The "A Lancaster County Tradition & Landmark" Story

Kathleen Stoltzfus grinds horseradish root at her market stand.

It was an ordinary day.  Standing with camera in hand in front of Long's Horseradish stand which is located in Lancaster's historic Central Market.  My eyes are burning and watering from the aroma of the horseradish as it is being ground directly in front of me by the market stand's new owner, Kathleen Stoltzfus.  

Lancaster Newspaper photo of Michael Long packaging
freshly ground horseradish at his stand in Central Market.

Michael Long recently sold the 117-year-old business to Stoltzfus after running the stand since 1991 after taking it over from his father Charles Long.  Charles' great-grandfather immigrated from Germany in the late 1800's and sold vegetables and horseradish at an outdoor market in downtown Lancaster before the market house was built in 1889.  The family still holds the right to purchase the stand back from Kathleen if she ever decides to give it up in the future.  

View from the balcony at one end of Central Market in downtown Lancaster, PA

Kathleen is no stranger to market, since she sold micro greens, vegetables, organic eggs and other products at Tulip Tree Farm stand.  Most every time I visit Central Market I reminisce about the smell of horseradish having experienced it since my mother took me to market for the first time over 70 years ago when I was a child living about half-a-mile from market on South Prince Street.  

Kathleen removes the small drawer under the grinder
to remove the ground horseradish.

The smell of the freshly ground horseradish also made my eyes burn and water back then.  But, I still find it interesting to watch how they take the peeled horseradish root and grind it so that it falls into a small drawer-like compartment under the grinding wheel before being reclaimed into a container and packaged in small jars and labeled for sale.  Kathleen told me today that she usually grinds about 50 pounds before the market day is over on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.  

Jars of horseradish for sale at Long's Horseradish stand.

The pungent odor surrounding the market stand is created by a simple fan that blows the fumes away from the person grinding the root.  Kathleen told me that she gets her horseradish roots from the mid-western United States, since she likes the taste and smell of roots from that area of the country.  The ground horseradish is mixed with distilled vinegar and water to create the "sauce" that is packaged for sale.  I have eaten Long's Horseradish in the past and find it very tasty and it doesn't have as strong a smell as the root does when being ground.  

This shows what the horseradish root looks like before grinding.

Actually horseradish has many health benefits since it can aid in weight loss, lower blood pressure, alleviate respiratory conditions, build strong bones, improve the immune system, stimulate healthy digestion, promote heart health and lower the chances of neural tube defects in infants.  Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of using horseradish is it being able to reduce the risk of cancer due to its high levels of glucosinolates.  If you can stand the pungent odor, you may be able to strengthen your immune system by adding Long's Horseradish to your recipes.  So, if you live close by or are planning a trip to Central Market in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania, stop and buy a container and give it a try.  It was another day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Raise The Roof" Story

Before Central Market was built, vendors sold produce along the street.

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about Lancaster's Central Market House beginning to put a new roof on the market house.  It was back in 2005 that the Central Market Trust was formed and recently they have become the motivating force in raising money for a new roof for the market house.  The 127-year-old Central Market has had a few facelifts over its lifetime, but this time a new roof is in order.  

City Hall is pictured on the left with open air market stands
behind it.  This became the location of Central Market House.

The current asphalt roof was installed 30 years ago and it has begun to leak.  The original roof had been made of slate.  A new asphalt roof would cost $500,000.  If $1.5 million can be raised, a slate roof, which would last much longer, could be installed.  Lancaster County and Lancaster City officials have both been asked to donate for the roof, but the rest must come from public donations.  Well, the money is in and $1.6 million was raised from more than 700 donors.  

A 1940 shot of Central Market House behind City Hall on left.

A neat feature of the fund raising was the fact that if you gave $100 or more you were given the opportunity to sign one of the actually slates that will be used in the new roof.  Over 600 of these slates have been signed to date.  This past Christmas I sang in a Flashmob that sang the Hallelujah Chorus at several locations in the city of Lancaster.  

Central Market House as seen today.

During one of our practices we were given the chance to donate toward one of the slates and then sign our name on that slate.  Just about everyone donated and signed the slate and will now be part of the renovation of the slate roof on the market house  A week ago scaffolding was erected around Central Market in anticipation of replacing the roof.  

The slate signed by members of the Hallelujah Flash Mob.

Construc- tion will take place four days a week with hopes of finishing the roof in about three months.  The interior of the market house has plastic tarps in place to prevent any damage to the market stands under them.  The "Raise The Roof" project has been a complete success thus far and I'm glad I have become a part of it with my donation and signature on one of the slates.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Lancaster City's Historic Marketplaces" Story

A curb market on East King Street in downtown Lancaster, PA.

It was an ordinary day.  Just returned from taking photographs of Lancaster's early farmer's markets.  Interesting to know that the "town planner" of Lancaster, Pennsylvania was James Hamilton who laid out the city and sold lots to new residents.  He founded the city as a "market town" and one of his first acts was to designate a market space in the very center of the new town.  

