1820s: April 2009 Archives

1864 Bridgen's map of Conestoga Township showing dam.

1860 Shearer & Lake map of Chanceford Township.

A friend recently alerted me to an article about the port of Safe Harbor on the east bank of the Susquehanna River. The article referred to the Conestoga Navigation, which operated from the late 1820s to around 1850. It was an 18-mile-long slack water navigation utilizing the Conestoga Creek with a system of nine locks. It ended at Safe Harbor on the Susquehanna River. Where did the cargo go from there?

Collection pouches on wall on right in William Wagner 1830 drawing of York's German Reformed Church

In 1829, an anonymous Yorker, signing himself REFORM eloquently argued against passing the collection pouch at church. Since all the church services I have attended still have a designated time for the offering and pass the collection plate, I would say the custom still prevails.

See below for the writer's points, as published in the May 26, 1829 Recorder.