Frequently Asked Questions:
Question: Who are you, and why did you create this website? Answer: I am a retiree with lots of free time. I recently downsized from a big, old farmhouse near Lititz to a modern apartment near Lancaster. During that downsizing process I was reminded, again, of the city's distinctive architecture. My DNA is Amish, and my cultural identity is Mennonite, so Lancaster County's heritage has much meaning for me.
Above: My awkward iPhone selfportrait. If you see me wandering around Lancaster photographing historic buildings, come say “Hello.”
Question: Where are the utility wires? Answer: I buried them under the sidewalks with Photoshop because these historic buildings deserve that attention. This website is about the art of architecture. It's not about commerce or technology. If you really want to see the wires you can always find them on Google Maps street view.
And while I was at it, I digitally removed some air conditioners and removed the gas meters. Because this is the way I see these historic houses in my mind's eye.
My Other Websites about Lancaster County History:
Follow my Instagram project: Lancaster Streetscape: Here.
Magazine article “History, Community, & Love”
by Marian Pontz
In the magazine Fine Living Lancaster. Summer 2022.
about this research project of Lancaster City architecture.
An Award from the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County: