The Beechdale Duck Farm Papers contain documents pertaining to the Gibbons and Brubaker families. The folders contain history of the Beechdale Duck Farm and a pamphlet on the chicken mating at the Bird-in-Hand hatchery. There are newspaper articles commending the political content that the Gibbons' women spoke about and a note from them inviting friends to a Christmas day dinner party. There is political article defending Thaddeus Stevens and an article praising Everett E. Brubaker's accomplishments in twenty-two years of overseeing the county home.
Admin/Biographical History
The house on Beechdale Farm was built by Quakers Daniel and Hannah Gibbons in 1815. The Gibbons were abolitionists and the farm was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Their son Joseph, a doctor, and his wife Phebe, a writer, continued aiding runaway slaves until the Civil War. The house was passed down to their granddaughter Marianna and her husband, Oram D. Brubaker. Marianna was a journalist and Oram was a farmer. In order to make his sons grow up with a skill in a specialized trade, he traveled to California in 1903 with Marianna, brought back 35 Pekin ducks, and created the very successful Beechdale Duck Farm. Due to the prosperous farm, Marianna and Oram built a large stone house near the old brick house in 1909. The duck farm was sold in the 1960s.
Trophies awarded to the hatchery are in the Curatorial Collection.
The original photographs are in the Photograph Collection.
Notes
Papers are from family scrapbooks.
Folders 1-3 gift of Anne B. Tennis, given in memory of Everett E. Brubaker, 9 November 2015.
Folder 4 gift of Anne B. Tennis, given in memory of Everett E. Brubaker, 31 July 2015.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Beechdale Duck Farm Records (MG0756), Folder #, Insert #, 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-756
Other Number
MG-756
Classification
MG0756
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed and finding aid prepared by JK, November 2016.
The Bowman Technical School was founded by watchmaker Ezra F. Bowman in 1887 to teach the trade of watchmaking and engraving. During World War I, the Bowman Technical School trained soldiers to repair delicate aviation and naval instruments.
The Bowman Technical School was founded by watchmaker Ezra F. Bowman in 1887 to teach the trade of watchmaking and engraving. During World War I, the Bowman Technical School trained soldiers to repair delicate aviation and naval instruments.
The Bowman Technical School was founded by watchmaker Ezra F. Bowman in 1887 to teach the trade of watchmaking and engraving. During World War I, the Bowman Technical School trained soldiers to repair delicate aviation and naval instruments.
Sheet of 16 images of a young man referred to as "The Actor". Taken by M. T. Reineman, optician and engraver, Chambersburg, PA. A graduate of the Bowman Technical School.
The Bowman Technical School was founded by watchmaker Ezra F. Bowman in 1887 to teach the trade of watchmaking and engraving. During World War I, the Bowman Technical School trained soldiers to repair delicate aviation and naval instruments.
Certificate of Attendance of the Ezra F. Bowman Technical School for William Carpenter signed by John J. Bowman, Charles Ezra Bowman, K. H. Bare (Instructor in Watchmaking) and James Leonard (Instructor in Engraving).
The Bowman Technical School was founded by watchmaker Ezra F. Bowman in 1887 to teach the trade of watchmaking and engraving. During World War I, the Bowman Technical School trained soldiers to repair delicate aviation and naval instruments.
The Bowman Technical School was founded by watchmaker Ezra F. Bowman in 1887 to teach the trade of watchmaking and engraving. During World War I, the Bowman Technical School trained soldiers to repair delicate aviation and naval instruments.
The Bowman Technical School was founded by watchmaker Ezra F. Bowman in 1887 to teach the trade of watchmaking and engraving. During World War I, the Bowman Technical School trained soldiers to repair delicate aviation and naval instruments.
The Bowman Technical School was founded by watchmaker Ezra F. Bowman in 1887 to teach the trade of watchmaking and engraving. During World War I, the Bowman Technical School trained soldiers to repair delicate aviation and naval instruments.
The Bowman Technical School was founded by watchmaker Ezra F. Bowman in 1887 to teach the trade of watchmaking and engraving. During World War I, the Bowman Technical School trained soldiers to repair delicate aviation and naval instruments.
The Bowman Technical School was founded by watchmaker Ezra F. Bowman in 1887 to teach the trade of watchmaking and engraving. During World War I, the Bowman Technical School trained soldiers to repair delicate aviation and naval instruments.
Engraving students at Bowman Technical School, 1903. Left to right: Charles A. Reher, Levi W. Thomas, Harace Palmer, James Leonard, Howard Overdeer, Claude S. Ridenour, Edward Gardner, Charles Evans and Henry Heistand.
The Bowman Technical School was founded by watchmaker Ezra F. Bowman in 1887 to teach the trade of watchmaking and engraving. During World War I, the Bowman Technical School trained soldiers to repair delicate aviation and naval instruments.
Students at Bowman Technical School, 1903. Back row, left to right: John Esmerbruck, James Leonard, Corrall Smith. Front row, left to right: E. R. Levy, Muntagh McGrath, R. R. Buffington, Charles Zugschwert.
The Bowman Technical School was founded by watchmaker Ezra F. Bowman in 1887 to teach the trade of watchmaking and engraving. During World War I, the Bowman Technical School trained soldiers to repair delicate aviation and naval instruments.
The Bowman Technical School was founded by watchmaker Ezra F. Bowman in 1887 to teach the trade of watchmaking and engraving. During World War I, the Bowman Technical School trained soldiers to repair delicate aviation and naval instruments.
cardboard is slightly bent on right side, edges are crumbling
Object ID
B-02-01-02
Notes
The Bowman Technical School was founded by watchmaker Ezra F. Bowman in 1887 to teach the trade of watchmaking and engraving. During World War I, the Bowman Technical School trained soldiers to repair delicate aviation and naval instruments.
