Please join us on May 24, 2018, for a tour of the Red Lion Train Station Museum.  Instead of our usual speaker, docents will direct visitors on a tour of the Museum. Since consolidating all artifacts from the Center Square Museum, the Station Museum has undergone remarkable changes. Items that had never been displayed in the past, are now on view.

The meeting will begin at 7:00, at 73 North Main Street, Red Lion. Parking is at the metered spots (no charge) and beside the Station. For more information, call the RLAHS at 717-244-1912.  Meetings are free and open to the public; membership is not a requirement to attend.

Join us on March 22, 2018, at 7:00 p.m., at St. John’s UCC, 161 North Main Street, Red Lion PA. Our speaker will be genealogist Jerry Smith. His topic is Pitfalls in Genealogy Research (with a Few Horrid & Humorous Examples.)   We will explore common misconceptions, mistakes and traps that researchers unwittingly include in their own family history research. Being aware of these is the first step in making sure your own family history is accurate. Using the right resources and techniques may get you through your brick wall. Discussion will include readily available, but lesser used resources often overlooked in family research.

All budding, as well as, experienced genealogists are invited to attend. Our meetings are free and open to the public. Parking is available at the rear of the church.

Tom showing an antique baseball uniform.

Please join us on February 22, 2018, for our annual Show and Tell meeting! Just like in grade school, bring an interesting, unique, or antique item and tell us about it. It is so much fun to see what everyone brings. Meetings start at 7:00.

Our meeting will be held at St John’s UCC, 161 North Main Street, Red Lion, PA. Meetings are free and open to the public. In the event of snow, we’ll cancel if Red Lion Area Schools cancel or let out early. If they are only delayed a couple hours, we’re still on.

Please join us on Nov 16, at 7:00 to hear Mr. Scott Butcher’s presentation “Belsnickel & Belly-Guts: Holiday Traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch.” We meet at St. John’s UCC, 161 N Main Street, Red Lion, PA. Parking is behind the church and we meet on the ground level of the building. Our meetings are free and open to the public. We’d love to see you!

The Red Lion Area Historical Society will host another of their Speakers Series with a program on October 23, 2017, at 7:00 p.m.  Rev. Dr. Stephen Nicholas Jr. and Terrence Downs will be the guests. The meeting will be at St. John’s Church, 161 North Main Street, Red Lion. The meeting room is on the ground floor, accessed from the parking lot behind the church. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Dr. Nicholas will speak on the incredible life of S. Morgan Smith who began life as a farm boy in North Carolina, trained and served as a minister in the Moravian Church, enlisted as a chaplain in the Union Army, then became an inventor and arguably the leading industrialist in the history of York County.   Five existing companies in York, including American Hydro and PCC, trace their roots to the efforts of S. Morgan Smith.  Jim McClure, editor of the York Daily Record, refers to Smith as “the pre-eminent industrialist in the history of York…”

Smith’s first patent was granted for a mechanical washing machine invented in 1870 which he called the “Success”.   The Success was the first commercially successful washing machine and earned thousands of dollars for Smith.  One of four existing machines is on display at the Agricultural and Industrial Museum in York.   His third patent, issued December 16, 1876, was for an improved water turbine also named the “Success”.   This turbine became the foundation of Smith’s industrial empire.

The Rev. Dr. Stephen Nicholas Jr. is a retired Moravian Minister, a member of First Moravian Church in York, where S. Morgan Smith served as pastor from 1861-1866,  and a distant relative of Smith.   Rev. Nicholas has recently completed a biography of Smith, titled, “Reinventing the Wheel, the Incredible Story of S. Morgan Smith, Minister, Inventor, Industrialist.”  Local historian Downs is a native of York and graduate of Central High School.  He is an heritage environmental artist and advocate,  columnist for the York Sunday News, consultant for the renovation of the Yorktowne Hotel, and member of the board for the Goodridge Freedom Center in York.

On September 28, 2017, we will present Ms.  Jennifer Henderson, archivist from the Milton S Hershey Foundation, who will speak on  Before there was Hershey, Milton Hershey and Lancaster. She will tell us about Mr. Hershey’s early years. We will learn about HB Reese, local York County candy man too! He got his start in the Bridgeton/Woodbine area and some of his relatives belong to the Red Lion Area Historical Society!  Please join us.

All meetings, unless otherwise noted, are held at St. John UCC on North Main St and begin at 7:00 P.M.  Parking is available off the alley behind the church.  The lot can be accessed via East Gay Street.  Please feel free to invite friends and family.  These events are open to the general public totally free of charge.