Winters Heritage House Museum

We are Elizabethtown history!

Published quarterly by the Elizabethtown Preservation Associates, Inc. Fall 2019

In This Issue —  Depression!

 Garden Varmints!
 Museum Hauntings!
 Dust Storms!

This Nov. 22, 2019 please participate in this 24 hours of giving event, where your do-
nations are boosted by the Lancaster County Community Foundation. Look for us
under Winters Heritage House Museum. Support your local non-profits!
... And THA NK Y OU!! www.extragive.org

(717) 367-4672
Permit No. 1
PA Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Elizabethtown, 47 East High St.,
Non-profit Org.
Paid P.O. Box 14
US Postage Return Service Requested
Winters Heritage House Museum
 Quilters Complete “Bright Cabin” Quilt for
Benefit Raffle
KEEP YOUR
MEMBERSHIP Next time you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by
ACTIVE! the museum and pick up some tickets for a lovely hand-
quilted twin-size bed quilt. The quilt was completed early
this summer by the Quilt Committee, and ticket sales are
off to a strong start thanks to our booth at the
Memberships are our primary Elizabethtown Fair. With only $150 left to raise, the
resource for maintaining museum & winning ticket will likely be drawn after the
programs. Elizabethtown Heritage Craft Show in early November.
The quilt is a lovely blend of reds and golds, and comes
Please take the time to renew your annual
membership. If you renew early we will add the new with a matching pillow sham. The winner will be
membership year to your existing due date. randomly chosen when the proceeds, which support
museum educational programs, meet $300.
Membership Form NEW ReNEW
Name: _________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________

Phone: ________________________________________

Email: _________________________________________

Membership level (circle one)

Individual—$25 5-Year Individual ——$100
Family — $40 Sponsor — $250
Sustaining — $60 Benefactor — $500
Patron — $100 Associate — $1000
Thank you for your support!
Check enclosed # _________ Amount : ____________

Or call for credit card processing.

All members receive free admission to museum

events, and unlimited research time in the Seibert
Library. Be sure to use these and the other
membership benefits listed online! Winters Heritage House Museum
P.O. Box 14 / 47 East High Street
Please send this form to the address provided here.
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
The museum does not have an on-site mailbox.
717 367-4672

Winters Heritage House Regular Hours (through November 29);

Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday,
Museum 9:30am to 3pm, and by appointment.
P.O. Box 14
Elizabethtown, PA 17022 Website: www.ElizabethtownHistory.org
Email: Winters-HH@ElizabethtownHistory.org
2019 Fall and Winter Museum Events Calendar Museum Happenings Page
Events;
Elizabethtown During the Great Depression
 Elizabethtown During the Great Depression—final evening.
The Winters Heritage House in Elizabethtown, is
Sept. 20, 6-8pm.
Stop by from 6-8pm for a last chance to review this fascinating exhibit and currently running an exhibit that explores the Great
enjoy some refreshments. (See next column for exhibit description.) Depression of the 1930s and its effects on our area’s
families, manufacturing and agriculture. Catch a
 Haunted Museum—Friday October 25, 7-9pm glimpse of 1930s Elizabethtown through
Visit the museum and all its (friendly) ghosts from long ago. This family- photographs, recorded memories, and written
friendly event is hosted by Elizabethtown College students. (Free—Donations information. There are several interactive exhibits
appreciated) that require visitor participation. The exhibit leaves
the viewer with an understanding of how the Great
 Elizabethtown Heritage Craft Show — Friday, Nov. 8, 4-8pm Depression began, who was most affected by it, and
& Saturday, Nov. 9, 9-3pm how people managed to overcome this decade of
Over 30 local artists and craftspeople with quality handmade gifts, décor and
foods throughout our historic buildings. Admission is $3 or a food bank struggle.
contribution. Museum members are free.
The exhibit runs through September 20. Stop in
 New Years Eve with Letterkenny Ireland during museum hours (W, Th, F, 9:30am-3pm) or
Help us ring in 2020 with our sister city, Letterkenny Ireland. Enjoy crafts and make an appointment for your group of 6 or more.
hearth-cooked foods at the museum until 7pm, when the New Year’s Star rises
at Christ Lutheran Church just two doors up. Free A farewell evening event with refreshments is
planned for Friday, September 20, from 6pm-8pm.
Field Trip Opportunities — Call for further details and to join our
carpool.
 Hans Herr House Maize and Snitz Fest
Saturday, October 5, leaving 10am, returning 3pm
This popular annual festival—held on the grounds of the county’s oldest
home—features great food, interpreters in traditional dress, hands-on activities
and demonstrations of colonial-era arts, crafts and farm life: threshing,
quilting, loom weaving, heckling flax, churning butter, cooking over a fire, and
making shingles, shoes, candles and corn husk dolls.

