The "Lancaster's Premier Eavesdropper" Story

 It was an ordinary day.  Traveling east on King Street in the center of the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  When I reached the second block of East King, the 100 block, I began to look to my left on the one-way street which runs east to try and find Lancaster's premier eavesdropper.  "There he is!" I said to myself as I approached one of Lancaster's classic three story downtown vintage buildings.  Parked the car and grabbed my camera to take a photo of the building at 121 East King St.  The property was built in 1762 by German immigrants William and Elizabeth Bausman and has the only known "eavesdropper" in the city which is part of the cut sandstone facade of the building.  "

"The eavesdropper," top center of the photograph.

The eavesdropper's head, complete with open mouth as if it is talking, hangs from the 3rd floor, west corner of the cornice and has a great view of all those walking on either side of East King Street.  The home is one of just a few sandstone that dot the street dominated by brick buildings.  Between the 1st and 2nd floors can be seen a date stone on the 1762 era home.  Mr. Bausman was the Chief Burgess (today's Mayor) of Lancaster and operated a tavern next door to his residence.  So, what actually is an "eavesdropper"?  

Closer view of "The Eavesdropper."

The term is used to refer to the interception of communication between two parties by a malicious third party.  Today the term is used quite often in the world of cyber security.  Data sniffing is another form of eavesdropping and can work well on local networks which make use of a HUB.  When communications within a network are sent to ports of the network, an eavesdropper can intercept every bit of incoming data.  Eavesdropping is a Medieval English word which refers to a person who is secretly listening to other's private conversations.  It is also known as "spying with the ears."  Most times it is both morally and legally wrong or illegal.  But sound is at times very hard to control inside a building.  The architecture of any building plays a big part in the acoustics that are required to properly diminish sound and prevent eavesdropping from taking place.  The word eavesdropper has been in use since the 900s.  The word is English and comes from the word "yfesdrype," which means place around the house where the rainwater drips off the roof.  The word's meaning was someone listening to a conversation in secret.

An eavesdropper

Then in the 1500s, carved faces were tucked into the "eaves" of ceilings as an architectural feature to serve as a reminder not to gossip because you never know whom might be listening.  In 1529 King Henry VIII had carved and painted figures added to the eaves of the Great Hall to act as a reminder to both staff and guests not to spred gossip.  Traitorous words could result in hanging or beheading.  The earliest references to eavesdropping are found in law books.  In William Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England from 1769, eavesdroppers, or those who listen under walls or windows, or the eaves of a house, to hearken after discourse, are a common nuisance.  

An old merchant ship with a few "Eavesdroppers"

Today eavesdropping is not only legal, but unavoidable.  It is a condition of social life and is not a question of whether to eavesdrop, but how.  Even though today it has become harder to eavesdrop due to acoustics and construction techniques, if you don't want someone to hear what you have to say, don't say it...or put it in writing.  And then hope you don't forget where you put it.  That seems to be my major problem.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.