The "What Lancastrians Say And Think About Their City: Part II" Story

It was an ordinary day.  I was recently visiting one of my favorite Facebook pages and thought you might be interested in seeing what those of us who live in Lancaster, and have for most of our lives, post to Facebook.  The page is titled "Lancaster PA in photos, Video, Etc."  Yesterday I posted over a dozen of photographs, advertisements and post cards from the page and today will give you more of an idea as to what Lancasterians post to the page.  Hope you get a better idea of what Lancaster is about and has been throughout the history of the city known as the Red Rose City. Remember to click on the images to enlarge them. The comments I have added are from the people that posted the photos except where indicated.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The person who entered this poster added no comment to it.  I thought it was so interesting that I added to my post for today.  Every year the food merchants in Lancaster featured a trip to Atlantic City which they called  "The Grocer's Picnic."  This poster tells of another excursion that is offered by the Pennsylvania Railroad to Atlantic City.  Dated August 3, 1882.  The fare from Lancaster is $3.00.  A bargain rate you may think, but for 1882 I believe it may have been rather high.  The first stop was in Marietta, PA at 5:05 am with arrival sometime after 7.00 am in Atlantic City, New Jersey. 

This rather interesting billboard touts the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania which was slightly over 5 miles from the billboard.

LDub comment: Carol and I bought our first car together at this building which today is a funeral home.  The car was a Pontiac Firebird.  A note added to the post said...My father used to tell me that a bad fire consumed the upper floors of this building in the 1930s.  I remember it as a garage or car dealership in the 1950s and there was a ramp to the rear where cars could drive up to the second floor.  This is on the corner of West Orange and North Pine Streets.  I believe it was designed by noted Lancaster architect C. Emlen Urban.  Notice the really neat street light in the upper right.

When they had their factory on the Old Philly Pike they offered the best self-guided tour for free!  My kids used to love going there and seeing the pretzels being made!

This is an FF-2 LOCOMOTIVE which was used in helper service out of Columbia eastward on the Low Grade or the Main Line via the Columbia Branch to Parksburg.  4 of this type locomotive were based at Thorndale and 5 in Columbia. They came to the PRR and purchased it in 1957 from the Great Northern Railroad.  They used the same catenary voltage the Pennsy did. However, these were motor/generator locomotives and because of this, both pantographs had to be raised when operating. These units were numbered 1 through 9, the lowest numbered locomotives on the PRR.

Watt & Shand Christmas 1945.  The Lancaster that was...history that is only left in the pictures someone took the time to take. Thank You...  LDub reply:  Watt & Shand was one of four major department stores in the city of Lancaster, PA.  This building was to me the greatest of them all.

This too had no caption with it.  Miesse Candy Company started in 1875 on Chestnut Street in downtown Lancaster.  I have written a few stories about the candy company, but never saw this advertisement until a few days ago.

That device was also known as the cow catcher, because when we rode the trolley to Rocky Springs Park in the rural areas cows would wander on the tracks and it would keep them from being run over.

The structure in the foreground is not a trolley. Looks like is says on it "Ebby's Diner".  It is facing Chestnut Street in this picture. The two trolleys in the background are on Queen Street, in front of the Hotel Buchanon. I watched them tear down the Brunswick in 1967, and subsequently the Buchanon in 1972.

This is the covered bridge on South Duke Street at the southern border of the city of Lancaster.

LDub comment:  The bridge in the background connects the towns of Columbia, which is located in Lancaster County, and Wrightsville, which is in York County.  

No ice is safe ice on the river. Let's be careful out there.  The photo is believed to be circa 1936.

This is the Harvey Williams Bicycle Shop at 620-628 W. Orange Street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  It was known as Lancaster's favorite bike and motorcycle shop.  Marie said, "My Grandad bought my first bike there in 1953! Sweet memories!"  Joe said, "My Dad got my Schwinn Apple Krate there for my Christmas present probably 1970!  One Badass bike!"

Sign inside the Rendezvous Steak Shop.  This picture was taken about three years ago. The sign hung near the grill.  I love this sign. But, what if I wanted a grilled cheese, soup and some tea? 😥 (And what was a "plain" sandwich? Did it have Amish connections?)

This post card is Lancaster Theological Seminary. It was mailed in 1906. It's hard to imagine that the land surrounding it could be so empty.

LDub comment:  This looks to be the North Water and West Orange Street intersection in downtown Lancaster.  The date I couldn't determine, but certainly at least 150 or more years ago.  Poster's comment:  Recently while looking for an old photo for my daughter, I came across a stack of Post Cards I bought over the years. Most of these are from the earlier part of the last century leading up to the middle. I'll post a new one every couple of days for y'all to talk and reminisce about. When there is one that was actually postally used, or has an interesting caption, such as this first one, I'll post both sides.

Here's a linen post card of the airport. Judging by the airplanes, I'd say the picture was painted shortly after it's opening. There wasn't a caption and it was never used postally, so only the face on this one.  Lancaster Municipal Airport was dedicated on August 17, 1935, and was considered one of the finest in the East. 

LDub comment:  This photo shows the intersection of North Queen and East/West Chestnut Streets in downtown Lancaster, PA.  The building to the left was Lancaster's best hotel in the city which was demolished in 1967 to make way for a terrible monstrous cement jungle.