Welcome Packet - Christiana



The Borough of Christiana

Welcome Booklet

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“FREEDOM BEGAN HERE”

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Welcome to Christiana!

We are glad you are here and hope this information packet provides you with what you need to know to help you get oriented to your new town.

It’s our hope that this packet will give you a clear picture of what Christiana has to offer. We also hope that you will become an active participant in our community.

This packet is divided into the following sections:

Christiana’s Beginnings 4

Borough Government 7

Community Services 7

Education 8

Churches 8

Local Businesses 9

Recreation Activities, Events, and Organizations 10

Recreation Facilities 11

Voting Information 11

Some of the information in this booklet, and additional information, is available at our borough website. Please visit us at christiana..

Our town has a rich history and we start this booklet with a brief recount of Christiana’s history. This information has been excerpted from the 1994 Christiana Centennial booklet.

Christiana’s Beginnings

1691-1846

The year was 1691 when the settler, John Kemmerly, moved into the area now known as Sadsbury Township. Shortly thereafter, William Penn granted his first tract of one thousand acres which included a Shawnee Indian village.

Indian villages were once located in a number of places surrounding what is now Christiana Borough. One such village was located at the end of Broad Street, near the Williams Run development. It was a large Shawnee tribe who quarried soap stone from a mine located on a hill overlooking the creek along which their homes were located. Pieces of soap stone bowls and other artifacts could be found in this area as late as 1900.

Through warrants issued in 1702, 1703, and 1709, a tract of one thousand and fifty acres, on a part of which was taken up as “servants land.” Twenty-one servants came from England into Pennsylvania and were each granted fifty acres by virtue of the Proprietary’s promise in their homeland. These original settlers were Friends and Scotch-Irish Presbyterians.

Lancaster County was formed from a portion of Chester County in 1729. Through this separation, Sadsbury Township, Lancaster County was formed from Sadsbury Township, Chester County.

Christiana began as a settlement in 1775 when Calvin Cooper constructed a fulling-mill, the first of many mills along the banks of the Octorara. It has been held that the machinery used was brought to this country from England. Moore’s, Sterrett’s, and Taylor’s grist mills were erected soon after the organization of the county.

Because of word in 1833 that the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad would build a line that would pass through the area, William Noble constructed a foundry, blacksmith shop, and machine shop and, using the railroad to form a dam breast, a waterwheel-house. All were put into operation in 1834.

In 1844, Hugh McClarron built a warehouse near the railroad and, for some years thereafter, engaged in the grain and produce business. Mr. Noble’s foundry continued operation until 1844 when operations were suspended. At this time, the settlement was known as McClarronville.

In the summer of 1846, Samuel L. Denney purchased the foundry from Mr. Noble along with twelve acres of land. He again opened the foundry and started the operation of a machine shop. This shop later became known as the Christiana Machine Company. Because of the successful operation of this business, an influx of workmen were brought to the area. Also in town, were the farm buildings of Samuel Slokom and Zercher’s Hotel.

1847-1883

Because of the dissatisfaction of the local populace with the name McClarronville, the town name was changed in 1847 to Christiana, in honor of Christiana Noble, the first wife of William Noble. During the same year, Pownall and Dickinson erected two brick dwellings and a brick store, now part of Christiana Enterprises. During this same year, a warehouse was constructed and a lumber-yard established by the same Pownall and Dickinson. It went through several owners until 1873 when it was purchased by Brinton Walter who enlarged the buildings and increased the capacity of the business. He laid a double track from the Pennsylvania Railroad, and erected coal bins with a railroad track on trestles above them.

