The "Historical Medals From The Past: Part II" Story

It was an ordinary day.  And, I'm typing the final part of my story dealing with the medals that are procuded by the Red Rose Coin Club.  I have a friend who has been a member since 1997 and when I saw an article in the local newspaper about the latest medal they have struck and are now offering for sale, I gave him a call to see if he knows anything about them.  Look over the last two posts on the subject and you will get the history associated with the medals and how they are produced.  Today I will feature a few more medals and give you some background on each.

This 1996 medal was struck to recognize the country's oldest college preparatory school for girls which is located in Lititz, PA.  The school's history began in 1746 as a place of learning for both boys and girls of Moravian Church families.  20 years later it was changed to girls only.  The first school building was a log cabin known as the "Sisters' House" which is now called the "Castle."  It was completed in 1762.  Margaret Marvel of Baltimore, MD was the first non-Movavian admitted to the school.  The "Linden Hall Echo," the school's newspaper and the oldest publication of it's type in the country, was started in 1877.  The 46 acre campus is beautiful with old well-cared-for buildings as well as a stable.  A few years ago I had the honor of visiting the campus when the Vienna Boys Choir took a tour as well as sang in the chapel before presenting a concert to benefit the Parish Resource Center where my wife works.

Henry Norwood Ewell, more commonly known as Barney Ewell, was one of Lancaster, PA's earliest members of the Olympics.  At Lancaster McCaskey High School he set records in the 100 and 220 yard dashes as well as the long jump.  At Penn State he was a 9-time collegiate All-American and won 12 gold medals in the NCAA competitions.  Although a member of the Olympic team, he didn't compete due to World War II.  Instead he served in the Army during the war.  After the war he returned to Penn State and qualified for the 1948 Olympics.  There he tied the record of 10.2 seconds set by Jesse Owens in the 100 meters.  He was later classified as one of America's 10 all-time greatest sprinters by U.S. Track and Field News.  My only memory of Barney was through my dad who went to school with him at McCaskey.  My dad said Barney borrowed quite a bit of money from him, as well as others, and never paid him back. 

This medal was to honor the Union Fire Company No. 1 which was formally organized on August 14, 1760., but conceived by the Lancaster Borough Fathers in 1742.  This company led the campaign for a water disturbution system, better streets, street lighting, trained police and constables and the most advanced firefighting apparatus.  It also began a paid professional firefighting department in 1882.  Last summer I wrote a story about the first pumper that Lancaster City ever had.  It was purchased by a private dealer in Lancaster and was being prepared to take to Philadelphia for a car auction.  I had the chance to go and see it and photograph it.  Check under the heading vehicles and you can read about it.

The 1991 medal honored Lancaster's only, and the United States 15th, President of the United States.  He was the nation's only bachelor President and lived at Wheatland on the outskirts of Lancaster City with his foster daughter, Harriet Lane who later served as the best lady.  He came to Lancaster to study law in 1809 and was admitted to the bart in 1812.  He was considered a near-failure as President, but he entered a no-win situation in which the slavery question had reached the ultimate "boiling point."  I have made a few visits to Wheatland and it's majestic surroundings.  Recently I wrote about it and you can find the story under the history link. 

Steamer "Lady Gay" is the sixth medal issued by the Red Rose Coin Club of Lancaster.  The medal depicts the steamer at the old Witmer Bridge which was built in 1798 and spanned the Conestoga river just east of Lancaster City.  It was built in 1890 at Conestoga park on the west side of the river just south of the bridge.  It had a 12 horsepower steam engine which was later replaced with a 20 horsepower steam engine.  It was 75 feet long and 11 feet wide which was later extended to 19 feet in width.  It was a double-decker stern-wheeler with the boiler and stack in the center.  It carried 375 passengers between Witmer and Rocky Springs Park at the southern end of Lancaster.  It was christened July 4, 1890 and was later taken out of service when the trolley came to town.  I must admit I have absolutely no recollection of the "Lady Gay."

The final medal to show you pictures the Strasburg Railroad.  I have many fun recollections of this train, most recently taking my grandkids on rides, and a special trip on Thomas the Train with my grandson Caden.  The RailRoad was built in 1832 to connect with a rail route built in 1825 between Philadelphia and the Susquehanna Canal, near Columbia, PA.  I have recently written about the beginnings of that railroad and can be found under vehicles.  In the beginning of the Strasburg R.R. it used horse drawn carriages and wagons on wooden rails.  In 1851 iron rails were installed for the new steam-powered locomotives.  The railroad now serves as a tourist stop with trips that take you on "The Road to Paradise."