The Shopping News of Lancaster County

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“Pieces From The Past” – Featuring Landis Valley Village And Farm Museum Shopping News Photo by Donald Reese “Pieces From The Past” continues this week, featuring the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum. In this weekly article, Shopping News readers will learn about local items housed in local museums and historical societies. An icon of Lancaster County’s history and heritage is the Conestoga wagon. Likely developed here in the Conestoga River Valley of Lancaster County, the wagon was the backbone of the transportation of goods and people throughout the county, region, and beyond. Because of the deep connections of the wagon to Pennsylvania German history, it is well represented in the museum collection of the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum. In addition to seven Conestoga wagons, there are also wagon tools, toolboxes, and other wagon components in the museum collection. Although the wagon’s origin is traced to Lancaster County, it is not known who originated the design or built the first wagon. An early mention of the Conestoga wagon was in an account book of James Logan at the end of 1717. Drawn by a team of horses, mules, or oxen, the Conestoga was used through the 18th Century, the American Revolution, and well into the 19th Century. In addition to moving goods to the major ports and cities of the region, it moved settlers and commodities further and further into the lands of central and western Pennsylvania. Another legacy of connected to the Conestoga wagon was the early and extensive road network connecting Lancaster County to Philadelphia. As a colony and the early years of the United States, waterways were the principle means of transit of people and goods. Between the agricultural products grown in the rich soils of Lancaster County, and the array of iron furnaces and forges in the region, an interior network of roads was critical to transport goods to the port of Philadelphia. As result, Pennsylvania had one of the largest and best-developed road systems of any state along the eastern seaboard. Still, the roads were rough and difficult to use in poor weather. A vehicle to transmit goods over a primitive road system was essential. Success of the Conestoga wagon was nearly guaranteed. The body of a Conestoga is curved upwards rather than flat, like a typical wagon. The curved body provided, with tall sides, made for a stable carriage that prevented its contents from shifting or tipping. The typical wagon could carry nearly 12,000 pounds of cargo. Many had a frame over the bed in which a cloth cover could be stretched to protect its contents. Tar or other substances could be used to seal the seams of the body to make the interior of the wagon waterproof when it crossed stream or rivers. The wagon’s axels were often made from hickory to provide strength. The large wheels provided stability, especially when crossing water. Contrary to the images seen in movies and television, the earliest wagons were controlled by a person sitting in the wagon. Rather, it was with a drover. The drover walked next to the left side of the wagon or could ride standing parallel to the body of the wagon on a pull-out board, often called the lazy board. Walking or standing, the drover would have access to a brake handle between the front and rear wheel. Being on the left of the wagon provided a good line of sight to the road ahead and on-coming traffic. It is often said that the Conestoga wagon began the custom of “driving” on the right-hand side of the road in the United States. If the wagon was pulled by a horse team, the left horse near the wagon was referred to as the wheel horse and was sometimes ridden. With all the moving parts and long days of travel on rough roads, every wagon carried a box of tools. Attached to the body of the wagon, it would contain tools and components for roadside repair. The hinges of the toolbox, and some of the ironwork of the carriage, would often use design elements associated with Pennsylvania Germans – the tulip or the profile of a bird. As with the body of the wagon to which it was attached, the toolbox was typically painted an aqua blue while the carriage and wheels were a vermillion red and ironwork black. Blue and red are often associated with Pennsylvania Dutch design traditions and were the common colors of Conestoga wagons. Conestoga wagons were considered the ‘big rig’ trucks of their day. Yet by the mid-19th Century, modes of transit were changing. Fist canals, then railroads, were able to transport goods faster and over longer distances. Today, these wagons are a potent symbol of ingenuity, craftsmanship, and tradition. Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum is managed by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The museum is open Thursday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday’s 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. Events, activities, classes, and admission fees are found at the museum’s website: www.landisvalleymuseum.org. You can reach the museum at 717-569-0401. The museum is located at 2451 Kissel Hill Road in Lancaster.

Friends Of Adamstown Library Book Sales Are Back Again Shopping News Photo by Donald Reese The Friends of the Adamstown Library are once again having weekly book sales beginning Tuesday, March 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. They have also added a new time – Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Donations are still being accepted. They have a good selection of books to browse through and purchase. The book sale will be held at the former library location along Route 272. Shown in the photo, from left to right, are booksorters and Team Amazon (standing in front of the books) Pat Acebo; (back) Susan Hess, Carole Evans, Margaret Harting, Winnie Cammauf and Ann Roseboro.

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Reinholds VFW Contributes To Local Fire/Ambulance Shopping News Photo by Donald Reese The Reinholds VFW Post 6759 donated $16,000 to the fire companies and ambulance associations of this community. The VFW takes great pride in being able to help the first responders in the area. The awesome patrons make it possible to donate this money. Stop in to see how you can help give back through the VFW. Shown in the photo, from left to right, are (front) Regina Haldeman (Reams­town Fire Company Ambu­lance), Barb Parks (Rein­holds Community Ambu­lance), Jessica Nino (Rein­holds Community Ambu­lance), Elsie Kauffman (Trustee, Stevens Fire Company); (back) Scott Fisher (Adjutant, Reinholds VFW), Britta Stuart (Stew­ard and Auxiliary President, Reinholds VFW), Jeff Garner (President, Reams­town Fire Company), Joe Groff (Reinholds Fire Company), Donny Stover (Smokestown Fire Com­pany), Derek Miller (Adams­town Fire Com­pany), Shannon Hilton (Den­ver Fire Company), Jon Beaver (Quartermaster, Reinholds VFW), Jeff Hackman (Schoeneck Fire Company), Michelle Brown (Reinholds Community Ambu­lance) and Richard Sweigart (Reinholds VFW, President Home Associ­ation).

Ephrata Theatre Program To Perform “The Wizard Of Oz” Shopping News Photo by Donald Reese The Ephrata High School Theatre Program will be presenting “The Wizard of Oz” with performances on Thursday, March 17, Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m., and on Sunday, March 20 at 2:00 p.m. “The Wizard of Oz” will feature a cast of 60, including students from all Ephrata Area School District elementary and intermediate schools. It is directed by Irving I. Gonzalez with vocal direction by Gabbrielle Umholtz. Pit orchestration is by Jill Klinger and costumes are by Carolyn Tornielli. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-866-967-8167 or visiting the website bit.ly/EHStheatre. Shown in the photo, from left to right, are Brett Devlin (senior) as the Cowardly Lion, Adam Tornielli (junior) as the Scarecrow, Madalyn Sandell (sopho­more) as Dorothy and Paul “Will” Sensenig (senior) as the Tinman.

Shown in the photo is the Washington Avenue School (Ephrata) kindergarten class with teacher Ethel Bolster (late 1950s). If you can identify anyone in this photo, please call the Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley 717-733-1616. (Photos provided for publication by The Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley.