The "A Farm With An Amazing History" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Driving the winding roads on the west side of the Susquehanna River in York, PA that lead from Lauxmont Farms to Wrightsville.  Returning from a visit to the farm to take a few photos for today's story about the operation of the farm and the land it currently occupies.  It was back in 1000 A.D. that small villages began along the Susquehanna River.  Native Americans were the first farmers, growing corn, beans, squash and tobacco.  About 1575 the Susquehannock tribe took control of this area, but eventually in the late 1600s, after being dispersed by different enemies, the remaining members joined other tribes to eventually form the Conestoga Indians.  In 1690 Col. Thomas Dongan, Governor of New York while acting as an agent for William Penn, allegedly negotiated a land treaty with the Indian tribes of the Susquehanna river valley.  Some of the Indians refused to accept the treaty and were eventually annihilated by 1763.  Interesting rock carvings known as petroglyphs still dot the banks of the river from the town of Columbia, PA to Conowingo, MD.  I have heard of their existence, but have never been able to find any of them.  It was on the same banks of this river that the Continental Congress crossed on their journey to York, PA in 1777 and 1778.  They were driven out of Philadelphia by the British and chose York, because the Susquehanna River would slow the British troops had they tried to pursue them to York.  

Mr. S. Forry Laucks

In 1918 S. Forry Laucks, a York industrialist, bought a 100 acre farm for $18,000 on the York side of the Susquehanna River.  It was during his tenure as owner of the farm that he named it Lauxmont Farm (pronounced Lowmont).  Six years later he began adding acreage to his farm, started a dairy operation and eventually in 1927 hired an architectural firm to design a French chateau-style mansion on the bluff overlooking the river.  Three years later he added more farms until he owned approximately 2,000 acres.  In 1933 he established an automated dairy complex which included a "lounge" to sell ice cream and sandwiches.  

The farm where the dairy operation once was located.

In 1943, a year after Mr. Laucks died, Mr. Otto Civil and his wife Mina bought the farm.  Then, in 1945, Dr. George T. Pack of New York bought the farm.  Dr. Pack died in 1969 and two years later Ron Kohr, Sr. and his wife Laura bought Lauxmont Farm for $1 million.  Ron was a member of the family who ran Kohr Bros. Frozen Custard, but sold his interest in that business to buy the farm.  Laura, of native American decent, took the part of the farm that was thought to be an Indian burial ground and converted it to pasture and put the main farm in Ag Security.  

Some of the acres used for pasture for the Standard bred horses.

At first they raised cattle, but then in 1978 switched to Standard bred racehorses because Ron thought there was more profit in that market.  He convinced others to invest in his business, but in the mid-1980s, because of new government tax laws, the business slumped.  The investors eventually filed a class action law suit to try to recoup the $6 million they were owed.  In 1994 the Kohr's filed a plan to repay the monies by selling their land.  

Leon Haller, a trustee for the bankruptcy, sold $7.5 million worth of the 1,379 acres that the Kohr's still owned, some for $1 million dollar homes.  

Area on the farm where the stables are located.

Ron then died in 2000.  One of the buyers of the land, Mr. Peter Alecxih, bought a 79 acre parcel known as Highpoint.  He planned to build 51 homes on the property, but the York Co. commissioners stepped in and nixed the plans.  In 2002 Lower Windsor Township, where Lauxmont Farm is located, contemplated buying 825 acres of the Kohr farm to help them out of bankruptcy.  

Ron Jr. owns a wedding venue on the farm and garden areas.

The Kohr's rejected the offer and submitted plans to build 667 homes on their property.  Lawsuits were filed by both sides during the battle.  In 2004 the commissioners condemned 411 acres of the remaining acres that the Kohr's owned plus the 79 acres that Mr. Alecxih owned.  Then in 2005 Laura died and Ron Jr. and the remainder of the family took up the battle.  

This is the Garden part of the property where Ron Jr's family lives.

The commis- sioners claimed the 79 acres by eminent domain and used it for the Highpoint Scenic Vista & Recreation Area. They had plans to claim more land until the commissioners who wanted this done were voted out of office.  The new commissioners didn't pursue the plans so Mr. Haller got angry and sued York Co. to make them buy the land.  

Part of the garden property is also a wedding venue.
One of Ron's sisters lives in this house.

Well, eventually on May 12, 2007, Highpoint Park opened, the county bought most of the property except for the current Lauxmont Farm holdings.  The Kohr family also offered the historical American Indian burial site at Lakeside East to York Co. to York County which the County then purchased and placed the Kohr family on firm footing at last.  

Lauxmont Farms is peaceful as well as beautiful.

My visit to the farm today took me to two areas.  One features horse stables and pastures as well as a wedding venue, while the other area is where the Ron Jr. and his family live as well as another wedding venue.  Ron Jr. owns the wedding business while the entire family owns the horse and farm business.  While I was there they were preparing for an afternoon wedding.  Fantastic view of the river as well as the farm pastures in the distance.  Would also make a great place to renew someone's wedding vows!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.