AREA HISTORY:  Historical Notes, Lower Windsor Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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HISTORICAL NOTES – Page 733

Cabin Branch received its name from the fact that the Indians built 
cabins along its bank near the Susquehanna, on lands now owned by Samuel 
and William Burg.

The Wrightsville & Chanceford Turnpike, five miles in length, starts at 
the former place, and extends across portions of Hellam and Lower 
Windsor to Jacob Himes’ hotel.  The charter of this road was granted in 
1881 to the company with permission to extend it to Brogueville.  L. E. 
Oleweiler and Peter Gilbert have lumber yards at convenient points along 
the pike.

The foundry owned by David Woodmansee, was located about two and one-
half miles from East Prospect.  A prosperous business was once done at 
it.  He became the first chief burgess of East Prospect.

About the time when Margaretta Furnace was in its prosperity, a store 
was started at this place by John Keyser, who kept it six years, and was 
succeeded by David Hengst, now living at an advanced age in Freeport, 
Ill.  The next proprietor was John Bentz, now of York, who remained 
eighteen years, and was followed by Reuben A. Paules, who for the past 
thirteen years enjoys a good trade in general merchandise.

A Stage Line runs daily between East Prospect and York for the purpose 
of carrying the mail.  The Stage goes to York in the morning and returns 
in the evening.  William Bausman is the contractor.

Lower Windsor produces a large amount of tobacco, and about 100,000 
cigars are made daily in the township, there being many factories.

The houses formerly owned by the proprietors of Woodstock Forge, and 
occupied by workmen, are now owned by different individuals.  There is 
now a hamlet there containing seventy-five people.

George Young, living near East Prospect, was a wagoner of the olden 
times, and made many trips from Baltimore and York to Wheeling and 
Pittsburgh, before the era of railroads.

Dritt’s Ferry, and a large tract of land owned by Capt. Jacob Dritt, of 
Revolutionary fame, was located along the river at the eastern extremity 
of Lower Windsor.  It was later known as the Bonham farm and is now 
owned by Henry Barshinger.  (See page 398.)

The Yorkana Band was organized July 12, 1882.  Lower Windsor Band was 
organized in 1875.

John Paules, now of Marietta, formerly of Lower Windsor, is ninety-three 
years old.

Anstine’s Fulling-mill is one of the past industries of Lower Windsor.

On Sunday, November 6, 1819, the “Corn and Gig House” of John Dritt, of 
this township, was destroyed by fire.  A gig and 1,000 bushels of corn 
were burned.

Cralyesville is an interesting hamlet in the southern part of Lower 
Windsor.