Lotteries have always been alluring--wager a little for the chance to win a lot. Continental Congress attempted to raise funds to finance the Revolutionary War through a lottery, with a one of the drawings held in York in May 1778. From colonial times lotteries were conducted to raise money for public works, for churches and for colleges.

Two advertisements in a December 1826 York Recorder show that even out-of-state lotteries competed for Yorkers’ cash:

Posted in 1770s 1820s Baltimore Continental Congress Delaware Revolutionary War Universal York fundraisers lotteries universities

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Duke Street Methodist Church Shortly after Completion

1876 Map Showing Duke Street M.E. Opposite York Collegiate Institute

Anyone associated with a non-profit institution knows that fundraising is a continuing necessity. It was the same in the past. York County churches were very good at coming up with new ways to raise cash. In a previous post I wrote about the York Moravians charging ten cents in 1867 to see their illuminated Christmas tree.

Click here to read about the Moravian Christmas tree.

Giving a donation to have your name embroidered on a quilt was also popular. I’ll go into that in a later post.

I recently came across “jug breaking," a new one to me, but it was certainly a hit at the Duke Street Methodist Church in 1877. My recent York Sunday News column relates the details:

Posted in 1870s Methodists Universal York York churches entertainment fundraisers music

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