Interested in Local History?
YOSSHS works to encourage the study of the historical and cultural aspects of both York Springs and Adams County, Pennsylvania and to collect 
and preserve existing records and artifacts.
Our Historical Society is named for the famous York Sulphur Springs, which enjoyed a good reputation among the residents of Baltimore and Philadelphia during the 1800’s for its health-restoring properties. The York Sulphur Springs was the first summer resort in Adams County, and remained popular until the advent of the railroad made the Atlantic Beach resorts more attractive destinations. Daily stages ran from both Baltimore and Philadelphia to York Springs.
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Kitty Payne
Abduction Reenactment
July 24th @ 4:00 p.m.
Elkhorn Tavern
101 S. Main St. • Bendersville
(Bring a lawn chair)
Enslaved in Virginia, Kitty Payne was freed by her owner, after which Kitty and her children settled in Adams County. Two years later, slave catchers snatched the family from their Bear Mountain cabin and took them back to Virginia to be sold. Only with the help of local friends and neighbors was the family finally released.
Albert Cook Myers was the grandson of one of the three Quakers (Jesse Cook (1801-1855), Cyrus Griest (1803-1869) & William H. Wright (1812-1884) who about two weeks after the abduction, made an attempt to rescue Kitty in Virginia.
Unfortunately, the three were accosted at gun point and robbed of everything they had except their horses, so they were forced to return to Adams County empty-handed.
During the reenactment, some descendents of those involved in the original kidnapping will portray their ancestors. The event also includes the dedication of a wayside marker. Special guest is Kitty Payne's great-great-grandaughter.
This event is sponsored by YOSSHS member Debra McCauslin and For The Cause Productions, Inc. For more information, call 717-528-8553 or visit the Gettysburg Histories website
Special Thanks to YOSSHS member Bob Cooke for sharing his connection to the story.
Preserving Our Local History
Our Society owns and maintains the old Presbyterian Cemetery and the Election House.
The Presbyterian Cemetery is located just south of York Springs on Old Harrisburg Road. Civil War Brevet Brigadier General William Warren Stewart, who held the highest rank attained by any Adams Countian during the war, is buried there. Stewart, along with thirty other men from the York Springs area, mustered into service in front of the Presbyterian Church, which has since burned. These men joined with other Adams County residents in
Gettysburg to form Company K of the 1st Pennsylvania
Reserves.
The Election House, located on Rt. 94 at Rt. 15, is representative of many buildings of this type that were utilized during the mid-twentieth century as voting places.
Each year, the Society presents the program “ York Springs —The Underground Railroad and the Civil War” to the fifth grade classes at Bermudian Springs Middle School.
Members and visitors are encouraged to share their family histories, old photographs, and any artifact
of interest.
~Please don’t throw them away!~
Won't you join in preserving local
history
for future generations?
Join Us for a YOSSHS Meeting
Meetings resume on September 20, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
YOSSHS Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. (except for July, August, December, & January) at the Lions Club building just off Main Street in York Springs.
We have a diverse membership, which includes long time residents as well as newcomers to our community who are interested in local history and its preservation.
We invite you to visit one of our meetings soon to learn about our society and the history of both York Springs and Adams County. We hope you will find our gatherings interesting, and we welcome your membership!
Past Programs
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The Scots-Irish in Pennsylvania
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History of White Church (Episcopal) in York Springs
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Educating American Indian Girls at the Carlisle Indian School
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History of the apple industry in Adams County
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The Benjamin Gardner House
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Women Garment Workers and the ILGWU in 20th Century Pennsylvania
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History of the Kline Family Heirloom Weavers in Red Lion, Pennsylvania
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Presentation by Pennsylvania State Archivists on researching family genealogy
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Displays and explanations of Indian artifacts found locally
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Presentations and research on old houses and other buildings in the area
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Show and Tell…always popular, where members and visitors share valued possessions of
historical significance or interest with the Society
Contact Us
If you have questions or comments, or would like to join YOSSHS, contact us at:
Ye Olde Sulphur Spa
Historical Society
PO Box 161 • York Springs, PA 17372
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