YorksPast

Boy Scouts from coast-to-coast installed concrete posts nearly every mile along the Lincoln Highway on September 1st, 1928. Within York County, the task was completed by 27 troops of York County Boy Scouts placing 7 new signs and installing 26 concrete posts. Within cities or boroughs, signs were often used instead of posts.

Do any photos exist of Boy Scouts in York County, installing the concrete posts?

The introductory photo shows Boy Scouts in Ames Iowa, after installing a Lincoln Highway concrete post. Instructions for placing posts in the ground stressed four things. [1] Install the post in a three-feet deep hole; which leaves about 4-feet above ground. [2] Use a Plumb Line or Bubble Level to assure the post is truly vertical (the Ames photo shows a scout holding a Bubble Level against the post). [3] Orient the post with the Lincoln medallion directly facing the Lincoln Highway, with direction arrows on the sides pointing in the direction of the highway. [4] The fill around the post should be tamped down solidly every few inches to assure long-time and strong support.

Lincoln Highway Association’s 2026 National Conference is in York, PA

From June 22-26, 2026, the Lincoln Highway Association’s 2026 National Conference has the theme “Road to Independence.” Five days will feature tours, talks, music and celebration along America’s first coast-to-coast highway. Check out this link, to view an impressive itinerary and the details to register.

Lincoln Highway post (77) just east of Ducktown Road

Troop 32 in the York Council of Boy Scouts installed post (77) on September 1, 1928, at the “southeast corner opposite Stoner Station.” This Lincoln Highway marker still stands in York County, just east of Ducktown Road in Hellam Township. The Ducktown Road name replaced Stoner Station Road in the 1950s.

The upper photos in the following illustration show close-ups of the top of post (77). In newspaper articles across Pennsylvania, the posts where numbered consecutively along the Lincoln Highway from east to west, and a basic description was provided where each concrete marker would be, or was, installed. York County had post numbers 75 to 100 installed during 1928; today few remain. Road widening, installation of underground utilities, accidents and snow plows tend to be the major culprits. The utility pole, just as close to the road and a few feet west of Lincoln Highway post (77) might be its protector at this location?

The lower 2026 photos in the illustration show arrow side of the post, and the business set to have the Lincoln Highway marker in their front yard: Witmer Automation.

Witmer Automation

Since 1998, Witmer Automation has been a provider not only of components, but also of control system solutions. Their services include: Engineering Solutions, OEM Assembly, Tech Support, Custom Stock Levels, Resale Discounts, Blind Shipments to your customer, and Same Day Shipping (typical). A product focus is variable frequency drives.

From 2004 to the present their business has been located opposite the Haines Shoe House and sometime during 2026, they will move into a larger facility at 5520 Lincoln Highway. Witmer Automation can be reached via E-mail: sales@witmerautomation.com , Phone: 717-755-3239 , or Fax: 717-755-3229.

Why was the nearby road originally Stoner Station Road?

This area of Hellam Township just east of Hallam Borough had many Stoner family residents in the 1800s; as witnessed by the following section of the 1876 Atlas of Hellam Township. Stoner families in the area grew grain, while operating Lime Quarries and Ore Banks.

In the late 1860s, Christian S. Stoner establishes a significant Lime Quarry near the railroad between York and Wrightsville. He also built a row of worker houses for a few of the men hired to work at his quarry and lime kilns. About this time, Stoner Station is established, which consisted of laying a rail siding to the north side of the through track. The railroad provided a cinder station platform along the north side of the rail siding, and C. S. Stoner built a warehouse nearby. Stoner Station also had a coal trestle.

After Christian S. Stoner passed away on December 22, 1876, John Stoner and Latimer Stoner are the next to conduct business at Stoner Station. In October 1889, forty-four-acres of Stoner family land near Stoner’s Station is purchased for the Wrightsville Lime Co. It is the first land purchased for the Wrightsville Lime Company after it was established 5-months earlier by John E. Baker and his brother-in-law George S. Billmeyer; when they leased and began operating a quarry and lime-kilns in and north of Wrightsville.

The Lime Quarry at Stoner Station sat idle after the Wrightsville Lime Company incorporated as the J. E. Baker Company in 1904. The quarry appears to be leased by several individuals until acquired by John Emig, who operated it as Emig Lime Company; primarily selling lime to neighboring farmers.

In the late 1920s, Medusa Portland Cement Company acquired the quarry and used the railroad to ship material excavated to their plant west of York. These shipments, through about 1938, were the final major freight shipments from Stoner Station. Passenger rail service between York and Wrightsville ceased in 1954, and freight service on this line ceased in 1971. Although with the few times freight service was provided past the 1950s, it is doubtful any trains were stopping at Stoner Station.

How did Ducktown Road get its name?

The following 1957 aerial photo shows the area around Stoner Station as rail service neared an end. With the demise of Stoner Station in the mid-1950s, residents along Stoner Station Road advocated for a road name change. I’ve been told there were two farms raising ducks along the road, and someone, as a joke, suggested Ducktown Road. However, the name kind of grew on the residents along the road, and it became the official road name.

Location of Stoner Station in terms of present surroundings

The following Google Earth view overlooks the east side of Ducktown Road in the vicinity where the former STONER STATION was located along former Wrightsville Railroad. The entrance to Stoner Station from Ducktown Road and the former road bridge spanning the railroad tracks are adjacent to both sides of the more recent house at 301 Ducktown Road.

