Ephrata

It was in 1732 that Conrad Beissel sat down by the quietly flowing Cocalico with a firm resolution to lead the life of a hermit. In so doing he renounced his affiliation with the Dunkers of nearby Germantown. Beissel and the Dunkers had agreed on the matter of adult baptism by immersion but disagreed over the proper day to be observed as the Lord's day. The Dunkers observed Sunday. Beissel held that it should be Saturday, the Seventh day.

It was not long before many folk attracted to Beissel by his magnetic personality insisted upon taking up their abode with him. In this way came about the founding of the German Seventh Day Baptists.

At the outset of the life of the colony men and women voluntarily renounced their marriage vows in support of Beissel's insistence on the celibate life. In a few years some came to the colony or community who, though in sympathy in general with the ideals of community life, could not accept celibacy. These were permitted to remain, abiding in smaller buildings provided forthem. Eventually the Com- munity grew to include three semi-independent orders living in close cooperations brotherhood, a sisterhood, and a congregation of married couples, or "householders". The first buildings built upon Mount Zion (the hill rising above the Cocalico) have long since been destroyed. But by 1753 the center of the settlement had shifted to the meadow at the base of the hill, where stand the buildings we see today. These surviving buildings, with the exception of the academy which was not built until 1837, constitute the most remarkable examples of continental medieval architectural influence in America. Life in the Cloister was severe. Everything was so ordered as to inculcate the Christian virtues of humility, chastity, temperance, fortitude, and charity. A combination of work and worship left no time for play. At midnight the members of the two solitary orders would rise from their pine board mattresses to engage in a worship service of song and prayer. Early in the morning the tasks of the day'were begun. For some time the "Brethren" drew their carts themselves and were their own horses.

These tireless Brothers established and operated a series of mills which helped to open up the surrounding country for settlement and served as the basis for industrial enterprises still active today. There were eventually-a grist mill, saw mill, flax-seed oil mill, fulling mill, bark mill, paper mill, printing press, tannery, looms for weaving woolen and linen cloth. Not only was the settlement practically self-sufficient, but at one time its industries were indispensable to surrounding settlers.

As a strict disciplinarian, Beissel permitted no relaxation. But in 1768 Beissel died and he was succeeded by Peter Miller (1710-1796). Although perhaps a greater scholar than Beissel, Miller could not match him as a disciplinarian. For this reason,together with other general factors, the community life as promoted bybeissel began to decline. By the beginning of the nineteenth century the original zeal and passion for the welfare of the soul had largely vanished. The ideal which insisted that one should renounce the pleasures of this world, punish the body in order to obtain a greater crown in Heaven had lost its appeal. The Cloister continued to decline as a socio- religious, economic community holding all things in common until by the nineteenth century it has passed into history.

While the Cloister community itself had declined, the village of Ephrata and the surrounding rural areas whose development had been stimulated by the efficient activities of these dedicated Brothers and Sister&, had grown and thrived.

By 1850 the Cloister buildings were largely unoccupied and uncared for. They continued to deteriorate and threatened to collapse, until in 1941 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania took possession of what still remained of the land and buildings, with the purpose of restoring them in appearance to the original community and to preserve them as an enduring shrine. The one building which had served the Ephrata civic community during the period of decay, was the Academy building. The Academy built nearly a century after the first Cloister buildings, was used as a community Public school from 1857 to 1930.

It was in this "Academy" school that your author received his first formal education. He came here in 1901 at the age of five already steeped in various happenings in and around this spot. For his mother had attended this school before him. Thus from the stories told him by his mother, from his own experience in and around this hallowed spot and from an old Academy School register dated 1869-1874 he is able to offer you this Ephrata Story.

Ephrata township and borough are both of comparatively recent-establish- ment; but the history of Ephrata spans almost two centuries, and constitutes one of the most interesting parts of the early history of Lancaster county. The township was erected in 1838, and the borough in 1891, but Ephrata was far-famed even in colonial times. As those who are at all acquainted with Lancaster county history know this wide fame was Ephrata's because of the peculiar monastic institution that was "at its gates." To keep the religious and civic history of Ephrata separate, the unique Ephrata religious community of colonial days is allotted another chapter, and interested Ephratans might well study that, as well as this chapter, for necessarily much of the background of Ephrata history will be found to have been embodied in the extensive review of the Ephrata Society of the Solitary, and its succeeding orders, the Brotherly Society in Bethania, the Sisterhood of the Order of Spiritual Virgins and the Roses of Sharon.

Ephrata may be considered to have been founded by Conrad Beissel (Johann Conrad Beissel), or at least by the monastic society of which he was the head. The conventual body had little part in civic affairs and in the devel- opment of the municipality, excepting through its missions of charity; but it owned or controlled most of the land contiguous to the Cloister, and its "secular concerns," paper making, milling, printing, carpentering, farming, brought it somewhat into commercial contact with the "outside world." Indeed, the village of Ephrata was mainly peopled by those of the followers of Conrad Beissel who were heads of families and so were unable to enter upon monastic life. To some extent Ephrata was peopled by monks and nuns who had left the Cloister to marry, or to resume the marital vows they had renounced when they entered the monastic houses, wherein only celibates were permitted to make their abode. Those of the former monks and nuns, or "brothers" and 64 sisters" as they were called, who settled as ordinary colonists in the village of Ephrata upon resumpton or assumption of marital state may have maintained themselves independently, or may have been employed in some of the "secular concerns" of the Ephrata Community; but the civil authoritie's probably classed them as ordinary colonists, for purposes of taxation. The inmates of the Cloister, however, claimed exemption. An attempt to tax the single men of the Ephrata Cloister was made; and resistance led to the imprisonment of some of the monks; but finally they were exempted, and for fifty years there after were tax-immune.

The original settlers within what is now Ephrata township did not all belong to the Seventh-day Baptist denomination, though some became pros- perous and influential members. Among the pioneer families still represented in the township and borough are those of Mohler, Keller, Royer, Fry and Kemper. There are many branches of some of the pioneer families.

The Ephrata Community records make reference to one Elimelich who had lived the life of a hermit "in a cabin along the Cocalico creek," at Ephrata, before Beissel took up his abode in the same log hut between the years 1732 and 1735. But the first to possess a patent from the Proprietary for land in what is now Ephrata township seems to have been John White, of Philadelphia. He, however, seems to have been a speculator in land, not a legitimate settler, for he obtained a land grant for 1,647 acres in 1735, and in the same year or the next sold part of the tract to an Ephrata settler, Henry Mohler. Mohler bought one hundred and forty acres situated about one mile eastward of the village of Ephrata. And the Mohler family has been represented in Ephrata township ever since. Indeed, in its direct and collateral lines the Mohler family is today numerously spread over Lancaster county. The American progenitor, Ludwig Mohler, came from Switzerland with his three sons, George, Jacob and Henry, in 1730, and settled in Ephrata township, which at that time, however, was part of Cocalico township.

Cocalico township was not one of the original townships named when Lancaster county was formed in 1729, but there is evidence that it was organized in the fall of 1729, for in that year the magistrate appointed a constable and overseer for Cocalico township, and also for other townships not included in the seventeen named at time of organization of the county. Out of Cocalico township were formed in 1838 the townships of Ephrata, East Cocalico and West Cocalico.

Jacob Keller also settled in what is now Ephrata townshihp in 1730, the Keller family still holding the original tract, which is at Springville. The Mellinger, Landis, Mayle, or Maybe, Lichty, Bowman and other families were early in the township. Most of the pioneers located in or near that part of the township known as "Old Ephrata," on the southeast side of the Cocalico creek, and at that point between 1750 and 1780 quite an important village had grown. Some of the houses then built were still occupied a century later, and some are still standing. At least two of the hotels still in use were built in colonial or early republican times, the Eagle Hotel and Ye Village Inn; but probably the oldest buildings now standing in or near Ephrata are those that belong to the German Seventh-day Baptist Society of Ephrata, the "Saal" and the "Sharon," or "Saron," houses of the Ephrata Cloister, and some smaller habitations within the Cloister. One of the oldest is that still used as a par- sonage by the Rev. S. G. Zerfess, pastor of the Ephrata congregation.

By the testimony of Peter Miller, then Prior of the Ephrata Cloister (see the Chronicon Ephratense, P. 203), it is seen that the Ephrata monastic houses were used in times of national stress for other than religious refugees. During the French and Indian trouble, following the disaster to the Braddock forces, which brought massacres of settlers by Indians, the doors of the Ephrata monastery were opened to the refugees. Rupp writes, quoting from Peter Miller's entries in the "Ephrata Chronicle:"

During the time of these hostilities, the doors of the Sieben Taeger at Ephrata were open for the reception of the inhabitants of Tulpehocken and Paxton settlements. They did not even consider their cloisters, chapels, and meeting rooms too sacred; these they gave for the accommodation of those who were driven from their homes by the incursions of the hostile Indians. To give both the inhabitants and those who fled thither protection against the infuriated savage, a company of infantry was despatched by the Government from Philadelphia to Ephrata, and on representation of the character of the society, by the commissioners who were sent to visit the place, the Goverament made them offers of large presents, which they respectfully declined to receive, except two large communion goblets, which was the only recompense they would receive.

Ephrata was then practically on the frontier, and even in the town of Lancaster plans were going forward to build a blockhouse there for protection. It was a period of extreme tension for the settlers, and there is record that even eight years later, in 1763, "the reapers of Lancaster county took their guns and ammunition with them into the harvest fields to defend themselves from the Indians." The buildings of the Cloister were once again, in a national emergency, used for State purposes. After the battle of Brandywine, wounded Republican soldiers were sent to Ephrata to be cared for; and the religious sisters became nursing sisters.

The oath of allegiance to the Republican government taken by residents in Ephrata township in 1778, brings into record a valuable list of names of Eph- ratans of colonial times. It is recorded in Ellis and Evans' "History of Lancaster County" (1884), and, therefore, need not be set down here. The list contained almost three hundred names.

Another list of Ephrata townsmen of that period is on record, the list of "Taxables" for the year 1780; and the few names shown thereon would seem to indicate that many of those who took the oath of allegiance, and appear on the paper of 1778, were monks and as such exempt from taxation. The "List of Taxables" for the year 1780 is quoted below; it comprises freemen resident in that part of Cocalico township now within the limits of Ephrata township. It reads:
Achenbach, Matthias, 50 acres; Brenisen, Conrad, Bowman, Benjamin, 50 acres; Beck, Philip, 150 acres; Bricker, John, 200 acres; Bowman, Daniel, 73 acres; Bowman, Samuel, 73 acres; Duck, Jacob, 21 acres; Duck, Nicholas, 8 acres; Ditto, Widow, 200 acres; Drish, Leonard, 50 acres; Erb, Jacob, 150 acres; Funk, John, 130 acres; Fanestock, Caspar, 4 acres ; Fanestock, Detrich, 100 acres; Fanestock, John, 40 acres; Fanestock, Peter, 100 acres; Frey, Martin, 200 acres; Flotz, Jacob; Geer, John, 50 acres; Getz, Leonard, 95 acres; Gorgus, Jacob, 25 acres; Heater, John, 50 acres; Houck, George, 130 acres; Harlacher, George, 200 acres; Hersberger, John, 100 acres; Haushalter, Lorentz, 100 acres; Hershberger, Henry, 140 acres; Jones, John, 30 acres; Kuntz, John, 200 acres; Kellar, John, 60 acres, Kingrnaker, Adam, 1 acre; Kafroth, Jacob, 186 acres; Kafroth, Henry, 80 acres; Landis, Benjamin, 78 acres; Landis, David, 66 acres; Landis, Jacob, ix8 acres; Landis, John, 150 acres; Miller, Joas, 250 acres; Merckel, George, 50 acres; Mohler, Martin, 50 acres; Mohler, John, too acres; Mohler, John, Jr., 130 acres; Mohler, Henry, 130 acres; Mohler, Jacob, 150 acres; Nees, Adam, 200 acres; Nees, John, 50 acres; Negley, Jacob, 50 acres; Rirnmel, George, 50 acres; Senseman, John, 200 acres; Wolf, Ely, 100 acres.

The list was above the signature of Martin Kisinger, attested by Jacob Landis and Jacob Gorgus. [If the student will compare this list with the first assessment list drafted in 1718, upon the formation of Conestogue-Conestoga-township, he will see that many of the families were then resident within what became Lancaster county].

The battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777, and the defeat Washington's forces then sustained, caused the general to order a number of the wounded to Ephrata, there to be cared for in the buildings of the Ephrata monastery. The American forces lost 1,000 men in that battle, and wounded and sick soldiers were sent to the Moravian settlement at Lititz, as well as to Ephrata. The number sent to the latter place was "rising of five hundred,' and of these about 150 died, states Rupp. It was a terrible winter-for the soldiers of the Revolution. General Anthony Wayne took winter quarters in Mountjoy, which, however, was not the Mountjoy of Lancaster county, and the sufferings of his men may be imagined by letters he wrote to Thomas Wharton, "President of Pennsylvania," during that winter. One of his letters addressed from Mountjoy (Valley Forge), December 28, 1777, ends thus "At this inclement season, one-third of our troops are totally destitute of either shoes, stockings, shirts or blankets." In another letter he conveys the infor mation that - "Although some hundreds of our poor worthy fellows have no, a single rag of a shirt (but are obliged to wear their waistcoats next their skins, and to sleep in them at night), I have not been able to draw a single shirt from the store; for the want of which our men are failing sick in numbers every day-contracting vermin, and dying in hospitals, in a condition shocking to humanity, and horrid in idea."

It is not surprising, therefore, that notwithstanding devoted care of the wounded and sick soldiers entrusted to them, the Sisters of the Ephrata Cloister could not prevent the spreading of typhus fever. Some of the soldiers died of their wounds; more probably died of disease. And it would seem that the dreaded disease would have spread to the nursing sisters also, though "how many of the Sisters lost their lives by their devotion is not known, as the records of the society from 1773 to 1782 are missing." One of the attend ing physicians was an early victim of "camp fever," as was also a brave monk who ministered to the sick without heed of personal danger. Mr. Yeagei writes of this important period in the history of Ephrata as follows :

In the battle of Brandywine, Washington lost about 1,200 soldiers in killed and wounded besides these, he had many sick. He was indeed perplexed, as winter was drawing near * * * Washington, then, in this emergency, turned towards the pious brethren and sisters on the banks of the Cocalico, at Ephrata. * * * Toward Ephrata, therefore, he started about 500 of these soldiers. The march to Ephrata, about 70 miles, was indeed a pitiable one. The words of an eyewitness (Peter Shindel of Lancaster City, in affidavit sworn to by him on Oct. 20, 1845), are as follows. "Some were in wagons, some were in carts, and thost who were able to walk did so. As they passed in the night, we could hear the wounded cry as the wagons passed over the stones." At length they arrived, and the large Cloister buildings were given up for the use of the sick and wounded soldiers, as hospitals, and the Sister hood of Sharon devoted their time to the care of these soldiers. Doctors Yerkel, Scott and Harrison were the attending physicians and surgeons. The wounds and camp fever baffled these faithful surgeons, but * * * the majority of their patients recovered and again joined the army. But for about 200, the exact number being unknown, even these kind hearts (Sisters) could do no more than ease their pain and smooth and soften the dark passage through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. For many of them the trying fatigue oi the long and rough journey from Brandywine to Ephrata had doubtless been too great a strain, and they died soon after their arrival here. Of these was Capt. John McMyet McDonald, a brave soldier from Virginia, who, it is said, died the very morning after their arrival at Ephrata. He was buried with military honors on Mt. Zion, his own solders who had borne him from the field of battle, after being wounded, lowering him into the grave. For some time afterward, the dead were given separate and military burials, but the deaths became too numerous to permit of a military burial for each one, and they were deposited * * * together, in trenches, without formal ceremony. With the exception of Captain McDonald, it is not known the name of a single one of those who died here, neither whence they came, nor the day of their deaths. All records, if there were any, seem to have been lost or destroyed. The place where they rest was enclosed by a fence for a long time, and only a board marked the burial place of these heroes.

