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Lancaster County PA - Regional History Collection - Akron-Ephrata & Vicinity

Lancaster County PA - Regional History Collection - Akron-Ephrata & Vicinity

PA-Genealogy

  • 2500


This is a collection of various historical and genealogical reference works on Pennsylvania. These references cover 1000's of individuals, and are an excellent way to start or continue research focused on PA.

This material was scanned from original publications and will be provided as text searchable PDFs (unless noted in description). You will receive an email with the download link after purchasing online. These files can be read using many PDF reader programs (Windows / Mac / Linux), however Adobe Reader or Acrobat are recommended.

A History of the Bethany Charge of the Reformed Church,
in Lancaster County, PA (Rev. D. C. Tobias, 1881, 43 pages)
This is a brief history of several churches in northern Lancaster County, PA - Jerusalem (White Oak), Zion's (Brickerville), Bethany (near Ephrata), and Salem (New Haven).

View of Ephrata Pennsylvania (1887, T. M. Fowler & James B. Moyer)
This is a detailed image from birds-eye perspective of the town of Ephrata, Lancaster County, PA in the year 1887. It details streets, homes, businesses, churches, etc., providing a unique view of the town and wider area. (Not Text-Searchable)

Chronicon Ephrantense; A History of the Community of Seventh Day Baptists
at Ephrata, Lancaster County, Penn'a (J. Max Hark, 1889, 301 pages)
From the Translator's Preface: This work is "an exceedingly frank and ingenuous contribution to our knowledge of the peculiar and wholly unique social and religious condition, and entire spiritual life of a very considerable part of the early settlers of Central and Southern Pennsylvania. The otherwise incomprehensibly heterogeneous social and religious life of that populous, prosperous, and important part of the State of which Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, York, and Dauphin counties are the representatives; the strange variety of dialect, dress, social habits, religious beliefs, and sectarian organizations, to be met with in those counties to-day; are all readily accounted for as soon as we become acquainted with the history of the people and their surroundings, to which the Chronicon introduces us."

The Cocalico Souvenir (J. L. Steinmetz, 1897, 46 pages)
This is a souvenir of The Cocalico - a health resort in the area of Ephrata, Lancaster County, PA. The pamphlet describes the resort and its amenities along with photographs of the buildings and facilities. It also includes some historical background on the area of Ephrata and vicinity. This is the earlier version of the souvenir published in 1897, a later edition was produced in 1903.

The Cocalico Souvenir (J. L. Steinmetz, 1903, 48 pages)
This is a 2nd edition of a souvenir of The Cocalico - a health resort in the area of Ephrata, Lancaster County, PA. The pamphlet describes the resort and its amenities along with photographs of the buildings and facilities. It also includes some historical background on the area of Ephrata and vicinity. This edition contains some updated information from the previous edition published in 1897

First Municipal Annual Report - Borough of Ephrata Pennsylvania - 1939
(Ephrata Borough Council, 1939, 44 pages)
This was published as a public report of the activities of Ephrata Borough for 1939 as well as future plans. It covers aspects of the town such as: Police, Fire, Public Works, Utilities, Health, Recreation, Legal, Finance, etc.

Ephrata Golden Jubilee (Anonymous, 1941, 15 pages)
This is a program of the events of the Golden Jubilee of Ephrata, Lancaster County, PA in 1941. It also relates some basic historical information on the town and its people.

Ephrata, PA. Directory 1947 (Anonymous, 1947, 114 pages)
This is a directory of Ephrata, Lancaster County, PA for the year 1947. This publication begins with a brief history of the town. The first directory section is a numeric street directory listing each address numerically by street. This is followed by a residential directory listing residents and businesses alphabetically. For each address the directory information includes the names of residents (adults and children), primary resident's employer and street address. Lastly is a classified business directory listing businesses in the town according to trade.

Ephrata PA Directory 1951 (Ephrata Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1951, 92 pages)
This is a directory of Ephrata, Lancaster County, PA for the year 1951. The first section is a numeric street directory listing each address numerically by street. This is followed by a residential directory listing residents and businesses alphabetically. For each address the directory information includes the names of residents (adults and children), primary resident's employer and street address. Lastly is a classified business directory listing businesses in the town according to trade.

1956 Directory Ephrata PA (Ephrata Jaycees, 1956, 100 pages)
This is a directory of Ephrata, Lancaster County, PA for the year 1956. The first section is a numeric street directory listing each address numerically by street. This is followed by a residential directory listing residents and businesses alphabetically. For each address the directory information includes the names of residents (adults and children), primary resident's employer and street address. Lastly is a classified business directory listing businesses in the town according to trade.

Boro of Akron Directory 1964-65 (Akron PTA, 1964, 80 pages)
This is a residential directory of the borough of Akron, Lancaster County, PA for the year 1964-65. It begins with a brief historical sketch of the town, followed by directory information. The residential directory lists residents alphabetically and includes the names of the primary resident and mate and telephone number. The next section is a street directory, listing residents and businesses by street address. There are also many ads for local businesses and photographs of various businesses and locations around the town.

