Quintessential Pennsylvania

  QUARRYVILLE - Founded 1791. Named for noted quarries located here. Abram Barr is said to be the first to take limestone from the area in 1820 and the settlement of what is today Quarryville was due largely to the development of limestone quarries. By 1858, over 600,000 bushels of limestone were hauled from more than 12 quarries in the area, which employed over 100 people. Johnny Weir , a figure skater who competed for the United States Olympic teams in 2006 and 2010, grew up in Quarryville. How to Get There: Sources and Links: Quarryville Borough - Brief History of Quarryville

  REFTON - Founded 1877. Founded by Daniel Herr, pioneer. Refton is located along US Route 222 in Lancaster County, between Lancaster and Quarryville. How to Get There:

  The Colemanville Covered Bridge is the second longest covered bridges in Lancaster County and also one of the longer covered bridges in the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, spanning 156 across the Pequea Creek on the border between Conestoga and Martic Townships. Given the alternate name of Pequea # 12 in Lancaster County's list of covered bridges, the Colemanville Covered Bridge was first built in 1856 by James C. Carpenter at the cost of $2,224. It is Lancaster County's second longest single span covered bridge that is still in use. The bridge has a single span with double Burr arch trusses design with the addition of steel hanger rods. The bridge deck is made from oak planks. Like most bridges in Lancaster County, the Colemanville Covered Bridge is painted red, which is the traditional color used for covered bridges in the county. The bridge was partially rebuilt in 1938 and 1973 after flooding events caused damage to the covered bridge. Then in 1992, the Colemanville ...

EAST PETERSBURG - Founded 1800. Founded by Daniel Wolf, pioneer settler. East Petersburg Borough was formed in 1946 to fill a need to establish a municipal water system due to a typhoid fever epidemic, but the community’s roots date nearly to the time of the American Revolution. In fact, a farmhouse near the eastern end of the borough was built before the war, and a nearby mill was already producing grain. In 1789, Peter Gotshall inherited 50 acres of land in the area from his father, Peter Gotshall the elder. Two years later the younger Peter Gotshall sold off his land in about five pieces. One of the buyers of Peter Gotshall’s parcels was John Wolf, who in 1806 sold land to his nephew, Daniel Wolf, who founded East Petersburg. Also in the early 1790s, Benjamin Hershey II, a Mennonite farmer, donated land at the northwest corner of present day Lemon and State Streets and a community meetinghouse was built there. At that point the area of present-day East Petersburg was known as He...

One of the shortest covered bridges in Lancaster County is the Bucher's Mill Covered Bridge, or the Cocalico # 2 Covered Bridge. Spanning 54 feet across the Cocalico Creek in Stevens, Pennsylvania (near Reamstown), the Burr arch truss designed covered bridge was built in 1891. The bridge is painted red, the traditional color of covered bridges in Lancaster County, plus features some white trim at the bridge portal. Located in the heart of the Amish country, the Bucher's Mill Covered Bridge was built by Elias McMellen at a cost of $1,167. Then in 1892, the covered bridge was damaged heavily in a flood and was rebuilt by McMellen for $1,025. In 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places and the covered bridge was restored in 1997. Today, the Bucher's Mill Covered Bridge is located just off of PA 272 and is a great stop while cruising the byways of Lancaster County. Cocalico Creek. 4 ton weight limit on the bridge. Inside the covered bridge. Some markings o...

  Also known as Pequea Bridge #10, the Baumgardner Mill Covered Bridge spans over Lancaster County, Pennsylvania's Pequea Creek on Covered Bridge Road near the town of Marticville. Built in 1860, the 105 foot long covered Burr truss arch designed covered bridge was constructed by Davis Kitch at a cost of $1,284. In 1987, the bridge was restored after it was damaged in a flood from the previous year. During the restoration, which cost $200,000, the covered bridge was raised four feet and lengthened by nine feet to protect it from damage in future floods. As with many covered bridges in Lancaster County, the covered bridge is painted red, but has some white trim. As one might expect, the Baumgardner Mill Covered Bridge is located near a historic mill. The history of the mill is one that is longer than the United States itself. There was a mill that was first built at the location in 1775, then a larger mill was built in its place in 1806. Ownership of the mill changed hands countless...

  GOODVILLE - Founded 1815. Named for Peter Good, early landowner and settler. An insurance company based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania by the name of the Goodville Mutual Casualty Company, takes its name from Goodville. How to Get There: Sources and Links: Goodville Mutual Casualty Company - Company History

  CHURCHTOWN - Founded 1740. Named for the prevalence of churches in early days. Churchtown also boasts a lot of history. Located in Caernarvon Township in eastern Lancaster County, the village of Churchtown boasts a lot of history. The first settlers of the oldest Amish settlement still in existence in Pennsylvania, the Lancaster Amish settlement, first settled near Churchtown. Of course, there are also the churches, with the Bangor Episcopal Church, Caernarvon Presbyterian Church and Edward Davies House having been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. How to Get There: Sources and Links: PlaceAndSee.com - Churchtown

  BLUE BALL - Founded 1766. This community in Lancaster County's East Earl Township was named for the Blue Ball Hotel. While the name of this town in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country may make some people giggle, the origins of the town name of Blue Ball are pretty straight forward. The town is named after an 18th Century inn which was located in the town. The owner hung a blue ball on the building, referring to the inn as "The Sign of the Blue Ball." The name stuck as people recognized the inn for its blue ball, and the rest is history. How To Get There: Sources and Links: Discover Lancaster - The Wacky Town Names of Lancaster County

  LAWN - Founded 1889. This community located in South Londonderry Township in Lancaster County was formerly Roseland and was renamed by Aaron S. Krieder. How to Get There:

LEXINGTON - Founded 1805. Formerly Dundee, renamed for Battle of Lexington. Located in Lancaster County, north of Lititz. How to Get There:

Among the picturesque countryside of Lancaster County is a historic iron forge called Poole Forge. Founded around the time of the American Revolution by a Welshman named James Old, Poole Forge produced armaments and other iron goods by various owners for a burgeoning nation from 1775 to 1852. These days, Poole Forge is a park, has a covered bridge that was constructed over the Conestoga Creek in 1859, hosts weddings from some of the remaining original buildings and a chance to learn about early industry in this part of Pennsylvania. One of the remaining historic buildings at Poole Forge. Part of the historic mansion. A horse and buggy gives Poole Forge a quaint appearance. The covered bridge over the Conestoga Creek, constructed in 1859. Lime kiln used for iron production during the industrial heyday at Poole Forge. Sources: Historic Poole Forge - About Us How to Get There: