Appraisements of real estate for inheritance tax. Some personal property appraisals are also included. Appraisals include: name of decedent; location and description of real estate; description of personal property; valuation of real estate and personal property; and assessed tax. May also include names of heirs. Arranged chronologically by year, then alphabetically by first letter of decedent's last name. Handwritten; from 1886, handwritten on printed forms.
System of Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year, then alphabetically by first letter of decedent's last name.
The Transportation Collection contains documents regarding turnpikes, railroads, Conestoga Traction Co., Conestoga Transportation Co., and the Red Rose Transit Authority. The types of items include correspondence, financial papers, business papers, stock certificates, tickets, schedules, maps of routes, and a blueprint.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Transportation Collection (MG0123), Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Restrictions are noted at the item level.
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.
The Frank R. Diffenderffer Collection contains documents collected by Mr. Diffenderffer. These documents are primarily from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and include letters, legal and court papers, indentures, receipts, property and probate records, and financial and military papers. The people and businesses represented include George Ross, Jasper Yeates, A. Herr Smith, Timothy Matlack, Mount Hope Furnace, and the Lancaster, Elizabethtown & Middletown Turnpike Road Company.
The Temperance Collection includes convention programs of the Lancaster County Woman's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.); a history of the group from 1884-1959; Pennsylvania State W.C.T.U. function programs; and a minute book from the Bart Chapter. Included are handwritten notes on some of the conventions, pro-temperance booklets and newspapers (Moral Reformer and American Reformer), and miscellaneous addresses and articles. Of special interest is a booklet "Operation Interview" in which 36 prominent Lancastrians comment on the question, "Is social drinking necessary for success?", and a newspaper article reminiscing on the temperance movement in Columbia, Pennsylvania.
The Survivors' Club collection contains dinner banquet programs for the Survivors' Club annual dinner held in February of each year between 1871 and 1914. While the club met between 1868 and 1921, this collection only includes banquet programs from 1871 and 1914, with years missing. Each program includes the living and deceased members and the dinner menu, unless otherwise noted below. The minute book begins in 1867 and ends with an entry from the last surviving member in 1921.
Admin/Biographical History
The Survivors' Club, which consisted of 20+ prominent Lancaster Civil War veterans from the 79th Pennsylvania Volunteers, was organized on 29 September 1867 at the Leopard Hotel in Lancaster. The first annual dinner banquet was held on 22 February 1868 and the members met annually on George Washington's birthday through 1921. Over the years, the plate of each deceased member would be draped in mourning, until only one member remained. P. L. Sprecher, the last member of the Survivors' Club, wrote the last entry in the minute book on 22 February 1921. After his death, each member's dinner plate and the punch bowl were donated to the Lancaster County Historical Society. The historical society later acquired the Survivors' Club minute book and the dinner banquet programs.
The Survivors' Club included the following members:
Charles D. Rupley; John Johns; John K. Rutter; Edgar C. Reed; Samuel E. Leaman; Jonathan Sprecher; Eli Landis; Dr. William M. Whiteside; Charles H. Sprecher; Edward A. Sener; John James McGrann; George F. Sprenger; A. S. Landis; John Copland; Jacob K. Barr; John D. Skiles; William S. Shirk; W. D. Stauffer; Isaac W. Slokom; J. C. Muhlenberg; P. L. Sprecher; Milton Weidler
Survivors' Club plates, saucers, and cups in the Curatorial Collection (1926.033)
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Survivors' Club Collection (MG0316), Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
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-316
Other Number
MG-316
Classification
MG0316
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
This collection was cataloged and the finding aid was prepared by MEB, Spring 2006. Added to database 1 October 2021.
The items were donated with the Survivors' Club plates, saucers, and cups, 1926.033. The programs and minute book were transferred to the Archives in 2005.
The Shiffler Fire Company Records contain minutes for the Conestoga Hose Company and Shiffler Fire Company, both in Lancaster.
Admin/Biographical History
The Shiffler Fire Company, No. 7 was organized in 1852. It soon became The Independent Fire Co. and then the Fulton Fire Co. The name changed again in 1854 to the Conestoga Fire Company. Shiffler Fire Company was readopted in 1855 and Thaddeus Stevens was elected president in 1856. (Ellis & Evans, History of Lancaster County, p.391)
Invitation to First Grand Picnic of Shiffler Fire Company, 1871 (MG0180_Ser05_F026_I04)
George and Rhonda Andreadis Collection of Lancaster City Records, Series 2 (MG0545_Series02)
Commemorative ribbon (2003.081)
Fire ax (1927.005.1)
Fire helmet (1924.008.9)
Helmet plate (1935.013.2)
Parade belt (1924.008.10)
Parade belt (1924.008.12)
Parade belt (1924.008.16)
Parade belt (1954.002.1)
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Shiffler Fire Company Records (MG0524), Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Folder 4, Insert 1 was a gift of Mr. Louis H. Stroeble from the belongings of Jacob Goodman, 5 February 1954. (Accession # 1954.MG0524.F4_I1)
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.