 Marietta Candlelight Tour of Homes

Sunday, December 1, leaving 1pm, returning 5pm
Marietta Restoration Associates are proud to host one of the oldest, continuous
holiday walking tours in Pennsylvania. A splendid array of 8 – 10 private
homes, public buildings and a variety of special events make this a tour you Market Street is paved for the first time in 1930.
will not want to miss.

Craft Show
Fall Classes Vendor
Opportunity
 Weaving on a Loom — Wednesday, October 16, noon to 4pm A few last openings
Learn the basics of weaving on a floor loom, including warping in preparation
to weave, and several basic weaving patterns. for vendors in the
Members; $35 / non-members $40 Elizabethtown
Heritage Craft Show
this coming
 Hearth Cooking & Tavern November 8 & 9.
Dinner
— Friday, November 15 Please send several
Round up your group of six to eight for a images of your
hearth cooked meal to remember. Three
to four participants will master cooking artwork or handcrafted items to;
in our open hearth to make an historic Winters-HH@ElizabethtownHistory.org, and we
meal for up to eight, who will dine in will be sure to have our craft show committee
style. $60/person includes instruction, review and respond with further information on
food, wine or beer, seated table service, becoming a vendor.
and clean-up.
H.U. Coble House Officially Titled
The newly-titled H.U. Coble House at 33 East High Street, was celebrated
on June 29, 2019 with a ribbon-cutting and the unveiling of a new sign.
The building has been known by many names including “Doc Newman’s
office” or “Dr. Leicht’s office” and even “the Jacob Dyer House” (as
appears on the Arts on the Square collection of E-town mugs). But, recent
research by Phil Clark reveals that the house was built in 1877 not by Jacob
Dyer, as was previously believed, but by his son-in-law, Henry Coble. The
Dyer-Coble confusion arises from the fact that Dyer owned the property
while Coble built the house. Coble, neatly enough, kept a diary during the
construction, which helped correct the confusion. He purchased the lot
from his father-in-law when the house was completed.

From 1877 through the 1940s, the house was the residence of the Coble
family. Henry, and later his son, Luther, operated a marble and granite
stone-cutting yard that used to occupy what is the borough parking lot,
today.

Beginning in 1949 and through 1999,

the house was used as an office by a
series of medical professionals. Dr.
Hain was the first to open an office
there, followed by Dr. Garber and Dr.
Leicht (1953-1964), Drs. Blummer,
Fearn, Kreider, and Bovard followed.
Finally, and probably the most
commonly recalled Doctor, is Doc
Newman, who took over the building
in 1969 and left in 1999 when he
moved to a new office on Continental
Drive. Many folks from town have
memories of going there for care and
treatment. Evidence of this purpose
still exists in the handicap-friendly
railings and access, as well as the
open first floor plan.
The property was purchased by Esther Winters in
1999 and willed to the care of the Winters Heritage
House Museum in 2001. Today, the house is used by
the museum for gatherings and events. It is also
available to museum members for occasional private
use.

Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony were two

Coble descendants, Larry and Carol Coble, great great
grandson and great grand daughter, respectively. Also
in attendance were EPA Board members and museum
staff; Doug Valkenburg, Maryann Swartz, Barb
Eberly and John Snowden (on porch), Meade Bierly,
Richard Keesey, Phil Clark, (Cobles), Nancy Landis,
Bob Brain, and Tom Campbell, (on sidewalk).
 marriageability. Instead, busy yourself seeking a suitable
Dear Elizabeth bachelor with some money and status, and hasten her into a
Our Historic Advice Column home of her own making. While you are at it, do see if you
The spirit of our town founder,
might find your son a nice match, as well. Grandchildren may
Elizabeth Hughes, residing here
help you fill the empty hours you spend worrying. ‘Twill be
from 1750 to 1760, offers her
advice to our generation. your job to raise them up as your grown children maintain
your home and care for you. Hopefully this will help restore
Please send your questions to your perspective.
Dear Elizabeth, c/o Winters Yours ,
Heritage House Museum email;

Winters-HH Elizabeth
@ElizabethtownHistory.org

Dear Elizabeth,
Dear Elizabeth,
My garden has been overrun with a population of
My son and daughter are both in their 20s, but are still living
rabbits and one particularly enormous ground hog this
in our house! My son has a good paying job, but wants to buy
summer. They’ve been enjoying all my hard work, and have
a house someday, so is “saving money” by staying here. This
ruined quite a bit of my vegetables. I am almost ready to give
has been a 4-year process so far, and I’m not certain anything
up on gardening. What should I do to control these annoying
has been put away judging by his new truck and high credit
destructive invaders?
card bill. My daughter is done with college, but has yet to
look for work in her field of study. Instead she is working
Garden ‘Beet’
part time at a local diner and then is out every evening with
her friends. Please tell me how to be a good parent, and at the
Dear Beet,
same time encourage my kids to become independent adults!
Our colonial era gardens are a key to our survival,
while perhaps yours are more hobby than a strict necessity.
Sincerely,
While you might simply opt to “give up”, we certainly had not
that option. However, I understand your frustration at losing
Full Nest
your hard work to such opportunists.
My strategy for varmint control has been to arm a
Dear Full,
young child with a sturdy slingshot and set them to playing
I have read and re-read your letter, and other than your
hunter or huntress. We’ve enjoyed many of our garden
unmarried daughter, cannot find the exact problem you seek
vegetables second-hand in the form of rabbit or groundhog
assistance with. It seems natural that the children inherit the
stew. Additionally, the ability to add to the family meal is a
house and care for you, their aging parent, rather than simply
great proud achievement for those of tender years.
abandoning you.
It’s a shame your daughter has indulged in so much education, Yours ,
and I would not encourage a young lady to work outside the
home, as this is most unseemly and might further damage her Elizabeth
Encore Presentation of
Architectural Display at
Elizabethtown College
Ben Wohlbowne’s Architectural
exhibit, that made its debut at the
Winters Heritage House Museum
in 2017, will enjoy a repeat performance this fall. The exhibit, assembled by Ben when he was a 10th grade student
at EAHS will go on display in the Elizabethtown College Library’s new interactive IDEA Lab from October 14th to
November 8th. Other works exploring Elizabethtown’s architecture may be included, as well. Please be sure to
stop out and visit this new venture by the college, support Ben, and admire the wonderful architectural details of
Elizabethtown.
Gardens Ho(e)! a Green Space Update
With help from our local Girl Scout Troop, the garden in the Winters
Heritage House backyard is looking better than ever. This spring, the girls
replaced the old garden’s beds and fencing, but didn’t stop there. All
summer they have planted, weeded, trimmed and harvested. The time
spent helping the museum is carefully recorded and will help the troop
earn their Silver Award.

The garden beds were dedicated to herb production this year, and the
museum store will soon be offering these chemical-free, naturally dried
culinary herbs for sale to visitors. In addition, the girls plan to try their
hands at making soaps and lotions using the bountiful harvest of herbs.

