News from our Lancaster County Chapter

The Lancaster County Chapter celebrated Washington’s Birthday on February 21^st with more than 50 members and guests in attendance.

Guests included speaker Craig Coleman who is a descendant of the family that developed the Elizabeth Iron Furnace in northern Lancaster County. The furnace supplied the Continental Army with munitions and later became the engine of a family empire. Craig and his family have spent much of the last decade restoring the site and its original structures and he hopes it can serve as a location for State Society events. Also in attendance were members of the Donegal-Witness Tree Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Our chapter will be supporting two of their rededication events later this year.

Also, the Jack Loose Scholarship recipients spent the morning of February 6^th, at the American Philosophical Society and then visited the 23^rd Street Armory where Honorary Captain Dennis Boylan graciously told the story of the armory and the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. These events have been directly or indirectly made possible by the funds that the State Society has allocated for our chapter and we again express our gratitude for the support.

The evening of May 9, 2026, marked an auspicious occasion for the Lancaster County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society – the Centennial Celebration of the Lancaster County Chapter’s charter being bestowed back in May of 1926. To celebrate this wonderful occasion, members and guests from the Lancaster Chapter, and an enthusiastic delegation from the State Society led by Society President C. Michael Whelan, joined in celebration of this impressive milestone at Pepper Theo Café, on the grounds of The Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

The evening began with Regent Shawn P. Gallagher, Ph.D. and Event Chairman Peter L. H. Byrne greeting guests as they arrived at the spectacular 1916 Tudor Revival Style banquet hall, and before long, everyone was enjoying the wonderful cocktail reception complete with delightful hors d’oeuvres and the Stoll and Wolfe enhanced bar. The original Charter document from 1926, alongside 3 newspaper articles from that time were also on display for all to enjoy and appreciate.

Dinner was called at 6:45 PM and the program began with The Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation. Regent Gallagher welcomed all the members and guests, and the festivities of the evening included a reading and presentation of a formal Proclamation by President Whelan recognizing the superb achievement of the Lancaster County Chapter on its Centennial Celebration. The program also included a wonderful moment of recognition of Lancaster County-member Floyd Dewey Atkins, our Society’s oldest member at a spry 100-years young. Mr. Atkins regaled the room with some poignant and humorous remarks about everything he’s seen in his 100 years.

As everyone finished their delicious entrées, the evening’s keynote speaker was introduced – local historian Benton G. Webber, P.E., – and he treated everyone to a fascinating talk of what life was like in Lancaster 250 years ago, and the important role that Lancaster played in the American Revolution. The evening concluded with members and guests being presented with commemorative engraved stemless wine glasses as they left the venue at the end of a wonderful evening. Here’s to the next 100 years, Lancaster.