The Columbia Bridge Company Collection is a valuable source of information concerning construction of bridges in the early 1800s. Documents concern the building of the first two bridges across the Susquehanna River in 1814 and 1832. Items in the collection include minutes, form for stock certificate, invoices, legal papers, proposals, receipts, stockholders, promissory notes, by-laws, settlement of stage tolls with Samuel Slaymaker 1813, salary receipts, circulars and announcements, bridge tolls, orders for payment, correspondence, and a stock certificate from 1842
Admin/Biographical History
First Bridge
Construction of the first Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge was begun in 1812 and completed December 5, 1814, by J. Wolcott, H. Slaymaker, S. Slaymaker at a total cost of $231,771, which was underwritten by the newly formed Columbia Bank and Bridge Company. The bridge was 5,690 feet (1,730 m) long and 30 feet (9.1 m) wide and had 54 piers and twin carriageways. Constructed of wood and stone, the covered bridge also included a wooden roof, a whitewashed interior and openings in its wooden sides to view the river and surrounding areas. It was considered the longest covered bridge in the world at the time. The bridge accommodated east-west traffic across the Susquehanna River for 14 years before being destroyed by ice, high water and severe weather on February 5, 1832.
Second bridge
Construction of the second Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge, also covered, started mid-1832 and was completed in 1834 (opening on July 8, 1834) by James Moore and John Evans at a cost of $157,300. It was 5,620 feet (1,710 m) long and 28 feet (8.5 m) wide and also enjoyed the distinction of being the world's longest covered bridge. The wood and stone structure had 27 piers, a carriageway, walkway, and two towpaths to guide canal traffic across the river. Much of the mostly oak timber used in its construction was salvaged from the previous bridge. Its roof was covered with shingles, its sides with weatherboard, and its interior was whitewashed. The structure was modified in 1840 by the Canal Company at a cost of $40,000 concurrent with the construction of the Wrightsville Dam. Towpaths of different levels and with sidewalls were added to prevent horses from falling into river, as happened several times when the river flooded. The roof of the lower path formed the floor of upper path. In this way, canal boats were towed across the river from the Pennsylvania Canal on the Columbia side to the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal at Wrightsville. Sometime after 1846, a double-track railway was added, linking the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad to the Northern Central Railway. Due to fear of fire caused by locomotives, rail cars were pulled across the bridge by teams of mules or horses.
Information from "Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge," https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia%E2%80%93Wrightsville_Bridge. Accessed 3 February 2020.
System of Arrangement
The papers of the First Columbia Bridge built in 1814 are filed in folders #1 to 157. The papers of the Second Columbia Bridge built in 1832 are filed in folders #158 to 181.
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).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. The original items in Folder 69 may not be used due to their fragile condition. All other original documents may be used by researchers--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit or request at Reference Desk.
Copyright
Collection may be photographed. Images have been provided for research purposes only. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org with questions or for a high-resolution image and permission to publish.
LancasterHistory retains the rights to the digital images and content presented. The doctrine of fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. Fair use includes comment, criticism, teaching, and private scholarship. Any images and data downloaded, printed or photocopied for these purposes should provide a citation. All other uses beyond those allowed by fair use require written permission.
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.
The Danner Family Correspondence contains letters to and from members of the Danner family who lived in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and Georgia, 1745-1857. The collection also includes poetry and property records. Most documents are written in English and others are in German. One letter from Mary Danner in Lancaster mentions Gen. Lafayette's visit in 1824.
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).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
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 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.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Lancaster County Bible Society (MG0517), 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-517
Classification
MG0517
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
These volumes were transferred from MG-266 Daybook and Ledger Collection, Series 1 on 3 March 2009. Added to database 12 March 2022.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Farmers' Southern Market House Company Records (MG0534), 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. There is no fee for publication.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Accession Number
1959.MG0534
Other Numbers
MG-534
Classification
MG0534
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
These volumes were transferred from MG0266, Daybook and Ledger Collection, Series 5 Municipal Records on 18 March 2009. Added to database 12 March 2022.