The "Thanks, Mr. Long" Story

Our granddaughter petting the llama

It was an ordinary day.  Looking through a small photo album that my daughter gave to my wife and me about ten years ago with photos of her first daughter and our first grandchild.  At the end of the album was a small plastic pouch where she had placed a few photos that wouldn't fit on the album pages.  Two of them were photos taken during a trip to the petting zoo located at Long's Park on Lancaster's west side.  The park holds many fond memories for Carol an me during the years that we were raising our three children. Summer walks in the park with the stroller, trips to feed stale bread crumbs to the fish in the lake, picnic lunches in one of the pavilions or afternoons of climbing the jungle gym and sliding down the sliding board are memories that will never fade.  

Hugging the donkey!

The two photos taken of our grand- daughter at the petting zoo brought back memories once again of the park at the edge of town.  Long's Park was formerly the farm of Henry G. Long.  It was a seventy-four acre estate that was eventually willed to the City of Lancaster by Henry's daughter Miss Catherine H. Long in 1900.  

Entrance to Long's Park with the amphitheater in the background.

Miss Long dictated that a park commission be established to supervise the use of the land that was supposed to be a delightful place of resort for the people of Lancaster.  The commission is still in existence today and the park looks great.  Carol and I made a drive-thru today to take a few photos to share with you to show what a nice gesture the Long Family did when they presented the land to the city to be used as the park for the enjoyment of all.  

Old postcard showing the bridge at the lake that takes
you across to a small island which now houses a gazebo.

Some of the many events that are held yearly at the park include: (1) the World's largest chicken barbecue sponsored by the Lancaster Sertoma Club who is the main sponsor of the park, (2) a nationally acclaimed fine art and craft show over the Labor Day weekend, (3) a free summer music series held at the park's amphitheater and (4) the annual US Army Band, Cannon Brigade and Fireworks display held on July 4th.  The park also boasts many picnic pavilions, children's playgrounds, a three-acre spring-fed lake, tennis courts and naturally the petting zoo where the photos were taken that I have been admiring once again.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

This is what the bridge looks like today.

The petting zoo

A playground area

One of many pavilions with another playground behind it