Genealogical Gems

Take a moment, if you would, and look at the spare change in your pocket. I would venture to bet you probably have a nickel in among your coins. Did you know that the history of the nickel is linked with a little rural village in Bart Township , Lancaster County ? That hamlet is Nickel Mines! The hamlet gets its name from the area mines which are abundant for nickel. The idea of today’s five cent piece – the nickel – was suggested by Joseph Wharton who bought the mine back in 1862. Nickel Mines is just a stones throw away from where I grew up in Sadsbury Township and I never knew this fact until last Friday when I was doing some background info on my great aunt’s husband, Chester Wiker, Sr. for the Funeral Card Friday post. The year was 1862. The United States was being torn in two by the Civil War. Coins were then made of silver and gold so many people started holding on to their coins, not for monetary value but rather for the value of the silver and gold. Joseph Wha...

Hagia Sophia is my bucket list. There is no genealogical reason to visit. To my knowledge my family has no connection to the sacred building. All the same, I will die a happy woman if I could visit the Hagia Sophia. So what is the Hagia Sophia? Located in Istanbul , it is truly a wonder. Her name means “Holy Wisdom.” For over 900 years, it was a Church. Then, for just shy of 500 years, she stood as a mosque. Now it is a museum with visual remnants of its past lives. It has stood as a museum since 1935. It has been built and rebuilt three times in the same location. It was first built in 360 by Emperor Kanstantios. It was burned down in a public riot in 404. A little more than a decade later, in 415, it was rebuilt by Emperor Theodosios II. This church too was destroyed after a public riot in January 532. Construction for the third structure began the next month and the church was complete by December 537. From 537 to 1453, she stood as the seat of the Patriarch of Constantin...

The Carlisle Indian Industrial School was a model school – a boarding school – with the goal of assimilating American Indians. During the school’s operation, which ran from 1879 to 1918, over 10,000 children attended. More than 70 tribes were represented. The school was run in the old Carlisle Barracks in Cumberland County . Colonel Richard Henry Pratt took over the Barracks in 1879 and opened the school, which he intended to be a model for a nationwide program. His goal was to assimilate the Native Americans, forcing the white man’s culture and ways upon them. Male students were taught various trades, like tinsmithing and printing. The female students were schooled in the domestics, like cooking and sewing. Pratt may have given these children trades useful in the cities and towns throughout the nation but non-existent on the reservations when they returned upon graduation. He also robbed them of their Native American culture and heritage and these poor children, ...

Octorara Lake is a great little fishing and picnic area in Colerain Township , Lancaster County . Today the Octoraro Reservoir falls under the authority of the Chester Water Authority. Years ago, circa 1880 and into the early 1900s, Octorara was a thriving little community. A History of the Octoroaro Farmers Club mentions an Octorara Post Office. Originally the post office in that area was called Andrews Bridge Post Office. However it was changed in 1850 to Octorara Post Office. In 1860 Wilson Dobbins bought the store, as well as 14 acres, according to LivingPlaces.com. He managed both the store and the post office, which was housed there as so many were then, until his death in 1878. (Wikipedia photo) Unfortunately the census records do not list Octorara as Dobbins’ post office. The 1870 census lists “May” and the 1860 census simply says “Colerain”, which is the name of the township. The US IRS Tax Assessment List for 1866 (see below) does note his address, that is his...

Throwback Thursday (TBT) - Our wedding day From left to right: my sister Noreen, me (obviously, right!), hubby Glenn, and his best friend/best man Rick Wilkey. Those Places Thursday preview ... the photo was taken at the Octoraro Lake in Southern Lancaster County ... which will be the feature of next week's Those Places Thursday!   Those Places Thursday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.   © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

We finally made it up here! This is the first year … oh gosh probably since our honeymoon … that we have been able to get away and have a real family vacation. On top of that we finally made it to New Paltz, New York where the Deyo family was one of the original patentees! Oh, I should back up … my husband is descended from the Deyoe family of New York . Now all this time, I have been thinking he has actually been listening to me when I talk about the Deyo/Deyoe line. I lost count of the times he began a sentence with “Oh my gosh my family …”   My goal while we were up there was to connect the famous Deyo line with his Deyoe line. I have a probable connection. I just really wanted proof. One way or the other. Just proof.   Sunday we went to the free Family Day at the Historic Huguenot Street . Basically the HHS is a street – literally – where the original patentees of the town built their homes and settled. Today it is a historic site consisting of seven home...

