Winters Heritage House Museum

Membe r N e w s l e t t e r
Published quarterly by the Elizabethtown Preservation Associates, Inc. Summer 2017

Inside— Also —
 Dear Elizabeth
 Explore 1858 Elizabethtown!
 Fun Findings in the Seibert Library  Dig our Garden!
 Museum Updates  A No-Poo History!
 Summer Stuff  Tea-up in the Museum Store

(717) 367-4672
Permit No. 1
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Elizabethtown, PA
47 East High St.,
Non-profit Org.
P.O. Box 14
US Postage Paid Return Service Requested
Winters Heritage House Museum
 Looking Good On Top!

The Winters Heritage House Museum is made up of three early town structures,
now joined interiorly, and one free-standing Victorian brick house. The museum

effort was initiated when a group of community- and history-minded individuals

stepped in to preserve the initial two buildings from demolition in 1988-89. The
original museum, therefore, included only the structures at 45 and 47 East High
Street (The Scots-Irish Log building and the Museum Store, respectively).

One of the first projects for the rescue crew was to replace the failing roof. Archeological experts concluded that the original
1790 roof would most likely have
been hand cut wooden shingles,
so cedar shakes were used during
restoration. 28 years later, in
2017, that roof, too, has been
failing. This past May, the
museum contracted JMK Roofing
of Strasburg to replace the cedar
shakes over the original museum
buildings, as well as the rear
entrance to the Seibert Library
(which was in dire need, as well).
The results are spectacular. The rear porch and modern kitchen area (formerly a woodshed) received a standing seam metal
roof rather than cedar. The rainspouts were also replaced, greatly improving the water runoff from the building. Enjoy these
before and after photos.

Photos, top to bottom;

 Museum Back and Front

 Back Porch Roof

 Rear Library entrance

Dear Elizabeth
Our Historic Advice
Column
The spirit of our town
founder, Elizabeth Hughes, residing
here from 1750 to 1760, offers her
advice to our generation.
If you have any advice needs from or a
history question for Elizabeth, please
send them to Dear Elizabeth, c/o
Winters Heritage House Museum
email;
Winters-HH@ElizabethtownHistory.org
Dear Elizabeth,
I heard that colonial women wore caps
that were called “mop caps”. I was told
this was because without shampoo,
colonials’ hair was greasy and nasty, and
who would want to see that? If they wore
the caps all the time, not only when
mopping, why were they called mop caps?
Did your hair, perhaps, resemble a mop
because of all the grease? I am so glad I
live in a time period with shampoo!
Shampoo Sally
Dear Sham,
First off, I will answer the most simple
question involved in your runaway
misinformed ramblings; The caps are
simply called ‘caps’ by myself and my
peers. They became known as “mob
caps” (with a ‘b’) during the unrest of
revolutionary times (after my era). When
the protesting masses of common folk
took to the streets, including a goodly
number of women, who of course were
wearing their caps, the effect from above
appeared as a sea of white caps. Hence,
the name “mob cap” became common,
standing in reference to the unrestful
mobs of that day. I fear this term was
attached by those in loftier stations to
A practical mob cap (above) and the
ridiculous lengths to which it was taken
by fashion. (below)
imply a rudeness of background to the
common people, and thereby tie that
negative connotation to the resistance
movement of that era. The name mob
cap not only stuck, but the caps soon
became objects of fashion for the well-to-
do class. They remained in high fashion
well into the 1800s. Fancied up,
exaggerated in proportion, mob caps
were sold as high-fashion pieces; another
thumbing of the nose towards the
unhappiness of the lower classes one
could suppose.
In a practical manner, the caps were worn Goodness! That horse even knew when to
to keep our hair clean. In an era of much
airborne dirt due to horse and wagon
traffic, dusty roads, cooking smoke and
soot, it was much simpler to don a cap to
repel such soils. Additionally, it was a
way to keep one’s length of hair up and
out of the way when performing the daily
chores.
Finally, let me straighten out another
misconception regarding our hygiene.
Your era, my dear, is much more prone to
greasy-headedness than my own and do
let me explain why this is so. Shampoo
begets the need for more shampoo. By
mindlessly using this modern product, and
daily stripping your head of natural oils,
you have created your own greasy-
headed situation, though I dare guess not
one of you will believe me, so
indoctrinated are you into this mindset.
Without shampoo, our hair was healthier
and required much less washing and
wasn’t greasy at all. If you wish to
educate yourself further on this, do
‘Gobble it’ on those little light boxes you
are so enchanted by.
Yours Truly,
Elizabeth
Dear Elizabeth,
My elderly parents insist on
driving, but I worry about their aging
reflexes and the safety of other drivers.
Also, they once got lost even though
travelling a local road. I dread asking
them to give up their car keys. What
should I do?
Worried Son
Dear Worried,
Simply set them up with a
carriage and an experienced horse that
knows his way home. This worked well for
my grandparents back in Ireland.
stop by the pub to fetch pa!
Yours Truly,
Elizabeth
 1864
12