The board bore the inscription: "Hier ruhen die Gebeine von viel Soldaten," which in English is: "Here rest the remains of many soldiers." It was not until 1843 that a movement to monumentalize the spot was begun. On Independence Day of that year a meeting of Ephratans was called to consider ways and means of honoring the memory of these patriots. Joseph Konigmacher, of Ephrata, was elected president of the society then formed to erect a monument, and two years later, on the anniversary of the battle of Brandywine, cornerstone ceremonies were held, attended by the Governor of Pennsylvania, and by several who were in Ephrata in 1777. The Ephrata Monument Association had been incorporated in February, 1845, and some subscriptions toward the estimated cost ($2,000) had been collected, but not sufficient to do much more than lay the cornerstone, and to some extent grade. Joseph Konigmacher died in1861, and Jeremiah Mohler succeeded him as president, Adam Konigmacher being secretary and treasurer. Upon their deaths they were succeeded, respectively, by Dr. J. F. Mentzer and Jacob Konigmacher. The last-named died in 1912, and Charles S. Yeager then became secretary and treasurer. However, the monument was destined to remain in an uncompleted state for many decades. No meetings of trustees even were held between 1863 and 1893. In the latter year public interest was again aroused by the decision to make the anniversary of the battle of Brandy- wine a day of patriotic demonstration in Ephrata. It was to be known as "Patriots' Day," and to be observed each year thereafter in memory of the two hundred Revolutionary soldiers "who were brought to the Old Cloister, nursed, died, and were buried at Mt. Zion's Cemetery." Each year until 1901 the day was observed in Ephrata, and the exercises held on the monument site were "most creditable patriotic demonstrations;" but the means wherewith to complete the proposed monument could not be obtained from private sources. Several attempts were made to obtain State appropriation, without success, however, until the spring of 1901, when the State Legislature appropriated the sum of $5,000 for the purpose. On May 1, 1902, the monument, which was of polished granite weighing in all about fifty-three tons, was unveiled and dedicated by Governor Stone, in the presence of 10,000 to 15,000 visitors, as well as of townsmen. "All roads led to Ephrata" on that day, and at last the anxious anticipation of those interested was gratified."

The inscriptions on the monument convey its history and purpose briefly. On the south face of the shaft is inscribed: "Sacred to the memory of the patriotic soldiers of the American Revolution, who fought in the battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777, A. D. About Soo of the sick and wounded were brought to Ephrata for treatment. Several hundred died and were buried in this consecrated ground. Dulce et decorum est pro atria mori." On the west face is the following: "More than a century the remains of these patriots rested in this hallowed spot, without any commemoration except the following words on a plain board: 'Hier ruhen die Gebeine von viel Soldaten."' On the north face has been chiselled: "Erected under the auspices of the Ephrata Monument Association, which was duly chartered by the Legislature of Pennsylvania. Unveiled and dedicated May 1, 1902." And on the east face is: "A grateful acknowledgment to the religious Society of the Seventh Day Baptists for its unselfish devotion in administering to the wants and comfort of these heroes." The monument is of Quincy (Mass.) granite, thirty-eight and one-half feet high, and consists of five sections.

One other event of the Revolutionary War should be briefly referred to. Colonel Bartram Galbraith, the county lieutenant, sent men in 1777 to the Ephrata Paper Mill, with a requisition for paper needed for the making of cartridges. "Finding none at the mill (the men) searched the printing office, and discover- ing there a great number of printed sheets of the "Book of Martyrs," seized three wagon loads of them, and the sacred ammunition was soon afterwards fired into the lines of the British foe, at Brandywine and Germantown." The historic mill is now the underwear factory of Walter W. Moyer.

Ephrata's part in the later wars will be dealt with in other chapters; and probably the most important event not yet reviewed is that of 1891, which changed the status of Ephrata from village to borough. An application for the incorporation of Ephrata as a borough was presented to Quafter Sessions Court on April 20, 1891. The movement was begun two months earlier when the petition was first circulated. It received the support of the majority of the property holders, 170 out of 298 signing the paper. There was good reason for the prosecuting of the matter, the village having "during the ten years prior to this move * * * had a growth of about 300 per cent." The population in 1891 was about 2,200, and government under the old system was considered inadequate; a police system was needed, the school facilities were poor, and many residents thought that much grading and paving of streets should be undertaken. A meeting was held in Mentzer's Hall on Saturday afternoon, February 14, 1891. It was largely attended by property holders, "and the sentiment in favor of the advance movement was almost unanimous." Messrs. George Wise, John R. Messner, J. B. Kellar, J. J. Baer and J. B. Eshleman were constituted a committee "to make a draft of the proposed lines." And, in due course, the petition was presented to the court, which on August 22, 1891, granted the request of petitioners, Judge Patterson signing the decree which made Ephrata a borough. The first borough election was held September 15, 1891, the polling place being in the public house of L. E. Royer in Ephrata. Four hundred and forty-three votes out of a possible 536 were cast, and resulted in the election of the following men to constitute the first borough administration: G. S. Wise, burgess; J. B. Brugger, G. F. Groff, J. J. Baer, J. S. Spangler, Joseph Cooper and A. W. Mentzer, councilmen; C. B. Keller, J. M. Shaeffer, J. Frank Eckert, Samuel R. Hess, Levi S. Landes and William Heilig, school directors; Samuel R. Nagel, assessor; Levi B. Sander, tax collector; J. J. Yeager, auditor; H. W. Gier, constable. The oath of office was admnistered to the borough officers by S. L. Sharp, J. P., September 18, and first council meeting followed. - Improvements were quickly carried out. A new school house was built at a cost of about $15,000, and in 1893-94 the first class graduated from Ephrata High School. In 1894, Ephrata was described as having "nicely graded streets, fine pavements, elegant homes, good water, excellent schools, plenty of churches and societies," and hospitable townspeople.

The editors of the "Ephrata Review," in summing up "Ephrata of Today" (ago), in their "Brief Story of Ephrata" then published, wrote, in part, as follows:

Ephrata is a thriving borough of more than usual business activity for a place of similar size, having a population of over 4,000 inhabitants. (Federal census taking, 1920, credited Ephrata borough with 3,735 inhabitants, and Ephrata township with 2,456). The town is laid out with nice wide streets, adorned at many places with beautiful shade trees, well-kept homes and prosperous business places.

