Uncharted Lancaster

Uncharted Lancaster Discovering history through adventure.

While researching a ghost story about the singing specter of a beheaded man at Fishing Creek, I stumbled upon these intr...
12/11/2025

While researching a ghost story about the singing specter of a beheaded man at Fishing Creek, I stumbled upon these intriguing ruins. They appear to be the remnants of an old cabin or small house. One reader shared an intriguing theory: “Rumor has it that this was once an African-American schoolhouse, established after crossing the Mason-Dixon line. The story has been passed down for generations, though its accuracy remains uncertain.”

These ruins are located a short distance from the road, near the intersection of Fishing Creek Hollow Road and Fern Glen Drive, on Lancaster Conservancy property.

As for the singing beheaded ghost—I'm still grappling with the physics behind that one!

Click the link to read about Old Lupin'—the Headless Singing Ghost of Fishing Creek. https://unchartedlancaster.com/haunted-lancaster-old-lupin-the-headless-singing-ghost-of-fishing-creek/

The history of Martic Township as recorded in the '1875 Historical Atlas of Lancaster County.' For example, the text sta...
12/11/2025

The history of Martic Township as recorded in the '1875 Historical Atlas of Lancaster County.' For example, the text states that Martic Township was settled by an industrious and enterprising class of citizens who prospered in both the areas of agriculture and general business. However, the township was initially organized under the name of Martock and was among the first legally established in Lancaster County. Click the link for a snapshot of life at that time.
https://unchartedlancaster.com/the-history-of-martic-township-as-recorded-in-the-1875-historical-atlas-of-lancaster-county/

“Trip, trap, trip, trap!" went the bridge.“Who's that tripping over my bridge?" roared the troll.And out from under the ...
12/11/2025

“Trip, trap, trip, trap!" went the bridge.
“Who's that tripping over my bridge?" roared the troll.
And out from under the bridge loomed the Troll.

Today, Martic Township Park is a thick forest. But you might be surprised to know that the land was once barren after being clear-cut in the production of charcoal to feed the nearby Martic Forge. Click the link to learn more. https://unchartedlancaster.com/a-brief-history-of-the-martic-township-park/

The area once known as Turniptown lies between Lampeter and Strasburg, PA, near Edisonville. However, before the 1900s, ...
12/11/2025

The area once known as Turniptown lies between Lampeter and Strasburg, PA, near Edisonville. However, before the 1900s, this community was named "Turniptown" due to a weird twist of fate. Here's the story:

In the 1800s, a farmer was transporting a wagon full of turnips to market. Unfortunately, the end gate of the wagon opened while going too fast around a sharp corner of the gravel road, spilling the vegetables all over the ground.

The farmer tried to pick up all the turnips, but there were too many. He had to leave some of them behind. The remaining turnips were eventually beaten into the road by the hooves of other horses using the road.

In the coming days, the locals began to notice a strange smell in the air. It was the scent of rotting turnips. The odor lingered for months, and the locals started calling the area "Turniptown." Click here to read more. https://unchartedlancaster.com/peculiar-names-turniptown/

Two headstones vanished from a hidden pioneer cemetery in Shenks Ferry…and no one knew where they went for decades. This...
12/11/2025

Two headstones vanished from a hidden pioneer cemetery in Shenks Ferry…and no one knew where they went for decades. This summer, the mystery finally cracked open.

A pair of antique dealers in York County spotted the gravestones on a rockpile, nearly forgotten. After weeks of research, an old newspaper article, and a little help from Uncharted Lancaster, the markers were traced back to the Benedict Eshleman Cemetery, one of Conestoga Township’s oldest burial grounds.

On June 22, 2025, the stones were carried across the river and returned to the hillside where they belonged—standing once again among the early settlers they were meant to honor.

A rare historical homecoming in the River Hills. Click the link to read the whole story. https://unchartedlancaster.com/the-lost-headstones-of-shenks-ferry/

Hidden between the Norman Wood Bridge and Muddy Creek on the eastern edge of York County are the remains of Lock 13 and ...
12/10/2025

Hidden between the Norman Wood Bridge and Muddy Creek on the eastern edge of York County are the remains of Lock 13 and 15 of the old Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal. It paralleled the Susquehanna River for 43 miles between Wrightsville and Havre de Grace, Maryland. The canal took three years to complete to provide increased commerce opportunities between Harrisburg and the Chesapeake Bay region. The canal transported lumber, coal, iron, and grain bound for Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York until abandoned in 1895.