The events of September 11, 1851, now known as the Christiana Riot, brought great excitement and national recognition to the area. Blood was shed, one person lost his life, another was severely wounded and many of the town’s residents were arrested, placed in jail and tried for treason against the United States Government. Found “Not Guilty,” many of those charged went on to be forceful spokesmen for the cause of freedom and worked for the revocation of the Fugitive Slave Act.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Denney noticed that, because of a shortage of molasses and syrups, manufacturing them from sorghum cane could be very profitable. He had invented a process and obtained a patent for a mill or machine for pressing the juice from the cane. He sold this right to Isaac Broomell and the manufacture of this machinery proved to be an important addition to the articles already produced at the machine company. All of the power for the machine company, until about 1883, had been furnished by water power from the North Branch of the Octorara Creek. But, by this time it was no longer sufficient and steam power was introduced and used almost exclusively.

In 1882, the National Bank of Christiana was formed with a capital of $50,000. And by 1883, Christiana was considered one of the most active business towns in Lancaster County. The population had reached an estimate of 800. It had four general stores, one hardware store, one grocery, three millinery stores, two drug stores, two physicians, two restaurants, a bakery, three shoe shops, one merchant tailor, one barber, two tin shops, two blacksmith shops, one agricultural implement warehouse, one coal and lumber yard and three livery stables.

In 1883, the town’s first newspaper, the Christiana Ledger, was published by A.J. Melcher and J.M. White. It was a weekly paper of six columns, devoted to local and general news and was printed on a steam-powered press.

1884 - 1894

On August 22, 1893, a petition was approved by the Lancaster County Grand Jury stating that the right to incorporate could be placed on the ballot and a vote taken by those living in Christiana.

“And now, December 4th A.D. 1893, the Court confirms the judgment of the Grand Jury, and declares that the said town of Christiana be incorporated into a Borough in conformity with the prayer of the petitioners; that the corporate style and title thereof shall be ‘The Borough of Christiana’.” The incorporation was finalized in January, 1894.

Voting took place on February 20, 1894, and the move was made to incorporate. Those elected to office were:

Isaac W. Slokom Mayor

Mahlon B. Kent President of Council

James B. Kennedy Councilman

E.G. Bromell Councilman

Harry Daves Councilman

John D. Harrar Councilman

Brinton Walter Councilman

Thompson Pennock High Constable

P.E. Hannum Clerk

Nathaniel Gillespie Treasurer

The Council fully adopted the By-Laws on March 12, 1894 and on March 14, H.G. Book and A.W. Moore were hired to make a survey of the Borough limits. The cost for this service was $8.00.

On September 3, 1894, Andrew J. Melcher was offered the sum of $450.00 per year to furnish 25 lights of 32 candlepower to be located as directed by Council and for full night service of one hour after sunset and to continue until one-half hour after sunrise. The contract was to last for five years. Full, moon-lit nights were accepted. The first electric bill presented to the Council for one month was $38.50. The Christiana Electric Light Plant lasted until 1912 when it was sold to the Electric Company of Lancaster. The local company served Christiana, Atglen, Kinzers, and Lenover.

1895 - Today

On January 14, 1895, a lock-up was constructed in the fire hall, located on East Slokom Avenue. The lock-up was on the first floor and Council met on the second floor. This lock-up was used until 1939.

Andrew J. Melcher was given permission to dig up Borough streets on September 11, 1902 in order to lay steam pipes to be used for the heating of homes. It’s not known how long his steam heating system lasted but, by 1906, there were 34 electric lights in the Borough. At the same time, Mr. Melcher established a telephone system in town, the first in the county outside the city of Lancaster.

For entertainment, the local band arranged for five concerts to be held on the steps of the bank during the summer of 1913. The burgess was instructed to hire an officer to keep order during these occasions. He was to be on duty between the hours of 7:00 and 8:00pm and was paid $1.00 per night.

By 1916, the high level of taxes caused much talk among the local citizens. The tax was 35 cents for each horse kept within Borough limits. Since this was the main method of transportation at that time, the people were of the opinion that they were paying too much.

In checking the Borough Council minute book, the Council continued to use a horse and cart of Borough service as late as March 7, 1939.

It was once stated that Christiana was as well and favorably known as any town of its size in Pennsylvania. “The name of the town is associated with antebellum events scarcely less known in political history than John Brown’s raid and the Harper’s Ferry Riot.”

