The "Life In The 1770s In Nearby Manheim, Pennsylvania" Story

It was an ordinary day. Beautiful fall morning and the sun was high in the sky as I arrived in the middle of the town of Manheim, Pennsylvania in search of two of the earliest log cabins to have been built in Manheim which was founded in 1762 by Henry William Stiegel on a tract of land in Rapho Township. Mr. Stiegel set out to build an industrial empire and founded the Manheim Glassworks. His empire was a failure and he was forced to sell the development in 1775 and in 1780 the glassworks closed. On January 1, 1862 the first railroad came through Manheim when the Columbia and Reading Railroad made a trip through town. In 1884 water pipes were laid and the beginning of service by the Manheim Electric Company began in a plant at Bomberger's Mill at the end of Mill Street in Manheim.

Newspaper photo showing the Fasig House
being moved on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1995

Well, I located the two log cabins along East High Street in the middle of town. It was back on Wednesday, September 20, 1995 that an article appeared in the Lancaster New Era telling about the home of the Fasig family being moved from the corner of Main and Colebrook Streets to its new location four blocks away on High Street. The log cabin was a 20 foot X 25 foot Germanic home and it was bing placed next to another such home closer to the center of town. Both homes would eventually be opened as museums for the public to see what life might have been like in the 1700s in Manheim. The house was donated to the city by real estate broker Herb Hess who had purchased the home at auction. He thought it would be just natural to have an old-town Manheim once again. The log cabin that was moved was known as the Keith house which got its name from one of the first families to live in the cabin.

Map showing location of log homes.

Mr. William Ross, an expert in log cabin construc- tion, said the home was more than likely built in the early 1770s. The people who built the home would have been from Germany or of German ancestry. The original Fasig house probably would have consisted of a kitchen (kuche), living room (stube) and a bedroom (kammer). The cabin that the Fasig cabin was placed next to along High Street was known as the Keith House which got its name from the first family to inhabit that cabin.

Flag of Manheim shows date of 1762.

Seems that just about every log cabin built at that time was built by people of Germanic ancestry and it seems that they all used the same blueprints for the construction. Well, I parked my car to the rear of the Fasig House and grabbed my Nikon camera. Directly in front of me was the Fasig House so I snapped a few photos. Walked around to the front and found a sign telling the history of both houses which sit next to one another. Neither one was what I had expected which would have shown logs joined at the corners with special joints to lock them together. Both cabins had weather boards on them which made them look much like a frame house built today. Both log cabins were small in size compared with homes of today. To the rear of them sat a wooden outhouse which looked a bit to "modern" to be an original to the homes. The town of Manheim should be proud of the fact that they are retaining their heritage for all to see. Check out the photographs I have taken so you too can see what housing in the mid-1700s might have looked like. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The Fasig House has gray siding on it.  Roof has new wooden shingles and the stepping stones in front of the cabin are to help those arriving in different sized wagons to exit the wagon easier.  

This is the back door which has a lantern above it for lighting.

View looking east along High Street in Manheim.  Light post sits near the cabin.

Sitting near the rear of the cabin is a pump with water trough.  Now sure if it is functional or not.

This sits behind the Keath House.  Not sure if it is usable or just for show.

The rear of the Keath House.

The one window and shutter on the rear of the Keath House.

Plaque on the front of the home.

Looks as if this door hasn't been used recently.  I'm not sure if either house is open at this time due to the COVID-19 virus.

Neat 6 over 6 window with shutters and hardware.

Front of the home with a bright red door.  This house also has a stone in front of the house to make getting out of your wagon or off of your horse easier.