First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg (101 S. Decatur St.)

Presentation topic: Last minute change! now Ghost Stories of the Susquehanna Valley, presented by Adam Zurn

Last minute change:

Due to an unavoidable personal problem, our planned speaker, Leona Baker, will not be able to present "How They Learned their ABC’s" as planned.

Instead, Adam Zurn will return one more time to talk about Ghost Stories of the Susquehanna Valley. Adam has presented for us before, and his talks have always been very enjoyable. We appreciate his willingness to step up at the last minute.

We apologize for the change, and hope to see you there - 7:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg. The meeting will be held in room 4, because preparations for tomorrow's election are underway in the Fellowship Hall where we usually meet. Please enter at the portico, adjacent to the parking lot.

Join us at the Story Bench, for our town’s inaugural “3rd in Strasburg” event. On the 3rd Friday of every month, Strasburg businesses and civic organizations will feature special events and promotions. Strasburg Heritage Society will present the Story Bench at a different location every month. This time it will be on the corner outside of the Strasburg Creamery and General Store, at the corner of West Main and North Decatur Streets.

Stop by the Story Bench to hear stories for all ages about the places near the bench! There will be coloring pages for kids.

Work day status update: On schedule as planned. Rain is in the forecast, at or below 50% probability. We’ll work on what we can. Bathroom cleaning and organizing the stuff in the barn can continue if there’s rain.

This week’s priority jobs:
- Open the restrooms and clean them.
- Relocate piles of bricks, rocks, and soil.
- Install temporary covers over holes in the east wall of the barn.
- Go through the barn downstairs space to dispose of unwanted items, organize the rest.
- Remove the shelving downstairs in the barn on the east wall.

Please bring tools that could be useful for these jobs.

Overview:
Come and pitch in to spruce up the Strasburg Heritage Society’s Shroy House, barn, and grounds, to make our place something that we can be proud of! We ask the volunteers to suggest projects and solutions, and to help us to prioritize the projects that we work on next. This is a great opportunity to meet people and learn from them. It’s a chance to feel the satisfaction of being part of a group that is accomplishing something worthwhile. We’ll put the old saying into practice: “Many hands make light work!”

We’ll be holding Volunteer Work Days on every 2nd and 4th Saturday running through September. We’ll work from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and you’re welcome to come for as much time as you can manage. We’ll provide drinks, but please bring your lunch if you plan to stay for a while. We’ll try to hold the event rain or shine, but will be flexible if conditions (rain, heat, etc.) are extreme. Check back here for up to the minute decisions.

First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg (101 S. Decatur St.)

Presentation topic: Medicine in the 1800’s - The Healing, The Harmful, The Quackery, presented by Diane Whitcomb

Through captivating stories and firsthand accounts, Adam Zurn will take you on a personal journey to uncover the mysteries of this history-rich Shenks Ferry area. Hear about his search for a long-forgotten settler cemetery hidden in the woods, retrace Zurn's steps to reveal the tragic explosion of a dynamite factory that claimed 11 lives, and follow his odyssey to view the Safe Harbor petroglyphs created by the Native Americans who once called Shenks Ferry home.

This in-person program on Monday, March 16th at 7:00 pm is free and open to the public. Perfect for adults and children who enjoy exploring or learning about local history. This is presented by the Strasburg Heritage Society which meets at the Strasburg Presbyterian Church on S. Decatur Street. Special prizes will be given to all children ages 6-15 who attend.

Strasburg Heritage Society is offering a special event on Thursday, Feb 26, to help anyone with an interest in researching the history of properties in Lancaster County. Joe Deevy will explain how to use the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds online tool to find and interpret property deeds.

Tracing the chain of ownership by researching deeds provides essential facts and insights that are key to learning about the history of a property. Joe will explain the basics of deeds, then he will demonstrate the use of the online tool along with pitfalls and strategies. Participants can bring their own computers or digital devices to follow along in real time. After this presentation, you will be ready to start searching for deeds for yourself.

This in-person meeting, held at the First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg, PA, will be simultaneously streamed via zoom. The presentation will start at 7:00 PM and will last one hour. Questions will be addressed at the end, and the meeting can be extended if needed to respond to any questions.

If you wish to join us via zoom, please use this link to register:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/hXWhK5BRTOC5JIM6oDK_tw

We hope to see you there!

First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg (101 S. Decatur St.)

