THE HISTORY OF STEWARTSTOWN

By Lindsey China & Brittany Wolf

The Early Years • The term “The Barrens” originated from the time when

Native Americans, who first lived here, had cleared the land by burning it, and as a result the land was left barren.

• There were settlers in Stewartstown as early as 1720.• The boundary disagreement between Pennsylvania and

Maryland was solved with the survey and establishment of the Mason Dixon Line in 1767.

More Early History!!

• In 1774, James Savage was given 100 acres of land in Hopewell Township by John Penn, (which is the land upon which is now where Stewartstown stands.)

• The “Ridge Road” was well established by 1777 as a route from York to Baltimore. Along its path would be the future “Main Street” of our town.

Even More Early History!!

• Savage knew that farming alone could never make a settlement grow and develop, so he set about attracting craftsmen, artisans, and workman to this settlement.

• On April 15th, 1822 Anthony Stewart purchased Stewartstown from Shadrach Corbin, who first owned it.

• Benedict Meads opened a tavern on the East side of South Main Street, now the site of the Main Street Mall.

• The shop became the meeting place for many important events in the village.

• Stewartstown was referred to as “Meadstown.” By the year of 1828, the village was large enough to warrant the establishment of a post office.

• Most of the local people wanted the name of the post office to be called “Mechanicsburg,” which appeared on maps at that time.

• The Post Office Department chose the name “Guilford.” Anthony Stewart became the first postmaster, and he didn’t like that name.

• Through the combined efforts of Judge Adam Ebaugh, then a member of the legislature, and Anthony, the post office name was changed to Stewartstown on March 24th, 1832.

Do I

Even Have to Say it?!

• On the amount of land now occupied by Country Home Real Estate at 17 North Main Street, Anthony built himself a house with lean-to behind it.

• He used the lean-to for his workshop in which he made furniture and spinning wheels, Some of which continue to exist today.

Eureka Fire Company• The first village fire engine was purchased in 1889

for $400. It was a hand pumper operated by eight men. It required a bucket brigade to supply its natural water source. After the water system was established in 1904, the Eureka Fire company was organized.

• In 1949, a ladies auxiliary for the Eureka Fire company of Stewartstown was organized.

• On January 1,1983, the building across from Stewartstown Elementary School was completed. The cost of the new facility was $730,000.

About Anthony Stewart

• Anthony Stewart was an ingenious mechanic. He was an intelligent, diligent student of science and made a special study of astronomy. He was an albino and died in 1866 at the age of 78. Anthony Stewart’s gravesite is marked by a neat marble monument in the Stewartstown Presbyterian Cemetery.

Early Schools• Jimmy McCandless, a farm owner from New Park,

was described as a poet, fiddler, justice and tutor. His classes were held wherever the opportunity and a hot meal coincided. Jimmy could spin a story., compose a poem, fiddle for a reel, and even teach spelling and reading. It appears that hundreds of farms in the region played host to him.

• Several schools were built over the years to meet the need of the growing population. In 1818, there appeared to be a well-established school in Mechanicsburg, now known as Stewartstown. The first school was located southwest of town on the farm of Anthony Bowman.

Religious HistoryThe first known place of worship was in a village schoolhouse, around 1820. In 1839 a union church was formed. It included the Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Baptist Church, the Reformed Church and the Lutheran Church.

In 1843, The Union Associate Church of Mechanicsburg (Stewartstown) was built and used by every denomination until they each built their own sanctuary.

Many of the early settlers of Stewartstown were buried in the Union Church graveyard. When the church building was removed, however, those remains that could be located were moved to new resting places in the present Stewartstown Cemetery.

Modern Era Schools

• In 1951, Stewartstown High School, Delta High School and Fawn High School joined together in a new building named “Kennard Dale High School.”

• Stewartstown Elementary School was being built, too. Stewartstown Elementary School was ready for children to enter in the winter of 1952. In 1974, the South Eastern Middle School was built. In 1992, renovations to our current school were finished to make way for the ever-growing population of students.

The Academy

• The academy, known as the Stewartstown English and Classical Institute was founded in 1851. In today’s time it would be located where the Hartenstein Funeral Home is near Barrens Road South.

• Subjects listed were: Geography, Physical Geography, Grammar, Mental and Written Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, History, Botany, Astronomy, School Economy and Methods of Instruction, Mental and Moral Philosophy, Latin and Greek.

Here comes the Railroad!

• Probably the most significant occurrence in the growth of Stewartstown was the construction of its railroad. The railroad mainly served the agricultural community. Later small industries depended on the railroad.

• Hurricane Agnes on June 23, 1972, hit York County. Major bridges spanning the Cordorus Creek at Reynolds Mill and Hanover Junction were totally destroyed by flood waters.

Fascinating Businesses

• Early in the town’s growth there were businesses that provided employment for the local citizens. It is believed that Christian Leib built a store in the early 1840’s.

• Mr. Fulton built a hotel on the northeast corner of Center Square prior to the opening of the railroad.

• Mr. Trout pursued the ice cream manufacturing business.

• Several drugstores were in the borough.

More Businesses • J.N. Folckemmer was a harness-maker and saddler,

doing an extensive business in blankets, whips, robes, fly-nets, collars, saddles, soap and grease.

• In 1873, James Griffith established a barber shop. He also manufactured ice cream

• William Mumma was a dealer of furniture and an undertaker. He established his buisness on the corner of Mill Street and Main Street.

• Jacob Johnson had his blacksmith shop built in the summer of 1884.

• Robert Richey operated a lumberyard in Stewartstown around 1885.

Times Have Changed!

• The second half of the 20th Century brought a gradual end to the small town way of life and a slow decline in our local business enterprises. This can be attributed to the opening of Interstate 83 in1958.

• In time, because of its location so close to the Mason Dixon border, Stewartstown has grown in its residential development. The north end of town has grown with Messina’s Plaza and Sauble’s Shurfine Market.

Conclusion

• Stewartstown has seen many changes over the past 250 years. What started as an agricultural community has evolved into a small town community in the 21st Century.

• The information for these notes was taken directly from the Stewartstown Sesquicentennial Souvenir Program.

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