Lock 13 and 15 are similar to the nearby Lock 12, which was 17 feet wide, 170 feet long, and had a lift capability of 8.8 feet. It was one of 28 lift locks built to overcome a 233-foot elevation difference between terminal points.

Click the link for more information. https://unchartedlancaster.com/side-quest-discover-lock-15-of-the-susquehanna-and-tidewater-canal/

The Conestoga Area Historical Society is thrilled to announce its much-anticipated annual Early American Candlelight Chr...
12/10/2025

The Conestoga Area Historical Society is thrilled to announce its much-anticipated annual Early American Candlelight Christmas event, happening on Saturday, December 14, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. Step back in time and experience the warmth and charm of an old-fashioned holiday celebration.

Guests are invited to savor the spirit of the season with complimentary refreshments and delightful live entertainment that will fill the evening with joy. One of the highlights of the event is the open blacksmith shop, where visitors can witness skilled artisans at work, showcasing the craftsmanship of days gone by.

No visit would be complete without a taste of history! Don’t miss the chance to enjoy delicious potato donuts cooked to perfection over an open hearth, offering a truly authentic culinary experience.

Mark your calendar for this magical evening and join them in celebrating the holiday season the way it was done in Early America. Admission is free, and all are welcome to share in this wonderful tradition.

The settlement of the Thirteen Colonies didn’t happen all at once—it unfolded in waves, each shaped by geography, ambiti...
12/10/2025

The settlement of the Thirteen Colonies didn’t happen all at once—it unfolded in waves, each shaped by geography, ambition, and survival.

On this map, the color bands tell the story:

🔴 Before 1660
The earliest colonial footholds—Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, Maryland—clustered along natural harbors and river mouths where ships, trade, and supplies could easily reach them.

🟡 1660–1700
As populations grew and colonial governments stabilized, new communities spread outward from the coasts. New England built town-centered farming villages, while the Chesapeake expanded through to***co plantations along its rivers.

🟢 1700–1760
The largest burst of growth. Immigration surged, trade networks matured, and settlement pressed deep into the interior of the colonies—from the Carolinas’ rice and indigo coastlands to the valleys along the Appalachians.

Together, these layers reveal how scattered outposts along the Atlantic rim slowly evolved into a connected—and rapidly expanding—colonial society. Geography, economy, and opportunity shaped every step of the journey.

This drawing by artist David McNeely Stauffer (1845–1913) depicts the home of Timothy Matlack, who served as the secreta...
12/10/2025

This drawing by artist David McNeely Stauffer (1845–1913) depicts the home of Timothy Matlack, who served as the secretary of the Supreme Executive Council from October 1, 1777, to June 1778. According to tradition, this residence, located at the southwest corner of Orange and Jefferson Streets in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, served as the "White House" during the time the Continental Congress convened in the city. Matlack is best known for penning the official engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence on parchment, which was signed by the members of Congress on August 2, 1776.

His impeccable penmanship and role in drafting key documents for the Continental Congress cemented his legacy as one of the unsung heroes of American independence. Beyond his calligraphy, Matlack was a fervent patriot, a vocal advocate for democracy, and a key figure in Pennsylvania's revolutionary government. Read more at https://unchartedlancaster.com/declaration-of-independence-scribe-timothy-matlack-lived-in-lancaster-pa/
📷:

River Guide: The Bridge Club – Binkley’s. The road connecting Lancaster to New Holland has long been one of the most sig...
12/10/2025

River Guide: The Bridge Club – Binkley’s. The road connecting Lancaster to New Holland has long been one of the most significant routes for travel within Lancaster County. Historically, it was so vital that travelers were required to pay tolls at collection points along the way. These tolls funded the maintenance of the roadway. However, crossing the bridge over the Conestoga River came with an even higher toll. This was no surprise, as the cost to construct a bridge far exceeded that of building a road—a principle that remains true today.

Bridges require significant investment, often undertaken by individuals of considerable means. One such figure was Christian Binkley, who, in 1740, acquired 100 acres at the Conestoga River, the site of what is now Perelman Park.