Presentation topic: Historical Figures: John P. McCaskey, Joseph Simon, Thomas Wharton, presented by Dr. Robert Frick

The Strasburg Heritage Society invites you to come and listen to one of our very favorite speakers on Monday, February 16th at 7:00 pm at the Strasburg Presbyterian Church on South Decatur Street. You don't have to be a member or a Strasburg resident to attend. Children and students are also welcome to attend. Each child under 16 who attends will receive a free gift.

Dr. Robert Frick, educator and historian, will share PowerPoint presentations on 3 individuals who made significant differences in the history of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States of America.

• John Piersol McCaskey was an educator, businessman, and civic leader in the Lancaster community. In 1865, he became the principal of Lancaster Boys High School, a position that he served for 41 years.

• Joseph Simon was the first member of the Jewish faith to live in Lancaster, arriving in 1740. He served his community as a religious leader, a businessman, and a patriot to the cause of independence.

• Thomas Wharton served his country as a businessman, a patriot, and the President of the Supreme Executive Council, the legislative body responsible to the Continental Congress of the newly formed United States.

Participants should prepare for lively presentations filled with interesting facts and peppered with humor. Dr. Frick’s goal is education with a smile. Please stay for refreshments afterwards.

First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg (101 S. Decatur St.)

Presentation topic: Working On An Older Home: 10 Common Mistakes and Energy-Smart Solutions presented by Danielle and Jonathan Keperling

The Keperlings will be showing some of their many renovations and will explain to owners of older buildings how to avoid common renovation and repair mistakes that can lead to irreversible and costly damage. They will explain the dos and don’ts and offer sensible alternatives. They will also offer valuable tips to improve energy efficiency in older buildings.

Jonathan and Danielle Keperling are preservation professionals who co-own and operate Keperling Preservation Services, a Lancaster-based restoration and historic preservation firm focused on repairing, protecting, and sustaining 18th-early 20th century buildings. Together, they bring decades of hands-on experience in traditional trades and craftsmanship, combining practical knowledge with a commitment to helping historic building owners restore and preserve their properties. Some of their local restorations include the Iron Horse Inn, Elizabethtown Train Station, Old Main at F & M, and the Mylin House in Willow Street.

Strasburg Heritage Society will also recognize the homeowners who opened their homes this past December for the annual Holiday Home Tour. Thanks to them and our volunteers, this was a wonderful event! Refreshments will be provided. All are welcome to attend, and there is no cost.

The holidays are coming! The annual Strasburg Holiday Home Tour will be held on Saturday, December 6th this year. Seven lovely homes will be open for your enjoyment from 10 AM to 4 PM. The homes vary in age and style, and will be beautifully decorated for the holiday season. Most of this year’s homes are new to our tour and are in Strasburg’s Historic District, which makes the tour very walkable. At the Event Center at the First Presbyterian Church on S. Decatur Street, tour tickets, lunch, greens, and craft vendors will be available from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM.

Tickets go on sale November 8 for $20 if purchased in advance, or $25 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased in person at Main Street Antiques (2 W. Main St.) or Speckled Hen Coffee (141 E. Main St.), on online for a small fee (see below). This is a great day when local folks as well as out-of-towners stroll the streets and enjoy the historic town as well as the homes. Come to Strasburg and get in the holiday spirit!

First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg (101 S. Decatur St.) Fellowship Hall

Presentation topic: Show and Tell: Historical Holiday Ornaments, Gifts, Customs, Toys, etc.

Audience participation! Bring items from your past or older that tell something about the holiday traditions or experiences, particularly in Strasburg or in your family.

Growing up in Strasburg in the fifties and sixties and antiques to share from those decades will be the November focus of the Strasburg Heritage Society November meeting.

Join us at our November monthly meeting as life-long Strasburg residents Sally Rinehart and Dale Kauffman share what it was really like to grow up in Strasburg during the 1950s and 60s. They will share memories and photos with us. Many things were different then. Many things, though, remain the same and help to make Strasburg the wonderful town that it is today.

The second half of the program will be open to attendees who want to share items from those decades. We welcome everyone to come and join us. There will be special silver Slinky toys given out to all children under 17 who attend. All ages are welcome. There will be a 1954 Vintage Erector set to interact with. Bring your fifties and sixties era antiques to share with the group. Refreshments are available afterwards. Come on out and join us as we explore Strasburg of the fiftees and sixties.

