The 30 Founders of East Prospect; Pinpointing Where They Lived
Present day East Prospect formed on a high tract of land in Lower Windsor Township, about one-mile from the Susquehanna River. In 1831 the first substantial building was constructed on the northeast corner of a crossroads in this area; it was a stone structure used by the Evangelical Association. This stone structure was used for 50-years, until the present church building was constructed in 1882.
A few buildings gradually sprung up near the church. In 1849, John A. Jacobs, a farmer and local preacher of the Evangelical Association laid out lots along the roads for a town. The village was called Prospect; named for the fine view of the surrounding country.
By 1873 the Village of Prospect in Lower Windsor Township contained 30 dwellings plus several stores, factories, the church and a school (just east of the church). In April of 1873 the 30 property owners petitioned the York County Court of Quarter Sessions to incorporate their village as the Borough of East Prospect. Continue reading, as I pinpoint the dwelling locations of the 30 Founders of East Prospect.
The Village of Prospect was granted approval to incorporate into the Borough of East Prospect on August 13th 1873. The name East Prospect was selected to distinguish itself from an already existing Borough of Prospect in Butler County.
The following 30 names are the property owners who petitioned the York County Court of Quarter Sessions to incorporate their village as the Borough of East Prospect. The list is presented in the same order the petition was signed.
The red numbers are the key to pinpointing location of each founder dwelling on the 1876 Map of East Prospect. If the number is underlined on the 1876 map, I have estimated location based upon a few land deeds, however mainly used 1870 and 1880 census lists; which are not always recorded sequentially. If anyone has better sources or corrections, let me know.
A York County Archives file holding the August 1873 proceedings to incorporate the Borough of East Prospect contains the original of the 1873 petition. The following 30 signatures are from the petition.
Additional East Prospect related posts include:
- East Prospect … named for the fine view of the surrounding country
- East Prospect families attend Yorkana Campmeetings
- Late 1800s History of East Prospect Assists in Identification of a Period Photo
- Late 1800s Factory Inspection Reports Assist in Identification of an East Prospect Photo
- 1896 Photo of Edward J. Sitler Cigar Factory Employees in East Prospect, York County, PA
- The mystery of Haines Home Made Ice Cream
- A Personal Connection to the Burning of The Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge 150-Years-Ago