The town or borough owns its own light plant and water works, its water being con- sidered the purest in the State; has nine churches-, public schools, second to none in the county, occupying two large buildings and employing an efficient corps of teachers; is a centre for the manufacture of cigars; is a great trolley centre, has trolley connections with Lancaster, Reading, and Lebanon; also steam railway connection with Reading and Lancaster. Among the other industries of which Ephrata may boast are: a large silk mill, shoe factory, shirt factory, hosiery mills, planing mill, sawmill, brick works, knitting mill, tobacco packing establishments, foundry, marble and granite works, grain warehouses, coal and lumber yard, blacksmith, saddlery, bakeries, butcher shops and slaughter houses, quarries and other labor employing industries, and business places that go to make up a busy growing town, including department stores, grocery, hardware and general merchandise stores. Ephrata has also three hotels and several restaurants * * * and a large summer resort, which enjoys a very large patronage. * * * A park has recently been inaugurated and many improvements have and are being placed therein. * * * Ephrata can also boast of an efficient fire department * * * there are two theatres in the town. * * * Ephrata has long been known as a great horse market. * * * Two weekly newspapers supply the citizens with the current local news. There are several well equipped automobile garages. * * *

The borough of Ephrata is divided into four wards, by the intersection of what is called "The Square," of the two old wagon routes, namely, the roads between Downingtown and Harrisburg, and between Reading and Lancaster.

At the eastern end of the town, on the edge of the Ephrata Ridge, and along the turn- pike leading to Downingtown, is located the "Ephrata Mountain Springs," a celebrated * * * summer resort, which was built and established in the year x848 by the Hon. Joseph Konig- macher, who at that time was the State Senator from this section. Under his administration the place became a popular and fashionable resort for residents of Philadelphia, New York, and Baltimore, the place having been patronized by many prominent men, such as ex-Prest- dent Buchanan, Thaddeus Stevens, and others. * * * The Mountain Springs had, at the time of its establishment, an observatory 60 ft. high and 1,250 ft. above tidewater. * * * This observatory has, however, been torn away, and is only a recollection in the minds of the oldest citizens of Ephrata. After the death of Joseph Konigmacher, the Mountain Springs was closed for a time. For the past thirty years, the place has been in the hands, as sole owner, of Mr. D. S. Von Nieda. * * *

The borough of Ephrata stretches along a broad road, formerly known as the Clay and Hinkletown turnpike, or Main street, from the Ephrata Mountain Springs down to the old stone bridge spanning the Cocalico creek, a distance of about a mile. Side streets radiate from this main street, and these in turn subdivide others. * * * In 1854, along this main thoroughfare, from the Summer Resort to the Cocatico creek, it is claimed, there were only eleven houses. In this way, one may get an idea of the growth of this prosperous town, with over 4,000 inhabitants. * * * Although its growth has not been nearly as rapid as many of the great cities yet it has grown steadily and substantially. * * *

As one passes down Main street, to the center of the town, passing the large Hotel Cocalico, a number of business places and the Mt. Vernon Inn, the Eagle Hotel is seen on the Square. * * * This hotel occupies the site of a hotel built a long time before the Revolution, and for a time was known as Gross Corner. Several squares further down the street is located what is known as "Ye Village Inn," erected in 1777, but modernized by the late Thomas A. Wilson, in igoi. About a quarter of a mile to the north * * * is located what was known * * * as Clare Point Stock Farm, a farm at one time equipped for raising * * * race horses. This land was formerly owned by the Bowman families, but was bought and improved for the purpose by Mr. T. A. Wilson, a wealthy spectacle manufacturer, of Reading. * * * After the death of Mr. Wilson * * * the place was sold, in 1914, to the Catholic Church. The place is now known as St. Clement's.

The place is in the charge of the Redeinptorist Fathers, and from St. Clement's at Ephrata the priests undertake mission work in the vicinity. The Rev. James J. Lynch has the Ephrata pastorate, and Rev. W. E. White, of St. Clements, conducts a mission at New Holland.

Because so much space has been devoted to the reviewing of the history of Ephrata's monastic institution, it must not be inferred that the Seventh-day Baptist sect predominates in Ephrata borough and township. As a matter of fact, it does not; indeed, few of the other Protestant denominations have so small a membership in Ephrata township. The justification for the prominence given to the Seventh-day Baptist records is that the Cloister comes uniquely into colonial and national as well as Ephrata history.

Among the churches of Ephrata borough to-day are the Trinity Lutheran, the First Reformed, Bethany Reformed, First United Brethren, Church of Brethren, Mennonite, United Evangelical, Hope Evangelical. Some of the churches of the township are quite historic. The Bergstrass church, which had is beginning in "Erlen Town," May 18, 1752, is referred to in the Earl township sketch.

The German Baptists, or Dunkers, from which denomination the Seventh- Day Baptsist Society of Ephrata separated in 1728, have been represented in the township almost from the beginning of its settlement. In 1883 there were five Dunkard churches in Ephrata township. They were: Mohler's, the larg- est of the five, situated about one mile east of Ephrata village. A stone church was built in1861, after the earlier edifice, which had been used for school as well as church, had been destroyed by fire. At that time the Ephrata congre- gation was formed and in 1872 a larger stone church was built. It was imme- diately designated as the church at which the annual love feasts for the East Conestoga District were to be held. Royer's Middle Creek meeting house is in Ephrata township, but in the West Conestoga District, and used also for the annual love feasts of that district. The original church and school house was built of logs in 1824, a frame addition being subsequently put to it. In 1874 a large stone and frame edifice was raised. Steinmetz meeting house, west of Ephrata, is another building occupied originally for school as well as church purposes. The other two congregations were Mumma's and Spring Ville. Ephrata Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized at Dening Hall, which was the meeting house until the sandstone church edifice was built in 1869; first pastor was Rev. George Trabert. The United Brethren in Christ organized in Ephrata in 1871, meeting in the home of Burton Keaner. In 1872 a brick church was built. It was dedicated on the first Sunday in December. The first members were Levi Hoover, John R. Boyer and William G. Sprecher, and the first pastor was Rev. M. J. Mumma. A Union chapel was erected in Ephrata in 1882 by voluntary contributions; and in the next year the society was incorporated with the following trustees: A. Konigmacher, president; D. R. Hertz, secretary; S. R. Hess, J. B. Keller and J. S. Sharp. The Lincoln Lutherans joined with the Reformed church in building an edifice in Lincoln in 1852. The first Lutheran congregation was organized in February, 1852. The first church officers were: William K. Stober and George Bentz, elders; Peter Hacker and Andrew Enck, trustees; John Striner and Jacob Hacker, deacons; Levi S. Hacker, treasurer. The Reformed Church of Lincoln was also organized in 1852. The church edifice, built by joint effort with the Lutherans, was dedicated May 29, 1853. First church officers were Hy. Appel and Jacob Hoffman, elders; Francis Witmyer and John Wolf, trustees; John Appel and Isaac Beck, deacons. The first pastor of the Lutheran congregation was Rev. Harpel, who came in June, 1853; the first Reformed pastor at Lincoln was Rev. Daniel Hertz, who served from 1852 to 1862. Lincoln Congregational Church was organized February 16, 1869, by the following, who were the original members: R. W. Bard, Daniel Wingenroth, M. D. Hoover, Levi Heck and H. G. Cooper. Church building, of brick, was dedicated October 13, 1872. First pastor was Rev. D. Lentz. More church history will be found to have been covered in the general county chapters.

The National banks of Ephrata are both strong and of long establishment. The Ephrata National Bank was organized in 1881, with capital of $75,000; thirty years later its capital and surplus totaled to $200000. Its present capital is $125,000 and its surplus and undivided profits total $250,000; first presi- dent was W. Z. Sener. Present president is M. L. Weidman, with W. W. Moyer as vice-president. The Farmer's National Bank of Ephrata was organized about twenty-five years ago, and has capital of $100,000 and surplus of $120,000. Mr. J. F. Mentzer is president, and H. Westerhoff is vice-president.

Akron is an enterprising borough, and has shown steady growth during the last few decades. In 1884 it was described as a small hamlet, with a population of 325, and a post-office, store, etc. It, however, had the advantage of railway facilities, being a station on the Reading & Columbia railroad, and when the electric trolley from Mechanicsburg to Ephrata and beyond was put into operation, passing within about half a mile of Akron, that borough showed its enterprise by constructing a substantial walk from the town to the trolley-stop. Akron was incorporated as a borough in the 'nineties, and the population at the last three Federal census takings has been recorded as fol- lows: igoo, 653 inhabitants; 1910, 719; and 1920, 723.

