For many years, historians have wondered about the exact layout of Camp Security in Springettsbury Township. The farm(s) that were once the camp are well documented; however, the exact layout of the camp - including the huts, stockade, and cemetery - is not definitively known.

For background on the Camp, read these posts by Jim McClure and June Lloyd.

What is known is that David Brubaker purchased a tract of land in present-day Springettsbury Township in 1776. It was over 200 acres, and formerly owned by John Schultz, the son of Johannes and Cristina Schultz, who constructed one of York County's earliest stone homes that still stands today. John Schultz and his family continued to live on the property. In 1781, a portion of the property was taken for construction of Camp Security and the Schultz family moved to York Town. Land was cleared, and trees were cut down to build the stockade. Additional land was used for farming to feed the prisoners and guards.

Brubaker sold the land to the Groff brothers in 1802, and they split the land. Over the next 100 years, the properties changed hands several times, and the associated acreage increased and decreased. Mills were constructed and torn down. Today the eastern portion of the former Brubaker tract is known as the Rowe Farm and the western portion is known as the Weist Farm. At the beginning of the 20th century, however, they were known as the Glatz and Kauffman properties, respectively.

The image above exhibits the general outline of the Brubaker tract in the late 18th century as well as the Glatz and Kauffman farms in the early 20th century.

Posted in 18th Century

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

True or false: The Johannes and Cristina Schultz House along Locust Grove Road in Springettsbury Township is the oldest in York County?

Most people who have studied York County history will probably answer “True.” After all, the datestone, translated, states: “In the year, 1734, John Schultz and his wife Christina, built this house.”

If the house was constructed in 1734, then it is probably the oldest in York County because there are no records of any other extant structure being built earlier.

Local historians (including me) have reported this “fact” again and again over the years. Recently, however, there has been some question as to the authenticity of that “fact.”

In fairness, local architectural historians have always dealt with a dichotomy in classifying the building as the county’s “oldest.” How can the oldest surviving building be a large, two-story building? Early buildings are known to have been simple, one-story log structures. Other surviving stone buildings from the general period (e.g., Martin Schultz House in Hallam) are one-story. In some ways it defied logic that such a large house was also the oldest.

Still, there is that datestone: 1734.

As a researcher of local history and architecture, I have also been a bit troubled by the apparent contradiction. Over the past few months I’ve conducted my own research, with input from Karen Arnold of Historic York and suggestions from others.

My conclusion? Well, there is no conclusion. We simply can’t know for sure because of the lack of records from the period. However, there is some notable evidence to cast doubt on the claim.

Posted in 18th Century German Architecture

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

When the Second Continental Congress arrived in York in September 1777, they found a sleepy frontier town in which most residents spoke German. Philadelphia it was not. Lodging became an immediate issue, as there were but 22 taverns and about 300 houses in York Town. Members of Congress did not travel alone, of course – they brought with them staff members to assist with the governing of the young nation. Many delegates began their time in York in overcrowded taverns, until such time that they could arrange for living quarters, frequently in private homes.

In some cases, delegates were able to rent a home, and perhaps share it with other delegates. Few patriots actually stayed in York all nine months that Congress met here. Many came and went and came and went, with the president of Continental Congress serving as the “glue” that held the body together.

When they arrived here, John Hancock was president; however, he resigned from Congress on October 31 and returned to his home in Massachusetts. Cousins John and Samuel Adams stayed in York for the first five weeks, then departed for Massachusetts – John would later travel to France while Samuel eventually returned to York in the final weeks that Congress met here.

(For a larger image, click here: http://scottbutcher.smugmug.com/photos/239128351-XL.jpg )

Throughout York’s tenure as colonial capital, the Square was abuzz with activity. Congress met in the County Court House, which by now had stood in Centre Square for over 20 years. A home on the northeastern quadrant of the Square served as the U.S. Treasury. Archibald McClean, owner of the building, was a surveyor and ardent patriot. On the southeastern quadrant stood Gottleib Ziegle’s tavern, which most likely hosted several delegates. Next door stood a building that served as an armory. Across George Street on the southwestern quadrant stood a building leased by delegate Daniel Roberdeau. According to early local histories, Roberdeau hosted John Adams and Samuel Adams, among other delegates. The Committee on Foreign Affairs, of which Thomas Paine served as Secretary, also met in this building.

