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Welcome to Latimore Township
History |
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The following extracts are quoted from: 1. "History of Cumberland and Adams Counties"; Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago 1886. 2. "Historical tour," Clyde L. Kennedy. 1. "The number of tax payers (1886) is 401; value of real estate $480,206; number of houses etc., 379; number of cows, etc., 423; value of money at interest $83,569; value of trades and professions $12,202; number of carriages 154; acres of timber land 1,613. (In 1807 the roll of taxpayers included the following activities - weaver, schoolmaster, wheelwright, blacksmiths, nailers, carpenters, hotel keeper, millers, saddletree-maker, distiller, cordwinders, tailors, coopers, saw-miller and a mason). The total assessed valuation was $211,830 on which a tax of 10 cents per $100 was levied... The Carlisle and Hanover pike road build in 1810 runs through the western part of the Township. In 1833 John Walsh built a covered bridge over Latimore Creek for $900. In 1853 John Finley built the Bermudian bridge on the Dillsburg and East Berlin Road, near Basermans Mill, for $1,360... Churches and cemeteries mentioned in this Township include the Mount Olivet Reformed Church (March 19, 1745), The Lutheran Society (organized in March 1745), The Union Church of Mechanicsville, The German Baptist Church (known as Latimore Church near Deardorff's Mill), The United Brethren In Christ (northeastern end of the Township), The Friends Meeting House (southeast of York Springs) and the Sunny Side Cemetery (established in 1878)..." 2. "York Sulphur Springs, the first summer resort in Adams County, was patronized by persons from Philadelphia and Baltimore who came to the resort by stage coach... The land upon which the Springs was built on a tract owned by the Wiermans. When first settlements were made, the original building conformed to the plan of many of the older taverns and housed only fifty guests. The later building was erected partly on the old foundation about 1790. A cross wing or section in the rear made a perfect T formation. A colonnade extended along both sides of the main building, forming delightful balconies. The hotel was beautiful, most attractive and symmetrical. The lawns, walks, rustic bridges and arbors were kept in perfect condition. Not only the lawns but the nearby woods were swept with brooms... Arnold Gardner and Charles Kettlewell first leased and later bought York Sulphur Springs from the heirs of Robert Oliver and it was during their nine years of ownership that the place reached the height of its popularity. One-hundred-fifty guests could be accommodated, but at times the hotel was so crowded that rooms had to be secured at nearby farm houses for guests... From records of the Hamilton and Dill families, we find that General George Washington and his wife Martha did spend some time at the Springs during the summer of 1799 when John Hamilton was proprietor of the place. This was the last summer of the old General's life as he died the following winter... Bowling, croquet playing, dancing, and drinking from the famous spring were the amusements for the guests. The water was very unpalatable but highly medicinal in value. An analysis showed that it contained 20 parts Epsom salts, 6 parts gypsum, 4 parts common salt, and the balance sulphur. This sulphur vein extends as far as Wierman's Mill and is especially noticeable in very warm weather. The first balloon ascension in Adams County was made from York Sulphur Springs for the entertainment of its many guests... The main building survived the others for some years but was finally destroyed by fire January 8, 1896. Donald Miller's stone bungalow is built on the exact site of the old hotel so famous nearly two hundred years ago. After railroads were built, the Springs popularity decreased rapidly and finally the numerous buildings that made up the site fell into decay and gradually disappeared... After leaving the old resort, we proceed down the pike. Turning left on the first hard road, we arrive at Huntington Meeting House. William Penn gave land all the way across the State of Pennsylvania to be used for meeting houses, almost exactly ten miles apart. The first, Huntington Friends, was a log church built prior to 1750 - the present structure in 1790. Usually one religious meeting is held annually in the sixth month, an arrangement which has continued to the present day. Below Huntington Friends Meeting House to the right, is Trostle's Quarry which was opened to provide material for road building. Workmen found many interesting fossils, sloth and dinosaur tracks on many of the flat stones. Many slabs crumbled in removal, but quite a number remained whole. These were divided between the State and the Nation. Half were sent to the Congressional Library and the other half to the State Museum in Harrisburg. History of Settlement The first human activity in the area was probably hunters and trappers of the Delaware, Susquehannocks and Shawnee Indian tribes who found an ideal environment in the hills and streams. The more fertile limestone areas and the wooded slopes became settled due to the agricultural opportunities which were found by immigrants, primarily from Germany and Ireland. The early settlers from Germany came in 1734 followed by the Scotch-Irish (being the Presbyterian Scot bred Irish born) and the Irish (Catholic). Other settlers from Europe included Huguenots from France. Since the early origins of German and Irish immigration the cultural and racial strains have remained rigid, with further slight foreign immigration coming primarily from Eastern Europe. Taken from the Comprehensive Plan for Latimore Township, Adams County Second Edition (1985) |