Boy Scout Troops involved in placing the York County concrete markers

To help with the discovery of Boy Scout photos or stories, associated with the September 1st, 1928 project marking the Lincoln Highway, the following article provides the Boy Scout troops that did the work. This article refers to the 20 troops in the York Council of Boy Scouts. Additional concrete posts in western York County were installed by 7 troops in the Conewago Council of Boy Scouts; whose territory encompassed Hanover and that vicinity of western York County.

An article in The Gazette and Daily on Friday August 31st, 1928 (page 14) reported on the placement of the “New Markers for Lincoln Highway.” The sub-title proclaimed “Will Be Erected On Saturday Along Its 3,000-Mile Route;” i.e. on Saturday September 1st.

Quoting the entire article: “Special markers will be placed along the route of the Lincoln Highway from Wrightsville to the Adams County line by twenty York County Boy Scout troops on Saturday, when markers will be placed simultaneously along the entire 3,000-mile route of this highway by boy scouts, it was announced yesterday.”

“E. K. Longstreet, division engineer of State Highway Department, and Chief Scout Executive, Ray F. Zaner, of the local council, will start from Wrightsville tomorrow morning at 11 o’clock and will traverse the length of the highway in this county to designate the location of the markers.”

“The markers are of two kinds. One is a concrete post on which is a medallion of Abraham Lincoln. The posts stand about four feet high (above ground level and are buried about three feet deep) and will be placed at the side of the road. The form of the (sign) marker to be placed in York County is a metal sign. The posts and signs will be delivered to the designated places by trucks on Friday.”

“The points at which markers will be placed and the troops which will place them are as follows:” (additional location details per Original Locations of the Markers and Signs of the Lincoln Highway 1928, as prepared by Gael Hoag, Field Secretary)

“Troop 26, on state post in front of Hotel Wilson, Wrightsville, and opposite rear door of Grace Evangelical Church, Wrightsville;” (Sign on state post and Concrete Post [75] at Church)

“Troop 32, opposite end of Round Top Road, and Southeast corner opposite Stoner Station;” (Concrete Posts [76 & 77]) The former Round Top Road is now Blessing Lane. The former Stoner’s Station Road is now Ducktown Road, and Concrete Post 77 still stands across the Lincoln Highway from Kreutz Creek Library in Hellam Township.

“Troop 15, replacing wood post opposite A. R. Gross store, Hallam, and near West corner of Dr. Crandall’s resort;” (Concrete Posts [78, 79 & 80]; with [79] between the two listed in news article, with it on South side between curb and walk near west limits of Hallam)

“Troop 17, at new viaduct over R. R. and at end of road to Big Hand Tourist Camp, 1/4-mile West;” (Concrete Post [81] defined as at end of road to Big Hand Tourist Camp, 1/4-mile west of new viaduct over Railroad)

“Troop 36, East limits of York;” (Concrete Post [82]) Suspect this is East limits of East York; i.e. just east of Market and Royal Streets in Springettsbury Township.

“Troop 2, replacing old one at Market and Ogontz Streets, York;” (Concrete Post [83]) A Concrete Lincoln Highway Post was at northeast corner of Market and Ogontz Streets up until about ten years ago.

“Troop 11, Northwest corner of Harrison and Market Streets, York;” (Concrete Post [84])

“Troop 8, Southeast corner Market and Albemarle Streets, York;” (Sign)

“Troop 14, Northwest corner Market and Tremont Streets, York;” (Sign)

“Troop 3, Southeast corner Market and Sherman Streets, York;” (Sign)

“Troop 10, Market, front of 526;” (Sign)

“Troop 1, Southeast corner Queen and Market Streets;” (Sign)

“Troop 7, Northwest corner Carlisle and Market Streets;” (Sign)

“Troop 6, replacing wood post R. R. X corner of Fair Grounds;” (Concrete Post [85])

“Troop 5, replacing wood post opposite Vedder Oil Station;” (Concrete Post [86])

“Troop 13, Northeast corner Clinton and West Market Street;” (Concrete Post [87])

“Troop 42, replacing and back of wood post opposite 2403 West Market Street;” (Concrete Post [88])

“Troop 12, replacing wood post top of hill, East of Top of Hill refreshment stand;” (Concrete Post [89])

“Troop 9, opposite concrete road to New Salem;” (Concrete Post [90])

“Troop 19, 150 feet East of Hanover Road. This is territory of H. P. Weidner.” (Concrete Post [91])

I believe that is a newspaper typo for H. S. Weidner, who is the Boy Scout executive of the Conewago Council; whose territory encompasses Hanover and that vicinity of western York County. He is in charge of seven Boy Scout troops placing the remaining concrete posts [91 to 100] to reach the Adams County line.

Click on this LINK for a yorkblog.com Full View of the photos in this post.

Links to related posts include:

House move reveals Lincoln Highway marker

100th Anniversary Lincoln Highway Auto Tour

Lincoln Highway Centennial Auto Tour at Haines Shoe House

Uncovering Stories of Lincoln Highway marker sites

Earliest Lincoln Highway Garage was in Wrightsville