The "Lancaster's Original Hard Rock Band" Story

Preface:  The story which you are about to read was originally written by Mr. John Earl Hambright. I would love to give you some information about Mr. Hambright, but as of this time, have not been able to find any such information.  So...you will have to read the story knowing that it is more than likely true.  One way or another, it still makes for a good read!

It was an ordinary day.  Typed in the name of John Earl Hambright on my keyboard and hoped for the best.  Did get some rather interesting information, but couldn't document that it was written by or about Mr. John Earl Hambright.  Story dealt with Lancaster's historical monument that sits at the intersection of King and Queen Streets in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  So, my story begins by telling you that there is no harder rock than what came out of Westerly Rhode Island many years ago.  And, there was no harder working rock band 150 years ago than the one from Hartford, Connecticut that consisted of Carl, Jimmy, Danny, Charlie, Frank and Fortunato who were the talented gang that created the forever centerpiece in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  

The rock band, alias workers, who worked on the monument in the center of  Lancaster,  PA

These men and boys, most of whom were born in Italy, worked at the Hartford, Connecticut firm that was first called Batterson's Monument Works and later New England Granite.  This was the group of stone cutters and sculptors that produced the Soldiers and Sailors memorial that has occupied the heart of our fair city of Lancaster since July 4, 1874.  James Batterson was New England Granite's owner. His highly prized white stone came from a quarry close to the sea in Westerly, Rhode Island not far from the Flying Horses -- the oldest continuously operated carousel in the USA -- and, more recently, the beachside home of Taylor Swift.  After Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox, orders for Civil War monuments poured into Batterson's from cities and towns all over the North and later the South.  The profits would eventually fund Mr. B's founding of Travelers Insurance company, sponsor of Hartford's iconic PGA golf tournament.  

The sculpture standing in the center of Lancaster, PA

The old daguerrotype was produced as a 3-D stereopticon card Batterson's sent to prospective customers all over the country.  You notice anything familiar?  Look closely and you'll spot one of Lancaster's sculptures.  It's the soldier resting on his rifle which is labeled INFANTRY on the monument in Penn Square.  The statue, which would spend many years guarding the Fulton Bank and Vic the Bookie's soft pretzel stand had just been completed when this photograph was made.  But, then there was a hitch.  Isn't there always?  The rifleman almost didn't come our way.  The financial panic that began in late September, 1873, threatened to put the kibosh on Lancaster's plans to unveil its Civil War memorial on July 4, 1874.  What happened next is the stuff of legend, as you'll learn in the upcoming final episodes  of the continuing story we've been calling LADY IN OUR MIDST.  In the meantime, though, I couldn't wait to share this remarkable picture of the boys in our very first rock band.  Viva, Fortunato!  Or did they call him Rocky?  I never tire of trips to visit the monument to take photographs of it.  Seems that every time I make a new visit, I find something that I hand't seen the time before.  How lucky can I be that my home town, the city known as Lancaster, Pennsylvania had enough foresight to take photographs of the new monument as it took shape in the center of town.  And, if you ever have the chance to visit Lancaster, please make a stop and visit the monument in the center of our city.  Take a photograph and make sure you touch the monument that holds so much history in Lancaster as well as in our state and country.   And, thank you Mr. John Earl Hambright, wherever you may be, for writing the majority of my story today that I have in turn shared with all my readers.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.   

The "Were You Born In A Barnyard?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading a story in my local newspaper that reminded me of my friends Jere and Sue.  The three of us graduated from high school together.  The two of them had dated during high school and eventually fell in love and got married.  My wife Carol and I have become good friends with Jere and Sue, who moved to State College a few years ago.  We try to visit with each other from time to time, but visits have been scarce the past few years due to COVID as well as a few medical problems in both our families.  One thing that both families have been doing since Jere and I retired together in 1999 from working at Manheim Township High School, our old alma mater, has been to keep scrapbooks of our vacations we have taken together since that year.  Trips to Hawaii as well as multiple Caribbean islands have filled numerous scrapbooks which are still fun to share when we visit each other.  But, Sue has also kept scrap books of her and Jere's life together which reminded me of the story I read in today's Sunday newspaper.  Story of a fellow named Bob who grew up in Elburn, Illinois which is a farm town of about 600 people.  Corn is the primary crop, but cattle farming also fills the time of most farmers in town.  Bob's birth certificate tells he was born in Copley Hospital in Aurora, Illinois in 1936 as does his passport application.  Seems that Copley is the nearest major hospital, so no one ever noticed the differences in the towns.  But, when Bob's mother died when he was in his 50s, he discovered something quite different.  His mother was buried in a family plot in the cemetery at the south end of Elburn.  The family recently gathered in the basement of the old family home in St. Charles that his parents built and lived in until Bob's Dad retired and moved to a retirement community with his wife.  Bob's brother, Malcom then moved into the home.  As the family was visiting in the basement of the home once again, Malcom appeared with a newspaper clipping he had saved for years in a series of scrapbooks housed on wooden shelves in the basement.  Seems he had saved these clippings for years and years in the basement; clippings from the Elburn weekly newspaper which told the life of he and his family.  Exactly what Sue has been doing for her family since she and Jere were married years ago.  Well, one of the clippings that Malcom produced told the story about his mother, aided by his father, giving birth to a baby boy in the barnyard.  That baby would have been Bob.  He then began to wonder what it would have been like had he known this small fact years ago.  Back in those days, the 1940's and 50's, if a kid left the door open when going out or coming into the house, someone would holler, "Close the door---were you born in a barn?"  If he had known about his birth he could have replied, "No, a barnyard!"  But, recently he did find an opportunity to use his unusual birth story when a hostess at a party challenged her guests to a game where each player wrote down three things about themselves...one of which was not true.  When he wrote down "born in a barnyard," all the other players chose that as his false story.  Needless to say, he had a bit of explaining when he told them it was really true.  So...you have any stories to top this one?  I'll bet not!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Thanks For The Honor Bestowed On My Blog" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in front of my TV, reading the morning Sunday News with my wife sitting a few feet away from me with her iPhone in her hand, doing some searching on the web.  All of a sudden she said, "Hey...you were picked by Kevin Landis as Best Local History Blogger on the Internet on his Facebook page "Lancaster PA in photos, Video, etc."  I instantly clicked on the link to the site and sure enough, there was his Facebook page which I have been reading daily for years. I have enjoyed Kevin's Facebook page and have used some of his pictures and stories as a basis for the research about topics I have written about. Great that we can both use some of the same antique photographs to tell much the same story, but in different manners and through the eyes of two different administrators. It was back on September 2, 2009 that I wrote my first blog story that I titled "The White Rat." Its was about a box full of white rats that my Grandpap had bid on at a local farmer's market in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for me when I was about 10 years old. He won the bid and my blog became history. Since that first story in 2009, I have penned 4,678 stories about everything imaginable I have encountered in my life. As you may have read, I wrote a story yesterday about my Granddaughter, Camille graduating from high school in nearby Maryland. Most of my stories are history related, thus Mr. Landis' pick for Best Local History Blogger. I'm not quite sure how long Kevin has been publishing his Facebook page about Lancaster's history, but I have made good use of it for a few years. If you might be interested in the history of Lancaster County and surrounding area, check out his Facebook page which you can access at... "Lancaster PA in photos, Video, etc."  I'm sure you will enjoy it if you have any interest in history.  And, you won't find a larger collection of historical photographs of Lancaster County, PA anywhere.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Grandchild #2 Graduates With Honors" Story