9 14 8

10 13

11

2 Off map: Across from current Arch St. Turkey Hill

Off map: NW Corner of S. Market and Cedar St.

3

Location as mentioned in article What they are in 2017

1. Brother’s Pizza
1. A.G. Heisey residence 2. Across from Turkey Hill location
2. Hershey’s Grocery 3. Corner of S. Market and Cedar
3. David Martin residence 4. Lot across from Manor Care
4. Leicht residence 5. RR tunnel /overpass (was at grade)
5. Railroad station 6. E-town Computers on N. Market
6. Old Bear Tavern 7. N. Market residence
7. M. B. Keller residence 8. Trellis Place location
8. United Brethren Church 9. W. High St. residence
9. Dr. Fearn’s 10. Covered up by modern bridge
10. Stone arch bridge 11. Parking lot for Church of God, across
11. Black Horse Hotel from P.O.
12. Northwest section of town
12. Wealand Farm 13. Fighting Dragons studio
13. Location previous to Horst building 14. Moose building (built on the foundation of The Black Horse Hotel, circa 1910
14. Greenawalt Hotel Greenawalt)
This building was damaged by fire in 1985,
then demolished for a parking lot.
Fun Findings From the Seibert Library
This article was written in 1933 for the Elizabethtown Chronicle. It details the town via the memories of one of its then oldest citizens,
George Boggs. This memory, despite the title, now takes us back 159 years. We have left the article unedited, but have added
numbers to it that correspond to locations mentioned on the map, to help the reader accommodate for changes since 1933. The facing
page map is from the 1864 Lancaster County Atlas, the closest map we have to George’s discussion of the 1858 Elizabethtown.

