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…
“In an instant, Andy Torchia recognized the danger and realized his life was in jeopardy. His mind screamed with prayer, pleading for help to escape and find safety.” The book The History of Silver Lake, which chronicles the evolution of Silver Lake outside Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, describes three critical features that maintain the lake’s water level:…
On August 31, 2021, a CBS affiliate issued a rainfall forecast map that used the rarely seen “purple” shading to indicate 10-12 inches of rain predicted for northern York County, including the Moores Mountain basin and Silver Lake in Lewisberry. As forecasted, on September 1-2, 2021, the remnants of Hurricane Ida hit York County, Pennsylvania,…
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…
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,…
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…
He was born on the Fourth of July – and we’re not talking about Yankee Doodle Dandy here but Robert Miller Jr., born in a Catholic-run hospital in post-World War II Germany. Bill Miller, owner of the beloved Linger Longer cottage, saw his son, Robert Miller, join the U.S. Army and fight in World War…
In the aftermath of World War II, amidst the echoes of victory and the remnants of conflict, the Torchia family embarked on a journey that would leave an indelible mark on the Silver Lake community. At the heart of this tale lies the visionary spirit of Henry Andrew Torchia, Esq., whose fervent desire to nourish…
On May 31, 1866, amidst the picturesque landscapes of Adams County, Pennsylvania, William Grant Stonesifer entered the world. Named in homage to Union General Ulysses S. Grant’s victory at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, which ended the U.S. Civil War, young William’s middle name carried a legacy of triumph and leadership. The tradition…