Camille receiving her diploma from the H.S. Principal

It was an ordinary day.  Thursday, May 26 and our daughter-in-law Barbara was in the driver's seat.  She had agreed to drive Carol and I to the Mount St. Mary's University's  Knott Area  PNC Sports Complex at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland to see our Granddaughter Camille Mencarini graduate from Urbana High School.  Urbana High School opened in 1995 and graduated their first class in 1999.  The school was enlarged in 2006 to accommodate a growing population.  When today's seniors were sophomores, the school was designated a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School in recognition of their exemplary student achievement.  This year's graduating class is the 24th for the high school which has traveled a unique path, since during the spring of 2020, they finished their sophomore year via virtual instruction due to COVID.  

Camille receiving another congratulation!

During their junior year they attended classes virtually and in-person.  This past fall they once again began school in person at the high school.  And, today they will again be graduating in person.  Despite the challenges they experienced, they have excelled in academics, the arts and athletics and continue to emulate the Core Values of respect, unity, integrity and pride.  Camille is our "middle" grandchild and second grandchild to graduate from high school with our oldest, Courtney having graduated from Urbana H.S. two years ago.  The major difference between the two graduations is the fact that Camille got to march down the aisle and up on stage to receive her diploma while Courtney's graduation was online due to the COVID virus.

Mom Brynn, Graduate Camille, sister Courtney and Dad Dave.

Carol and I asked Barb if she wanted to go with us to Maryland to see the graduation as well as drive and she was nice enough to agree to go with us to the graduation ceremony.  Took about 90 minutes from our home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania to the campus of Mount St. Mary's.  We arrived at the college about 45 minutes early and had an easy time finding a parking space.  The three of us met our daughter Brynn and son-in-law Dave as well as grand-daughter Courtney outside the Sports Arena and found our way into the building where we headed to the balcony where most of the seating was for visitors.  By 2:00 PM the place was packed as the Prelude began and then the Processional began to Pomp & Circumstance.  

A girl's affair...Grandmother Linda Mencarini, mom Brynn, Camille,
sister Courtney, Aunt Barbara Woods, Grandmother Carol Woods

A "Welcome" and "The National Anthem" followed with an Introduction, Greeting, Superintendent's Comments, Senior Speaker, Musical Selections, Senior Speakers and finally the Presentation of Graduates.  The class of 2022 had 470 members.  The entire program took 1:15 minutes!  Now...they know how to run a graduation!  Everyone was well-behaved and the people in the stands were likewise well-behaved.  This is the type of graduation that is fun to attend.  About 15 minutes later I had the chance to give my grand-daughter a hug and kiss and congratulations for four years of hard work.  Camille was one of 24 class members who received four graduation awards; an award for Highest Honors, an award for National Honor Society; an award for CTC Completer and an award for Maryland Scholar.  She had a fantastic high school career and Carol and I are very proud of all she accomplished in the past four years.  She now will continue her quest to become a nurse.  She already has a head-start with a program she has been working on for the last half of her senior year.  Carol and I couldn't be anymore proud of her than we already are and wish her the best as she progresses through her nursing program.  We headed to a nearby restaurant for an after-graduation meal and then Carol and I hopped in the car with Barb in the driver's seat for our trip back to Lancaster.  We all had a great time!  Next in line will be the graduation of grandchild #3, Caden Woods who will graduate next year from nearby Hempfield High School.  A much easier drive!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "Grandpap And My Trips To Armstrong Cork Company" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Driving south on Prince Street in the city of Lancaster when I drove past my Grandpap's old house at 617 S. Prince St. It was the same house where my mother grew up before she met my dad, they married and began a home of their own.  I never got to know my Grandma since she died when I was a young boy, but I did get to know my Grandpap quite well over the years.  He enjoyed taking me for rides in his car and during those rides he often took me past the place where he worked.  The location that I remember the most was on West Liberty Street which was four blocks from where I grew up as a young boy on North Queen Street.  He often would tell me about Armstrong and the types of products they would make at the plant where he worked on Liberty Street.  He was responsible for creating linoleum products, mostly rolls of linoleum used for flooring.  I recently was reminded of my Grandpap, as well as the cork products that Armstrong sold, while reading a short story about Armstrong Cork Works, which at the time was located on New Holland Ave, east of Plum Street in Lancaster city.  At the time, it was in the early 1920s and cork was beginning to fade as king of the bottle stopper industry.  The Armstrong plant on New Holland Ave. was staffed with mostly women who worked on cork tapering machines.  This particular Armstrong plant began on Plum Street in 1893 by Richard Dodge.  

Corks being made at Armstrong Cork Company.

