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."
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Strinestown Fire Company 1956
Read about: Camp Ganoga
Ganoga Bridge named in honor of the camp.
Girl's Scout Camp Cann-Edi-On now YWCA 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:
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.
Camp Ganoga pictures are from the York History Center.