Another city curb market

On May 15, 1730, Hamilton and his wife deeded three lots for three specific uses; a courthouse, a jail and a market- house.  Under his leadership the city of Lancaster became the largest inland town in America.  Lancaster County is known far and wide for its agricultural prominence with just about every sort of produce and livestock; known at the time as being available at one of its farmers markets.  Lancaster was at that time, and is still, known as the most productive non-irrigated county in America.  And, the farmer's markets, which date back to 1730 Lancaster, were a critical ingredient to our nation's food system.  

And yet another curb market near Lancaster's Court House.

In the center of the city was a 120 square foot lot designated as a public market which eventually gave birth to what we who live in Lancaster call Lancaster Central Market.  Over time the size of the market and the number of vendors has changed, but at one time there were about 400 vendors in Lancaster's Central Market.  

Here can be seen Lancaster's Town Hall with
Central Market tucked in behind it on the right.

From 1818 until after WWI several "curb markets" sprung up around the town.  These markets saw local farmers and merchants setting up their wagons on the curb to sell their goods.  Then in 1889 the area designated as Central Market saw a market house built in the Romanesque Revival architecture.  It has become one of Lancaster's treasures and was designated as one of the "Great Public Places" in America in 1995.  Lancaster Central Market is the oldest continuously operating farmer's market in America.  A number of other areas of the city also had market houses which developed on the spots designated by James Hamilton in the early 1700s.  

Interior of Central Market years ago.

Today there are over 8,000 markets operating throughout the United States which shows that farmer's markets are still a vital source of fresh, locally produced foods with strong ties to our nation's history.  My trip today to take photographs yielded only one active remaining markethouse, since all have closed except for Central Market.  Follow along and I will tell you about the markethouses that at one time dotted the different areas of Lancaster City.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

Southern Market was built in 1888 in the Queen Anne Style which was designed by C. Emlen Urban.  The building displays ornamental terra cotta and decorative brickwork and is anchored by two pyramidal towers.  It is located at 100 South Queen Street, about a block from Central Market.  Both my wife and I remember making visits with our mothers to buy produce and meats on Saturday mornings while growing up in Lancaster.  This markethouse closed in 1986 and now houses the City Council Chambers.

This closer view show the architecture of the building.

This is Eastern Market which was located at 308 East King Street which is three blocks from Central Market.  It was built in 1883 to serve residents in the city's eastern end and illustrates Second Empire Style architecture.  It features the bell-curved mansard roof with a three-story corner tower.  It closed as a markethouse in 1927 when exterior changes were made to the building.  The building now houses offices.

The Eastern Market marquee still remains.

Fulton Market stands at 607 North Plum Street and was built in 1907 using Colonial Revival Style architecture.  It too was designed by C. Emlen Urban nineteen years after he designed Southern Market.  It was centrally located in this photograph with flanking residential wings.  Today the building still has residential as well as retail space.

Here you can see the name on top of the central section of the building.

Western Market was located at 528 West Orange Street.  It was built in 1882 as a three-story markethouse in the Romanesque Revival Style and featured seven bays defined by blind arches and corbelled brickwork.  It eventually closed as a market and became a skating rink.  It was later reduced to one story by a 1942 fire.  Carol and I bought our first new car, a Pontiac Firebird, from the dealer who occupied this building at the time.  It has changed hands a few other times, but is now home to Groff Family Funeral Services.  Sadly we have made a few visits to the place since it has changed.

One of the main entrances to the building along Orange Street.

Northern Markethouse stood on this location at one time. It is located at the corner of North Queen St. and West Walnut Street, about three blocks from Central Market.  If it were still standing it would be Lancaster's oldest Victorian era markethouse, having been constructed in 1872.  It eventually became Lebzelter's Service Station which was Goodyear's oldest tire company in the World.  That building was torn down in 1958, replaced with this service station and tire dealership.

Central Market which I have already described.  It is located at what is now called Penn Square.  "Meet me at the market" has for decades been a phrase commonly heard throughout Lancaster County.  The market is open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.  I have written quite a few times about my favorite items I buy at the market, but my all-time favorite would have to be the ceam-filled Long Johns that I buy every single time I go to market.  If you ever get a chance to visit Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Lancaster Central Market must be on your list of places to visit.  It is the only remaining farmer's market in the city of Lancaster.

Another view of the markethouse.

One of my altered Polaroid prints that I have taken of Lancaster Central Market on the left.

The "'Foxduck' - Vespertine's Favorites" Story

The interior of the new Foxduck store in downtown Lancaster, PA.

It was an ordinary day.  Just exited our country's oldest farmer's market, Lancaster Central Market, with my grand- daughter, Camille.  We came downtown to take a photo for another story I wanted to write and decided to stop at market to buy some "Long Johns"; a real sugary treat that is about six inches long and shaped like a finger.  

One of many designs from Ryan.