Considered a spiritual place by many, Devil’s Tower is a monolith of igneous rock. It was formed by the magma which forcibly entered into or between other rock formations of igneous material. Geologists believe it formed approximately 60 million years ago during the Paleogene Period.   A translator misunderstood the name to mean Bad God’s Tower and the name was later amended to Devil’s Tower. It became our first national monument in 1906, established as such by then President Theodore Roosevelt.    Located in the Black Hills in northeast Wyoming , over 400,000 people visit Devil’s Tower each year. A small percent of visitors actually climb the monument as well.      In 1983 we visited there. The photos are from that visit.   Those Places Thursday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.   © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

My parents took us – my sister and I - on several vacations over the years. Some I really enjoyed and others were less exciting. All of them were great, in hindsight. I wish I would have been more appreciative at the time.    We went to Disney World, Bush Gardens , Colonial Williamsburg, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard , and out West. We went to Yellowstone National Park , the Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, the Corn Palace and the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. We also spent many a summer at Daddy’s cabin in the Potter County .   When I think of family vacation time, I have to admit the cabin comes to mind first. I even chose Lock Haven State University because it was in the mountains relatively near Daddy’s cabin! (LHU is in neighboring Clinton County ).   Dad had a cabin with some guys he grew up with from Coatesville. The cabin was called Bear Cat Cabin. I have no idea why. The cabin was, in the truest sense of the phrase, a hunting cabin. ...

This pet brush, I was told, belonged to my 2x great grandfather, Franklin Still. There is no marking on it to indicate when it was made. Franklin lived 1853 to 1931 in Chester County, PA, so that helps date it a bit, assuming that it was in fact his. His son Pierson (1886 – 1977), my great grandfather, was a blacksmith so clearly this is something he may have used. In either case, it is one of the few physical treasures I have from my Still family.     If YOU can shed some light on this object, I would love to hear from you!   Treasure Chest Thursday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.   © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

Last week we virtually visited the Eagle Tavern in Lampeter. That tavern is on the Watch List again put out annually by the Historic Preservation Trust (HPT) of Lancaster County . A post on Facebook reminded me of another tavern of historical note that is in horrible condition - Witmer Tavern.   The note read: “ Another one in need of big help is Witmer tavern on the Old Philadelphia Pike near route 30. The porch roof is falling down and it looks like lights are on inside but I never see any sign of life. This beautiful historic property was built in 1725 and was a wagon stop on the old Kings Highway from Philly to Lancaster . I don't know why someone doesn't see the importance of this old building and maintain it the way it should be.”   Henry Witmer’s Tavern was originally built for Henry Witmer, a Mennonite landowner and tavern keeper. The date stone reads 1773 but parts of the house may date back to 1722, according to Our Present Past by HPT. In 1722 (some sou...

The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County recently released the 2015 Watch List of the most threatened historic properties in Lancaster County. One place on the list is the Eagle Tavern. Built in 1815, this two and one-half story, federal style stone building was one of the best taverns built in a small town in Lancaster County . Originally, it was built first as a house for Samuel Miller and his wife, Anna, in 1815. There is an 1815 date stone centered on the western gable end.    Back in November, the Lancaster County Historical Society opened its doors as part of National Archives Month. I took one of the tours … and it was so worth it! One of the items on display for use that day was the record book of the Eagle Hotel in Lampeter. The book showed a page from 1914.   It is located at 901 Village Road , Lampeter.   Sources: PHMC Cultural Resources Databases http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/phmc_display.cfm?KeyNo=028572 ...

One of the family gifts this year was four passes to the National Civil War Museum up in Harrisburg . Earlier this week – Tuesday to be exact – the four of us headed up. The NationalCivil War Museum is located in Reservoir Park in Harrisburg and attempts to cover the entire Civil War on its two floor museum and book store.   A variety of media is used to tell the story of the Civil War. Artifacts are appropriately displayed here and there throughout the museum. The self guided tour begins on the second floor with “A House Divided.” It covers the time period before the War, from 1850 to 1860. It moves into “American Slavery: The Peculiar Institution.”   Some of the artifacts displayed in that section include wooden shoes - yes slaves wore shoes they handmade out of wood- as well as clothing and the chains. Also on display was an 1852 copy of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom Cabin which talked about the conditions of slavery.   The next section was “First S...

Corry is a small town in northwestern Pennsylvania that roughly 6,400 people call home. It is located about 30 miles southeast of Erie .   The town was named for Hiram Cory. The Atlantic and Great Western Railroad intersected with the Sunbury and Erie Railroad on 27 May 1861. The land where those two railroads intersected was owned by Cory. He has sold a portion of his land to the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad and the railroad then built a ticket office there naming it for him. However a spelling error caused the town to be named Corry instead.   The railroad saw the growth of many small towns and cities across America , and Corry was no different.   The town became a borough in 1863 and later, in 1866, was deemed a city. Industry drove the growth of the city, which became famous for the manufacturing of Climax locomotives In fact, manufacturing still accounts for approximately 30% of the industries in Corry. The postcard pictured here is dated 26 ...