Two years later the company was acquired by Armstrong Cork Co. and began Armstrong's first local operation.  During the years that followed, millions and millions of cork stoppers were produced until the1920s when the demand for cork stoppers began to decline and new products began to demand more easily applied and less expensive devices.  Armstrong began installing new equipment for the production of crown caps that would eventually lead to the elimination of the machines that are pictured here.  The production of corks was finally discontinued in 1932 and The Cork Works was renamed the Closure Plant.  The Closure Plant still made closures for bottles and like items, but it eventually was used for the manufacture of linoleum for flooring.  As a child, I lived in the last block of North Queen Street which was about a half dozen blocks from the building that ultimately made linoleum.  My Granddad would have me make visits with him from time to time and he would show me how the large rolls of linoleum were made. At he end of the day we would go to his car and he would give me a ride home.  At times we would head to Roots Sale for something to eat, but you probably already read about that in this blog.  Armstrong sold the Closure Plant to Kerr Glass Manufacturing Co. in 1969 when it divested itself of ll packaging operations.  Armstrong is no longer Armstrong Cork Company, and is now Armstrong World Industries.  How much longer Armstrong will still be in Lancaster is hard to tell, but it doesn't look promising that it will be in Lancaster much longer.  As it is said...good things don't last forever.  But, I will never forget my trips to Armstrong to visit my Grandpap!  Memories for me will last foreve! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Keys For The City" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Actually, a beautiful, ordinary day and I thought I should get out and take a few photographs in my hometown, Lancaster, Pennsylvania which is known as the Street Piano Capital of the World!  Guess you didn't know that, did you?  Well, a few days days ago, "Keys for the City" began for the summer with 12 custom-designed pianos that were displayed throughout the city of Lancaster at various hot spots and sidewalk locations which are accessible to the public at all times of the night and day.  And...at these locations are placed pianos which are meant to foster creativity through music and build a sense of community among the public and in the process raise resource awareness for local music and visual arts eduction initiatives.  

Prince St. Garage, 111 N. Prince St., Lancaster

Lancaster's program has been going on for the past thirteen summers, with a brief respite the past few years for COVID.  But, this year the program is in full throttle with 12 pianos in the city and one more in the nearby city of Lititz, Pennsylvania.  My chore for the day was to try and locate all of the pianos and take photos of each one as well as try and play a song on each one.  I was lucky enough to locate all but one piano in Lancaster as well as the one in nearby Lititz.  I took photographs of all that I found and did manage to sit at a few of them and play a tune or two before I headed to my next destination.  My song of choice was "Lady of Spain."  You never heard of that one before?  I used to play that song and sing along when I played my accordion years and years ago. 

LDub playing one of the many pianos.

Actually, 65 plus years ago!  Mr. Sinoppoli, my accordion teacher would have been proud of me for remembering that song after all these years.  Actually, I only know the righthand part since the pianos I had found today didn't have buttons anywhere on them like my accordion did.  At one location today, someone stopped and offered to take a photo of me while I was playing and singing.  

Piano that was in Lancaster's Musser Park at 135 N. Lime Street

Too bad they were too young to remember the song or maybe they might have sung long.  The "Keys for the City" mark the annual return of the "MFE" Street program.  "MFE" means "Music For Everyone" if you didn't already know.  "MFE" is a non-profit with a mission of cultivating the power of music.  The 12 pianos have been been placed at various locations in Lancaster city, with one in the nearby town of Lititz.  They will be available to the public 24/7 until mid-October.  Whether people stop by to play a few notes or join in the music with voices, it still joins people together through music.  

Piano at the Lancaster Arts Hotel at 300 Harrisburg Ave.

The pianos have all been  painted and a few have special themes to them.  Take a look at a few of the pianos and see if you don't agree with me that the artwork is amazing.  If you live closeby Lancaster, please stop by one of the addresses listed below and take a look.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

A better view of the piano I was playing!

Musical locations are: (1) Ware Center: 42 N. Prince Street; (2) Prince St. Garage: 111 N. Prince St. (3) PA College of Art & Design: N. Prince & Chestnut Sts; (4) Lancaster Public Library, 125 N. Duke St.; (5) The Lumber Yard, 555 N. Charlotte St,; (6) Penn Square: 1 Penn Square; (7) Tellus360, 24 E. King St.; (8) Tabor Bldg., 308 E. King St.; (9) Musser Park, 135 N. Lime St.; (10) Wells Fargo Bank, 100 N. Queen St.; (11) Lancaster Arts Hotel, 300 Harrisburg Ave.  PS: There is one more location in nearby Lititz Called Pebbles and Lace which is at 56 E. Main Street, Lititz, PA. 

The "Lancaster's Gilded Age In Architecture" Story

 It was an ordinary day.  Driving through the quaint, little city known as Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  I know that to many, Lancaster is no longer quaint or little, but to me, a life-long citizen of the city of Lancaster, it will never be anything but both of those adjectives.  I recently read a full-page story in Lancaster's newspaper titled "Our Gilded Age" which recalled the downtown Beaux Arts era with included beautiful white facades, strong symmetry, decorative and textured walls and sculptured stonework.  Easy to identify all the photographs that were taken by the author of the story, Interior Designer Gregory Scott.  I had a few hours to kill so I hopped in my car and headed downtown to take a few more photos to further illustrate what Mr. Scott had written about in the Lancaster Newspaper.  Beaux Arts is characterized by order, symmetry, formal design, grandiosity, and elaborate ornamentation. Architectural characteristics include balustrades, balconies, columns, cornices, pilasters, and triangular pediments.  Interiors are typically polished and lavishly decorated with sculptures, swags, medallions, flowers, and shields. Interiors will often have a grand stairway and opulent ballroom. Large arches rival the ancient Roman arches.  It is the showy, almost operatic, manner in which these elements are composed that gives the style its characteristic flavor.  Because of the size and grandiosity of the buildings, the Beaux-Arts style is most commonly used for public buildings like museums, railway stations, libraries, banks, courthouses, and government buildings.  So, take a look at a few of the buildings that call the city of Lancaster home and also illustrate the Beaux Arts era of architecture.  

The Kirk Johnson Building on West King Street. 

The Harolds Building on West King Street

The Hagar Building on West King Street

A department store at 50 N. Queen Street dated 1911

Kirk Johnson Building on West King Street

The old Watt & Shand Building that sits at the intersection of Queen and King Streets.

