A century-old railroad watchman’s box from Lebanon found new life at Strasburg Rail Road, where it has stood since 1960 as the Cherry Hill station welcoming tourists with its whimsical “population 17, more or less” sign.
History
Lebanon’s ice industry turned winter temperatures into cold cash
For much of the late 1800s and early 1900s, one of Lebanon County’s hottest industries was ice—and January was prime time for harvest.
Who Knew? To market, to market (Pt. 2)
Lebanon’s 19th-century market system evolved from street vendors and scattered grocers to the centralized Lebanon Farmers Market that still operates today on South 8th Street.
History of the Mount Gretna Roller Rink: From livestock to dancing to skates
The oldest building in Mount Gretna was constructed as an agricultural exhibition hall and today is the Mount Gretna Roller Rink.
Who Knew? To market, to market (Pt. 1)
The story of Lebanon merchant James Fairburn helps illustrate how street markets gave way to formal marketplaces in Lebanon during the 1890s, marking the end of an entrepreneurial era. (Part one of a two-part series)
Mt. Gretna’s role as home to PA National Guard lives on thru historic Range House
The historic Range House is a reminder of the role the National Guard played in the Pennsylvania National Guard in Mt. Gretna in the late-1800s, early-1900s.
Who Knew? The spirit of kindness, Pt. 4
A Texas descendant’s contributions complete the story of the DeHuff house, now Lebanon Rescue Mission’s Agape Family Shelter, by illuminating patriarch Henry DeHuff’s own commitment to community welfare in the 1800s.
Who Knew? The spirit of kindness, Pt. 3
Jacob DeHuff, a prominent 19th-century Lebanon businessman, ran a downtown bookstore that served as a cultural hub for ticket sales, newspapers and school supplies.
Who Knew? The spirit of kindness, Pt. 2
The story of how Lebanon’s first women’s shelter emerged from a property exchange between the wealthy Nutting and DeHuff families showcases the interconnected nature of 19th-century Pennsylvania society.
Who Knew? The spirit of kindness, Pt. 1
The DeHuff House in Lebanon, built in 1870, has a rich history intertwining local families and is now home to the Agape House shelter.
Lebanon County’s Liberty Tree planted at Cornwall Iron Furnace on Oct. 19
On Saturday, America250PA Lebanon and the Pennsylvania Freemasons planted Lebanon County’s certified Liberty Tree at Cornwall Iron Furnace.
Bridging the 20th and 21st centuries over the Swatara Creek
Little is known about how people crossed the Swatara Creek prior to the building of the Route 72 bridge.
Commission for Women, Historical Society open Women’s History Exhibit
The Lebanon County Commission for Women and the Lebanon County Historical Society opened the Women’s History Exhibit on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Coleman Memorial Chapel in Brickerville prepares for 300th anniversary in 2174
Cornwall Borough resident Bruce Chadbourne looks at Coleman Memorial Chapel’s plan as it puts a time capsule back into the cornerstone for another 150 years.
St. George Hotel/Railroad House: An overlooked but historic Lebanon building
A landmark building in Lebanon, the Railroad House has changed hands multiple times since its construction, mirroring the city’s economic and social transformations.














