Lancaster County, Pa.

"The Lititz Express." Printed on the back of this postcard: "Souvenir, July 4, 1907. Power demonstration on Express Printing Company's float." Evidently, the Lititz Express , a newspaper published until the 1930s in Lititz, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, printed this punning illustration with a press on board its Fourth of July parade float in 1907. I've heard of souvenir printings "on the ice" for frost fairs when the River Thames in London froze over in past centuries, and I have some menus and other items that were printed aboard ships during cruises, but I can't recall seeing anything else printed during a parade. Has anyone else encountered any other examples of printing on ice, parade float, ship, train, plane, automobile, or in any other unique circumstances?

The borough of Lititz, located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, has hosted a Fourth of July celebration--including a "Fairyland of Candles," as mentioned in this notice from 1940--for well over 100 years. The Lititz Web site provides additional details: "One of America's oldest continuing observance of Independence Day also takes place in Lititz. Since 1818 the community-wide Fourth of July celebration in Lititz Springs Park has been a mainstay. The festivities include the 'Fairyland of Candles' along the Lititz Run within the Park, which is a grand illumination of over 7,000 candles, started in 1843 when only 400 were lighted." -------- "Lititz Springs Park, Thursday, July 4, 1940, afternoon and evening. 98th annual Fairyland of Candles. 7,000 candles, only display of its kind in America. Hon William S. Livengood, Jr., secretary of internal affairs, guest speaker, 7:30 p.m. Streaker's Band of Lancaster, concerts from 2 to 10:30 p.m. (D.S.T.). Punch and Judy, three shows, 3:00, 4:45, 6:00 p.m. 3rd annual Photographic Salon, more prints than ever from U.S. and foreign lands. Baby Parade, 4:30 p.m. Gigantic fireworks display. Admission, 35c, children under 12 free, free parking. Largest program ever offered for the money; continuous from 2 to 11 p.m. Bring your supper and spend the day."

"For state senator, 1888: John H. Landis, of Manor Township. Subject to Republican rules. 'A fraud in the count is the destruction of Republican government.'--James G. Blaine." John H. Landis, from Manor Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, used this card when he ran for state senator in 1888. He quoted James G. Blaine , a Republican party leader who was the unsuccessful presidential nominee in 1884. Blaine was nicknamed the "Plumed Knight," and it's likely that the feather, or "plume," on the card was a reference to Blaine. Interestingly, commentary on the front page of the Lancaster Daily Intelligencer , March 19, 1888 , specifically mentioned this card: "Candidate Landis got a good bit of cheap advertising as the prosecutor of the Indiantown and Sixth Ward election boards and the discussion of the cases has caused him to be known in every household of the county as the champion of a fair election and honest return. His campaign card bears on it a white plume and this extract from one of Blaine's speeches, 'A fraud in the count is the destruction of Republican government.'... If Landis gets the vote in this city his friends look for, he will pull through." Landis lost the election to the incumbent, State Senator Amos H. Mylin.

A nineteenth-century sale bill announcing an auction of livestock, vehicles, and agricultural equipment. A Positive Sale! Third monthly sale at the Bazaar! Cross Keys Hotel, Marietta, Pa., on Thursday, December 29, 1887. The following will be sold, to wit: One horse, a fine Jersey bull calf that drew first premium at the Lancaster County Fair. Also a full Alderney cow and calf, two fat hogs, weighing about 200 pounds each. One new shifting top buggy, one new Cortland road cart, one market wagon (second-hand), a few sleighs (Albany cutters). One Root corn planter with fertilizer attachment, good as new. One Perry spring tooth harrow (new), two Princess plows, two double harpoon hay forks, sleigh bells, and other valuable articles. Sale to commence at 2 o'clock p.m. Terms 60 days. Simon L. Brandt, secretary. N.B. No articles will be withdrawn. Marietta Times Print.

"To Mount Joy Broom Co. Dr. Manufacturers of brooms. Mount Joy, Pa., ________ 19__. Terms: ________."

"Red Rose Boys, radio, vaudeville, and dance entertainers, Paul E. Shank, mgr., Rheems, Pa. Phone 109J2, E'town ex. Entertainment for all occasions. WGAL, WEEU, WHP."

Spelling Bee to be held at the West Terre Hill School, Friday eve., April 3, 1925. There will be three classes: 1st--Spelling, open to pupils 14 years and under. 2nd--Spelling, open to all. 3rd--General information class. Three prizes given each class. A special program will be rendered, consisting of recitations, dialogues, and singing. Admission, 15c. Everybody invited. Doors open 7:00. Bee to buzz, 7:30. Helena Becker, teacher. Times Print, Terre Hill, Pa.

"May your family fireside radiate and reflect the warmth and glow of a happy Christmas. Long & Company, one-half square east of R.R. sta. Phone 19. Lititz, Pennsylvania. Famous Reading Anthracite."