 

The "Trying To Stay Healthy Is Tough As A Senior" Story

 It was an ordinary day.  Laying on my towel on Orient Beach in St. Martin when my wife said to me, "I just noticed that you have a rash all over your leg up to your waist.  I instantly reached to the back of my leg and felt the rash she was talking about.  It began behind my kneecap and ran to the middle of my back, a few inches above my waist.  It seemed to be oozing, but for some strange reason, I had no pain or itching sensation.  Neither one of us knew what to do, so we just spent the remainder of the day laying on the beach as I tried to keep my leg  covered from the sun.  I did enter the salty sea water in hopes it would make the rash disappear.  It eventually was diagnosed as Shingles by my wife, since she had also recently had them. I should add that a doctor in the nearby town of Philipsburg had no clue as to what it was until my wife suggested Shingles and he agreed with her.  I recently read that Shingles is a serious ailment and you should know the "Sneaky Symptoms" which come with them.  It is one of four serious ailments that can cause serious health problems if not detected quickly.  The others are "Age Related Macular Degeneration", "Dementia", and "Chronic Kidney Disease."  Perhaps you have had one or more of these diseases such as Carol and I have, and were as lucky as Carol and I that you survived them without too much of a problem.  Shingles takes most people by surprise with only general symptoms, such as the onset of unexpected localized pain, chills, fever and a blistering rash on one area of your body.  The virus is more than likely triggered by stress, trauma or a disease that suppresses the immune system.  Seems like just about anyone can get them.  If was thought that if you had chickenpox as a child, you were more than likely going to get shingles also.  But, that's not so.  Early treatment with antiviral medications is important in preventing posttherpetic neuralgia, a burning pain that can occur after an outbreak.  There is a two-part shingles vaccine you can get after the age of 50, and I would suggest you get it if possible.  I was one of the lucky ones who had no bad results except for the awful rash that oozed all over my clothes for a few days.  Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)  is the most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 55.  This causes part of the retina to become damaged.  Dry AMD is the most common form and occurs when tiny protein clumps called druse build up and cause central vision loss.  Wet AMD is more serious and involves abnormal blood vessels growing under the retina and causing bleeding and damage.  Risk factors are age, family history and being overweight.  What makes it hard to tell if you have it is that we all have two eyes and the disease can affect just one eye and you might not know it.  Vitamins known as AREDS 2 helps slow AMD progression.  About 5% to 8% of people over the age of 65 have dementia which is a general term for memory loss related to many health conditions. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia.  We all will begin to have slight memory loss as we age, such as forgetting the names of people or where you put the ice cream the night before, but these are not serious problems.  Getting lost in a familiar place or not recognizing loved ones are a bit different.  You can be screened for the problem and an early diagnosis is important for establishing a solid support system.  Please don't put it off!  Finally, the kidneys are your body's taskmaster being they remove toxins and excess fluid to regulate bone health.  About 37 million people in the U.S. have chronic kidney disease which puts them at risk for kidney failure.  If your kidneys operate less than 60%, you have the disease.  Those with Diabetes and high blood pressure are most likely to have the disease.  If you have low energy, poor appetite and nausea you may have the disease.  A simple blood test and urine test can help determine if you have the disease. There are treatments and catching the disease early will give you the best chance of stopping further kidney damage.  Well, I hope you have found my story for today a help in staying fit for the future.  You are aging, even as you read my story today, so you are not alone in fighting any of these diseases.  Stay alert for signs your body is sending you.  I wish you the best and a healthy life. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Smokey The Bear Is Lost Once Again" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sunny with a chance of reaching 95 degrees today.  And...if that's not enough, we have to watch out for a big black bear roaming the neighborhood.  A few days ago our daughter-in-law, Barbara, called to tell us that she had sighted a big black bear ini her neighborhood in Hempfield Township which is about a 15 minute drive from our home in Manheim Township.  She was leaving their dogs out in their backyard when she saw something unusual for the neighborhood.  A big black bear!  She managed to get the dogs back in the house before they saw the bear...or the bear saw them... and began calling everyone to tell them about the bear.  Well, wasn't long before we heard from another person about a black bear who was spotted near Lancaster's channel 8 station on the Columbia Pike which is a good 10 minutes from Barb's house.  So, the bear is on the move!  

A young black bear was seen in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Then we heard that the Pennsylvania Game Commission had placed a trap between the two sightings in hopes of capturing it and moving it to a safe place.  The newspaper later claimed that the bear was sighted near a Wells Fargo bank as well as Moe's and Friendly's at the Centerville Shopping Center.   Hey...the bear knows exactly where the food is located!  This is the biggest news we have had for quite a few days in Lancaster.  But, the last thing we need is for the bear to see a small child playing in one of the local neighborhoods.  Back in 2019, wildlife conservation officers spotted a black bear in the city of Lancaster.  It eventually captured it in the backyard of a home on West Chestnut Street in the city.  Where do these animals come from and how do they get the entire way across the city of Lancaster before someone catches them?  That particular bear was captured and released on State Game lands in Lebanon County.  I know that Lancaster County is known as the Garden Spot of America, but how do these bears find out about it.  Could someone have a pair of bears as pet in their backyard who mated and the cub escaped the back yard?  Someone will eventually catch the bear or perhaps it will find its own way to the State Game lands.  Everyone just has to hope that it doesn't grab a young child before it gets captured and released into the wild.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Winning The Big One With One Of My Former Players!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Friday morning and I had just returned from the end of my driveway with the morning newspaper. One of the first things I do, after feeding our two cats...Snickerdoodle and The Gray Lady, is to read the LNP morning newspaper.  Now, I assume, since I never read it anywhere, is that LNP stands for Lancaster News Paper.  If not, it should!  Anyway, my three favorite parts of the newspaper are the front page that usually has all of the big news on it, the obituary page which has stories and photographs of all those who won't sadly be reading the the big news anymore, and the sports.  My story today deals with the later of the three.  The headline, about halfway down the page told it all...CROWNING NEW CHAMPS.  Story's sub-head read "Streaks reach goal" and directly under it told how the Blue Streaks, the teams nickname, buried the memory of last year's season when they beat the team from Ephrata 11-2.  Last year the team was 20-0, but lost in the quarterfinals of the league playoffs.  Both my sons played for Township with my oldest son helping the team win the playoffs and making it part-way through the State playoffs before losing.  Another player whom I coached years ago was a young man named Matt Kirchoff who happens to now be the head coach of Manheim Township's high school team.  Matt was one of my best players years ago and led us to the Lancaster County "New Era" Championship which is the highlight of the summer season for Lancaster County baseball players.  He was one of the best players I every coached during my 20 some years of coaching Little League baseball.  Seems he has transferred most of his knowledge of winning baseball games to his players.  Last year I went to a game at the Manheim Township field to watch my grandson Caden, who plays for neighboring Hempfield High School, when I heard someone out yell to me.  It was Matt yelling and waving to me as I was watching the game.  Never had the chance to visit with him after the game, but it was nice to know I still must have looked the same to him after all these years.  Great to see that Matt is teaching his players some of the same things I taught to my teams from the past.  So glad that Matt's teams have been so successful over the years and I'm sure his players have benefited from having someone like Matt coach them.  They have a few more games to play before they can claim the State Title, but with a bit of luck they could become State Champs.  Good luck to Matt and the "Blue Streaks".  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Matt Kirchoff is on far left.

