AREA HISTORY:  Red Lion Borough, 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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RED LION BOROUGH – Page 722

This thriving town was laid out during the centennial year, by Mrs. Catharine Meyer.  
The survey was made by Jacob R. Wallace, of East Prospect.  It is located on the 
highest point of the York & Peach Bottom Railway, 892 feet above sea level and 536 
feet above York.  The down grade on the railroad toward York, for the first four 
miles, is 105 feet to the mile.  A train will run nearly to York from here without 
an engine.  In the other direction the grade is about eighty-five feet to the mile 
toward Felton.  It is ten miles by rail to York.  The old Wrightsville and Baltimore 
wagon route passes through it.


Origin of Name – The Red Lion Tavern was a characteristic old time public inn, with 
the picture of a lion painted red on the swinging sign in the front of the house.  
Tradition says the lion was not a voracious one that scared away thirsty  visitors, 
but a mild, peaceful sort of fellow, with an inviting look.

In the year 1852 John D. Meyer, a thrifty German, purchased a tract of land, a 
portion of both York and Windsor Townships, on which most of the town is built.  In 
the original survey 750 acres were included in the borough; at present there are 350 
acres.  When the railroad was built, the station at this point was named Red Lion, 
after the hotel.


Incorporation – The town did not increase much until after it was incorporated in 
the year 1880; since that time it has continued to prosper.  There were about 
twenty-five houses built in 1884.  Matthew Gable, in 1876, built the first house 
after the town was laid out.  Henry Wegman was the first burgess.  He was twice re-
elected, and was succeeded, in 1884, by John W. Burger, with J. B. Herman, Lewis 
Blockinger, Leander Hess, William Paules, J. A. Miller and Daniel Grim as 
councilmen.  Main Street passes north and south, Broadway crosses it at right 
angles.  First Avenue, Meyer Avenue, Charles and High Streets have been lately 
opened.  The population is about 400.


Business Industry – Mrs. Catharine Meyer, the founder of the town, owns the depot 
building, in which she conducts a store.  Miller Bros., deal in general merchandise, 
grain, phosphates, farming implements, coal and lumber.  Samuel Sprengle owns a 
steam saw-mill, and deals in feed, fertilizers and coal.  There are about thirty 
cigar factories, which give employment to a large number of the citizens.  The Red 
Lion Brick Company is a new enterprise.  William Knaub runs a steam planing-mill, 
manufacturing doors, sashes, etc.  There are two hotels and several new stores.


Bethany Church – Near the center of the town stands Bethany Church.  It belongs to 
the Dallastown Circuit of the United Brethren Church, and was built at a cost of 
$1,800, and dedicated November 24, 1882 – Rev. L. Peters, presiding elder, 
officiating.  The building committee were J. R. Green, Matthew Gable, Daniel Weaver 
and Samuel Sprengle.  The church membership, 1885, was twenty-nine.  A Sunday-school 
of seventy pupils and teachers is superintended by J. G. Gohn.  Rev. L. Kohr is 
pastor.  The building has a bell and tall spire.


St. John’s Reformed Church – Mrs. Catharine Meyer donated to the Reformed Church a 
lot 175 x 60 feet, on which was built the present white frame church.  It was 
dedicated October 8, 1882.  The ministers present were Revs. J. O. Miller, Aaron 
Spangler, and A. Wanner, of York.  The building committee were Adam Gebhart, Seth 
Minnich, Jacob Miller, John Wise, Jr., and William Knaub.  The cost was $1,800.  The 
people of the Reformed Church, living in Red Lion and its immediate vicinity, hold 
their church membership in the Emanuel Church, Frysville.  Since the dedication of 
the church, the pastor at Frysville, the Rev. A. Wanner, D.D., has regularly 
preached in this church once in two weeks.  It was under his supervision that the 
church was built.  A Sunday-school of seventy-five pupils and teachers is 
superintended by Robert A. Thompson.  From the belfry of this church, on a clear 
day, the city of Lancaster is plainly visible; Columbia, Marietta, Wrightsville, 
etc., are within the horizon. 


School Building – Immediately after the incorporation of the town, Rev. E. G. 
Williams, Seth Minnich, Matthew Gable, William Knaub, Hiram Dill and Moses Smith 
were elected school directors.  By this board, a schoolhouse was build at a cost of 
$1,200, of gray sandstone.