brickerville United Lutheran Church) communion service.
Cylinder form flares out slightly at bottom as well as top. Banded at base.
Engraved on the exterior, near top, are the small initials "M.W."
Provenance
The entire communion service remained in use over the years until the congregation decided in 1997 to find a safe place for this valuable communion set. Purchased by the Heritage Center of Lancaster County.
Diameter of bottom is listed. Diameter of top is 2.5".
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2014-08-28
Condition Notes
Overall abrasions, pitting, small dents and staining. Rim has multiple small dents and abrasions. Bottom interior is pitted. Wear underneath with some areas slightly cracked. Dent at base.
Object ID
P.97.08.5
Place of Origin
Hartford, Connecticut
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation and Friends of the Heritage Center Museum, Heritage Center Collection
Tester Bed, late Sheratorn style. turned poplar posts with maple rails. Shaped headboard with cutouts at ends where attached to posts.
Canopy rails provide frame for late 19th century lace canopy. Four heavy gilded wires create arched canopy support and are topped with a turned acorn finial of chestnut with a gilded base.
White cotton candlewick bedcover. Candlewicking is a whitework technique using thick cotton thread on white or unbleached muslin. Some examples are loom-woven, with loops creating the motifs. Handmade candlewick pieces use various embroidery and knotting techniques around various implements to create the characteristic loops.
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 2
Storage Cabinet
Unit 12
Storage Shelf
Shelf 6
Storage Container
Box 1010
Object Name
Bedcover
Length (cm)
254
Length (ft)
8.3333333333
Length (in)
100
Width (cm)
220.98
Width (ft)
7.25
Width (in)
87
Condition
Poor-Good
Condition Date
2020-01-24
Condition Notes
Spots on one edge; browning, especially along a fold line. Separation of threads. Three along edges (one 8 inches long) occur on unbound edges. Some within piece.
Object ID
G.04.23.39
Credit
Gift of Sarah Muench, Heritage Center Collection, LancasterHistory.org
Bronze bell cast by the firm of John Wilbank in 1825 for use in the cupola of the Lancaster County Courthouse on Penn Square that replaced the first building and bell destroyed by fire in 1784. The 2nd courthouse was rebuilt 1784-1787 and razed in the Spring of 1853. Bell has raised lettering at top of side: "CAST BY JOHN WILBANK/ PHILADA 1825."
Bell itself (H: 19" W: 23 1/2") has classic shape. There are heavy, curved "loops" of brass at top by which the bell is suspended from a yoke-like assembly secured by heavy bolts. The two side arms of the yoke rest atop pivot points of two A-shaped cast iron supports at each side of bell. This entire arrangement rested on a square base of heavy oak beams which was mounted in the belfry of the Rohrer farmhouse located at the east edge of East Petersburg. A large wooden wheel serving as a pulley was affixed to one side of the yoke of bell and a rope could be used to swing and thus ring the bell from below. (All wood was quickly removed & destroyed due to winged ant/termite infestation and advanced rot.)
Bell was regularly used in courthouse to strike the hour via the tower clock as well as for announcing a range of other events and news, e.g. election results and marking the start of business in city market houses on market days.
Provenance
When the courthouse was razed in 1853, the bell was acquired by veterinarian Jacob Rohrer (1792-1872) who installed it in a small belfry in his 1812 farmhouse on Fruitville Pike east of East Petersburg. It was then installed in a new (1857) farmhouse built to the west toward E. Petersburg by son Peter Bachman Rohrer (1827-1900). It remained here until removed and donated to HCLC except for a brief period in 1918 when it was allowed by owner P. Bachman Rohrer (1875-1949) to return to Penn Square for installation in the "Liberty House", a replica of the old courthouse (now in Bachman Park at F&M). See 1918 newsclipping in file. See also a 1942 newclipping giving an undocumented history of a courthouse bell used 1787-1852. (?)
Overall bronze surface weathered and darkened with age & use, deterioration & repairs evident on sides, lip at bottom has extensive chipping. Iron yoke, etc. heavily rusted.
Object ID
G.08.09.1
Notes
Newsclipping "Bell is Discovered", Oct. 14, 1918.
Newsclipping "The Farmer Hid The Bell", June 13, 1942
Bachman history by David Johnson
Place of Origin
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