A second scout project is soon to begin; Owen Heistand will be constructing a garden as his Eagle Scout project. This
additional planting space will be used for growing chemical-free vegetables, which in turn will support the Elizabethtown
Community Cupboard’s need for fresh foods. Owen will be creating several 2’ raised-beds with trellises for easier garden-bed
maintenance. Owen is seeking donated and recyclable construction materials such as livestock water tanks and chemical-free
lumber. If you have materials that might assist Owen’s project, please contact the museum.

Other Local Autumn Events for History Lovers’ Calendars;

Susquehanna Old Fashioned Field Days (Bainbridge) — Saturday & Sunday, September 21 & 22

Pig Iron Fest & Car Show (Marietta) — Sunday, September 29

Indian Steps Museum, Indian Steps Festival (Airville) — Saturday & Sunday, October 5 & 6

Landis Valley Museum Harvest Days (Lancaster) —Saturday and Sunday, October 12 & 13

Rough and Tumble Museum, Days of Harvest (Kinzers) — Saturday and Sunday, October 12 & 13

Haldeman Mansion Apple Festival (Bainbridge) — Sunday, October 13

Fun Findings in the Seibert Library 70s many homemakers and shop owners had the
doors and windows open to greet the warm
May breeze. By the time they realized the
This article from the Seibert Library archives ties in very sky had darkened with a gray haze the dust
well with our Great Depression exhibit! was already irritating their eyes and their
houses and businesses were filled with the
The Dustbowl Comes to Elizabethtown new atmosphere. Closing their doors and
windows helped, but the fine dust made its
way through every crack and cranny.
For the rest of the day the dust cloud
kept coming. At times boils of dust were
so thick they obscured the sun. By the
end of the day nothing had escaped, the
dust was everywhere and it covered
everything, both inside and out. D
Early pioneers found great stands of t
prairie grass growing in a vast area
extending from Canada to Texas and from the
foot hills of the Rocky Mountains eastward
for 300 miles. Those pioneers called the
area the Great American Desert. It was
dry; there were no trees. Despite the rich
soils, they believed it too dry to support
agriculture. As more settlers reached the
prairies in the later half of the 19th
A Midwest dust storm, driven east over a period of two days, century, the area became known as the Great
caught and carried some 350 million tons of silt all the way from Plains.
the northern Great Plains to the eastern seaboard. According World War I brought a serious shortage
to The New York Times, dust “lodged itself in the eyes and
throats of weeping and coughing New Yorkers,” and even ships of wheat. Russia had been selling large
some 300 miles offshore saw dust collect on their decks. This is quantities of wheat to customers in Europe.
a photo of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. during one The wheat was shipped from Russian ports on
such event. the Black Sea but in order to reach the
Mediterranean it had to pass through the
Dardanelles, a narrow passage controlled by
A heavy grey dust hung over Elizabethtown Turkey. Turkey had sided with Germany and
on Friday, May 11, 1934. The day had at the start of the War; the Turkish Navy
started bright and sunny, but by mid- closed the Dardanelles. Britain responded,
morning dust, that just 2 days earlier had Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the
been topsoil on the Great Plains, was so British Admiralty, lead a naval campaign to
intense that the sun was nearly hidden. open the Dardanelles. That effort failed
Farmers around Elizabethtown who followed and was followed by the Allied invasion of
the price of wheat knew about the dust Turkish territory on the western side of
storms that had been plaguing western wheat the Dardanelles, an area known as
farmers but the dust had never before come Gallipoli. Allied forces never won a
to Elizabethtown. battle; they retreated on January 9, 1916.
On Wednesday high winds from western It was clear the Dardanelles would be
Canada swept over the northern Great Plains closed for the rest of the war.
and stripped about one billion tons of top Wheat prices that had been 80 cents a
soil off wheat farms in eastern Montana, bushel before the war rose to $2.07 in the
North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa. fall of 1916. The rise in wheat prices
By the time the storm finished churning up was accompanied by a new national slogan