First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg (101 S. Decatur St.)

Presentation topic: Mysterious Petroglyphs of Safe Harbor, presented by Adam Zurn

The Strasburg Heritage Society invites you to come to our Monday, October 20th meeting held at the Strasburg Presbyterian Church at 7:00 pm. Adam Zurn, founder of Uncharted Lancaster, will be presenting “The Mysterious Petroglyphs of Safe Harbor.” We will join Adam, as he recounts his expeditions down the lower Susquehanna to explore the mysterious Native American petroglyphs hidden on the ancient river at Safe Harbor.

These 1,000 year old carvings represent some of the oldest man-made artifacts in Lancaster County, and one of the most significant arheological sites in the northeastern United States. Adam will discuss their significance and possible meanings, as well as share local legends that surround this rock art. We welcome everyone to join us!

Strasburg Park Pavilion, 151 Precision Ave

3:00 Intro to basic calls
3:30-5:00 Dancing

Strasburg Heritage Society is pleased to host a Community Barn Dance! This will be a FUN, FAMILY FRIENDLY event for ALL AGES! And it’s FREE!

Dance styles will include a mix of Square Dancing, Scottish/Irish Ceilidh, and Contra. If you’ve ever tried any of these, you know how much fun it is, and how easy it is to learn - no experience is necessary! Intro to the dance calls starts at 3:00, followed by from 3:30 to 5:00.

You’ll be dancing to live music provided by Paul Morton, Becca Rast and Kinley Zook, with Fiona Gillespie as the dance caller. Bring your own chairs or blankets for the lawn.

Those sweet community gatherings that have been part of Strasburg’s heritage for hundreds of

years are still alive today - don't miss out!

First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg (101 S. Decatur St.)

Presentation topic: The William Chester Ruth Story, presented by Gwendolyn Ruth Dickinson

William Chester Ruth was an African American machinist, business owner, and inventor. As agricultural mechanization was coming into its own in the early 20th century, Ruth set up a blacksmith and machine shop in Gap, PA to support local farmers. He developed a reputation within the surrounding farming community as an ingenious and indispensible problem solver. He overcame immense obstacles through is ingenuity and intelligence to develop his business and to invent, patent, and build successful machines. He also dedicated his time and prodigious talent to leadership in his church. Ruth’s granddaughter Gwen Dickinson will tell the amazing story of the Wm. Chester Ruth and his family.

First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg (101 S. Decatur St.)

Presentation topic: Growing Up Along the Pequea, presented by Art Hershey and siblings

First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg (101 S. Decatur St.)

Presentation topic: 11 Historical Anecdotes of Lancaster County People, presented by Jack Brubaker (“The Scribbler”)

First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg (101 S. Decatur St.)

Presentation topic: The Amazing Little, Old, and Slow Train, presented by Stan White

First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg (101 S. Decatur St.)

Presentation topic: Lancaster County Mills, presented by Donald Kautz

First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg (101 S. Decatur St.)

Presentation topic: C. Emlen Urban and Charles Demuth, presented by Robert Frick

First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg (101 S. Decatur St.)

Presentation topic: Before Strasburg Township: Local Landowners in the 1700s, presented by Christopher Scott

Before the formation of Lancaster County in 1729, there was a five-square-mile tract of land that straddled Pequea Creek, referred to as Strettleton Township. This land falls within modern Strasburg and West Lampeter Townships. Christopher Scott will present newly discovered information on the settlement and property ownership within this tract of land, tracing the rights from William Penn’s grant in 1681 through all the pioneers who purchased plots when the tract was subdivided in 1731. A detailed overlay of the original survey with a modern map will allow attendees to see exactly which current properties lie within this historic area. Those who live within the boundaries will learn about their shared legacy of ownership through the early 1700s.

Christopher Scott is a resident of West Lampeter Township who recently published an engaging book on his research into the history of his property. It was through his efforts that he discovered the reference to Strettleton Township, which had previously been lost to history. The book not only tells the history of the property, but also provides a highly readable account of the historical research process that will be of interest to amateur historians or genealogists.

Come visit a variety of beautiful Strasburg gardens that are normally hidden from public view! You can walk between some of them in town, but you will need your car to reach all nine of them, as well as the Strasburg Community Garden. 

