The "Live The Life You Have Imagined" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just stopped at Moravian Manor to take a photo of the original deed for the property they had purchased years ago from the Biemesderfer family on Orange St. in Lititz, PA.  Property had been a nursery for years and even after Moravian Manor purchased the land, they leased it to the Biemesderfer family to continue with the nursery until the time that they would want to expand their retirement community.  

Tough to photograph this deed, since the glass is very
reflective and the printing is extremely small.

Well, it seems that time has arrived and Warwick Woodlands has been born.  Warwick Woodlands is called a new way of living for Boomers and beyond and is based on Traditional Neighbor- hood Design which is a newer trend in senior living and the first of its kind in the Lancaster Area.  The new community will be built in phases with Phase I including:  8 town homes of approximately 3,000 sq. ft., 62 carriage homes with from 1,588 to 3,030 sq. ft, 56 apartments from 1,018 to 1,790 sq. ft.  Catchy logo and tag line from Henry David Thoreau which says: "Live the life you have imagined."  The original deed shows that Thomas and Richard Penn, sons of William Penn originally owned the land and the old deed gives specifics of ownership to a new set of owners.  Deed is written on an animal skin of some sort, but I'm not exactly sure what the hide might be.  Hand written in cursive style.  I wasn't able to get a good photo to share since the glass isn't conservation glass and the reflections were too harsh.  When I got home I "Googled" Warwick Woodlands to see how far they are with their floor plans and found that the nursery that they had purchased was called Green Acres Nursery.  Brought back memories of the TV show of the same name that ran from 1965-71.  

My computer screen showing the Warwick Woodlands site.

I'm sure the people who will be purchasing housing at Warwick Woodlands will remember well the show.  Matter of fact it would have been a great name for the retirement community.  A month or so ago I made a visit to a lunch and talk that was given about the new place.  I was impressed!  My mom and dad were both residents of Moravian Manor until their deaths and I enjoyed my visits and the personnel that ran the the retirement community.  Seemed like old times when I walked into the General Sutter for lunch and the presentation.  After taking my photos today I talked with Dave who is the President of Moravian Manor.  Also talked with Nikki who is in charge of the new project and she told me to have my wife come with me and sit with her so she could give us a few more details.  I asked if lunch would be included again, but her laugh wasn't encouraging.  I have posted the 1761 deed if you care to read it.  History buffs may want to scan over it.  I was lost by about the 10th line so I didn't read the entire document.  Not sure I ever read the entire document for my own property.  Carol and I will sometime in the future will sit with Nikki to look at what they have to offer.  Mowing the grass, shoveling the snow and general maintenance on the Beach House is starting to be more of a chore as the years fly buy.  May have to look sometime in the future for my little Green Acre.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - The deed follows with a YouTube video that is on TV advertising Warwick Woodlands.

