The "New Award For The City Of Lancaster, PA" Story

Red Rose City sign.

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about the new title that the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania has just been given.  I have lived in Lancaster all my life and knew that it was known as The Red Rose City when I read about it in elementary school.  The symbol of the city, the red rose,  comes from the House of Lancaster which is the name of one of the two branches of the royal English House of Plantagenet.  

Prime farmland in "The Garden Spot of America."

Anyway, Lancaster, actually Lancaster County, has been known as the Garden Spot Of America for genera- tions.  The "plain" or Amish have tilled some of the best non-irrigated soil in North America.  Now, a fellow by the name of Thomas Farley, who is an etiquette expert, has named Lancaster one of the cities in the U.S. that exemplifies good manners.  Mr. Farley says he travels the country almost nonstop for speaking and training sessions and gets to meet wonderful people everywhere he goes.  Certain cities stand out in his mind as being the most mannerly and most friendly.  

Amish buggy maneuvers a county road.

Mr. Farley, who calls himself Mister Manners, chose the city of Palm Beach, Florida as the most mannerly city in the country followed closely by Minneapolis, Minnosota and Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  His reasoning for selecting Lancaster as his third place pick is:  "Your chances of encountering road rage are slim to none in certain areas in and around Lancaster, thanks to the omnipresence of the horse-drawn-carriage-driving Amish.  

Pinetown Road Bridge in Lancaster County.

Otherwise known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, they eschew modern conven- iences, focusing on the simpler things.  If you stop to buy a shoofly pie at an Amish bakery, you don't have to worry about the clerk ignoring you while she uploads selfies to Instagram."  Wow, I never thought about that.  I just assumed that all those buggies backed-up traffic in many directions at times since they tend to slow down traffic.  

Interior of a wooden covered bridge.

And  the more than 25 covered bridges we have in the county, even though they add charm and character to the county, also tend to create traffic jams at times.  He adds, "A city with good manners is a place where the locals observe the Golden Rule ... treating others as they themselves would like to be treated.  In a city that's friendly, residents serve as unofficial goodwill ambassadors.  They display patience with tourist's naivete and nourish the goal that any visitor comes to love the destination as much as the ardent locals do."  I have grown to love this city where I was born and at times take it for granted.  It's nice to see someone who is a respected expert tell the world that my hometown is one of the best in the United States in any category.  And making that category the one with the best manners is even more special.  Thank you Mr. Farley.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.