It is a banking town, the Akron National Bank, which was organized about twelve years ago, providing the service. Its capital in 1912 was $35,000, and it then had a surplus of $5,000. The officers were: W. P. Albright, president; P. W. Weidman, vice-president; and M. H. Dean, cashier. Akron industries include several cigar and leaf tobacco factories, some shirt factories, and Miller, Hess & Co.'s shoe plant. There are two general stores, one grocery, one hardware store, three garages and automobile repairs shops, a mill, saddlery, three carpenter shops, lumber yard, smithy, wheelwright, drug store and other service establishments of a well-balanced community. The Akron mills carry the Akron record back to colonial times. They were built in 1762, and have since been twice rebuilt. The mill site is upon land that was patented to Charles Nallocker (Harlacher) in 1762. The Royer family settled in the Akron district in 1762, and members of that family have farmed the locker tract. Amos Royer, however, himself received a patent in 1762, the old, Royer homestead being near the Middle Creek meeting house.

The churches of Akron include Grace United Evangelical, Mt. Zion Evan gelical, Zion Lutheran, the Church of Brethren. The Akron Congregationa Church was organized in 1875, and erected a frame edifice in the next year, a a cost of about $1,500. Some of the churches are comparatively strong; the first three named have Sunday school enrollments averaging more than 125 members each.

The village of Lincoln, situated about two miles westward of "Old Ephrata," on the old Downingtown, Ephrata and Harrisburg turnpike, is more than a century old. It was laid out in 1813 as "New Ephrata," by John Reist who purchased twenty-five acres of land for the purpose in that year from Philip and Elizabeth Kraig. The village name was changed to Lincoln during the Civil War, in honor of the great President. Lincoln had a population of about 500 in 1883, it is stated, and was then described as a thriving little town, Its population in 1920 is not given separately from the township total, bu probably did not reach 400. Its present industries include three or four cigar factories, a shirt factory and a millstone manufacturing plant. Lincoln ha long been a banking town, the Lincoln National Bank having been organized about forty years ago, its certificate as a National bank being No. 3198. Its capital and surplus exceed $100,000; and Benjamin Wissler was long it president.

Hahnstown has grown around Fry's Mill. When the original mill was built is not known, but it was referred to in a deed dated in 1762. John Martil Fry bought it at a sheriff's sale. The mill was rebuilt in 1798, and again in 1848. It is operated now by John Fry's Sons Company as a mill and creamery Hahnstown was originally known as Fry's Mills post-office; it is still a hamlet of less than one hundred inhabitants. Murrell was originally known as Greenville. There were twenty properties in the village in 1883, and the population then was about 100. It is now about 150. There are a couple of cigar and leaf tobacco plants in the village, a good general store, owned by the Widder family, and a hostelry. New Berlin had its beginning about one hundred years ago, and gradually drifted into the village class. "When the place began to assume the dignity of a village, a few of the inhabitants met at the village tavern to fix upon a name, and finally selected that of New Berlin."

"EPHRATA! Of all the words and names in the vocabulary of Pennsylvania none embraces so much of what is mystical and legendary as the word Ephrata, when it is used to denote the old monastic community which once flourished in the valley of the Cocalico in Lancaster county, and whose members lived according to the esoteric teachings, practised the mystic rites, and sought for both physical and spiritual regeneration according to the secret ritual as taught by the ascetic philosophers of old . . . " says Julius Friedrich Sachse in his scholarly work, "The German Sectarians of Pennsylvania; 1708-1800"
Early Interior Settlement. - Ephrata (pronounced "Ef-ra-taaw") was one of the earliest settlements in the interior of the state, and the first Protestant mon-astery in America.

The borough of that name, and the remaining buildings of what was once a tolerably important communistic settlement in colonial days, will be found on most maps at a point nearly midway between Lancaster and Reading on one road, and nearly in the same position between Harrisburg to the northwest and Philadelpbia on the southeast by the "direct road"of other years.

The history of this town and its famed Cloister is interesting on account of the longevity of the latter institution and the associations connected with it.

Originally it consisted of a monastery and several other buildings for the accommodation of the mystics and devout believers known as the Seventh Day Baptist Society. In addition there were about one hundred and forty acres of land, a grist and saw mill.

Before the town had the name Ephrata it was known as "Kloster" (Cloister), or Dunkerstown - a nickname, from the word Dunker or Tunker, corruptions of "Tauffer" - Baptist. The Society at Ephrata was a distinct sect from the denomination that now bears the name of "Dunkers,"with whom they have for generations been confounded.

About the year 1694, a controversy arose in the Protestant churches of Germany and Holland, in which vigorous attempts were made to reform some of the errors of the church, and with the design of promoting a more practical, vital religion.

At the head of the reform were men of a pious nature, to whom were applied the epithet "Pietists." Many of these devotees of the "new philosophy" of the "old order," among them men of considerable learning, left their labors and professions in the then half-sick Europe and emigrated to America.
Baptist Movement Started.-In the year 1708, Alexander Mack, of Schriesham, and seven others, in and around Schwardzenau, Germany, met together, regularly, to examine the doctrines of the New Testament, and to ascertain the obligations it imposes on professing Christians; determining to lay aside all preconceived opinions and traditional observances.

Their inquiries resulted in the formation of the Society now called the Dunkers, or First-Day German Baptists.

They met with much persecution, as did all who differed with the popular church. Some were driven to Holland, some to Crefels in the Duchy of Cleves, and the mother church voluntarily moved to Serustervin, in Friesland; and then emigrated to America in 1719.

Here they dispersed to Germantown, Skippack, Oley, Conestoga and elsewhere. They formed a church at Germantown in 1723, under the charge of Peter Becker. The church grew rapidly in this country, receiving members from the banks of the Wissahickon and from Lancaster county. Soon after a church was established at Muehlbach, (Mill Creek), in Lancaster county-now Bird-in-Hand, four miles east of Lancaster city.
Conrad Beissel, Mystic. -Of this community was one Conrad Beissel, a native of Eberbach (or Oberbach), in the Palatinate, Germany, who contributed a great philosophy and leadership in the early days The Ephrata Cloister of a rich and glorious experiment among men and women in the field of religion and labor.

Beissel had been a "Presbyterian," (i. e., probably a member of the German Reformed Church), who fled from the persecutions of his day in Europe. It was he who conceived that there was an "error" among the Dunkers in their observance of the day for the Sabbath-that the Seventh Day was the command of the Lord God; and it was this conviction which set Beissel on the road to leadership.

About the year 1725, or later, he published a tract entering into a discussion of this point, which created some excitement and the disturbance in the Society at Mill Creek. Noting this, he retired for solitude to a cell on the banks of the Cocalico, which had previously been occupied by one Elimelich, an hermit.
A "Communistic" Society is Born.-After some reflection, members of the Society at Mill Creek, learn- ing of the hiding place of Beissel, followed him, settling around him in small cottages. They adopted the original Sabbath-the Seventh Day-for public worship in the year 1728; which has been observed by their descendants, even unto the present day.

Among those who followed Beissel from the Mill Creek congregation, were two women - Anna and Mary Eicher. They expressed a wish to share with him a seclusion in the wilderness with others of his followers. Unable to persuade the women to return to their former homes, the brethren finally built for their use a cabin on the opposite side of the Cocalico, in 1735, and in their establishment of a residence here they became the original members of the Ephrata Sisterhood.