Tickets are good for both days and can be purchased online below (small fee).  You will pick up your guide to the gardens on either morning of the tour, starting ½ hour before the tour at the Strasburg First Presbyterian Church, 101 South Decatur St.   These guides, which are your actual ticket, can also be purchased in person starting May 22 at either Main Street Antiques or the Speckled Hen Cafe in town (cash or check only, no fees). Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the tour (where they can be purchased at the Presbyterian Church by cash, check, or credit card). 

Children under 10 do not need a ticket. The tour will happen rain or shine; no refunds will be offered.

Thank you for your support of our non-profit organization and we hope you enjoy our historic town!

Come visit a variety of beautiful Strasburg gardens that are normally hidden from public view! You can walk between some of them in town, but you will need your car to reach all nine of them, as well as the Strasburg Community Garden. 

Tickets are good for both days and can be purchased online below (small fee).  You will pick up your guide to the gardens on either morning of the tour, starting ½ hour before the tour at the Strasburg First Presbyterian Church, 101 South Decatur St.   These guides, which are your actual ticket, can also be purchased in person starting May 22 at either Main Street Antiques or the Speckled Hen Cafe in town (cash or check only, no fees). Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the tour (where they can be purchased at the Presbyterian Church by cash, check, or credit card). 

Children under 10 do not need a ticket. The tour will happen rain or shine; no refunds will be offered.

Thank you for your support of our non-profit organization and we hope you enjoy our historic town!

Everyone is welcome to attend the May meeting of the Strasburg Heritage Society on Monday, May 20th at 7:00 pm at the Strasburg Presbyterian Church. There is no cost to attend. We will be hearing from Dr. Robert Frick, educator and historian. He will share PowerPoint presentations on two individuals who made significant differences in the history of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States of America:

Thomas Henry Burrowes, a native son of Strasburg, served Pennsylvania as a legislator and educator. One of his many outstanding contributions to our state was leadership in the passage of the Free School Act of 1834, that required every municipality to provide an education to all children, regardless of the wealth of their families.

Dwight David Eisenhower focused on leadership in both the military and his presidency. In both his military career and in his role as the chief executive of the United States, his insight and leadership enabled him to establish long-range goals and a focus in achieving their desired outcomes. 

Participants should prepare for lively presentations filled with interesting facts and peppered with humor. Dr. Frick’s goal is education with a smile. Hope to see you there.

In addition to the presentation by Dr. Frick, the 2024 Trustee elections will take place at the Society meeting on the 20th.

Dwight Eisenhower
Presented by Bob Frick

Meetings are held at the First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg at 7 pm, followed by refreshments.

Benjamin Franklin
Presented by Stephen Shaw

Meetings are held at the First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg at 7 pm, followed by refreshments.

Family Connection Old Strasburg Bank
Presented by Rob Martin

This month, our speaker will be Rob Martin. He will be telling us about the Strasburg National Bank and his experiences in that historic building which still stands on the corner of Main St. and Decatur St. Rob’s father, and then Rob, owned the building for many years. He found many interesting things in the building when he was restoring it. The Strasburg National Bank was only the 42nd bank in the nation to be chartered; now there are thousands. Come and hear about the bank and other historical memories. We invite everyone in the community to join us.

Meetings are held at the First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg at 7 pm, followed by refreshments.

Show and Tell - Member Participation
Member Penny D'Alessandro will kick off the evening with stories of her family's fascinating history, accompanied by photos of treasured heirlooms.

Afterward, the floor will be open to any other members or aspiring members.  All are encouraged to bring an item of historic interest to share. There are no requirements on the age of the items - just bring something that recalls some element of history. We especially encourage members to bring items pertaining to local history. If you're comfortable doing so, we would like you to say a few words about your item to explain its origin, significance, or story.

At the end of the meeting, we will have a reception for the homeowners who opened their homes this past December for the Holiday Home Tour. This was a highly successful event, and it couldn't have happened without the generosity and hospitality of the homeowners. Be sure to stay to thank them - and have a piece of cake!

Meetings are held at the First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg at 7 pm, followed by refreshments.

Don’t miss our 12th Annual Holiday Home Tour! Join us as we visit homes and churches from the 1800’s to the present, all with unique holiday décor.

[LEARN MORE]

As Santa arrives on the Strasburg Fire Company truck, enjoy caroling, cookies & hot cocoa, kids activities, and more. Co-sponsored by the Heritage Society, the Lampeter-Strasburg Women's Club, and Strasburg Borough.