The market stand that I visit, Shady Maple, sells them with vanilla, chocolate or peanut butter icing on them and either regular or filled with cream. We purchased half a dozen and headed out the door.  The alley we entered had about half a dozen small shops that feature a variety of items from clothing to artwork.  Years ago I had my altered Polaroid prints for sale in The Tag Shop which was owned and run by a childhood friend, Barry.  After Barry died I placed my photos in a neighboring store, Strawberry & Company.  

One of the display racks illustrating the shirts for sale.

The owner, Wayne, recently retired and closed his shop.  I told Camille I wanted to see what was in the Strawberry & Company building so we entered the store from the rear of the store from the alley right outside the market.  As we walked through the rear door of the store I saw a familiar sight in the front of the store.  A four-color, one station silkscreen t-shirt printing unit.  For years, while teaching graphic arts in high school, my classes would make silkscreened t-shirts.  At first we used frames hinged on a work table until we were finally given a unit much like the one I am looking at right now.  

Rebecca  demonstrates how the machine works.

Walked to the front of the shop and began telling Camille how the unit works.  The shop had a few customers and I talked briefly to the young woman helping customers and told her I would be back.  Well, I visited again a few days later and spent time with one of the owners, Rebecca who told me about the store and the shirts they have for sale.  The store had only been opened a few weeks ago and was owned by Rebecca and her husband Ryan as well as Rebecca's brother, Josh.  

The Foxduck business card that
features their logo near the bottom.

Ryan is an artist and does the designing of the t-shirts. Name of the store is Foxduck, a rather unique name, which came from Rebecca's young daughter Vespertine.  Two of her favorite animals are the fox and duck so the name was a natural.  The store at 11 West King Street in downtown Lancaster sells Lancaster themed t-shirts as well as speciality shirts dealing with different aspects of Lancaster.  One shirt tells of Lancaster and Capital Day, September 27, 1777 when the Continental Congress met in Lancaster for the day.  The shop also features shirts that bear the logos of some of Lancaster Businesses.  When those shirts are sold, some of the money from the sale of the shirt goes back to that business.  I told Rebecca that I taught silkscreening and asked her if she would pose by her printing unit for a photo for my story.  She was glad to oblige.  

The t-shirt my daughter requested.

They silkscreen most of their own shirts at their home shop, but are checking about using a digital method in the future.  I told her my daughter saw the shirts she sells on her website and wanted the one that reminded her of the shirt that Joanna wears on the TV show "Fixer Upper."  The shirt must have been popular since it was out of stock, but Rebecca promised me I could have one by the end of the week.  The shop and it's owners are fantastic.  Here's hoping they make a big splash as a local business in downtown Lancaster.  They certainly offer a great product that is very well made. You can access their website from the business card I have posted here.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "It Tastes Like ..... Well ..... Ewww! Story

The size of a pawpaw can be seen in this photo.
I placed it next to a large green apple for comparison.

It was an ordinary day.  Just cut the pawpaw in half to taste it.  I held it to my nose and couldn't really determine what it smelled like.  Carol tasted a small piece of it and said, "Ewww!"  "Just glad I didn't have to pay for it," I told her.  Ever hear of a pawpaw?  I had heard of one before, but had no idea what they looked like, smelled like, how big they were or what they tasted like.  Finally got the chance today when I cut the pawpaw in half and tasted the fruit for the first time.  I heard about them recently and told my wife that I bet I could find some on market since fall is the time of year when they mature and ripen.  

Pawpaws for sale on market for $3.00 a box.

Went to my favorite market stand and sure enough, there were a couple of boxes of the fruit at Meck's Produce stand at Central Market in downtown Lancaster, PA.  The fruit grows on small trees that have a thin trunk with big tropical leaves.  Wouldn't have known what they were if it wasn't for the sign next to them. I asked Bob, who came to help me, about them and he did his best to try and explain the flavor and odor they yield.  Told me he has a few pawpaw trees at the edge of his orchard that produce the pawpaw fruit every year.  There are customers who enjoy the flavor and aroma of the fruit and that's why he still raises them every year.  Tough to raise and ship to other markets since they bruise so easily.  Probably the reason that they are slowly becoming extinct.  He told me that some people say they taste like a combination of banana, mango, strawberry and pineapple all rolled into one.

A look at the inside of the fruit.  You are supposed to peal
the fruit like a peach.  You can see one of the many seeds
I found when I cut the fruit open.

Also told me he has a customer that says they have a custard taste to them.  Sounds like something I would enjoy.  Asked him if I could buy just one so I can give it a try before I buy an entire box of them.  Picked out one of the best looking pawpaws and handed it to me.  Told me to take it home, let it ripen a couple more days and give it a try.  Well, today was that day and I must tell you, the aroma was disgusting as was the flavor.  I'm not sure I can even describe the smell or taste.  After cutting it I found a large seed in the fruit.  I pulled out the seed and came upon another large seed.  After cutting some more, I found about a half dozen of the smooth seeds.  I have read that the pawpaw is high in vitamin C, magnesium, potassium and iron, but I'm afraid the "Ewww!" in the fruit is going to have me searching for these vitamins somewhere else.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.