We decided to chronicle the history of Silver Lake because we are third-generation property owners deeply appreciating the vital role our small lake and its community have played in our family’s story. Six generations of our family have recreated here. As we plan to pass ownership to the next generation, we feel compelled to provide them and the entire lake community with reliable historical information.
We were inspired to embark on this journey of documenting Silver Lake’s history by our desire to preserve and share the rich heritage of our beloved lake with future generations. We were surprised by how much we enjoyed the journey and the amazing people we met along the way.
It was surprising to find that no formal account of Silver Lake’s centuries-long narrative exists because we had assumed that such a long-standing geological feature would have been well-documented. The nearby town of Lewisberry, only a few hundred yards from the lake, is indeed well-documented. Instead, we discovered that much of what we had believed to be true about Silver Lake was based on oral tradition, which had gradually evolved over time.
The purpose and function of Silver Lake have undergone significant transformations over its 250-year history. Initially serving as a functional mill pond, Silver Lake evolved into a seasonal summer colony and eventually became a small permanent year-round community.
We encountered several challenges while researching and chronicling Silver Lake’s history, including the lack of formal historical records, reliance on oral tradition, and the need to make assumptions to bridge knowledge gaps.
To address the lack of formal historical records for Silver Lake, we relied on a variety of sources. These included archived documents, interviews with longtime and former residents, as well as historical accounts from neighboring communities.
Some examples of assumptions we had to make during our research include the motivations behind specific historical decisions. In these instances, we took great care to clearly label these assumptions, ensuring that our readers are aware of areas where improvement and further research are needed.
Our book ensures next generation and the entire lake community have access to reliable historical information about Silver Lake. Extensive footnoting allows readers to look at original records themselve. Additionally, we have provided original source documents to the York County History Center, which has the resources and mission to preserve these items for the next generation of researchers.