ELIZABETHTOWN 75 YEARS AGO (1858)
By George D. Boggs - - November 17, 1933
George D. Boggs, one of Elizabethtown’s oldest citizens,
writes the following for the Chronicle:
“Seventy-five years ago Elizabethtown was a borough of about
700 population. Looking back, I see many changes, some of which I
will comment upon. On the west of South Market Street, below the
residence of A.G. Heisey (1), there were but two houses, now
occupied by Hershey’s grocery store (2) and the residence of David
Martin (3). East of South Market, below the residence of Mr. Leicht
(4), there was one house. On Bainbridge Street, one house and
railroad station (5) and Mother Ross’ orchard and an immense hickory
tree.
North Market Street, west side: The Old Bear Tavern (6), then
used as a farm house, now owned and occupied by Dr. Vere Treichler,
and the M.B. Keller residence (7). No other houses. East High Street; flocks of wild pigeons flew over the town in autumn.
north side, above the Lutheran Church (Still there), four houses and
the little United Brethren Church (8). On the east side, the Naille
home, opposite the Lutheran Church, two houses, West High Street,
no houses beyond Dr. Fearn’s (9). South side, no buildings beyond
Stone Bridge (10). South Poplar Street was opened for two blocks,
but no buildings. North Poplar, Park, Washington and other streets
that are now opened and built up, was all farm land. Among the old
residents, I find Peter Force, a shoemaker. I knew him well. He was a came
veteran of the War of 1812, and was powder-boy on Commander
Perry’s ship on the battle of Lake Erie. He is buried in our own
cemetery and his grave is decorated by the G.A.R. Col. A
Greenawalt, a prominent landlord and land-owner, and an excellent
entertainer. Travelers would come for miles to stop at the
“Greenawalt House” to hear a good story of the old colonel’s. He
would tell of George Washington, that a bullet was not made to kill
him; at the battle of Brandywine a cannonball struck him on the
breast, glanced off and caved in the gable-end of a Quaker meeting-
house; George W. Boyer, jolly landlord of the Black Horse Hotel,
whose laugh could be heard far and near. The Old Black Horse Hotel, pigeons on Sunday. Do you not know your duty was to be at
an old log house with little crooked windows, stood where the garage
and residence now is, South Market Street, next to the present Black
Horse Hotel (11). Amos Harmony, the good friend of all children.
All the boys and girls would go to Uncle Amos and his good wife for
sweet apples, and to the Wealand farm (12) (now owned by Benjamin
Lehn) for cherries. They had a long row of ox-heart, early red and
black cherry trees along the lane. Joseph Clinton, a peculiar man, who
had an acid tongue and knew how to use it. Dan May Shoemaker to
whom the children would be sent for strap oil and would get it.
cups and a Jew when sober. There were many more old citizens who
had their peculiarities, but all have passed to the great beyond.
The old Stone Arch bridge on West High Street, crossing the
Conoy Creek was built in 1800. This I have from Esq. Byrod, long
dead, aged 90. On the corner of the Square where the Horst building
stands, was an old one-story shed-roof building which was occupied
by a negro barber named George Harris, the only negro who resided
here, and a German Shoemaker (13). He trusted everybod, never kept
accounts, saying “they knew they owed him, why should he be
worried with keeping books?”
There were public pumps, the old wooden kind, made of logs. On
the sidewalks, viz., at the front of Black Horse Hotel (1), Engine
House, Mrs. John C. Redsicker’s, Fletcher’s Corner Greenawalt Hotel
(14), Horst’s corner, Fisher’s corner.
“Cows and pigs roamed the streets and alleys those days; immense
“Peter Shaeffer, a Revolutionary soldier, is buried in the Lutheran
church-yard. The Redsecker family was one of the oldest residents of
the town and were prominent in history. Mother Ross, a very aged
lady, who was a Redsecker, told me I could look to the east and to the
west of town as far as I could see and her father owned the land.
“The Fire company has an old hand fire engine. It was old when I
to town and must be much over one hundred years old now. The
boys formed a fire company, we called it the “Hope Fire Company”
and claimed the old engine was ours. I was Treasurer of the company
and have still fifteen cents in the treasury.
“Note No. 1 – Speaking of wild pigeons, reminds me of old
George Hein, who lived close to town. I knew him. On a Sunday,
Hein went to shoot wild pigeons. He was a member of the Reformed
church. The minister heard of his recollection and considered his duty
to call Hein to account. He said to him, “I heard you were shooting
Church?” Hein replied,
Parson, when the pigeons
are here you must shoot
them or else they fly
away; now the church is
there and stays there and I
can go at any time. How
the matter ended I cannot
say.”

Joseph Strauss, a Jew, who was a good Christian when in his GEORGE D. BOGGS

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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE MUSEUM!
Winters Heritage House Museum
P.O. Box 14
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Summer through Fall Calendar
June Summer Camp: Special Family Class offering:
12 Native American Life (weaving/cooking/traditional tales)
8 children /2 adults $150 (4 hours)
Call to schedule
7 July Summer Camp: Special Family Class Offering
Wool to Weaving with loom weaving project
8 children and 2 adults for $80 (3 hours)
Call to schedule
August 11 – 2nd Friday Art Walk event
21-26 –E-town Fair
September 8 – 2nd Friday Wine Walk
October 13 – Story Hour
16-20 – 3rd Grade walking tour (tentative date)
TBD – Haunted Museum Tour
ReNEW November
3 – Story Hour
10 & 11 (Fri. & Sat.) – Holiday Craft Show
December 8 – Story Hour & Last day for regular hours
Volunteers Needed in the following areas.
Herb Garden—Help is needed maintaining and organizing the garden.
We would also like to start an heirloom seed and plant effort, and
hopefully sell garden products, such as seeds, soaps, scrubs, and herbs
in the museum store. Just need more peeps to make it go.
Third Grade Walking Tours - Docents are needed the week of
October 16-20 for helping with traffic-flow and student activity areas.
Museum Store — We are seeking someone who would like free store
space to market their local product in exchange for extending the
museum’s hours. Interested persons should contact Nancy Landis,
Museum Director, for an application.
Haunted Museum — We need some theatrical personalities to help us
spook the visitors with some creepy local history skits. This event date
is yet to be determined.
Holiday Craft Show — We have a few openings for vendors in our
annual Holiday Craft Show, November 10 & 11. Items must be locally
handmade. Original crafts, artwork, foods, and décor are all welcome.
And any committee is always welcoming to new people.
Quilt Committee — meets the 2nd and 3rd Mondays.
Textile Committee —meets the 3rd Wednesday.
Hearth Cooks—this committee is currently inactive but has all the tools
and info ready to go!
Property Committee — This committee meets on an as-needed basis,
and plots and plans to preserve these historic structures. If you like
tromping through old attics, and are handy with a hammer, this is for
you!
If you would be interested in learning more, give us a call or stop by.
 The Herb Garden is off to a great start this are also supportive of the museum during the
spring. annual Holiday Craft Show. They are responsible
for gathering and packaging heirloom seeds,
The colonial raised-bed garden in the backyard of drying and jarring herbs, assembling recipe
the museum reflects what a traditional booklets and baking herbal foods to sell at that
Pennsylvania German garden would have been event.
like. Included in the beds are medicinal herbs,
seasoning herbs, vegetables, and dye plants. Anyone interested in helping or learning is
encouraged to contact the museum. Gardeners
The group is always looking for more gardeners meet frequently over the summer to weed and
and those wishing to learn how to garden. Group chat.
members