The "The Lady With The Cigarette Did It!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Watching the smoke rise from the cigarette being held by the woman on my television.  Yes...a woman!  The show was Perry Mason and as they zoomed in on the woman, it looked as if she had to be the guilty party!  How could a woman smoking a cigarette not be guilty?  So, when was the last time you saw someone smoking?  I can't remember the last time I saw anyone smoking...except for the woman on the Perry Mason show a few days ago.  I think back to the "Good Ol' Days" when my Mom and Dad both smoked cigarettes.  All the time!  And so did my Uncle Bob, my Aunt Virginia, most of my friends and myself!  I also smoked a pipe, since my Grand-dad smoked a pipe and I thought he looked so neat smoking it.  Perry Mason aired on Television from 1957 to 1966 and seems like everyone on the show smoked except Perry and his secretary!  Paul Drake,  Perry's side-kick smoked as did just about every criminal on the show.  You could count on cigarette commercials airing just about  every time you turned on your Television.  Both regulars and menthols as well as cigarettes with filters on them were pushed on TV.  And....all these little eyes were watching.  That's when I decided to begin smoking.  That...and the fact that my mom and dad smoked.  When they found out about my smoking, they tried to have me smoke a pipe instead of cigarettes, since my Granddad smoked a pipe and he was already in his early 80s.  Certainly had to be better for you than cigarettes they decided.  When they first approached me about finding something in my bedroom, I thought it was my "Playboy" magazine, but when they began talking about smoking, I knew I was safe!  If you are reading this and are in your 60s or later...I'll bet you might have smoked at some point in your life.  Hey...it was the thing to do back then.  My family doctor's oldest son smoked and even got caught stealing a carton of cigarettes from the Acme Supermarket where I worked part-time in the 1960s.  Bet hs da didn't like that!  I smoked through high school and part-way through college until I met a young girl named Carol.  Her mom and my dad worked together and when I saw a photo of her, I asked my dad to find out how I could get a date with her.  A week or so later he told me to call her and ask about a date.  Did so...and the rest is history.  But...when she found out that I smoked cigarettes, she gave me an ultimatum....Either it was her or my cigarettes.  I haven't smoked anything since that day back in 1966.  Memories such as these never escape me.  To this day, I believe she saved my life, since I stopped smoking that fateful day in 1966.  And...as you may be aware..most of the smokers from the past have either died from smoking or have given it up.  And most of those who haven't given up smoking appear on Perry Mason.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.         

The "The Mansion On The Bank Of The Susquehanna That Never Existed" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Beautiful day for a ride so my wife, Carol, and I decided to take a ride to the nearby town of Columbia, Pennsylvania which sits on the eastern bank of the mighty Susquehanna River, about 30 miles west from my home in Lancaster.  Just before our drive, I pulled up a sketch on my computer desktop of an elegant Second Empire style mansion which at one time was the home of John Fendrich, a Columbia tobacco and cigar merchant whose business operation then stood at the north corner of the intersection of Locust and Front Streets in Columbia.  Sitting behind the mansion was a carriage house which was just as beautiful as the mansion.  I thought Carol and I might be able to locate the mansion and carriage house so I could take a photograph to go with my story.  Well, we never found the mansion and therefore never found the carriage house.  Sure, there were gorgeous mansions on just about every street, but none that matched the sketch I had.  So, I stopped at an antique store that was a block long and asked for help.  Showed my sketch to a few clerks and not a single one knew where the house was located.  I even told them it was supposed to be at the corner of Locust and Front streets, but that didn't help.  Now, a few notes that came with the sketch of the mansion said the property had seen many changes in the past.  The mansion later became the State Police Barracks and then became an Oldsmobile dealer.  It eventually became a gas station and then the Columbia Diner.  It later became another gas station and then a Subway sandwich shop.  How a mansion would become a gas station and Police Barracks over its lifetime and no would could remember was a mystery to me.  So, I gave up!  We drove around looking at all the beautiful buildings that still remain in the city before we found our way home once again.

Perhaps if you live nearby the town of Columbia and might know where the house at the bottom of my story today might be located, please leave me a comment as to how I can find it.  Maybe someday it might make a really good story!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.      

The "Immigrant Or Refugee Artist Is Sought" Story

It was an ordinary day.  I just finished reading an article in the Sunday News that is seeking an immigrant or refugee artist in central Pennsylvania to help create a new mural for the city of Lancaster and Church World Service.  The chosen artist will work with one of Lancaster's most noted muralist, Shauna Yorty.  It was on June 12, 2021 that I wrote a story titled "From Many Lights, One!"  It too featured Shauna and the work she had done on a mural on the 400 block of Shippen Street in the city of Lancaster.  That particular mural was on the side of a house to the east of Lancaster City.  The new proposed mural will be located on the wall of Ganse Apothecary at 355 W. King Street.  The artist chosen will work with Shauna and receive a stipend of $15,000 to complete the piece.  The painting will take place during "Welcoming Week", September 10-19 which is a week when a national effort to "make communities a more welcomed place for all" takes place.  The process will also include two public engagement sessions, in May and June, to solicit public guidance on the project.  Immigrants or refugees within Lancaster, Berks, Dauphin, Cumberland, York and Lebanon counties are qualified to apply.  If you may be interested and qualify for the job, you can visit cwslancaster.org.  If you might need help filling out the application, or would like to request an interview, send an Email to mpjohnson@cwsglobal.com.  I plan to mark it on my calendar so I can visit and take a few photographs of Lancaster's latest mural.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

Shauna Yorty working on a mural in June of 2021

The "Learning Through Excavating" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about the excavations that have been taking place at the 1719 Hans Herr Mennonite meeting house in Willow Street.  The house, which I have visited many times and have written about in the past, is the oldest original Mennonite meeting house still standing in the Western Hemisphere.  I have enjoyed walking through the house, but often wondered what might be hidden in the ground below the lower level of the house or the land that surrounds the house.  The soil of the farm, which has been plowed over and over for 300 years, more than likely holds the records of centuries of life during the early years when the Herr family lived on the property near Willow Street, Pennsylvania.  