This nucleus of the church was joined in 1733 by Israel and Gabriel Eckerline, and in the following year by a large number from Oley and Coventry, in Chester county, as well as a large number of Germans who came from Schoharie county, N. Y.

The Ephrata Society was actually lead by and under considerable influence of Father Friedsam (Beissel), until his death July 6, 1768, "in the 52nd year of his spiritual life, but the 72nd year and fourth month of his natural life." His remains lie in God's Acre adjoining the Cloister.

From the sparsely settled country round about more than six hundred persons gathered to follow his bodv to the grave. At the time of his death the Society numbered about three hundred members, and the property and real estate, from a very humble beginning, had grown to a considerable value.
Rev. Peter Miller (Brother Jaebez).-The religious labors of these pious men and women did not end at Ephrata, for we find Peter Miller (Brother Jaebez), and others on frequent preaching and missionary tours. These led them, sometimes forty or fifty in a company, on foot, into Long Island and New England. The pious Michael Wohlfahr preached in his monastic dress on the streets of Philadelphia, where he enlisted the interest of distinguished men such as Dr. Benjamin Franklin and others.

Peter Miller succeeded Beissel as head of the community. Born in the Palatinate, he came to America in 1730, was baptized in the congregation at Ephrata in 1735, and called Brother "Jaebez." His death occurred on September 25, 1796, aged 86 years.

Miller was a graduate of Heidelberg University, and a former pastor of Reformed congregations located at Muddy Creek, Bethany and 14eller's, near Ephrata, about 1730-1735. Conrad Weiser, one of the most beloved of the pio- neers of colonial days on the frontier, one of Rev. Peter Miller's church officers, and an Indian interpreter for the government, likewise entered the cloister life as Brother "Enoch," which means "consecrated."

The building called Kedar, contained one principal room for religious worship, love-feasts, and the ceremony of feet-washing. Besides this there were other rooms, very small, for the use of the brethren and sisters, those of the latter being in the upper story.
Bible Calculations Used.-The erection of the new brother house "Bethany," and the sister house "Saron, and the chapel "Saal," in the 1740's were said to mark the beginning of large buildings in America.

The dimensions of the houses were said to have been based on Biblical calculations,narratives, and prophecies. The walls were more than a foot thick, not very generous, considering the length of time they have stood, the weight supported, and ravaoes to which they were exposed in two hundred years.

The "Saron" building was erected as a dwelling-house for married men and women who had voluntarily renounced matrimonial vows, the sexes to be kept separate in different parts of the house. The plan proved a failure; many of the self-divorced couples re-united and returned to live together as before.

Saron was then occupied by the women, Anna and Maria Eicher, with the other celibate sisters who loved the spiritual guidance of Father Friedsam.

The Sisterhood known as the Roses of Sharon or "Spiritual Virgins," were under a matron, a sort of "Mother Superior," and disobedience was reckoned a grievous sin.
Communion, or Love Feast.-The love-feast of the Baptists embraced but a frugal meal of bread, butter, apple-butter, pickles and coffee. This is still a practice among them where the ritual is observed. Contrast this with sweet cakes, or buns, and hot coffee served by the Moravians; the full meal of the Amish and Mennonites; the crumb of bread and a thimble of wine of the Lutheran, Reformed and other congregations; and the communion of the Catholic church.

The Baptists enjoy an "open" communion, which means that any ii-i good standing of any denomination may "sup" with them. They also pass the holy kiss between the brethren and also between the sisters.
World's, First Sabbath-School. - One of the first Sabbath School cards designed, printed and given to pupils of a Bible School were used in the Ephrata Sabbath School, the organization of which antedates the Sunday School of Robert Raikes, of London, England, 1780, by a generation, as the Ephrata Bible School dates back to 1738.
Daily Routine Rather Trying. - The routine at Ephrata kept the celibates pretty much on the go. From seven to nine p. m. was spent in writing, reading and study, as well as devotions, then sleep until midnight, when they arose and had an hour of rnatin (song service)-not mass, as there were no priests. They returned to sleep until 5 a. m., when another matin was observed to 6 a. m. Then work until 9 a. m., when the first meal ensued, then more bodily employment until 5 p. m., followed by the evening and final meal of the day.

Gossiping was frowned upon and loud laughter, even in the more modern days, was forbidden and thought to be the work of a fool. Whistling was likely forbidden also.
Sexes Kept Separate.-One of the rules of the Societv was that - the sexes be separated in their buildings, and in the services as well. This is a rule followed by other plain sects in Pennsylvania, today.

There are several reasons advanced for this custom, which is as old as Jewish religious history.
Mysticism Kept Interests Alive It should be pointed out that mysticism (the art of being particularly well-informed in matters of religion), was one of the deep-rooted notions among the founders of the Cloister.
We doubt whether there would have been much to the experiment at Ephrata without mysticism, and Industrially, in addition to the printing plant and several types of mills, the Society operated a pottery, and engaged in basket making. Quarries were opened and roads and bridges were built.

Needle work, "fracture" and other articles were produced by the sisters, who, in those early days, found labor of their sort a privilege and an expression of love, a contentment in life, and a disposition toward charity.
Notes on Building Construction. - Originally the lighting and ventilation of the buildings was poor. In late years holes made in the ceilings brought in a better supply of fresh air, or permitted the foul air to escape.

Heat was obtained from open fire places, closed off in warm weather, and in the Saal from what was known as an "Ephrata cannon stove."

The chimneys in these old buildings consisting of wood (!) and clay, were erected with considerable care, and they seem to have served their purpose ad- mirably with all the attendant dangers, since they were built in the centers of the buildings, which architects claim was not nearly as safe as if built at the ends.

There was scant use of iron in the construction of the buildings at Ephrata. There were two reasons for this circumstance--one, the teachings of the old dis- pensation relative to the building of the Temple; two, and most likely the real reason, was the prohibitive cost of nails and other iron, which of course was hand wrought and hammered out laboriously on the anvil. The hinges to doors were of wood!

I It will be seen that the thumb latches on the many doors are wood, all sound, in working condition, and "good as new." They are demonstrated many times.
The Footprints on the Ceiling.-On the ceiling of the "Saal" may be seen marks resembling foot-prints. The tradition is that in one of their midnight meetings a zealous brother demonstrated the power of his faith bv walking on the ceiling, and at every spot where his feet supposedly touched the boards an imprint remained as though made by fire, These are still The Ephrata Cloister is visible, but one will likely be told that the footprints, if such they be, were placed there at the time the timber was being prepared for use in the erection of the building, when a laborer, with grease on his bare feet to keep them from chapping, accidently walked on the parts which now show.
Clock With One Hand.-One of the interesting objects of the collection there would be the clock made with but an hour hand to tell the time. In Peter Miller's day the hour-glass was the timepiece, and it was turned twice during his sermons, so that we may know he preached for a long time (according to our modern reckoning), and yet he must have been interesting to hear.
Meager Furnishings.-The interior of the buildings are coated with a plaster of loam and straw that is as hard as marble. Frequent white-washings kept the place fresh-looking and, with constant hand-scrubbing of the floors and other wood-work made an otherwise drab abode a place of comfort, at least to a limited degree.

Accommodations were of the most meager sort. In the larger of the rooms once stood objects used in the various endeavors undertaken , including the spinning wheels and looms, carding reels, candle moulds, ancient chests, great wicker baskets, and a hundred and one other articles that were necessities in the old dhys. Today one may see a very few of the many essential objects which once were a part of this great monastic institution and workshop.

Considerable progress had been made on the building in 1948, but in the new year the board was acutely aware of the need for more money. A new fund drive was launched under the direction of a professional fundraising organization, with a goal of $350,850 beyond the sums already raised. This money would be required to put the new hospital into actual operation.

