Happy Thanksgiving! With Black Friday approaching, we’re sharing a novel way to celebrate the season – Silver Lake Merchandise. Be sure to place your order today to ensure it arrives in time for the holidays!
We launched a merchandising campaign with branded items like t-shirts, mugs, pins, and stationery to further raise awareness of our book outlining Silver Lake’s newly uncovered history. These products may serve as someone’s first introduction to the lake’s story, whether they notice a mug in a breakroom or a pin on a child’s backpack.
As third-generation property owners on Silver Lake in York County, Pennsylvania, we’ve come to appreciate the important role this lake and its community have played in our family’s history. Over its 238-year existence, Silver Lake has experienced significant changes, and as we prepare to pass it on to the next generation, we feel a deep responsibility to preserve it for future stewards.
When we began researching Silver Lake’s history, we were surprised to find that no formal record existed. Much of what we knew came from oral traditions that had naturally evolved over time. This is a common challenge with local history—without proper documentation, valuable stories are easily lost or distorted. A lack of written records, limited resources, and the passing of those who experienced these events all contribute to this fading.
Cultural shifts also play a role. People often don’t realize the significance of their experiences until much later. By the time future generations want to recover these stories, it’s often too late—there’s no one left to share them.
Unveiling and preserving Silver Lake’s history became central to our mission. We knew the story had to be both engaging and accessible. We used interconnected storytelling—much like discovering “Easter Eggs” in a movie—to captivate younger readers, while offering older readers a nostalgic look at the past. This approach ensures that the voices and history of Silver Lake are preserved in a meaningful and lasting way.
To maintain historical accuracy, we relied on well-documented, authentic sources, allowing history enthusiasts to follow our research through proper citations. We also built an online presence through our authors’ website, enhancing search engine visibility and making it easier for future generations to find and engage with the content. Regular blog posts, updates, and behind-the-scenes content help us connect with readers and grow a community. Additionally, book signings, readings, workshops, and speaking engagements allow us to interact with the public and share Silver Lake’s story.
We also developed a print-on-demand (POD) merchandising strategy, offering branded items such as t-shirts, drinkware, pins, and stationery featuring images from the book. Since these products are only printed when an order is placed, we avoid upfront inventory costs and the risk of overproduction. For those unfamiliar with our book, these items might serve as their first introduction to Silver Lake’s history—whether it’s a mug in a breakroom or a pin on a child’s backpack.
Together, these efforts ensure that Silver Lake’s newly uncovered history is shared and preserved for future generations, preventing these important stories from being lost to time.
While our book is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, we are offering special pricing on purchases made directly from our website. Buy the History of Silver Lake here!