The Han Herr House

In the fall of 2020 and 2021, a group of students from my alma mater, Millersville State Teacher's College, now known as Millersville University, have been part of an archaeology program which is searching the grounds around the Hans Herr House, gathering real-life information on excavations which are about 3-by-3 foot and 5-by-5 foot test units on the five-acre Hans Herr farm.  So far they have unearthed 40,000 historical artifacts which recently was part of a presentation at Mennonite Life - the historical organization which operates the 1719 Museum as well as an archive and library on Millstream Road in Lancaster.  So far the students have moved about 4,500 tons of earth.  Every bit of dirt is hand-dug, hand-screened and excavated stratigraphically which is layer by layer.  The reason for the historical dig is to get a sense of the material that was used and still survives through the centuries.  The students are hoping to discover the remnants of the original settler's cabin which predates the historic sandstone house that is still there.  They are beginning to think that the original building might have been destroyed and one of the outbuildings was built over top of it.  Many of the artifacts they have discovered are a cross-section of material from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.  Some projectile points are estimated to be from as far back as 5,000 years ago.  Tiffany Fisk, the administrator at the 1719 Museum, says she was impressed by the Millersville students and what they have found during the past few years.  The students discovered what may have been an area that was used as a quarry when the stone house was being built.  The training that the students are receiving is tremendous and will only help them in the future. She is thrilled when the students discovered chisel marks on a layer of sandstone which could have shown that there might have been a quarry at one time.  Millersville thanks the 1719 Museum for the tremendous opportunity that they have given to the students from Millersville.  They are able to learn so much more through real-life experiences than they could through a simulated experience.   What follows are some of the pieces that the Millersville students have found during their hand digging and screening at the 1719 Hans Herr House.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

A pair of bronze cuff links, known then as sleeve links are estimated to be from about 1740-1790 and indicate whomever owned them had a sense of style.  The anchor motif is associated with Philadelphia's maritime economy.  A lot of the decorative items, particularly buttons, were made deliberately with natural themes because the sailors were a very big market for them to sell to. 

This decorative pipe dates back to about 1710-1740.  Discovering a pipe stem is fairly common, but finding one with the decorative bowl intact is unusual.  The pipe is made of white kaolin clay and the decorative face is about the size of a quarter.

This piece of Philadelphia-style red ware pottery probably dates back to the mid-to-late 1700s.  Philadelphia potters were working throughout the 18th and early 19th century.  This piece is not particularly fancy, but it demonstrates their trade connections and where they're buying things from.

In the 18th century, German Moravian potters settled in Central Pennsylvania, around the Bethlehem area and began making their own red wares with dots of green on the piece of pottery with decorative styles favored by the Moravians.  Several pieces of pottery discovered on the property indicate the family's taste for the fine things which might go against the stereotype people have of historic German Swiss Mennonite families being understated and plain.

The "Don't Miss This Wonder Known As A Total Lunar Eclipse" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Anxious to view the total lunar eclipse that is supposed to arrive in the night skies this weekend.  Always a super show for stargazers across North and South America.  The celestial action hopefully will begin Sunday evening into early Monday, with the moon bathed in the reflected red and orange hues of the Earth's sunsets and sunrises for about an hour and a half which is one of the longest totalities of the decade.  I can't give you an exact time to view the total lunar eclipse, so I hope you may get a chance to see this wonderful spectacle.  It will be the first so-called blood moon in a year.

A total lunar eclipse

Those who live in the Eastern half of North America and all of Central and South America will have a prime seat for the entire show, providing the weather cooperates with the event.  A total eclipse occurs when the Earth passes directly between the moon and the sun, and casts a shadow on our constant, cosmic companion.  The moon will glow a scarlet color during the eclipse.  That is in sharp contrast to its ordinary milky white sheen.  As best I can tell, the partial eclipse will begin at 10:27 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday with the total lunar eclipse starting at 11:29 p.m   The total eclipse will end at 12:53 a.m. ET Monday an the partial eclipse will end at 1:55 a.m. Monday. According to NASA, when the moon passes through the darkest part of the earth's shadow, called the umbrellas, it's known as a total lunar eclipse.  When the sun' ray reach the Earth, much of the blue and green light is scattered, while the orange and red colors remain visible, which is why the moon turns a reddish hue and is often referred to as the 'blood moon.  Not everyone will be able to catch a glimpse of the total lunar eclipse because it needs to be nighttime to see it.  People in South America an in the eastern part of North America will have a great view of the lunar eclipse.  The total lunar eclipse will be visible in much of Artica, Europe and South America and most of North America.  About to lunar eclipses occur each year, and the next one will be a total lunar eclipse in November.  Then there will not be another total eclipse until march of 2025.  It is perfectly safe to watch the lunar eclipse with your need eye.  That's the great thing about lunar eclipses.  To see the eclipse in its fullest, avoid bight lights and tall bu9ldings that could block your view.  If it's cloudy you can watch a livestream of it from NASA.  According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, you can also see the following:  June 14: Strawberry moon, July 13: Buck moon, Augut 11, Sturgeon moon, September 10: Harvest moon, October 9, November 8: Beaver moon, and December 7: Cold moon.  These are the popularized names associated with the monthly full moons, originating with Native American tribes.  The names vary from tribe to tribe because a full moon had different significance across the tribes month to month or season to season.  So take a nap earlier in the day...and catch the total lunar eclipse.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Thanks For The Memories!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading a few of the stories I have written for this blog in the past.  At times I amaze myself with a few of the stories I had written while other times I wonder why I ever posted a story being it was so terrible.  Same goes for the photographs that I have posted with a few of the stories.  Some of the photos I took to illustrate a story were professional looking while others looked like they were taken by someone with no photography skills at all.   But, after hundreds of stories, I guess I deserve to pat myself on the back for the quality of a few while wondering why some of you never told me how bad a job I did on others.  Some topics I have written about seem to draw many comments while other topics are more than likely viewed and quickly forgotten.  At times I wonder why this story or that story had comments posted after it, since I felt it wasn't a real good topic to draw comments while a story that surprisingly was about a relatively important topic received no comments at all.  I have written a few stories about my family that drew comments, mostly offering sympathy for the story.  One such story I wrote about my father told about him having his eye shot out with a BB gun as a child.  I go on to tell that I never knew he only had one eye until I was in college.  He never wanted anyone to know about his disadvantage and did a fantastic job keeping it undercover until one time I was asked to get something from his dresser drawer and I found this small box in his drawer.  I opened it and found what I thought was a marble in it.  Happened to be his original artificial eye worn when he was a child.  He eventually figured out that I knew about it and only then did he tell me about his disadvantage.  

