The "A Little Piece Of History So Near Home" Story

Recent photo I took of the Stoner House in Overlook Park

It was a ordinary day.  Carol and I just got back from our walk which took us around most of the grounds of Overlook Park in Manheim Township.  We live a stone's throw from the park which makes a great place to walk as well as to take in wildlife, farmland, woodland, watershed and a few historic sites.  We have seen deer, foxes, herons, hawks, frogs, and many other species of birds.  We also pass one of the most historical farmhouses in Lancaster County.  The Stoner House sits next to a barn that has been refurbished for use as a restaurant and banquet hall.  Last year my high school class held our 50th class reunion in the barn.  The house was originally a log cabin built by Jacob Slough in 1734 on 300 acres that was given a patent by the sons of William Penn in 1747.  At the time of this first structure, our country was still a British colony.  The following year Jacob Wilhelm purchased the farm and replaced the log cabin with a Germanic 1 1/2 story stone farmhouse.  The arched cellar remained and still played an important roll as one of the features of the house.  

Stoner House when the Township bought it in 1999.

In 1793 David Stoner obtained 150 acres from the descendants of Mr. Wilhelm which included the house.  Two years later David and his wife Anna added a 1 1/2 story kitchen to the east side of the house.  When David died, his son David Jr., inherited the house.  In 1848 David and his wife Magdelena added a Federal style addition by removing the roof and adding a full second floor to the house.  In 1864 the Stoners sold the farm, but regained ownership six years later.  They remained owners until 1882.  

Front porch of Stoner House.

In 1890 Adam Shaeffer added the final addition, a two-story Victorian-style brick wing.  The land was farmed until it was purchased by Manheim Township and established as the Overlook Community Campus.  This move probably saved the grounds and Stoner House from suburban sprawl.  It wasn't until a few years ago that the Manheim Township Historical Society saved the house from destruction.  

Plaque erected in the Stoner/Steiner
Graveyard. Click to enlarge.

The house's location in the park makes it a perfect choice for community use.  The Historical Society is receiving help from the Canassatego Chapter of the Questers Organization as well as the Stoner Family and hopes to make it their home in the near future.  The outside of the house is starting to receive attention and the grounds look great.  I read that the 1890 addition is going to be removed and then the interior will be renovated to it's original condition.

  Close by is the Stoner Cemetery where many family members have been interred.  

Tombstone for David Stoner

It too has been preserved in the past few years.  We pass this home and cemetery every time we walk and I finally took my camera with me to document the house and grounds.  Kind of special to know we live so close to a few monumental historical sites in not only Lancaster, but in the United States.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.