Lancaster County Historical Society
http://www.lancasterhistory.org/
Ephrata Borough
Ephrata Chamber of Commerce
Ephrata Public
Library
Virtual Ephrata
Our Mission
We are dedicated to acquiring, preserving, interpreting and making available materials pertaining to the Cocalico Valley region of Lancaster County, settled primarily by German and Swiss immigrants who arrived, for the most part, in the several decades following the county's formation in 1729. The area generally referred to as the Cocalico Valley includes the original township of Cocalico, since divided into East and West Cocalico and Ephrata Townships, the neighboring and culturally aligned townships of Clay and West Earl and a portion of Earl Township. This includes the present boroughs of Adamstown, Akron, Denver and Ephrata, and the villages and communities of Brownstown, Clay, Hahnstown, Hinkletown, Reamstown, and Schoeneck, among others.
Our History
The Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley was formed in 1957 originally as a project of the Ephrata Recreation Center. In 1961, the same year in which the Society applied for its charter, the organization purchased the Moore Connell home, a gracious Italianate-style dwelling erected in 1868 and 1869. The house became available following the death of its owner, Nora Connell, the youngest daughter and only remaining direct descendent of builders Moore and Rebecca Connell.
Initially the Society shared the Connell Mansion with the newly-formed Ephrata Public Library, with which it was affiliated. The two organizations became independent not long afterwards, and the library built and moved into its own facility in 1967. Cataloging of the Society's rapidly growing artifact, manuscript, photograph and microfilm collections began in 1978, and the museum and library were opened to the public on a regular daytime basis when the Society's librarian was hired in 1985.
In 1989 the Society purchased the home adjoining the Society to the east, for its intended purpose as the Society's library and storage of collections moved, the Connell Mansion will be renovated for exclusive use as a museum."
In our 50th year, 2007, as a society, and after four years of planning and much
hard work our Heritage Matters capital campaign came to fruition. On October
20th 2007 we dedicated the newly renovated William and Jemima Brossman Library and
Research Center and The Theodore R. Sprecher Museum, A dedication ceremony was
held on the grounds in beautiful weather at 1:30 p.m. and the 50th Anniversary
Banquet was held at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion, Cloister Post 429 in
Ephrata. Guest speakers were Evelyn Ay Sempier, a former Miss America and Lt.
Gen. Ronald Blanck (Retired), with music provided by Frankie Widder. The
Heritage Matters campaign
allowed for major renovations to the Hamaker House,
converting the property into the Society’s new library, providing space and
protection for its collections in a fireproof,
humidity-controlled vault. A new entrance, lobby and
handicapped accessible restrooms, along with a spacious
reading room for researchers. Next, the interior of the former Connell Mansion,
built in 1869, was refurbished
and all twelve rooms of the building have been converted into exhibit spaces and
period room settings for the display of the Society’s collections.
A third aspect of the project included the construction of a new parking
area to the rear of the Society’s property, landscaping of the grounds and
grading to insure proper drainage, and other features addressing
appearance and security. Also
included as part of the grounds project will be the restoration of the
picturesque Farmers National Bank clock on the front lawn of the Society.
OFFICERS - 2008
|
President |
Clarence Spohn |
| Vice President | Gerald Wingenroth |
| Recording Secretary | Ellen Depuy |
| Corresponding Secretary | Joy Althouse |
| Treasurer | Joel Westerhoff |
| Librarian | Cynthia Marquet |
Trustees At Large
| Gladys Eckenroad | 2008 |
| Dolores Leed | 2008 |
| Beth McCollom | 2008 |
| Beth Parson | 2008 |
| Lowell Haws | 2009 |
| John Hibschman | 2009 |
| David Willett | 2009 |
| Morton Fry | 2010 |
| William Irvine | 2010 |
| Lorna Ravegum | 2010 |
| Susan Reber | 2010 |