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A Brief History about famed Lancaster architect C. Emlen Urban
C. Emlen Urban February 26, 1863 — May 21, 1939 C. Emlen Urban was born in Conestoga Center, known today simply as Conestoga, Pennsylvania. His parents were Amos Sylvester and Barbara Ann Hebbel. His wife, Jennie McMichael, passed away in 1953 at 91. Their children were Miriam (1889-1976) and Rathfon (1893-1973). Urban is buried at…
Read MoreWrightsville Lime Kilns
North Front Street at Limekiln Alley, Wrightsville Borough of Wrightsville These large stone structures are lime kilns and are remnants of a very important nineteenth-century Wrightsville Industry. The structures are constructed of heavy stone with brick relieving arches and iron lintels that support the upper stone structure. The kilns were abandoned almost 100 years ago,…
Read MoreCelebrate Ephrata: Pay a visit to ‘The Grand Lady of Main Street’
The 1923 Ephrata National Bank is one of three Ephrata buildings designed by Lancaster Architect C. Emlen Urban. You can find “The Grand Lady of Main Street” at 31 East Main Street, Ephrata, Pa. In late 1921, The Ephrata National Bank hired C. Emlen Urban to develop plans for a bank building on the former…
Read MoreGone, But Not Forgotten: Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge & Lancaster Courthouse Dome
Gone, But Not Forgotten: Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge & Lancaster Courthouse Dome In 2008, the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County created a calendar series entitled “Gone, but not Forgotten” as a reminder of some things that aren’t here anymore. The Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge and the Lancaster Courthouse Dome were the featured images for December of that year…
Read MoreHidden Treasures: Bangor Episcopal Church
The congregation of the Bangor Episcopal Church is one of the oldest (if not the first) inland Episcopal congregations in the United States. Founded in 1722 and chartered in 1730, it was named for the Bangor Cathedral in Caernarvonshire, Wales, by the Welsh immigrants who worked in the iron-producing industry in the area. This Gothic…
Read MoreThank you for a successful First Friday Open House
Thank you to everyone who visited the Sehner-Ellicott-von Hess House during our November First Friday Open House event! Special thanks go to both the Echo Valley Art Group for organizing a pop-up art show and Uncharted Lancaster for sharing some exciting local history. Here are some photos from Friday. If you were unable to attend,…
Read MoreSehner-Ellicott-Von Hess House t-shirts by Goodthree now on sale!
Purchase an exclusive, one-of-a-kind t-shirt featuring the beautiful and historic Sehner-Ellicott-Von Hess House, home of the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County located at 123 N. Prince Street in Lancaster, PA. Click here to purchase your shirt. To read about the history of this beautiful house, check out our blog post: See the Sehner-Ellicott-von Hess House…
Read More2021 C. Emlen Urban Award Winners
Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County Announces the 2021 Recipients of their Annual C. Emlen Urban Awards The C. Emlen Urban Awards recognize people and projects for their efforts in preserving significant historic sites in Lancaster County. Lancaster, PA, October 2021 – Founded in 1966 to “stem the rapid destruction of historic properties in Lancaster…
Read MoreHow to Uncover the History of Your Home
This article comes courtesy of Daniela Gonzalez from Porch. Every house has a history and a story to tell. Unless your home is brand-new construction, each home carries its unique background and may have some fascinating tales to tell. You might wonder how to trace the history of your home to learn more about it. Each…
Read MoreArchitectural Symbolism – Octagons: Redemption and Restoration
Here’s a fun fact about architectural symbolism and the number eight. The number eight holds profound significance in European Christianity. Church architecture often incorporates design elements that include octagons, especially those dating back to the Colonial period. You might be asking yourself why the number eight is so important. The answer lies in Easter Sunday.…
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