Christiana Borough has remained, to the present, a quiet town with a country atmosphere. The population has remained at the same level over the past twenty-five years and building construction has been limited to the one area of the Borough. Our citizens feel that they belong here and that this is where children can be raised in a proper manner in healthy surroundings.

The Christiana Riot Monument, standing at the corner of Green Street and East Slokom Avenue stands as a silent reminder of the events that once put Christiana on the national map. It reminds those passing that our past residents, long gone from the scene, believed that freedom belonged to everyone and that the law should be a protector of all its citizens.

Borough Government

The Christiana Borough Council meets at 7:00pm the first Tuesday of every month in the Christiana Borough Hall Building at 10 W. Slokum Ave.. The public is invited to attend.

|Name or Office |Address |Contact |

|Borough office |PO Box 135 |610-593-5199 |

| |10 W. Slokom Ave |610-593-7073 fax |

|Virginia Blair - Council |10 W Slokom Ave., PO Box 135 | |

|Robin Coffroth - Council President |10 W Slokom Ave., PO Box 135 |610-593-2100 |

|R. David Hirst - Council |10 W Slokom Ave., PO Box 135 | |

|Glenn Kendig - Council |10 W Slokom Ave., PO Box 135 |610-593-6313 |

|Michele Maser - Council |10 W Slokom Ave., PO Box 135 |610-593-1017 |

|Gerald Woods - Council |10 W Slokom Ave., PO Box 135 |717-413-2872 |

|Jeff Peterson - Council |10 W Slokom Ave., PO Box 135 |610-593-5892 |

|Mark Carner - Mayor |10 W. Slokom Ave. |610-593-1195 |

| |PO Box 135 |Evenings/Weekends |

| | |6:00 – 9:00pm |

|Carol L. Pringle - Borough Manager |10 W. Slokom Ave. |610-593-5199 |

|Secretary/Treasurer |PO Box 135 | |

|Lancaster Co. Treasurer - Tax Collector |PO Box 83480, Lancaster, PA |717-299-8222 |

Community Services

|Name |Location |Events |Contact |

|Christiana Fire Company |214 S. Bridge St. |Monthly Saturday breakfast, Basket bingo |Dial 911 for emergency |

| | |4 times/year, Annual chicken pot-pie and |Sonny Reimold |

| | |spaghetti dinners |Fire Chief |

| | | |Business calls: |

| | | |610-593-2142 |

| | | | |

| | | |Activities Committee |

| | | |Mrs. John Kauffman (Upper Valley Rd.)|

| | | |or |

| | | |Trish McAlevey |

| | | |610-593-1998 |

|Christiana Police Department |10 W. Slokom Ave. | |Dial 911 for emergency |

| | | |Business calls: |

| | | |610-593-2234 |

|Christiana Community Ambulance |55 Pine St. | |Dial 911 for emergency |

|Assoc., Inc. | | |610-593-8166 |

|Meals on Wheels |23 Green St. | |Selma Wells |

| |528 W. Broad St. | |610-593-5467 |

| |New Holland | |717-354-7857 |

|Christiana Borough Sewage Treatment |1200 Valley Avenue | |Evan Fields |

|Plant | | |610-593-6502 |

| | | |610-593-0387 fax |

|Christiana Borough Water Treatment |Simmontown Rd. | |Evan Fields |

|Plant |Gap | |717-442-1095 |

|Trash Collection |Trash and recycle materials are collected on Monday morning. Your recycle |Borough office |

|Eagle Disposal |bin should be at your residence, left there by the previous resident. If you|610-593-5199 |