"Ach! ________ ve hurd yer talkin' schpielen vay ofer he-yah in Dutch country, yet! Signal received ________, 19____ at ________. Genuine hex sign." Translation of the fake Pennsylvania German : "Oh! ________ we heard your talking [while it was] playing [on the radio] way over here in the [Pennsylvania] Dutch country , yet!" This QSL card is a postcard that was intended for use in acknowledging communications between amateur Citizens Band (CB) or shortwave radio operators. The cartoonish Amishman is pointing to the location of Lancaster County within the outline of the state of Pennsylvania . Ironically, Amish do not add hex signs or any other decorations to their barns. I'm not certain of the origin of this QSL card. Perhaps it was sold at tourist attractions in Lancaster County when CB radio was popular in the 1970s, or maybe it was printed for a meeting of radio enthusiasts that took place in the county.

Something "mysterious" for the the Vintage Photos Theme Park . This photo was identified as a " spirit photograph " when I bought it at an antique co-op in 1994. Handwritten on the back of the photo is the following: "Camp Silver Bell, Mountain Springs Hotel, Ephrata, Pa." Camp Silver Belle was a Spiritualist group founded by Ethel Post-Parrish , a medium whose Indian spirit guide was named Silver Belle. The group held lectures and meetings at the Mountain Springs Hotel in Ephrata, Pa., and published a schedule of programs as late as 1976 (see Silver Belle Presents Lecturers, Teachers, World-Famous Psychics, 1976 ). Eventually, however, the group became inactive, and the hotel fell into disrepair. Today, the facade of the old hotel remains , but the rest of the hotel site was demolished in 2004 to make way for a Hampton Inn hotel and an Applebee's restaurant. So what is that strange haziness hovering above the audience? An ectoplasmic manifestation from another spiritual realm? Hokum conjured up by sleight of hand and camera? Or just an odd yet coincidental defect in the film or developing?

"Visit Dutch Wonderland, Lancaster, Pa. New . . . ride the fantastic overhead monorail. For youngsters of all ages from one to ninety-one. 34 acres of enchanted adventure for every member of the family." Cover of a brochure advertising Dutch Wonderland , an amusement park located along the Lincoln Highway (U.S. Route 30) in the "Amish Country" tourist area of eastern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Dutch Wonderland (the name refers to " Pennsylvania Dutch " rather than Holland Dutch) opened in 1963 and observed its fiftieth year of operation in 2013. See also Amish Folks at Dutch Wonderland, Lancaster. Pa.

Autumn Sociable. Social Twelve cordially request the pleasure of your company and that of your friend on Saturday evening, Oct. 10th, 1896, at 7:15 o'clock, to join a social party at the residence of Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Ressler at Aberdeen. Committee: Social Twelve. Should the weather prove unfavorable the party will be held the following Saturd'y. Refreshments required.

An on the farm photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. A photo showing a remarkable assortment of people, animals, and equipment on display in front of a large Pennsylvania barn . The dealer's tag on this cardboard-mounted photo identified the location as a farm near Quarryville , Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Mouse over the image above to see close-ups of the men, women, horses, cows, carriages, and plows visible in the foreground.

For more information, see the full version of this photo:

For more information, see the full version of this photo:

"The Fifty-Fifth Annual Observance of Groundhog Day, Saturday, February 2, 1963, in the 187th year of the Independence of the United States of America, by the Slumbering Groundhog Lodge of Quarryville in Lancaster County, the Garden Spot of America, likewise in the State of Pennsylvania and the United States of America." This is an enlargement of the groundhog illustration on the front cover of the Slumbering Groundhog Lodge's program for its 1963 celebration. The lodge members call upon their own groundhog, Octoraro Orphie, to forecast the weather in Quarryille , Pennsylvania, each year on Groundhog Day , which occurs on February 2. (Farther west in Pennsylvania, another group, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, relies upon a different groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil , to predict the weather in Punxsutawney , Pennsylvania.) The Colerain Township, Pa. Web site (viewed in 2015 but no longer available in 2017) describes the Slumbering Groundhog Lodge this way: "The Slumbering Groundhog Lodge of Quarryville, Pennsylvania was founded on Groundhog Day, February 2, 1908, by George W. Hensel, Jr. The big boss is a fuzzy buck-toothed creature named 'Orphie' and he has the unique ability to forecast an early or late spring with the help of his shadow. Honorary members of the lodge include Sir Winston Churchill, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and J. Edgar Hoover. The purpose of the club is for members to throw away worries, cares, and woes and have a good laugh at themselves." For more information, see the full front cover of this 1963 program , the back cover , and the lodge's 1921 Groundhog Day menu .

The top section of the front cover of this Groundhog Day program from 1963 grandly announces, "The Fifty-Fifth Annual Observance of Groundhog Day, Saturday, February 2, 1963, in the 187th year of the Independence of the United States of America, by the Slumbering Groundhog Lodge of Quarryville in Lancaster County, the Garden Spot of America, likewise in the State of Pennsylvania and the United States of America." The middle section of the cover contains a list of past members of the lodge, while the bottom part advises current members to await the pronouncement of Octoraro Orphie, their Weather Prophet: "Let us sit by the side of the Groundhog hole and wait for the Prophet who knows, who can tell when the winter is over and gone and done with its ice and its snows. Why should we hark to the siren call of those of a spurious clan! Let us sit by the side of a Groundhog hole and wait for the Prophet who can." For additional information about the Slumbering Groundhog Lodge, see an enlargement of the groundhog illustration on the front cover of this 1963 program , the back cover of the program , and the lodge's 1921 Groundhog Day menu .