Discover more about Binkley’s Bridge, located over the Conestoga River at Eden in Manheim Township, by visiting the link below: https://unchartedlancaster.com/river-guide-the-bridge-club-binkleys/

Before "Bigfoot" became a household name in 1958, mysterious humanoid creatures were commonly referred to as "wild man" ...
12/09/2025

Before "Bigfoot" became a household name in 1958, mysterious humanoid creatures were commonly referred to as "wild man" or "wild men" in the newspaper.

A deep dive into the LNP + LancasterOnline archives reveals numerous reports of such sightings. While many accounts point to reclusive individuals living on the fringes of society or opportunistic thieves, others defy easy explanation. Among these accounts is the story of the Wild Men of Parkesburg, cryptid-like figures whose presence captivated the imagination of local residents as documented in the September 23, 1874 edition of the Intelligencer Journal.

The September 1874 article begins in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, where residents were abuzz with sightings of a “wild man” who was said to be roaming the area. Descriptions varied wildly, with some claiming the figure was over 250 pounds and others speculating it was an enormous, terrifying beast. As the reporter noted, imagination had clearly played a role in these accounts.

Eventually, not one but two “wild men” were reportedly captured. Far from the terrifying monsters of legend, the captives were described as quiet, docile, and even approachable. Here is what we know about them:

The first wild man was over six feet tall, slim, with very large hands and feet, a medium-sized head, and dark skin. The second wild man stood about five feet five inches tall, stocky, weighing approximately 140 pounds, with similarly oversized hands and feet.

Contrary to earlier rumors, neither was covered in hair. Both had only minimal facial hair and were surprisingly well-behaved. They reportedly enjoyed regular food and drink, a stark contrast to tales of their feasting on carrion.

Despite their subdued nature, their strange, unearthly cries—likened to blowing through a goose quill—continued to fuel speculation. Some theorized these cries were territorial warnings, possibly intended to scare off rivals from potential mates.

While the captured wild men were shown to the public at a Parkesburg local tavern, another, larger creature was believed to roam the nearby Welsh Mountains.

Described as enormous and terrifying, this “wild beast” was said to be growing ever larger with each passing year. Witnesses claimed it was headed toward Morgantown as the fall chestnut season approached. Read more at https://unchartedlancaster.com/the-wild-men-of-parkesburg/

👀 Why Isn’t Lancaster’s Lady Justice Blind?If you’ve ever visited LancasterHistory, you may have noticed something unusu...
12/09/2025

👀 Why Isn’t Lancaster’s Lady Justice Blind?

If you’ve ever visited LancasterHistory, you may have noticed something unusual about the two original Lady Justice statues from the old courthouse: neither one is blindfolded.

So what gives? Isn’t justice supposed to be “blind”?

It turns out the blindfold is actually a later addition to the symbol. Early depictions of Justice in Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art showed her with scales and a sword—but no blindfold. The blindfold didn’t appear until the 1500s, first as a satirical jab suggesting justice was not impartial.

Lancaster’s statues follow this older tradition. And while local records don’t explain the choice, there’s precedent—London’s famous Old Bailey statue also goes without a blindfold, its creators believing her character alone symbolized fairness.

So Lancaster’s Lady Justice isn’t blindfolded… but maybe the message is the same: true justice depends on integrity, not accessories.

🔗 Read more at Uncharted Lancaster. https://unchartedlancaster.com/why-isnt-lancasters-lady-justice-blind/

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About Uncharted Lancaster

Hi, my name is Adam. Growing up in the 80s I enjoyed watching movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Goonies. Later it was National Treasure and Ready Player One as well as the epic video game series Uncharted. When I wasn't watching one of these movies, I was cosplaying it. An old bicycle wrench was my Copper Bones. A surplus WWII gas mask bag became my Indiana Jones side bag.

I've always wanted to experience an adventure similar to one of my heroes, and that got me thinking. Why not? Why couldn't I have an adventure like one of my favorite characters, learn some local history, and maybe even find an artifact or some treasure along the way?

Maybe I couldn't, but I could definitely create them for other people. From this, the idea for Uncharted Lancaster was born. The elevator pitch sounds like this: National Treasure meets letterboxing meets Lancaster County history.

Armed with a basement full of maker space equipment, volumes of Lancaster County history, classic movie prop replicas, and a bunch of smart friends, I began constructing various adventures for Uncharted Lancaster.