| |need a recycle bin, please contact the borough office. | |

Education

|Name |Location |Contact |

|Octorara Primary Learning Center (OPLC) |Highland Rd., Atglen |610-593-8350 |

|Octorara Elementary School (OES) |Highland Rd., Atglen |610-593-8244 |

|Octorara Middle School (OMS) |Highland Rd., Atglen |610-593-8221 |

|Octorara High School (OHS) |Highland Rd., Atglen |610-593-8251 |

Churches

|Name |Pastor/Services |Location |Contact |

|Christiana United Methodist |Allan Sumerfield |14 S. Bridge St. |610-593-6270 |

| |9:30am Sunday school (all ages) | |christianaumc@ |

| |10:45am Sunday worship | | |

| |Alpha program offered | | |

|Freedom Life Christian Center |Sam Masteller |447 Noble Rd. |610-593-5959 |

|Latta Memorial Presbyterian |9:30am Sunday school |23 Green St. |610-593-5467 |

| |10:45 Sunday worship | | |

|Living Truth Fellowship |Pastor Pat Wilson |1 Penn Ave |610-593-2212 |

| |9:00am Sunday school | |ltfchurch@ |

| |10:00 Sunday worship | | |

|Our Lady of Consolation (Roman |Rev. Victor J. Eschbach |603 West 2nd Ave. |610-857-3510 |

|Catholic) |Saturday 5pm (Church), |Parkesburg | |

| |Sunday 7:30am (Church), 9am (Parish | | |

| |Center); 11am (Church); 5pm (Parish Center)| | |

|Sadsbury Monthly Meeting of the|Niki Barnes (clerk) |Simmontown Rd. |610-593-7004 |

|Religious Society of Friends |10:15 Service |Gap | |

|(Quaker) |11:00 Adult forum | | |

|Mt. Zion AME |Rev. Linwood M. Smith, Jr. |404 Zion Hill Rd |610-593-2531 |

| |10:30am Sunday worship |Atglen, PA | |

| |7:00pm Bible Study | | |

Local Businesses

|Name |Nature of Business |Location |Contact |

|Angie’s Shampoo & Shave |Grooming, Training, Boarding and Daycare |28 S. Bridge Street |610-593-5631 |

| | | | |

|Appel & Yost |Attorney |4 Sadsbury Ave. |610-593-6740 |

| | | | |

|Bond Machine Company |Machining |11 Green St. |610-593-5171 |

|Chantry Place |Wedding & Special events facility |15 North Bridge Street |610-593-6945 |

| | | | |

|Christiana Eye Care |Optometrist |316 Newport Ave. |610-593-6670 |

|Christiana Garage |Car repair & maintenance |315 S. Bridge St. |610-593-6362 |

| | | | |

|Christiana Laundry, Car Wash |Dry cleaning, Self- service laundry, | | |

|& Tanning |Self-service and automatic car wash, tanning|150 Water St. |610-593-5298 |

|Clean Stream Water |Water filtration & purification |129 Sadsbury Ave |610-593-6242 |

| | | | |

|Harrison House |Skilled-care facility |41 Newport Ave. |610-593-6901 |

| | | | |

|Joan Hirst |Realtor for Hostetter Realty |5288 Lincoln Hwy |717-442-4114 |

| | |Gap, PA | |

|Hirst Systems |TV, Stereo, satellite dish systems, home |8 Gay St. |610-593-5075 |

| |security systems | | |

|Kendig’s Auto Detailing |Auto detailing |158 Water St. |610-593-2739 |

| | | | |

|Kendig’s Heating & Air-conditioning |Installation & maintenance of heating & |119 N. Bridge St. |610-593-2293 |

| |air-conditioning systems | |

| | | |Kendigs |

|Kim Moore – Avon & Longaberger |Avon & Longaberger Representative |211 S. Bridge St. |610-593-8145 |

|Michele Maser –Tastefully Simple |Tasteful, simple food products for a unique |344 N. Bridge St. |610-593-1017 |