William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Company was founded in 1830 by William Cramp and was vital in modernizing the shipbuilding industry. The shipyard employed many of the residents of Kensington and Fishtown, two neighborhoods in Philadelphia. The Shipyard began at the end of (now named) Susquehanna Avenue . It moved to end of Palmer Street and finally settled at Richmond and Norris Streets. The site is now home to the Port Richmond neighborhood and has become an industrial park. William Cramp died in 1879 at which time his sons, especially Charles, greatly expanded the company. In 1919 the company was sold to Averell Harriman. The company then closed in 1927. It was revived for a short period to assist in the WWII effort but then closed permanently afterwards. The Philadelphia Maritime Museum has been working to compile various archives concerning Cramp’s Shipyard. Blueprints, ledgers and photos are scattered about in various places. Sources: Avery, Ron. “C...

The Pequea Baptist Church in Cains, Salisbury Township, Lancaster County was built in 1844. It is the first Baptist Church in the Township. By the end of October 1843, over 100 people had come to follow Brother Ketchum and desired a place of their own. A meeting was held on 2 November 1843, according to the parish website , at which it was decided to erect a meetinghouse. Land was purchased from Mr. Christian Oberholser for $125 at that time and a building was erected. The building was a modest 43 X 55 ft and it had a basement and upper room. It was dedicated on 12 December 1844. The congregation was chartered by the Lancaster County Courts in 1858, according to Churches and Cemeteries of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania A Complete Guide by A. Hunter Rineer, Jr. Rineer does however mention that the church was founded by a Rev. John Jenkins. The church is located on the south side of Old Philadelphia Pike (Route 340), jus...

Coatesville was once a bustling town. Main Street was filled with stores. People walked the streets and, at Christmas time, Santa came to town. The annual Christmas Parade still brings Santa to town. This postcard shows Coatesville in a different era. Notice the Sears Roebuck and Co., located in the Central Building. It is between Beneficial Loans and Woolworth Co. Other stores seen here on the North side of East Main Street are: Newberry Co., Young's Pharmacy, and Lipkins. The undated Chrome card is clearly from the late 1960s or early 1970s time frame, judging by the cars.   Those Places Thursday is a genealogy prompt of GeneaBloggers.

Long before George Clooney read the script for The Monuments Men, we - as a people - were fascinated by monuments. We were hooked even before President Theodore Roosevelt named Devil's Tower, a natural geological wonder in Wyoming, the nation's first National Monument in 1906. Like all states, Pennsylvania proudly displays its fair share of monuments as well. Everyone loves firemen. This monument (at left) is the Volunteer Fireman's Monument in Reading, PA. It was dedicated on 2 September 1901. The inscriptions recognize all those firemen who served since for over 100 years. In Lehigh County, there is a 12 foot tall monument called Fireman's Drinking Fountain. The fireman stands atop the fountain and is holding a lantern in one hand and a child in the other. Many monuments pay tribute to those who have served in some war or conflict or civil service. Gettysburg has countless monuments remembering those who fought - on both sides - at that great battle of t...

While working on postcards recently, I came across "213. Dry Dock, League Island, Philadelphia, PA." The shipyard was established by an Act of Congress in 1799, making it the oldest in the US, according to the Library of Congress. The original site consisted of 11 acres at the foot of Federal Street from Front Street to the Delaware River in the Southwark neighborhood of Philadelphia. The shipyard was originally owned by Joshua Humphreys, a prominent naval architect. In fact, it was here that he supervised construction of the first ship of the U.S. Navy. It is no longer physically an island. Shown here is an 1891 map of League Island (found the image on Wikipedia). Those Places Thursday is a GeneaBloggers daily prompt which encourage us to focus on places our families may have lived or worked or spent time.

A piece of history is slated to be demolished in West Lampeter Township. Township supervisors sadly approved the demolition at their Monday, 8 September, of a house built by Christian Herr II in 1734. Christian Herr II is the son of Christian Herr I who built the adjoining 1719 Hans Herr House (seen at left), which is the oldest original Mennonite meeting house. According to an article in the Lancaster Newspapers , current owners of the 421 Penn Grant Road historic home, Randy and Christine Andrews, want to tear down their historic home to make space for a new one. Step back in time for a moment. In 1710, the Reverend Hans Herr was among the Mennonites who received land grants near the Conestoga and along what was known as the Great Conestoga Road leading to the west. At that time, the area was part of Chester County, one of the original counties in the Commonwealth. Lancaster County was parceled out in 1729. The Great Conestoga Road was repla...