Amos trades up -- Eilenshpiggel and his shenanigans -- John the blacksmith visits the devil -- Tales tall and taller -- Graven images & the legends that grow around them -- Pennsylvania German humor -- A true ghost story.
"One of the best known legends from York County, Pennsylvania, is Toad Road and the Seven Gates of Hell. What is the real story? Where are the Seven Gates of Hell? Where is Toad Road? Extensive research and on site exploration is combined to dispel urban legends while revealing stranger truths. Journey beyond the Seventh Gate and into other weird places in York, Lancaster, and Adams Counties. Explore Hex Hollow, Chickies Rock, lonely graveyards, and old iron forges. Read true tales of bigfoot creatures, witches, ghosts, werewolves, and flying phantoms. Sometimes they haunt the woods behind you. Sometimes they are in your own back yard." [from the publisher]
Declaration of Independence in Lancaster--Thomas Wharton, Jr. in Lancaster--Baron Steuben in Lancaster--Lancaster in 1778--Lancaster in 1783--Ephrata Community--Lancaster in 1788--Camel in Lancaster--Lancaster in 1795--Lancaster in 1797--John Marshall in Lancaster--First elephant in Lancaster--General Pinckney in Lancaster--Lancaster in 1807--Alexander Wilson in Lancaster--Mrs. Royall's visit to Lancaster--Royal Arabian horse in Lancaster--Daniel Webster in Lancaster--Rich men of Lancaster City in 1845--The Wreath--Chinese soldier in the Civil War--Hope Church--Seventy-fifth aniversaryof Hope Church--Story of Salome Le Roy--Tory of the Revolution.
Illustrations--Rare old Lancaster imprint--Lancaster Count Courthouse--Residence of Christopher Marshall--Trinity Lutheran Church--Cat Tavern--Old Ferry House--Buildings of the Ephrata Cloister--Watermark, Ephrata Cloister--Finest Colonial House in Lancaster--Caleb Cope House--Barracks on Howard Avenue--Saron House. Ephrata Cloister--Cell, Ephrata Cloister--Watermarks, Ephrata Cloister--Room in Saron House, Ephrata Cloister--Kitchen, Ephrata Cloister--Fireplace, Ephrata Cloister--Matin Room--Ephrata Cloister--Seal, Ephrata Cloister--Government Buildings, Lancaster--Washington Hotel--Old Powder House--Lancaster Academy--Male camel--Watermarks, Ephrata Cloister--Johann Conrad Beissel--Tomb of Johann Conrad Beissel--Fountain Inn--Rockford, Home of General Hand--White Swan Tavern--Blunderbuss--Lancaster City Hall--Newspaper account of Marshall's arival--Residence of Jasper Yeates--Residence of Timothy Matlack--Advertisement of the elephant--Oldest tobacco shop in the United States--Old wooden sign, Demuth Tobacco Shop--View of North Queen Street about 1840--William Pitt Tavern--Sign of William Pitt Tavern--Lancaster in 1810--Anchor Inn, Lititz, Pa.--Heinitsh's Drug Store--James Buchanan--Steinman's Hardware Store--Slaymaker's Hotel--Abbeville--House and tannery of Georg H. Krug--Fire engine--View of West King Street about 1850--The Wreath--Button Suctio Engine--Hose cart--Hope Episcopal Church, Mount Hope, Pa.--Mount Hope Mansion--Memorial chancel and altar, Hope Church--Brew House--Bird's-eye view of Lancaster--German Reformed Church--House built about 1760--Lancaster County Prison.