Norman Gasbarro | April 18, 2012
The house presently on Lot #58 was originally on Lot #26 and was moved to its new location in 1910. It was built prior to 1818 for Henry Ramberger who was the first owner of the lot. Early owners of this house were Emanuel Hoffman and Solomon Laudenslager. In 1860, the house was sold to […]
Norman Gasbarro | September 24, 2011
The house on this property, Lot #47, was built in the 1820s by Joshua Osman who purchased the lot from Simon Gratz in 1818. Some time around 1824, Peter Crabb (1787-?), a blacksmith, purchased the property from Osman, and probably built the small building in the rear which he used as a blacksmith shop. Peter […]
Norman Gasbarro | July 6, 2011
The story of Octavius Valentine Catto (1839-1871) gives researchers an interesting opportunity to connect the events of his life with major events in Pennsylvania – and in particular with members of the Gratz family in Philadelphia and events that were happening in Gratz Borough, Dauphin County. Octavius Catto was the son of a former slave […]
Norman Gasbarro | July 3, 2011
This is the fourth in a series of posts on Gratz during the Civil War. Lot #19 and the house on it was purchased by Jeremiah Crabb (1826-?), a blacksmith, in 1854. Previously, the property had been owned by Adonjah Mathias who sold it to Crabb. Mathias, a wheelwright and turner, was the original purchaser […]
Norman Gasbarro | April 10, 2011
The Underground Railroad was the name given to a 19th century hidden network of routes by which African-Americans escaped from slavery to freedom – for the most part, to the north and to Canada. Abolitionists aided the escaping African-Americans and established a series of safe-houses or hiding places along the way as well aiding the […]
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