Local fund drive leaders, such as Henry B. Hoover, were again named as well as numerous co-chairmen. Mr. Guy Wallace and Mr. Fuhrman H. Bailey also started work early in the drive. Judge Bard was Honorary Chairman of the whole campaign. Other well-known community people, civic leaders, and active workers, also participated enthusiastically. In April the board hired an Allentown native, Mr. W. A. Shaffer an administrator from the Reading Hospital. Mrs. C. Ray Numbers (now Mrs. Clara Cope), President of the Amvets Post 136 Auxiliary, worked in the campaign headquarters on the second floor of Spritzler's dry goods store (a structure, newly restored, now known as the Mentzer Building) on the Square.

The hospital Auxiliary, which had been active in the past, was once more called into service. A committee, chaired by Mrs. Wilbur Sheaffer, was organized to raise funds earmarked for the purchase of equipment. The Auxiliary also directed the residential canvass in Ephrata. This activity was chaired by Mrs. Joseph Mitchell, R.N. (the former Mrs. Harold Mengle), with assistance from Mrs. Simon Snyder, Mrs. C. Eugene Miller, Miss Evelyn Fasnacht, Mrs. Earl Stauffer, and Mrs. Emil Honegger. Residents of our densely populated northern Lancaster County contributed generously. In September the Ephrata Fair Association gave $3000 of the proceeds from the Fair that month. Many visitors, including groups of school-children, toured the building, now nearing completion.

An Open House took place from October 29 through November 6, the day the facility was to be dedicated. The Open House was inaugurated with a sauerkraut supper, attended by about a thousand people, in the basement of the new building. This marked the first use of the new kitchen, from which members of the Auxiliary served the supper. This event alone earned $8000 for the fund. Volunteers came later to clean the whole hospital, preparing to receive patients.

On November 6, the front door was officially unlocked by Burgess David E. Good, who with Rev. Andre made the formal dedication. A large crowd, about a thousand people, attended. Pastor Myron Eichner offered a prayer and the benediction. The program was arranged by a committee headed by R. U. Fasnacht. Ray Numbers, of the Amvets Post, and Mr. Ivan Mentzer raised a flag presented in honor of the board member Harry Coover, who had recently died. The flagpole itself was presented by the Amvets Auxiliary.

Transfer of patients from the old hospital to the new began on the following day and was completed two days later. The Legion ambulance moved the patients and Walter Wolf s Ephrata Motor Express conveyed the equipment and supplies. Eugene Wissler, Henry Hoover, and many helpers coordinated the effort with extraordinary efficiency. Ira Fasnacht's men handled the plumbing jobs, disconnecting water and relocating sinks, bowls, etc. Walter Fabian, spoken of earlier in this account, was also quite active in the move, recording some of the details in a letter to the Ephrata Review. New patients now began to arrive as well. On the second day after the new facility opened a baby was born there. Mr. Shaffer, who had left to take on another position in September before the new hospital opened, was succeeded as administrator by Mr. Walter W. Ellis, of Lewes, Delaware. In December Ivan H. Mentzer was chosen president of the board. One of his first acts in that capacity was to accept for the hospital a new station wagon from Lloyd Gerhart, president of the Farmers' Day Association. That organization not only donated the vehicle but pledged itself to defray costs of its maintenance as well. Other groups soon formed to aid the new hospital, such as Gray Ladies' Service and sewing groups to work in a sewing room. Donations of fresh fruit and vegetables and canned products came in season. This year accreditation of the medical staff came from the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, and the Pennsylva- nia Hospital Association. Affiliation with the hospital was open to any practicing physician or dentist in good standing with the Northern Lancaster County Medical Society or the Lancaster County Dental Society respectively. Room rates announced by Mr. Ellis were as follows: ward, $6 per day; semi-private room, $8 per day; and private room, $10-$14 per day.

The new hospital was now open but money was slow coming in to meet contract obligations and equipment bills. In February a judgment against the hospital for $229,500 was filed in Lancaster County Court. Mr. Edwin B. Nolt of the thriving New Holland Machine Company held a note for $200,000.

The Ladies Hospital Auxiliary worked hard to reduce the indebtedness, realizing $525.44 from a food stand at the Farmers' Fair. Mrs. Earl Good, vice president of the Auxiliary, presided at the meeting when the presentation was made. Ladies were kept busy in the sewing room, having been solicited for this work during the summer. By November, the first anniversary of the new institution, they had raised an additional $2000. At that time a new fund drive of $150,000 was launched under the leadership of Ivan H. Mentzer.

In December the hospital's new blood bank was put into operation, a project developed by Drs. Kowaleski (chairman), Curtis H. Swartz, Russell Derr, Ross Schmidt, and Mr. W. W. Ellis. Mr. Robert Hobbins was the first donor, his blood being drawn by Miss Donna Hooper, R.N., and Mrs. Ethel Perdew, R.N. The Amvets, chaired by Ray Numbers, began a compaign urging all local residents to have their blood typed and recorded. But the blood bank was a vital resource not only for the immediate community, for by this time the hospital had arranged with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to accom- modate emergency patients from accidents on the nearby highway.

In January the previous year's operating deficit of $24,279 was reported and an average occupancy rate of 55%. The medical staff at this time was quite concerned that the hospital become better utilized through more referrals. The fund-raising goal of $150,000 had to be reached soon in order to meet a note due in September. Numerous civic organizations, were conducting almost door-to-door canvasses and by March the half-way mark was reached.

Judge Bard succeeded Ivan Mentzer as board president in June. On July 31, at the request of the board, W. W. Ellis resigned due to administrative irregularities. A temporary committee of Judge Bard and Dr. Wagner assumed the duties of Mr. Ellis until a permanent administrator could be hired. Chosen in September, Miss Nancy Aspinwall took on the job of administrator in November.

Community doctors were now organized to provide a definite schedule for medical attendance in the Emergency Room. This service was previously irregular. In operation over a year, the new hospital had since November 1949 admitted 1840 patients; assisted in 531 births; performed 1346 operations, 10,793 laboratory procedures, and 3201 X-rays; treated 759 emergency cases; and witnessed 66 deaths.

The year began with the usual rather dishearteningly low percentage of bed occupancy.* In April J. H. Brubaker, M.D. succeeded H. E. Roberts, M.D. as medical staff president. The fund drive previously begun to reduce the $800,000 debt due by 1958 continued throughout the year. The Farmers' Day Association maintained its large annual contributions.
[However, the author of this website was delivered as Lancaster County's Baby New Year of 1952 at thirty seconds after midnightby Dr. Ira G. Garfield Mentioned above.]

In January the Auxiliary purchased an electrocardiograph for the hospital. A charity ball in February benefited the hospital with $568. Band concerts and Auxiliary memberships also helped reduce indebtedness. The fund- raising goal for the year of $60,000 was realized by late autumn.

In June a local newspaper observed that the hospital, now valued at $1,000,000, was the only one in the state built in the last five years without municipal, state, or federal aid, a record of community achievement of which the people of the Cocalico Valley could be justly proud. No less a source of pride were the many letters which the hospital administrators received over the years from people traveling through the area and requiring medical care, letters expressing gratitude, and often surprise, at the excellence of the treatment they received at the hospital.

In June fetes were begun on an annual basis on the hospital's vast lawn bordering on Martin Avenue. (This lawn has since been torn up and is being replaced by a new parking lot to accommodate additions to the hospital.) In recent years the fetes, which have realized many thousands of dollars for the hospital, have been conducted in the community park.

In October the hospital received a bequest from Lena Hertz for the establishment of a dental clinic, an objective which never materialized.

During these years constant fund-raising activities yielded funds to trim the hospital's indebtedness. Community interest continued high and all sorts of groups participated in these activities. During the summer of 1955 the note of indebtedness was burned. Finally, eight years after breaking ground, the hospital was free of debt.

