Here is a start at a time line and summary history of Elizabethtown, PA.

Note that four centuries is 400 years. The history depicted is from 1730's until the mural was created about 1991, but extends into the 2000's, or about, say, 280 years.

Pennsylvania - literally "Penn's woods", named for Quaker William Penn.
Philadelphia - Love of brothers (and sisters)
Lancaster - Lune (river) + ceaster (city) from Latin castra (military camp)
York - city in Britain
Lebanon - country/area in Middle East
Mount Joy - Mont Joy (ship that saved Irish people)
Bainbridge - Bain (family name , Norse beinn = straight) + bridge (brycg)
Elizabethtown - Elizabeth's town
Middletown - between Harrisburg and Elizabethtown
Harrisburg - Harris fort
Pittsburgh - Pitts fort

Susquehanna River - Delaware Lenape word siskewahne meaning "muddy water".

Here is a simplified model for the purposes of having students act out the parts to get an understanding of what happened historically.

The view is that of looking somewhat towards the south as one would be if facing the mural (which faces somewhat north).

Here is a simplified model for the purposes of having students act out the parts to get an understanding of what happened historically.

• Pick out (or ask) about 6 students to represent Philadelphia on the left.
• Pick out (or ask) about 3 students to be Indians in the middle where Elizabethtown will be.

Assume they have just arrived here. There are trees everywhere. Where are they going for lunch? There are no cafeterias. You must live off the land.

• Two people in Philadelphia, Elizabeth and Barnabas, go to what is now Elizabethtown to trade and settle down.



• The Indians say, "we are out of here" and go to Harrisburg (on the right, the Indians actually moved to north of Harrisburg).
• Elizabeth sends Barnabas to Harrisburg to trade while creating Elizabethtown.

Some questions to ask a few times.

• Which way is the big river - Susquehanna? If you do not know, you would follow the creek downstream.
• Which way is Philadelphia?
• Which way is Harrisburg?

1715 - The Conoys who called themselves Piscathaways moved from Maryland to build their village near the mouth of the Conoy Creek (near Bainbridge) trading goods with newly arrived settlers from North of Ireland for iron pots, hoes, sharp edged knives and fish hooks and paid for these with furs or deerskins.

Coney tribe, from Maryland, moved to Shamokin, where Susquehanna River splits
Fur trade - to keep warm, for fashion
Only narrow trails in the forest.

1730's - Thomas Harris log cabin (Rita's Italian Ice), land from William Penn

Trading post in the wilderness - Stucco , built by Thomas Harris
Sold to Barnabas and Elizabeth Hughes
Thomas Harris traveled a long way to trade
Harrisburg started along the river as Harris Ferry
Ferry is boat, easier than building a bridge.
Roads being built for wagons pulled by horses

1745 - Black Bear Tavern - place to stay.

Places to get wagons fixed, shoes made and fixed, etc.
Places to get food

1792 - Map locating Elizabethtown

• "18 L" means 18 miles to Lancaster.
• "7 M" means 7 miles to Middletown.

1808 - Turnpike Mile Marker, 18 Miles to Lancaster, 7 miles to Middletown

Milk delivery (until 1970's).
Wagons with springs, made travel easier, like Amish buggies.

1850's - More and more railroads.

More goods moved by railroad.
More factories.
Elizabethtown College and others located near railroad stations.

1890 - Samuel Sharer's Cigar Manufactory

Telephones for business and small groups.

1896 - Anchor Spring Wagon Works

1906 - Buch Manufacturing Company, Train-load of Wheelbarrows Sent to Chicago

1908 - Conestoga Traction Company Trolley #47 Operated Between Lancaster & Elizabethtown

Sears and Roebuck catalog to order things that were delivered.
Telephones for almost everyone in big cities

1915 - Liberty Bell Stops at Elizabethtown Railroad Station
1934 - Elizabethtown Telephone Exchange - direct wire connection

Telephone poles with lots of wires.
More goods moved by truck

1942 - Joe Groff Home Delivery (Groff Meats)
1984 - White Oak Mills
1991 - Cutting Edge Media