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 | July 1, 2011
Just about everyone in the Lykens Valley area of Pennsylvania knows the story of Gratz baseball star Carl Scheib and his quick ascent to the big leagues, becoming the youngest person ever signed to a American League baseball contract when he joined the Philadelphia Athletics at the age of 16 during the 1940s. Now a […]
Norman Gasbarro | June 25, 2011
The Postmaster of Gratz during the Civil War years of 1861-1865 was Daniel Lehr and the post pffice was located on the northeast corner of Market Square (Market & Center Streets) in Lehr’s General Store. The 1862 map shows the location and Lehr is listed in the “Business Directory” as the “Postmaster.” During the Civil […]
Norman Gasbarro | June 20, 2011
A recent donation of two large size portraits to the Gratz Historical Society has re-opened the question, “Who is John Hess?” Originally, the name of John Hess was added to the list of veterans from the Lykens Valley area because the name appears on the Millersburg Civil War Monument. Since no other John Hess was […]
Norman Gasbarro | June 19, 2011
This is the second part in a series on Civil War Gratz. This post focuses on the first public school in Gratz which was on Lot #11. The 1862 map of Gratz has a space marked “S.H.” where the school house existed. Most records indicate that there was a free public school located on Lot […]
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