1891-1966 Ephrata Pennsylvania Diamond Jubilee (Anonymous, 1966, 148 pages)
This is a 75th anniversary souvenir of the Borough of Ephrata written in 1961. It presents dozens of sketches on organizations and entities of the Borough, giving historical and current details on each. The sketches cover all aspect of the town including, schools, churches, businesses, local government, civic organizations, etc. The sketches are accompanied by numerous historical photographs featuring various locations and buildings around the town. There are also numerous ads for local business included, and a few biographical sketches of town residents: Samuel L. Sharp, John W. Eshleman, William B. Carter, Irene Royer Weidman and John Harry Hibshman.

1968 Directory Ephrata PA (Ephrata Jaycees, 1968, 98 pages)
This is a directory of Ephrata, Lancaster County, PA for the year 1968. It begins with local government information. The first directory section is a numeric street directory listing each address numerically by street. This is followed by a residential directory listing residents and businesses alphabetically. For each address the directory information includes the names of residents (adults and children), primary resident's employer and street address. There are also numerous ads for local businesses included.

1971-1972 Directory Ephrata (Ephrata Area Jaycees, 1971, 96 pages)
This is a directory of Ephrata, Lancaster County, PA for the year 1971-72. It begins with a number of sketches on local organizations: Local Government, Chamber of Commerce, Ephrata Community Hospital, Ephrata Community Ambulance Association, Ephrata Area Association of Christian Churches, Ephrata Area Recreation Program, Ephrata Cloister Associates, and the Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley. Following this is a numerical street address directory listing residents and business by street address. This is followed by the main directory, listing each street address and any residents thereof (parents and children). Also included throughout are many ads for local businesses.

1895-1970 - The Borough of Akron, Lancaster Co., PA 75th Anniversary
(75th Anniversary Committee, 1970, 100 pages)
This is a 75th anniversary history of the borough of Akron, Lancaster County, PA. It presents a history of the area from its earliest beginnings until the present day (1970). It outlines the growth of the town and relates details of some of its residents through the years along with historical maps, illustrations and photographs. Later sections provide sketches of the areas churches, schools, civic organizations, sports, etc. Also included are a number of ads for local businesses.

Ephrata - Akron 1974 Directory (Ephrata Area Jaycees, 1974, 124 pages)
This is a directory of the towns of Ephrata and Akron, Lancaster County, PA for the year 1974. It begins with a sketch on the Ephrata Area Jaycees, who have been behind the publication of the Ephrata area directory for decades, followed by local governmental information. The first directory section is a numeric street directory of Ephrata, listing each address numerically by street. This is followed by a residential directory of Ephrata, listing residents and businesses alphabetically. For each address the directory information includes the names of residents (adults and children), primary resident's employer and street address. Following this is a brief historical sketch on the town of Akron, followed by a Street Guide and Residential Directory similar to that of Ephrata. There are also numerous ads for local businesses included.

Milton H. Heinicke's History of Ephrata
(Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley, 1972-1975, 506 pages)
This is an extensive history of the area of Ephrata, Lancaster County, PA. It was produced using the historical archive and notes of Milton H. Heinicke, which he collected over many years. The publication was released in twelve booklets, each covering different aspects of the area and its history. Booklet One covers the early settlement of the area including some of its initial settlers. Booklet Two discusses life at the Ephrata Cloister, Conrad Beissel and the Eckerlins. Booklet Three discusses two religious orders of the area: the Roses of Sharon and the Zionitic Brotherhood, and further discusses life at the Cloister. Booklet Four covers residents' observance of holidays. Booklet Five covers the culture of the Pennsylvania Germans, the predominant ethnic immigrant group of the area. Booklet Six is a sketch of the Mills associated with the Cloister. Booklet Seven contains a brief narrative of the Revolutionary War and the involvement of the area in caring for the wounded. It includes a list of deaths in hospitals of the area primarily from the 1740's - 1820's. The Supplement to Booklet Seven contains transcriptions of the lists used in Booklet Seven. Booklet Eight discusses the Indian history of the area and some theories as to their origins. Booklet Nine is a sketch outlining Conrad Weiser's part in the French and Indian War, as well as daily aspects of life in the area: transportation, recreation, etc. Booklet Ten carries on with life of Pennsylvania Germans into the 19th and 20th Centuries. Booklet Eleven covers a number of local businesses, industries and school history.

'76 Ephrata Area Directory (Ephrata Area Jaycees, 1976, 184 pages)
This is a 1976 bicentennial directory of the Ephrata area of Lancaster County, PA. It covers not just Ephrata but also the neighboring borough of Akron and Clay Township. It begins with several sketches covering aspects of the history of the area. This is followed by a residential directory of the greater Ephrata area, listing residents and businesses alphabetically. The directory information lists each address and the names of residents (adults and children) therein. Next is a numerical street directory of Ephrata and then Akron, listing residents and businesses according to street address, followed by a similar directory of the rural routes in the surrounding country.


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