Transcription of 1761 deed of the Biemesderfer Tract

Thomas Penn and Richard Penn Esquires true and absolute Proprietaries and Governors in Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of Newcastle Kent and Sussex on Delaware To all unto whom these presents shall come Greeting.  Whereas in pursuance of a warrant under the Seal of our Land Office bearing date the Fifteenth day of February one thousand seven hundred and forty nine there was Surveyed the fourteenth day of April one thousand seven hundred and fifty unto Michael Hype alias Eup, A Certain Tract of land situate in Warwick Township in the County of Lancaster bounded and described as follows vvi. Beginning at a marked Hickery in a line of Abraham Steiner Land Thence by the same South thirty three degrees East seventy six perches to a marked Black Oak South sixty degrees East ten perches to a marked White Oak North sixty five degrees East eighty perches to a marked Hickery and South forty five degrees East sixty eight perches to a post Thence by Land of John Burkholder North forty five degrees East one hundred and eighteen perches to a marked White Oak Thence by Lands settled by George Klein North forty nine degrees West One hundred and thirty eight perches to a small marked White Oak and North seventy six degrees West eighty two perches to a marked White Oak Thence by Land settled by Francis Spies South thirty degrees West one hundred and thirty two perches to the place of Beginning Containing One hundred and seventy one acres and the usual allowance of Six acres Absent for Roads and Highways As in and by the same Warrant and Survey remaining in our Surveyor Generals Office and from thence certified into our Secretaries Office more fully appears And Whereas in and by certain Indenture bearing date the Thirteenth day of June last past made or mentioned to be made by and between Peter Huber and Mary his Wife late Mary Hype alias Eup the widow and Administratia of all and Singular the Goods and Chattels Rights and Credits of the aforesaid Michael Hype who died intestate, Of the one part and Andrew Huber of Warwick Township aforsaid Yeoman Of the other part They the said Peter Huber and Mary his Wife for the considerations therein mentioned granted bargained sold released and confirmed the said described Tract of One hundred seventy one acres of Land with The Appurtenances unto the said Andrew Huber his Heirs and Asigns To hold to him the said Andrew Huber his Heirs and Assigns for Ever Under and Subject to the purchase Monies Interest and Quitrent due to the Propreitaries ?  And Whereas the said Andrew Huber and Gertraud his Wife and by certain Instrument of Writing endorsed the aforesaid recited Indenture for the Consideration therein mentioned and bargained sold aliened enscoffed and confirmed the aforesaid described Tract of One hundred and seventy one acres of Land with the appurtenances unto the aforesaid Peter Huber Under and Subject to the Purchase Monies aforesaid Assigned by the said recited Indenture and Writing endorsed Relation being thereunto had more fully appeared Now  at the special Instance and Request of the said Peter Huber that We would be pleased to grant him a Confirmation of the same Know Ye that for and in Consideration of the Sum of Twenty six pounds ten Shillings and one penny lawful Money of Pennsylvania to our Use paid by the said Peter Huber The Receipt whereof We hereby Acknowledge and Thereof do acquit and forever discharge the said Peter Huber and his Heirs and Assigns by these presents And of the Yearly Quitrent therein aforementioned and reserved We have given granted released and confirmed And by these presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors do give grant release and confirm unto the said Peter Huber his Heirs and Assigns the said One hundred and twenty one acres  of Land as the same are now set forth bounded and limited as aforesaid With all Mines Minerals Quarries Meadows Marshes Savannahs Swamps Cripples Woods Underwoods Timber and Trees Ways Waters Water Courses Liberties Profits Commodities Advantages Hereditaments and Appurtances whatsoever thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining and lying within the Bounds and Limits aforesaid Threefull and clear Fifth parts of all Royal Mines free from all Deductions and Reprisals for digging and refining the same And also one Fifth Part of the Ore of all other Mines delivered at the Pitsmouth only excepted and hereby reserved And also free Leave Right and Liberly to and for the said Peter Huber his Heirs and Assigns to hawk hunt fish and fowl in and upon the hereby granted Land and Premises or upon any part thereof To have and to hold the said One hundred and seventy one acres of Land and Premises hereby granted except as before excepted with their appurtenances the said Peter Huber his Heirs and Assigns To the only Use and Behoof of the said Peter Huber his Heirs and Assigns forever To be holden of Us our Heirs Successors Proprietaries of Pennsylvania as of our Manor of Conestoga in the County of Lancaster aforesaid in free and common Soccageby Fealty (?) only in lieu of all other Services Yielding and having therefore Yearly unto Us our Heirs and Succesors at the Town of Lancaster in the said County at or upon the first day of March in every Year from the first day of March last past One half penny Sterling for every Acre of the same of Value thereby in Coin Current according as the Exchange shall then be between our said Province and the City of London to such person or persons as shall from time to time be appointed to receive the same And in Case of Nonpayment thereof within Ninety days next after the same shall become due that then it shall and may be lawful for Us our Heirs and Successors our and their Receiver or Receivers into and upon the hereby granted Land and Premises to ReEnter and the same to hold and profits until the said Quitrent and all Arrears Thereof together with the Charges accruing by Means of such Non-payment and ReEntry be fully paid and discharged Witness James Hamilton Esquire Lieutenant Governor of the said Province who by Virtue of certain powers and Authorities to him for this Purpose int at granted by the said Proprietaries hath hereunto set his Hand and caused the Great Seal of the said Province to be hereunto affixed at Philadelphia this Tenth day of October in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty one The First Year of the Reign of King George the Third over Great Britain ? And the Forty fourth year of the said Proprietaries Government.

Recorded in the Office for Recording of deeds and the City & County of Philad. In Pat. Book AA Vol. 2 Page 412  The 2, 2, Day of October 1761 Witness my Hand & Seal of my Office  C Boockers (?) Rec.