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.
May 18th at 7:30 p.m. - ACNB Community Room
Jenny (Bixler) Lawyer will speak on her experiences as she and
two companions hiked the Appalachian Trail for 6 months in 2005
Jenny (Bixler) Lawyer, a graduate of Bermudian Springs High School, will be the featured speaker at our May 18th meeting.
In 2005, Jenny spent six months hiking the Appalachian Trail
from Georgia to Maine. Jenny will recount some of her experiences as
she and two companions took the trip of a lifetime. She will
speak of people she met and places she visited.
A graduate of Messiah College with a degree in Family Science, Jenny spent two years
working for AmeriCorp before devoting six months to hiking the Appalachian Trail. It was not that hiking the trail was something she had always wanted to do. She was asked to go, said yes, and the rest is history, as they say.
Ms. Lawyer will also discuss her pack
and the supplies needed for such an undertaking.
Memorial Day Remembrance, May 24th - Presbyterian Cemetery at 11:00 a.m.
The Gettysburg Blues, the ceremonial Unit of the SUVCW Camp 12, will be there to present a military salute. This cemetery is the final resting place of York Springs native General William Warren Stewart, one of two Civil War era generals from the York Springs area. His brother, Captain David McKinney Stewart, is also buried here, as well as several other Civil War era veterans. All members are encouraged to attend.
Memorial Day Remembrance, May 25th - Lutheran Cemetery at 10:00 a.m.
You are also invited to attend the annual Memorial Day Remembrance sponsored
by the York Springs Lions. In case of rain, it will be held in the Lutheran Church.
June 19th at 6:00 p.m. - Annual Family Picnic
held at Laura Hershey’s (8164 Carlisle Pike, Y.S.)
This will be our family picnic. Meat and everages will be provided.
Please bring a covered dish and your place settings with you.
Come early, so we can be ready to eat at 6 p.m. sharp.
Plan now to join your fellow members for a relaxing evening of fellowship.
Ye Olde Sulphur Spa Historical Society Awarded IMLS Bookshelf
Treasured objects and artifacts held by the Ye Olde Sulphur Spa Historical Society will be preserved for future generations with help from the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, a core set of conservation books and online resources donated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal funding of the nation’s museums and libraries. More>>
If you'd like to volunteer for our cataloging project, email info@yosshs.org
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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
YOSSHS Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. (except for July, August, December, & January) in the downstairs meeting room of the Adams County National Bank on 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
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Recollections of senior members of the community
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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