loose soil a dust cloud 15,000 feet high "Grow more wheat to win the war." Severe
and 400 miles wide was carrying 300 million shortages of wheat remained after the WWI
tons of soil as it rolled to the southeast. ended because the Russian Revolution in
By Thursday the cloud had made its way to 1917 was followed by 3 years of Civil War
Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. From there and by 1920 Russia was devastated. Wheat
it turned east toward Pennsylvania. farmers in the United States were getting
With daytime temperatures in $2.40 a bushel and the profit from a 10
Elizabethtown expected to be in the upper
he affected by swallowing a bit of sterile
dirt."
e For the western wheat farmers it was
t another page in a desperate story but now
ir the dust clouds had carried their cargo to
e Washington DC. The Weather Bureau in
Washington reported the highest dust
s density ever seen in the DC air.
Government officials got in the act and
d promoted a "back-to-grass" movement for the
e semi-arid high plains. The Farm
Administration extended the time farmers
could sign acreage to the wheat production
control program--a program that paid
Dust storms, caused by poor farming techniques, were devastating farmers to idle acres normally planted with
to Midwest agriculture. wheat.
For people living in the drought-
he acre field could buy a new automobile. The stricken Great Plains the worst was yet to
d rich soils of the Great Plains were viewed come. On Palm Sunday, April 14, 1935,
as gold and the rush to plow the prairie winds of up to 65 miles per hour swept
grass and establish wheat farms was on. across eastern Colorado and western Kansas
ch It wasn't long before the wheat and Oklahoma forming a cloud so huge and
t shortage turned to a surplus and as the dense it blocked the sun as it traveled
e years went by the rich soils wore out. southeast to the Gulf of Mexico.
Then came the Great Depression, the great Three days later a second storm blew
at drought of the 1930's, and wheat prices across the plains but this storm carried
that were less than 50 cents a bushel--if the soil to Washington DC, passing just to
e you could find someone to buy it. In the the south of Lancaster County. When the
high plains it seemed as if it would never cloud arrived at the Senate Office
e. rain again. Dry winters were followed by Building, Hugh Bennett, the head of the
on dry springs and wheat did not grow. Soil Erosion Service, was there and he got
Winter freezing and thawing cycles the ball rolling that would eventually
pulverized the dry soil, reducing result in the formation of the Soil
by aggregates of once productive top soil to Conservation Service and the establishment
d fine dust. A dust so fine that in just one of Soil Conservation Districts.
hour the turbulence caused by a 22 mile per Easter Sunday in 1935 featured the
d, hour breeze could whip 100 tons into the normal Easter egg hunts in Elizabethtown.
air from a 10 acre field. Only small areas In southeast Colorado the drought had
to of the Great Plains were affected by dust dragged on for 3 years. There was no grass
storms in 1932, but by 1934 the drought to hide eggs but it was Easter Sunday and
f stricken area had gotten so huge that great time for the annual Easter egg hunt.
quantities of dust could be carried all the Merchants of Lamar Colorado readied enough
way to the east coast. eggs for 1000 children and hid them in the
On Friday, May 11, 1934 the cloud of dust that resembled deep snow drifts in the
. dust was 400 miles wide and heavy bands of town's parks, lawns, and streets.
dust stretched from Washington to Boston.
Airline pilots reported having to climb to
15,000 feet to fly over the dust. The
Sources:
e Lancaster paper reported dust so thick that
most of the day resembled late evening and New York Times May 11, 12, 13, 1934 April 22,
many people had difficulty driving. 23, 1935
e While the dust storm was a major Lancaster Sunday News May 13, 1934
inconvenience to homemakers and businesses Lancaster Intelligencer Journal May 11, 12, 14,
in Elizabethtown it was probably not a 1934
hazard for healthy people. One health Soil and Water Conservation Engineering 1963
official was quoted, "The dust came from The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
the clean open spaces and, except for The New Columbia Encyclopedia 1967
irritated eyes and some difficulty
breathing, no one should be adversely