It was an ordinary day. For one day, 247 years ago, Lancaster was the nation's capital. And LancasterHistory is ready to host a celebration - with trivia, a scavenger hunt and a special song - in remembrance of this historic day. On September 27, 1777, Lancaster served as the capital of the fledgling nation. The designation occurred as the Continental Congress came to rest in the city after being forced to make a hasty retreat from the British forces who were occupying the then-capital city of Philadelphia. Lancaster's capital city claim was only temporary. The following day, the members of the congress decided to put the Susquehanna River between themselves and the British army, and moved on to York. York remained the capital for nine months, until June 27, 1778. But, for that one day, Lancaster was the capital. In 2011, (after some informal petitioning from Lancaster resident Matt Johnson) former Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray declared September 27 Capital Day in Lancaster. This year, Lancaster-History is hosting its first Captal Day celebration. The event, which doubles as a fundraiser for the local history organization, features family-friendly fun including live music, trivia, yard games, craft-making sessions and self-guided tours of the museum. The evening kicks off with a performance by musician Leo DiSanto who will perform "The Capital Day Song," written by Johnson. "It will be a fun, quirky, good time," said Annie Week, the development and events coordinator at LancaterHistory. But besides being fun for the whole family, the event will be educational. Adam Zurn, founder of the local history and adventure game website Unchargtered Lancaster, will host a short presentation, as well as a scavenger hunt. "I'm currently elbow-deep in trying to figure out what members of Congress were actually in Lancaster on that fateful day," Zurn, a technology teacher at Lampeter-Strasburg School District, wrote in an email. "I'm, about 95% sure Hohn Adams (the future second president) was there." Zurn said that, while conducting research, he read Adams' diary, which talks about him leaving Philadelphia on Sept. 19. Then, on Sept. 25, Adams makes the following entry: "Rode from Bethlehem through Allan Town, Yesterday, to a German Tavern, about 18 Miles from Reading. Rode this Morning to Reading, where We break-fasted, and heard for certain that Mr.Howes Army had crossed the Schuycill. Coll.Hartley gave me an Account of the late Battle, between the Enemy and General Wayne. Hartley thins that the Place was improper for Battle, and that there ought to have been a Retreat." "If you plot these locations on a may, you can see he's making a straight line from Lancaster," Zurn said. Here's a tentative schedule of the Capital Day Celebration events: 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Music by Viv Live Strings and a special performance of "The Capital Day Song" by Leo DiSanto. 6:40 p.m.: "On This Day in History: Five-Minute history" with Adam Zurn of Unchartered Lancaster. 6:45-7:45 p.m.: a Lancaster county-themed game of trivia with prizes. And...so the story ends! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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| Lancaster County Courthouse on September 27, 1777 |
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