On October 1, 1930, Clifton B. Barnhart acquired two plots of land on Silver Lake, creating a sizable property. He purchased one plot from E.E. Strominger, part of the Strominger farm, and another lakefront property from William G. Stonesifer. This marked the final sale tied to Stonesifer’s vision of developing a Silver Lake seasonal resort….
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…
On this Veterans Day, we honor the courageous veterans featured in our book, “The History of Silver Lake as Told Through Its Deeds”. As we explore the rich history of Silver Lake, near Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, we uncover inspiring stories of family, faith, and wartime bravery. From its colonial roots to its present-day vibrancy, Silver Lake’s…
On October 24, we celebrate the shared birthday of two notable figures from our book, “The History of Silver Lake as Told Through Its Deeds”: William Penn and Harry Franklin Peck. While they lived in very different times, Penn’s legacy, in particular, has left a profound impact on the history of Pennsylvania and beyond. William…
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended our presentation of “The History of Silver Lake As Told Through Its Deeds.” Special thanks to our moderator and videographer, Dominish Marie Miller, for recording and sharing the presentation, which received over 1.4K views in the “Preserving the History of Newberrytown” Facebook group. We also extend our…
In writing “The History of Silver Lake as Told Through Its Deeds”, we felt a deep sense of urgency, knowing that the firsthand witnesses to this history were nearing the end of their lives. Just weeks after our book was released, Robert “Bobbie” Vernon Stonesifer, Sr., age 96—born in 1927 to Guy and Mabel Stonesifer…
One unexpected discovery during our research for “The History of Silver Lake as Told Through Its Deeds” was that two York residents, LeGrand Dutcher and C.L. McKenzie, made a serious effort to establish an amusement park at Silver Lake in Lewisberry. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, amusement parks enjoyed a golden age,…
The movie The Music Man (Warner Bros., 1962) is a classic musical that tells the story of Harold Hill, a traveling music professor played by Robert Preston. “Professor” Hill arrives in a small town in 1912 and convinces the residents that he can teach their children to play in a marching band. However, his intentions are far…
Kathy and I, in our book “The History of Silver Lake as Told Through Its Deeds,” trace the evolution of Silver Lake from a functional mill pond to a seasonal summer colony, and eventually to a small, permanent year-round community. This endeavor required a multifaceted approach. We relied on recollections from long-time residents, modern technology,…
Today, we remember Guy Vernon Stonesifer, born on July 29, 1903, the son of William Grant Stonesifer and a pivotal figure in our book, “The History of Silver Lake as Told Through Its Deeds.” His untimely death at age 27 marked the end of the vision for Silver Lake as a seasonal resort. The connection…