| |food experience | | |

|Pasquales |Pizza shop |16 Gay St. |610-593-5886 |

| | | |610-593-9393 |

| | | |

| | | |lesPizzaChristianaPA |

|Pipe Data View Services |Inspection service |318 S. Bridge St. |610-593-2263 |

|Robin Coffroth |Realtor for Barr Realty |PO Box 7 |717-442-9221 |

| | |Gap, PA |robin@ |

|Shivery Funeral Home |Funeral services |111 Elizabeth St. |610-593-5967 |

| | | | |

|The Barnyard |Storage sheds, gazebos, garages |52 Mill St. |610-593-840 |

| | | | |

|The Quilt Ledger |Quilting Supplies, Fabric |326 N. Bridge St. |610-593-7300 |

| | | | |

|Thiers Trucking |Military vehicle restoration & sales | |610-593-1218 |

|Underwood Plumbing |Plumbing | |610-593-6201 |

|Victorian Heritage, Inc. |General contractor – historic structure |109 Green St. |610-593-6612 |

| |restoration & preservation | | |

|Wenger & Company, PC |Accounting services for small businesses & |4 Sadsbury Ave. |610-593-6470 |

|Chad L. Wenger, CPA |farms | |Or |

| |Tax preparation for individuals, | |717-786-6935 |

| |corporations, partnerships & tax exempt | |Fax 610-593-2954 |

| |organizations | |www, |

|Walter & Jackson |Building supplies, deck design, window and |Gay St. |610-593-5195 |

| |door sales, kitchen design and layouts | | |

Recreation Activities, Events, and Organizations

|Name |Activities |Contact |

|American Legion |Holiday dinners and picnics |219 Newport Ave. |

| |Easter Egg Hunt |610-593-2993 |

| | |

| | |ost-865 |

|Borough Yard Sale |Annual community-wide yard sale |Borough Office |

| |(end of August - early September) |610-593-5199 |

|Christiana Historical Society |Program meetings/guest speakers |Darlene Colon – president |

| |Meets quarterly, second Wednesday of Month. |717-291-1253 |

|Christiana Lions’ Club |Monthly sub sale |325 N. Bridge St. |

| |Park clean-up | |

| |Old-fashioned Christmas & lighting contest |Questions email: |

| |Snow Prince/Princess contest |ChristianaLionsClub@ |

| |Christmas tree mulching | |

| |Biennial talent show |Face Book Page: |

| |White Cane Day | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Lancaster Chapter, National Railway Historical |Historical displays, rail excursions, railroad |Glenn Kendig |

|Society |preservation and restoration |610-593-6313 |

|Masonic Lodge |Party and Meeting facility available with small |Kirk Nields |

| |kitchen |115 E. Slokom Ave. |

|Moores Memorial Library |Public library |9 W. Slokom Avenue |

|Patricia Vandenbosch |Book clubs |610-593-6683 |

|Executive Director |Bus Trips | |

| |Head Start program | |

| |Book sales | |

| |Summer programs | |

Recreation Facilities

|Name |Facilities Available |Location |Contact |

|Lions’ Community Park |Playground equipment |N. Bridge St. |Jewell Shivery |

| |Baseball fields | |610-593-6945 |

| |Basketball courts | |Shawna Johnson |

| |Park rental | |484-356-5709 |

|Lions’ Community Building |Full kitchen |N. Bridge St. |Jewell Shivery |

| |Meeting room | |610-593-6945 |

| |Picnic pavilion | |Shawna Johnson |

| | | |484-356-5709 |

|Christiana Community Building | |10 W. Slokom Ave. |Borough Office |

| | | |610-593-5199 |

|South Community Park |Large field |Between S. Bridge & Water Sts. | |

| |Playground equipment | | |

|Freight Station |4,000 sq. ft. facility, rental of |10 Railroad Ave. |Cindy Kendig |

|NRHS Chapter |building, kitchen facility, 2 floors | |610-593-6313 |

|Head Quarters | | | |

Voting Information

|Area of Residence |Polling Location |

|Christiana Borough |Christiana Community Building |

| |10 W. Slokom Ave. |

|Sadsbury Township |Sadsbury Township Office |

| |1077 White Oak Rd. |

Christiana Borough Web Site



There you can find Borough Ordinances Information, Christiana Borough Calendar of Events, quarterly newsletters as well as find out who is currently serving your hometown.

If you have an organization or activity you would like listed in this Welcome Booklet contact:

Carol Pringle

Borough Manager

610-593-5199



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