Posted in 18th Century City architecture Continental Square Government Buildings

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Around 1750, York residents began holding open markets in Centre Square. According to Gibson’s 1886 “History of York County, Pennsylvania,” the “custom of holding markets on Wednesday and Saturday in the center square of York, has been kept up without cessation since 1750.” Ironically, the year after Gibson’s history was published was the last year that markets were held in the Square.

George Stevenson, deputy surveyor for York County, lobbied for formal “market days” in a letter written in 1754: “Two Market Days in the Week, viz.: Wednesdays & Saturdays, for selling and buying daily Provisions, would prevent Impositions from Butchers, & Stop the Germans from their beloved Practice of buying & selling on Sundays, which I’m satisfied they continually do, tho’ ‘tis not easily detected.”

One year later, York was formally granted a charter to hold twice-weekly markets. “This grant of privilege states that the inhabitants of the town of York, in the new county of York, are become so numerous that they find it necessary to have a public market established within the said town of York, for the better supplying and accommodating them with good wholesome provisions, and other necessaries, under proper regulations.”

The charter then states that the Penn family, to the inhabitants of York, “grants and ordains that they and their successors shall and may forever thereafter hold and keep within the town, in every week in the year, two market days, the one on Wednesday and the other on Saturday, in such commodious place or places, as is, shall or may be, appointed for that purpose.”

The charter provided for a clerk of the market and granted authority to regulate the prices of bread, beer, and wine.

If the “market days” of Wednesday and Saturday sound familiar, it should. After the market ceased operating from the Square, Central Market House was constructed and took the days of Wednesday and Saturday for its regular market days.

Posted in 18th Century Continental Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

The Schultz House off Locust Grove Road in Springettsbury Township has been making news lately. Beatrice Rowe, who has owned the house since the 1940s, gave the historic home and outbuildings to Historic York, Inc. for long-term preservation. The house is important because it is the oldest surviving building in York County. But it is not the only Schultz House.

Approximately two years after Johannes and Christina Schultz constructed their home, brother Martin Schultz built a blue limestone house not far away in what is now Hallam Borough. Brothers Martin and Johannes left a legacy in the area, founding the Kreutz Creek Lutheran Church and creating a milling operation today known as Macklay’s Mill.

The Martin Schultz House was built in 1736 and is located on Emig Street. It is smaller than the other Schultz House, and has received several upgrades over the years. The most notable of the upgrades was a 1956 project that removed the central shed dormer and added new roof dormers. Still, the house maintains many of its original German Colonial features, including central chimneys and steeply pitched roof. Both the Martin Schultz House and Johannes Schultz House were built atop vaulted cellars.

Posted in 18th Century County Buildings German Architecture

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

When three Schultz brothers traveled from Friedelsheim to Pennsylvania in 1732, they could never have imagined the legacy they would leave York County. Before there even was a York County, and before there was a York Town, there were the Schultz Houses. Two of the three Schultz brothers settled in the area known as Kreutz Creek and constructed sturdy stone homes.

The oldest of these homes is the Johannes and Christina Schultz House located off of Locust Grove Road in Springettsbury Township. The unassuming German Colonial building has witnessed its share of history first-hand. When members of the Second Continental Congress journeyed to York Town in 1777, some are believed to have stopped at the Schultz House for a break and a meal. And when Camp Security was built nearby to house British and Canadian soldiers captured during the American Revolution, the Schultz House is believed to have been used as an administration building.

In 1944, Clair and Beatrice Rowe purchased the property and over 130 acres around it. The home would stay in their family for the next six decades – and they wanted to make sure that any future owner would care for the house the way they did. Clair passed away in 1984, and Beatrice, who is now 95, recently gave the historic home and outbuildings to Historic York, Inc., a local non-profit dedicated to historic preservation.

Posted in 18th Century County Buildings German Architecture

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)