Conewago Township History
"In 1742, John Garrettson, one of the first Quaker settlers, built the first mill along the
Conewago Creek, although it is uncertain if it was on the Newberry side or the Conewago
side. The large mill was built north of Strinestown setting the stage for milling to become one
of the first industries of Conewago Township.
The Township was formed out of Newberry and Dover Townships in 1818. The eastern
third of the Township came from Newberry while the western two-thirds came from Dover.
The original survey was made in October 1814 by Jacob Spangler and Daniel Small and
showed that the Township contained 11,000 acres. At the time it was formed, the
Township had 245 taxable inhabitants. The largest land owner at the time of the
Township’s formation was Colonel Henry Stover with approximately 328 acres valued at
$6,275. The Township was confirmed in the January term of court in 1818 and was named
after the winding streams that border the north, south and east. The name Conewago is an
Indian name which means “at the rapids” and was chosen because the Big Conewago
flows into the river at the foot of the rapids. The wedge shaped Township is nestled in
between Manchester on the east, Dover on the west and Newberry to the north.
In 1811, George Falsgraff produced pottery on a 21-acre farm in Conewago Township.
The Pfaltzgraff Company traces its roots this Conewago Pottery. In 1820, a very large mill
used for grinding grain, was built on lands owned by H.B. Strine, three- quarters of a mile
northwest of Strinestown, known at that time as Mount Pleasant. Cigar manufacturing was
an important industry for half a century. A tannery, run by Martin Copenhaffer, was once
located between Quickel’s Church and Lewisberry. Another important industry for the
Township was basket-making. The hills of Conewago were home to the Township’s basket-
makers. Native clay pottery was made by John Steffe and after his retirement the business
was taken over by his sons, Gabriel and Adam. Gabriel made pottery near the “Seven Stars
Hotel,” while Adam was near Strinestown. The township's oldest village, Strinestown, was
founded in 1800, and had a population numbering160 by 1886.
According to a historic survey done in September 1991 by Historic York and Architectural
Warehouse, there were at least 250 historic sites dated before 1900. There were another 60
that were listed after 1900. Some of these include: Baker Historic District (1780) S.R. 1201
and Conewago Creek; Col. Jacob Bear Mill (1849) 100 Hykes Road.; Bowers Bridge (1889)
Bowers Bridge Road; Mechlin Property (1860) at Bowers Bridge; Adam Miller House (1774)
440 Closerleaf Road; George Neuman House (1797) 475 Jug Road; and Nieman House
(1860) East Canal Rd just east of Zion View."
In September 2018, Conewago Township held their 200th anniversary. Their celebration
and printed history flyer has been provide for posting on this website for all to enjoy.
North Eastern York County History In Preservation NeyChip
Strinestown Fire Company 1956
Read about: Camp Ganoga
Ganoga Bridge named in honor of the camp.
Bear's Mill (Bair's Mill), Conewago Roller Mill. The first mill was built 1788-90 by Martin Shetter. The mill was last operated in 1956 by Harry Hykes. After a new feed store was built across the street beside the stone miller's house built by Col. Jacob Bear, some renovating and repair was required before the mill was turned into a seasonal haunted house for Halloween. Norman Bair, owned Bair's mill in Strinestown, York Co. PA. His son in law, Harry Hykes, took over the Strinestown mill in the mid 1940's, and it became known as Hykes Mill. The stone building still stands and is used seasonally as a haunted house.
Articles about the area:
Camp Ganoga pictures are from the York History Center.
Visit: ConewagoTwp.com
This eight foot tall lantern can be seen at the house near the corner of Canal Road and the Susquehanna Trail. It is from the Market Street Bridge in Harrisburg. In the mid-1960s, it was removed during bridge renovation by G.A. & F.C.. Wagman’s. One of the owners of the business lived there at that time. A sister lantern is located in front of Wagman’s business just a few miles south on the Trail. Read about these lanterns at Yorktown Square.
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