At this period of time some obstetric deliveries were being conducted under hypnosis. One memorable delivery at the hospital must be recorded here: in June 1955 a set of healthy triplets was born by Caesarean section to a 42-year-old womai, already a grandmother.

This year was marked by a number of grants and bequests. In March the Farmers' Day Association presented the hospital with a new stationwagon on the same basis that the former ones had been donated. The estate of H. Wilson Zwally, a well-known businessman of the community, endowed the hospital with a trust fund of $10,000. From the Ford Foundation came a grant of $15,310 for general operating expenses, and the American Legion bought for the hospital a new ambulance at $ 1 0,000 to replace an older one.

The winter of 1955-56 was particularly severe, one blizzard closing many roads. Helicopters from the State National Guard were called on to bring in maternity patients. They landed in a parking lot in the general area where the next addition was to be build in 1961. Although by this time the Salk vaccine was coming into general use, cases of poliomyelitis were still common in our region. The hospital led efforts to immunize as many younger people as possible in schools, clinics, and even factories. In October a bus overturned on Route 222 and nine injured passengers were brought to the emergency room. The unusually burdened E.R. staff called in outside help, and the patients were treated properly and efficiently. The improved financial position of the institution encouraged plans for expansion, and in October R. U. Fasnacht became chairman of the planning committee for the board. A twenty-five year long-range plan envisioned a hospital with a capacity of three hundred beds.

In March Dr. Riffert accepted an electrophoresis unit given to the hospital by the Lancaster chapter of the American Cancer Society.

It would be well to say briefly that our emergency room services were very active, with a group of dedicated aides, orderlies, and nurses. A supervising E.R. nurse for many years was our much respected Amy Powell, R.N.

The Board reported a loss of $33,972 for the six-month period ending November 30, 1957. Long delinquent bills were a problem. Accordingly, in February 1959 Mr. Robert Garver, a native and long-time resident of the community, was hired to institute an improved system of monitoring and collecting patient's accounts.

The Board discussed preliminary plans for the proposed expansion at its meeting in April. President David Eaby appointed a committee chaired by Paul S. Stoner. A drive to raise $750,000 was to be launched in May. To stimulate enthusiasm, an architect's projection of the hospital's appearance twenty-five years into the future was published in the Ephrata Review. Needless to say, that rendition bears only a faint resemblance to the actual structure as it exists today in 1987.

Other committees and workers started their fund-raising activities, getting going earnestly on June 3. Mr. Paul L. Gravenor, a relatively new resident to our town, was named chairman of the borough solicitation. So well did these volunteers push the campaign, that by the end of the third week they had collected the sum of $300,000 in cash and pledges. The medical staff alone pledged $75,000.

A well-known woman from Denver, our head maternity nurse, Mrs. Clarence Mohn, R.N., had served our hospital many years. She was respected and depended on by all our nurses and doctors. She led an Auxiliary fund-raising project of photographing newborn babies in the nursery. The pictures would then be offered for sale to the new mothers. Assisting in this work and volunteering their services to contact new mothers were Mrs. Carl H. Myerly, Mrs. R. U. Wissler, Mrs. John Mathisen, Mrs. R. U. Fasnacht, Mrs. Ivan Eberly, and Mrs. A. H. Zwally. The Auxiliary was active socially as well, and at one meeting, Mrs. Mathison, born in Norway though living most of her life in the United States, spoke to the group about her native country.

We must pause here to note the passing of Dr. J. F. Mentzer at the age of 96, a much loved and widely respected doctor in Ephrataa, in September.

Also retiring this year was Mr. Walter A. Fabian, whose energetic activity for the institution from its earliest days has already been noted.

Fundraising continued briskly through the year, and on October 18 ground was broken for a new wing of the hospital, whose estimated cost of $750,000 had already been partially met with cash and pledges totalling $505,543. The new construction would add twenty beds and twelve nursing bassinets, raising the totals to 85 and 30 respectively. Plans called for a maintenance building, a laundry, a new boiler room, a laboratory, a new operating room, new X-ray facilities, an improved pediatric section, two nurseries, physical therapy equipment, new office space, and a cafeteria.

The Board elected Mrs. Paul J. Evancoe, who was President of the Auxiliary, to the Board of Directors in October.

Further good fortune followed that month, as the announcement came from Governor George M. Leader of a federal grant of $400,000 toward construction. Under the stipulations of the Hill-Burton Act, these funds were to be matched two to one by the institution. This meant that although a half-million dollars had been raised locally, another $300,000 was needed to qualify for the full federal grant.

In February Robert G. Garver succeeded Thomas Fogarty as credit manager. Also the annual charity ball was held this month, attended by 225 people, which brought additional money to the building fund. Bids were opened for the project in July, the lowest being $1,357,944.

By the spring of this year construction of the new addition was well under way.

In January some rooms in the new wing were already in use. By late spring it was in full use. The hospital had now attained a 100-bed capacity.

The largest part of the second floor was devoted to obstetric facilities. Three delivery and two labor rooms were located here. There were four nurseries, two glass-fronted to allow for the viewing of the newborn infants by their families. An isolette and isolation nursery were also there. A formula-foods kitchen was nearby. In all, about twenty-five babies could be cared for at one time. The second floor contained twenty-one new beds in private, semi- private, and ward facilities.
The first floor addition contained three operating rooms, a recovery room, central supply, a sterlizing department, and the physiotherapy section.
On the ground floor, at driveway and parking lot level, were the accident and dispensary sections, laboratories, and equipment for the X-ray department.

The original 1949 structure was extensively renovated to accommodate more patients and more office space. The new wing and improvements were dedicated on October 29. Absent from those ceremonies was Dr. Carl H. Myerly, who had been elected staff president in May 1960, but who died in June 1961. Dr. Myerly, a medical practitioner in Ephrata since 1933, had participated actively in the growth of the hospital since its inception in 1937. He lived long enough to see, but not to celebrate, the completion of the new wing.

By late 1961 the medical staff of the hospital had grown considerably. Dr. Luke Youndt continued to be our radiologist, as he had been since 1949. The roster of emergency room doctors included virtually all of the area's general practitioners on a rotating basis.

The completion of the first new addition to the hospital is a convenient place at which to end this account. By year's end it appeared that prospects for clearing up the debt incurred by the project were very good. And, indeed, another new wing was added in 1973-74. At this writing (March 1987) the most extensive expansion yet is under way. The new construction will lie to the north of the original buildings, closer to Route 272. The overall aspect of the already huge plant is quite different from the simple colonial facade of the 1949 building. Entrances have been relocated and parking lots have prolifera- ted. Extra facilities lie outside the hospital buildings proper. The creek below the hospital's property is now nearly on the front doorstep.

This continued augmentation of the hospital will provide space for larger emergency and outpatient departments and short-stay units. Renovations of the older building will allow for improved laboratory and X-ray facilities. For not only has medical technology itself demand the expansion, but the community that the hospital serves, roughly an area with a radius between four and six miles of the Square in downtown Ephrata, has grown from less than 40,000 to between 50,000 and 60,000 inhabitants. These people are well served by the efforts of all the medical, nursing, and accessory personnel in the hospital, and are, we firmly believe, happy to have so fine and modern an institution in their midst.

This continued augmentation of the hospital will provide space for larger emergency and outpatient departments and short-stay units. Renovations of the older building will allow for improved laboratory and X-ray facilities. For not only has medical technology itself demand the expansion, but the community that the hospital serves, roughly an area with a radius between four and six miles of the Square in downtown Ephrata, has grown from less than 40,000 to between 50,000 and 60,000 inhabitants. These people are well served by the efforts of all the medical, nursing, and accessory personnel in the hospital, and are, we firmly believe, happy to have so fine and modern an institution in their midst.