My father

My story telling about it drew more comments than just about any other story I ever posted. I never know what type of story or a story about a specific topic will draw a few comments.  I do enjoy knowing what you think about certain topics, since I may try to write more stories about that topic.  A few times I have been disappointed by a comment or two, but that's what makes writing my stories interesting, not knowing how others might think about the same topic.  Please feel free to not only comment, but to add a few lines telling something that may come to you about the topic I have written on that particular day.  And...thanks for reading this blog.  It has kept me in touch with many of you and has given me a chance to see what you think about the same topics.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.   

The "Mr. Jeffrey Hudson Brings History To Life - Part II" Story

Foreword - A few days ago I published the first of two parts of a story I titled Mr. Hudson Brings History To Life.  I had every intention of publishing Part II the following day.  Never happened!  Sorry if you were expecting Part II and never had the chance to read it.  My mind was on something else at the time and I never finished my story.  Today is Part II and I'm hoping you will enjoy it.  Please read on... 

 It was an ordinary day.  In 1848 the city of Lancaster elected Thaddeus Stevens as their representative to congress.  Surprisingly it was as a member of the Whig party.  He was once again elected to the same position as he was two years earlier.  

Thaddeus Stevens

After his second nomination and election he was thrust into what was known as the Compromise of 1850.  Congress decided that California would enter the union as a free state but other territories would be allowed to put the question to a vote.  The Fugitive Slave Act required the citizens of free states to  return runaways to bondage.  Stevens was totally against this and spoke out against it.  Before long he had the opportunity to fight it in the courts.  On September 11, 1851 slave owner William  Gorsuch arrived at the farm of William Parker in nearby Christiania in southern Lancaster County, looking to retrieve several of his slaves that had escaped across the Mason-Dixon Line from Maryland into Pennsylvania.  Parker, a former slave had recently organized a self-defense group and at least 50 armed black men showed up at the Parker farm to prevent the capture of the fugitives. Castner Hanway, a local white miller, warned Gorsuch not to persist in his effort or there would be violence.  Gorsuch persisted and was shot and killed while his son was wounded.  Castner was said to be the instigator of the violence and was charged with treason along with 37 others.  A trial was set to be held in Philadelphia in federal court.  The head of the defense team was Thaddeus Stevens.  The trial lasted 18 days and after 14 minutes of deliberation, he was acquitted.  Parker and two of the fugitive slaves were not at the trial, having already escaped to Canada via the Underground Railroad which was supported by Stevens.  Many in Stevens' district were in favor of slavery, so he chose not to run in 1852 rather than risk defeat.  In 1855 Stevens became a Republican and in 1858 Lancaster returned him to the U.S. House.  At first Stevens didn't support Abraham Lincoln as the party's 1860 presidential nominee, but he did campaign for it.  Running against a split Democratic Party, Lincoln secured the majority of elected votes...through not the majority of popular votes, but was elected President.  This led to the start of the Civil War.  Lincoln was not an abolitionist, but did oppose the spread of slavery.  Politicians in the South then chose to secede from the Union. On April 12, 1861 Confederates shelled the U.S. garrison of Fort Sumter in South Carolina's Harbor and the Civil War began.  From it's start, Thaddeus Stevens thought the war had a single objective: Abolition!  Stevens initial objective was to restore the Union.  He wanted to "Free every slave and slay every traitor.  Stevens made sure that the Union Army had the tools and supplies to win.  He was responsible for passing the first Confiscation Act, which included the provision that all slaves who worked for the Confederate military were free from further servitude.  The second Confiscation Act said that all Confederate slaves "shall be forever free.!"  In 1862 after the Union claimed victory in the Battle of Antietam, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which declared all slaves to be free.  As the war approached an end, the two men worked in harmony to achieve one of Steven's cherished goals.  The 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, was passed in the Senate, but got stuck in the House. 

Steven's on the House floor.

It eventually did pass, but an assassin's bullet less than a week after ended the life of President Lincoln.  The 14th Amendment guaranteed citizenship to all newly freed slaves and the 15th Amendment prevented states from restricting the right to vote on the basis of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude."  Stevens favored confiscation of rebel property and breaking up large plantations into 40-acre lots and redistributing them to recently freed slaves.  But President Johnson, who often used racial slurs, had no intentions of going along with the idea.  Stevens led the successful effort to impeach the President.  Stevens had been very ill during most of the Civil War and by the time of Johnson's impeachment his condition had worsened.  The impeachment trial was in the spring of 1868 and even though he was extremely ill, he led the prosecution team.  President Johnson escaped conviction by one vote.  When Congress adjourned that summer, Stevens was in failing health.  His longtime African friend, companion and housekeeper, Lydia Hamilton Smith

Lydia Hamilton Smith

was at his bedside when he died at his Washington D.C. residence on August 11, 1868.  She was overome with emotion and had to be taken from the room where the casket was placed.  Stevens was buried in the Shriner-Concord Cemetery which was the only one in Lancaster to allow blacks to be buried there.  The house where Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton lived is still in existence and is being renovated at present.  I am anxious to make a visit when the renovation is completed.  Should make for a green story.  PS - My youngest son bears the name of Paul Thaddeus Woods.  My wife and I wanted to name him after one of Lancaster's greatest heroes.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

What his home looks like today in Lancaster

 

The "The Long Lost Miss Ella Story"

It was an ordinary day.  Sometime in the early 1970s or perhaps a bit earlier, one of Lancaster, Pennsylvania's most renowned artists, C.X. Carlson, drew a charcoal image of a woman named "Ella."  The drawing shows "Ella" holding a cane with a hat covering her head.  