26th Annual Quilt Show Wrap-up

This year’s Quilt show entertained over 150 visitors from far and wide. Our farthest travelled
visitor came to us from Washington state. It is possible they were in town for another purpose, but
they were thrilled to see the show, all the same.
There were 27 quilts in the exhibit. The oldest quilt dated to the mid- 1800s and its patriotic
theme implies it was possibly made in anticipation of the United States’ centennial celebration
year. Our newest quilt was completed in the spring of 2017. Several of the antique quilts
displayed were created by Katherine Lippold (1869-1943), a servant living at Wheatland in the
late 1800s to early 1900s.
There is one quilt being raffled off. It is a burgundy and deep green block pattern centered with
hand embroidered inter-woven hearts set on white fields. The quilt committee worked several
months completing the quilting by hand. Tickets will be on sale ($5 for 6 tickets) through the end
of 2017.
In addition to quilts, there was a cross-stitch sampler on display created by a family living in New
York state in the 1880s. There are over 50 images in the sampler, which were each signed on the
reverse by the individual that stitched it. The sampler appears to be a celebration of this family’s
freedom from slavery, each hand-stitched image being done by a different member. The owner
had originally brought the unusual piece in hoping we could help him discover more about the
family, using the names of the signers. He then asked if we would like to include it in the
quilt exhibit.
Bear Creek Colonial Day
This year, the Winters Heritage House was asked to participate in “Colonial Day” at Bear Creek Intermediate School. 5th grade students
spent the morning and afternoon of May 12th travelling to stations and learning about colonial games, skills, and everyday life.

On the museum’s behalf, textile group volunteers, Donna Bucher, Yvonne Geiger, and Kathy Graham spent time showing the children
how to prepare and spin wool into yarn. “I think we were a hit!” was the resounding summary of that
activity.

In the afternoon, Ross Buettner stood in as a colonial Conestoga wagon teamster. His 45-minute
presentation fascinated the children with tales of his life
as a driver of that early freight wagon.

Colonial Day is the culmination of the students’ colonial

American studies. While Colonial Day has been an
annual event for EASD fifth graders for many years, this
is the first time the museum has been part of it. The
program fits right in with the museum’s mission, and we
hope that tradition continues.

Left: Donna Bucher and Kathy Graham demonstrate the

drop-spindle method of yarn production.
Right: Ross Buettner introduces students to his wagon
and team.

The Museum Store is Tee-Tea-Teriffic!

Support both the museum and local merchants by purchasing a t

-shirt with the museum logo or some great ice teas for summer
evenings on the porch.

The t-shirts are made from cotton grown in the USA, spun in
the USA, manufactured in the USA, and printed for us at E-
town Sporting Goods.

The teas are historic varieties grown in colonial era tea gardens and hand blended in
South Carolina, then sealed in airtight tins for best storage. There are medicinal,
herbal, and black teas here for sale.

The museum store features all local and USA –made items. There are dried herbs from
the museum gardens, artwork and books by local artists and authors, hand-thrown
pottery mugs, locally produced yarns, historic-recipe chocolate made here in
Elizabethtown by Mars Snack Foods, and lots of quilts, fabrics and quilt books to dig
through, thanks to our dedicated quilt committee. Stop in!

Winters Heritage House Museum, 47 East High Street

P.O. Box 14, Elizabethtown, PA 17022
717 367-4672
Hours: Wed., Thurs., Fri., 9:30am to 3pm and by appointment

WWW.ElizabethtownHistory.org Winters-HH@ElizabethtownHistory.org