This graphic from the "Recapture the Riverfront" booklet shows Martin Luther King Jr. Park. The Cookes House, where Thomas Paine reportedly stayed, sits to the left of Penn Street in the west corner of the park. It's now in private hands. Background posts: Helen Reeves Thackston's name lives on and Worker saved key historical surveys from Glatfelter pulping machine and York's housing stock not that revolutionary.
Carl Huber's recent e-mail raises a good question.
The 200th anniversary of pamphleteer Thomas Paine's death is coming up.
Are there any historical markers in the York area observing his time here during the American Revolution?
The short answer is that there are none... .
A search of a marker via the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Web site shows several monuments linked to Paine in New Jersey and Maryland, one in Philadelphia and one in Lancaster. But none in York.
About a dozen markers in York's downtown link the town to the American Revolution. When Continental Congress meets in your town for nine months, that's going to happen.
A possible reason that no marker for Paine has emerged over the years is that it's not certain where he stayed. Tradition links him with the Cookes House in southwest York, but no solid evidence places him there.
Thomas Paine's late-life radical religious beliefs - or disbeliefs - also have caused some Americans to disparage his legacy.
"He had lived long, did some good and much harm," a newspaper said upon his death.
But York County histories regularly tell of his presence here in the spring of 1778. And a good handful of his letters have York addresses, so there's no doubt he was here.
Indeed, he did some good work when he was here.
He later said he worked on the tract "Crisis V" in York, as well as part of "Crisis VI." "Crisis V" sought to bolster the reputation of Gen. George Washington when the commander in chief authority was at low ebb.
It's simply time for a Paine marker somewhere in York's downtown.
While there is apparently no absolute proof that Thomas Paine stayed in the Cookes House, I have read that he kept his horses in a shed on an island in the middle of the Codorus Creek close to the Cookes House. But, if the following story is true, then the Federal Government may have added credance to the tradition that Thomas Paine may have stayed there during the time the Continental Congress met in York.
Approximately 15-18 years ago, while purchasing tickets to tour the Gates House, Golden Plough Tavern, and the reconstructed Colonial Courthouse in the little brick building to the rear of the Gates House(the one that once served as a small gift shop and ticket sales for the Historical Society's properties), I heard the following astounding story.
I am not sure, but I sometimes believe that there is writing on my face that tells everyone who sees me, "You can tell this guy anything and he will believe you." While what I am about to share with you definitely sounds like an urban legend, the fact that two of the docents who worked in this gift/ticket sales shop told me this, seems to imply that it could be true.
This is what the guides told me. They said that a few years before, the United States Government, I forgot the name of the Government Agency, but it could have been the United States Dedpartment of the Interior, had come to town one day without prior notice. The guides continued to tell me that the Government sealed off the area around the Cookes House for several days. The Government agency brought with them the most sophisticated military x-ray and sonar equipment that they had. They used this equipment for several days inside the Cookes House scanning all the walls, floors, and ceilings.
Guess what they were looking for? According to the Historical Society's guides, they had information that perhaps an original copy of the United Staes Declaration of Independence was hidden somewhere in the rafters, floors or walls of the Cookes House. The guides continued to tell me that the Government finally left York after several days. No one ever heard if the Government found the copy of the Declaration of Independence or not.
Has anyone else ever heard this story? It does sound like an urban legend and yet, I have trouble dismissing this report because two respectable Historical Society guides willingly told me this story while I was gathering photos and info for a local history project for my school. It would also seem logical that there were some original copies of the Declaration of Independence, if not the original document itself, here in York during the time that the Continental Congress met in 1777-1778. Considering Thomas Paine's official capacity in the U. S. Government ,it is not outside the realm of reality that he could have had a copy of the Declaration of Independence in his house. If anyone else has ever heard this story, please let me know.
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Hi, Jim. I recently bought the Cookes House and have been studying the history of the building and it's place in the American Revolution.
I don't know about the federal government searching, but I can tell you why they probably wouldn't find much if they did. Johannes Guckes sold the house to Philip Jacob king in 1790. Apparently, there were many features of the house that he didn't like. According to reports from the 1980 restoration, the main feature of the house, the huge central firplace, was removed; they removed the existing internal paneling; and I believe that is when they filled the south window with stone. Then in 1817 there was a major flood that may have done some damage. I don't know if the house was occupied at that time, as one of the descendants of Philip Jacob King had built the King's Mansion across the Codorus at King's Mill. In 1827 there were again major renovations reported.
Around 1904 the house was mangled when it was turned into a duplex. They demolished the north wall and replaced it with brick, stoned up the front and back doors, removed the front porch, and cut through the south wall to form two new doors.
In the late 1970's into 1980 a restoration of the house was completed. The house was stripped down to just 3 walls and the roof beams and some of the attic.
The one area of promise would be the original vaulted, dirt-floor cellar. Records for the restoration say that the dirt floor was taken down to original clay. I've dug in one corner and found an 18th century clay marble, so obviously the whole basement was not brought down to pre-1761 level.
I don't have the time to actively excavate the cellar, but I'll be sure to let everyone know if I find the Declaration. :)
Oh, and about the island... there was an island adjacent to the Cookes House, however the Cookes House was on a farm of 33 acres, including at least one barn and mill. It is some of the closest pasture land to colonial Yorktown. So, I don't know about the island, but it is very logical that the horses of the delegates and other visitors could have been stabled here.
Also, a receipt from his brother-in-law and neighbor show at least one probable Congressional staffer lodged and kept his horse outside of town, near the intersection of Carlisle Road and Philadelphia St, much further from town.
Email me if you are interested in a tour.
Greetings. I am the 7th generation from Jacob King who once owned Cookes House. I learned this in the geneology search of my Ehrhart line.
Grandfather John David Ehrhart migrated to Hoquiam Washington by way of St Louis University and his birthplace Arcola Illinois. His father Charles (mother Sylvinia) somehow got to Illinois from York/Lancaster PA.
My question is whether anyone knows if Cookes House or another tavern once owned by Thomas Ehrhart were ever known to be stops on the underground railroad.
Julianne Johnson
Julianne,
As for the Cookes House, it's owner is an astute observer of local history, Susquehanna riverkeeper Michael Helfrich. He's probably looked into its URR links. That house is not one usually mentioned in that connection in York. Contact Helfrich at: riverkeeper@lowersusquehannariverkeeper.org.
My name is Scott Wise and I am an investigator with Ghost Hunters Incorporated based out of Sinking Springs, PA. I was born in York and been here all my life. Our group, before I joined, never covered the York or surrounding areas. The leader and founder of our group started the group back in 1974. I was wondering if you ever allow paranormal investigations of the premises. We are slated to investigate The York Little Theatre in December sometime and The Glen Rock Mill Inn probably the early part of January. If you get a chance to reply to my email I'd greatly appreciate it. Hope your business and family are well.