Miss Ella by C.X. Carlson

The sketch had been stored under the bed of Mary Armstrong of East Petersburg for some time and she would like to find a new home for the sketch that was done by a distinguished artist in her family.  Before finding a home under Mary's bed, "Ella" hung on a wall at 15 Market Square, Manheim.  But, someone else in the family just might like the drawing better than Mary...or at least she is hoping they do.  Mary's uncle owned the building in Manheim which held Weavers natural Foods for many years.  Seems the drawing was assumed to be of Dr. Ruth Brenner, a prominent doctor in Manheim, because she also had her office and home in the same building.  So, when Mary took the drawing out of the frame and saw the signature of CX Carlson, with the name "Miss Ella" in the bottom-right corner, she was surprised.  She tried to find more information about the drawing by searching for information on the Manheim Facebook page as well as contacting the C.X. Carlson Cultural Trust.  At one time Mr. Carlson lived at nearby Quarryville, Pennsylvania where he completed over 15,000 paintings and many more drawings.  He has work hanging in the Metropolitan Museum of Art as well as in many private homes.  I know him best for illustrating the book "Old Lancaster."  

Therefore... "Ella" is a valuable drawing forever whom may own it.  And now "The Scribbler," Lancaster newspaper's famous writer Jack Brubaker has been asked to help by placing the charcoal drawing in one of his weekly columns.  If you may have any information on the image that accompanies this story, please notify Mary Armstrong at dew4sea@gmail.com.  And, perhaps...if you know anymore about the drawing known as "Miss Ella," please leave me a comment at the end of this story.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Finding It's Way Back Home, Part II" Story

Copy of the Koran printed in Lancaster, PA.   
Photo by Blaine Shahan, Lancaster Newspaper photographer

It was an ordinary day.  Opened the morning newspaper and there on the top center of the front page of the paper was the headline "BACK HOME" in big black letters.  Directly beneath the sans-serif letters was a color photograph of Mr. Shakeel Amanullah, chairman of the board of trustees at Islamic Community Center of Lancaster presenting an historic Quran that was printed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1835 to Mr. Thomas Ryan, the president and CEO of Lancaster-History on Wednesday, April 6, 2022.  It had been 187 years since the copy of the Quran was printed in Lancaster.  Since that time it has traveled around the world.  The 187 year old copy of the Quran is small enough to fit into your pants pocket, but it seems to be in remarkable shape for something as treasured and rare as this copy of the Quran.  The copy was printed in Lancaster at the Boswell & McCleery printing company that was located at 9 Center Square in the center of Lancaster which today is known as Penn Square and has a large granite monument dedicated to the different branches of our armed servicemen.  The copy looks to be in a well-preserved condition with bright white pages and dark black ink telling the story of the Koran.  Thought a joint effort by the LandasterHistory and the Islamic Community Center of Lancaster, LancasterHistory acquired the copy via a January auction.  The beautiful text is now the property of Lanasterhistory's collection.  Representatives from both organizations recently celebrated the acquisition at an event on April 6, 2022.  Mr. Amanullah,  Islamic Community Center of Lancaster founder and chairman of the board of directors presented the copy of the Quran to Mr. Thomas Ryan, LancasterHistory CEO, and Mr. J. Richard Gray, LancasterHistory Board of Directors Chairman and former Mayor of the city of Lancaster.  Mr. Amanullah also presented LancasterHistory with an Arabic hard-back version of the old text and a contemporary English version.  Mr. Ryan said that the Quran is an important piece of historical memorabilia and demonstrates that the Muslim faith was part of the fabric of Lancaster County.  The timing of the recent event fell at the time of the current observing of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer and reflection.  The holiday continued until May 2.  LancasterHistory was able to get this prized possession after being alerted about the availability of the item by a supporter of the group who had heard about it being available through the Chiswick Auctions which is a London auction house.  LancasterHistory was lucky enough to get the copy on January 27 for $1,000 with Mr. Ryan and Mr. Gray delivering it to the Islamic Community Center of Lancaster on March 24.  This copy, which was printed in Lancaster, PA was written in English and was reviewed for translation and accuracy when it arrived.  Seems this rare copy is in great shape. 

Thomas Ryan, LancasterHistory President holding the Koran.
Photo by Blaine Shahan, Lancaster Newspaper photographer 

It is very small, with fine paper and some wear and tear on the spine.  Mr. Mukaram Syed, board trustee for the Islamic Community Center of Lancaster gave a brief background about the significance to Muslums the new find holds.  The text is the Word of God for Muslims with revelations given to the Holy Prophet Muhammad.  It includes religious philosophy for social and moral behavior, plus historical philosophy and accounts of certain prophets and arguments for accepting Muhammad as a genuine prophet.  Muslims believe the Quran is the unchanged last Revelation, and God has promised to protect and preserve His book.   While there are many different spellings for the holy book...Quran, Koran, Qur'an...for Muslims, Quran or Qur'an are considered correct.  Koran is incorrect and is being phased out.  The first English translation was accomplished in 1649 by Alexander Ross, a Scottish Christian cleric and chaplain to King Charles I.  The English copy presents to LancasterHistory is the third translated edition.  It has 18 chapters with 288 pages; the original Quran has 144 chapters with 80,000 pages.  A member on LancasterHistory board of directors, Suzanne Woodard said that Lancasterhistory's first collaboration with the Islamic Community Center is an exciting partnership.  LancasterHistory board member, Mr. Leroy Hopkins agreed and finds it "fantastic" to have the Quran copy back in Lancaster.  William Penn founded Pennsylvania as a colony for people who fled religious persecution, so we in Lancaster County have religious tolerance in our blood.  A list of exhibition locations will be posted soon so all can see the new acquisition.  I'll most certainly be ready to visit and view the new possession.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.