The Oldest Known Photograph of Lancaster, PA

It was an ordinary day.  Reading an article that was part of the website "unchartedlancaster.com."  Story was titled "Oldest known photo taken in Lancaster County."  The story began with..."Step back in time with this captivating 1845 tintype by Dr. William Fahnestock!  According to LancasterHistory, it is the oldest known photograph taken in Lancaster County. 

Tintype view of West King St. looking towards Penn Square.
This photo was taken in 1845 by William B. Fahnestock.

The image looks up the first block of West King Street as it unfolds eastward towards Penn Square and the second "official" courthouse - a mesmerizing glimpse into Lancaster County's past.  Lancaster's first official courthouse was built in 1739. It served the needs of the community for 45 years before being destroyed by fire.  The structure was a two-story brick building with a clock tower and cupola on top, a sizable brick-paved courtroom on the first floor, and several meeting rooms above.  The coat-of-arms of the King of Great Britain was painted above the judge's chair until the Revolution.  The pillory, stocks, and whipping post stood outside in the square, which was often a muddy duck pond in wet weather.  In those days, no one ever accused Lancaster's constables of being soft on crime as the pillory, stocks, and whipping-post were in constant use. 

Justice was swift and severe in colonial America when judged by modern standards.  A common tool of punishment was the pillory, where the unfortunate wrong-doer was fastened by neck and wrists in the public square to be ridiculed and sometimes abused.  Most colonial communities had a pillory. Lancaster was no different.  It's pillory and whipping post were located in the northwestern corner of Centre square near the courthouse.  It was here that lawbreakers could be displayed in agonizing positions, often with bare backs streaked with dried blood and purple welts.  In these early days, horse stealing was a frequent crime but still a serious offense.  It was usually punished by public whipping.  On one occasion, a man accused of sedition against the King was sentenced to stand for an hour in the pillory and to receive 15 lashes across his bare back. 

Woman were not immune from such punishment either.  Publish punishment, whether on the scaffold or the pillory, was believed to provide a warning to everyone that crime does not pay.  Counterfeiting was a fairly frequent offense, and one counterfeiter was sentenced to twenty lashes at the whipping post and to have both of his ears cut off.  Thieves were publicly whipped and wore a large letter "T" on their coats for six months.  Even persons "who should be clamorous with their tongues" by shouting or scolding could be sentenced to be gagged and made to stand in the pillory.  It was the practice at the time that all county trials be held on the county seat.  During most of the 1700s, Lancaster County extended over a large area of almost 5,000 square miles.  As a result, many of the offenders were strangers to Lancaster and easy targets of abuse by town residents or mischievous pranksters while trapped in the pillory.  And, many think they have it tough now!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.