CHAPTER 4 History: Past and Present Cumberland County has a rich history that continues to contribute to the heritage and identity of the county today. Events in the past have shaped the county as it has evolved over time. It is important to understand and appreciate the past in order to plan for the future. Historical Development Cumberland County's origin began in 1681 with the land grant to William Penn by King Charles II of England. Westward colonial expansion produced a flow of settlers into the Cumberland Valley, including many Scotch-Irish. James Letort established a trading post along the present-day Letort Spring Run in 1720. Prior to the American Revolution, large numbers of German emigrants moved into the area. The increasing number of settlers required the need for a more central governmental body to provide law and order. At that time, Lancaster City was the nearest seat of government to the Cumberland Valley. Through the Act of January 27, 1750, Governor James Hamilton directed the formation of Cumberland County (named after Cumberland County, England) as the sixth county erected in the Commonwealth. Its boundaries extended from the Susquehanna River and York County on the east to Maryland on the south, to the border of Pennsylvania on the west, and to central Pennsylvania on the north. Shippensburg was established as the county seat and the first courts were held there in 1750 – 51. The county seat was moved to Carlisle in 1752. Other counties were later formed from Cumberland County, including Bedford (1771), Northumberland (1772), Franklin (1784), Mifflin (1789), and Perry (1820). Early relations with Native Americans in the County were peaceful, but they became strained as the result of the settlers' actions, such as corrupt trade deals, selling whiskey, and encroaching on Indian land. Cumberland County was on the extreme frontier and therefore vulnerable to Indian attacks. As the result, a large number of forts were built to provide refuge. These proved to be especially important during the French and Indian Wars and the 1763 uprising led by Chief Pontiac. The earliest fort was Fort Franklin, built in 1740 at Shippensburg. Fort Morris was later erected at the same site in 1755. Fort Lowther was built at Carlisle in 1753 and the Carlisle Barracks was founded in 1757. The British used Carlisle as the beginning point for military activities in western Pennsylvania, underscoring the significance of Carlisle Barracks as one of the oldest military posts in the country. Other outposts in the County were Forts Groghan, Dickey, Ferguson, Letort, and McCombs. Indian councils were held in Carlisle in 1753 and 1754 in efforts to secure peace. After 1765 relations with the Indians were again peaceful, due in large part to the beginning of their westward migration. By 1775, few Indians remained in the County. 4-1 5/7/03 Up to the beginning of the Revolution, Cumberland County's economy remained basically agrarian. During the Revolutionary War several foundries were established, producing cannons from iron ore quarried from South Mountain. Carlisle played a prominent role in this effort as an armament and ordinance center where hundreds of workmen labored to make the needed arms and ammunition. This and other involvement in the War adversely affected the County's agriculture, to the point that fields often went unplowed and both plantings and harvests were missed. Following the end of the War the County returned to its agrarian ways. The economy prospered with agricultural produce exported to the east and new businesses began. In 1790, the first U.S. Census showed Cumberland County with a population of 18,243. By the early 1800s, significant changes had occurred within the County. Public schools were established. Dickinson College opened its School of Law in 1834. Water and gas were being piped into Carlisle Borough. Newspapers were being published, and hotels and other businesses flourished. However, the local investment in agriculture still exceeded that which was devoted to manufacturing, which was quite varied and included metals and metal products, textiles, leather and leather goods, and milling. As thousands of settlers and frontiersmen passed through the Cumberland Valley en route West, Shippensburg and Carlisle became important way stations. Turnpike roads, which were built to connect southeastern Pennsylvania with the West, passed through the Valley, establishing the backbone for the County's transportation network and the pattern for future land use. The Civil War had a mixed effect on Cumberland County. Daily life was disrupted because of the hundreds who went to fight. In addition, Confederate forces briefly occupied Shippensburg, Carlisle, and Mechanicsburg during the Gettysburg Campaign in 1863. A minor battle occurred at Sporting Hill in Hampden Township, which resulted in casualties on both sides. On June 30, 1863 the Confederates withdrew from the County and advanced toward Gettysburg. One day later a second Confederate force entered Cumberland County and shelled Carlisle after Union troops in town refused to surrender. 4-2 5/7/03 This resulted in minimal damage to the town but Confederate forces burned the U.S. Barracks before leaving the County. The war created a heavy demand for goods produced in the County and, as a result, the economy prospered further. This continued into the decades following the end of the war, as the settlement of the West created high demands for goods and services. This time period also saw the expansion of utilities, services, and facilities within the County. Telephone and electric services were established, sewer and water facilities were expanded, and transportation was broadened with the inclusion of trolley service. Higher education was facilitated with the founding of Shippensburg State Normal School in 1871 (now known as Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania) and Messiah College in 1909 in Grantham. World War I had a significant impact on Cumberland County as thousands of its residents served in the military. Manufacturing diversified in response to the demand for war goods. Agriculture, however, remained a dominant part of the economy. The establishment of military facilities in Cumberland County had a strong positive influence on the region’s economy. The New Cumberland Defense Distribution Center was established during World War I. Although located across the County boundary in York County, the Center contributes to the County's employment rate and other segments of the economy. The establishment of the U.S. Naval Support Station near Mechanicsburg during World War II and the U.S. Army War College east of Carlisle in 1951 had a similar effect. World War II had the most pronounced social and economic impact on the County. Again, thousands served in the armed forces and the economy was focused almost entirely on the war effort. Vast amounts of food, tires, electronic equipment, and other materials were produced to meet the demands. Following the war, there were social changes that greatly altered the face of the County and established the growth pattern that continues today. A combination of the GI bill for housing and education, low mortgage interest rates, and increased automobile use resulted in unprecedented housing growth and personal mobility. The exodus from urban areas began with a growing population moving further into rural areas. Agricultural acreage was reduced to accommodate new housing. Infrastructure and services were necessary to accommodate this new housing, and the economy shifted from rural agricultural to urban/suburban commerce, industry, and services. The rich history of the county is commemorated with its historic markers and historic landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Table 4-1 lists the historical markers in Cumberland County provided by the Pennsylvania Historical Commission. Table 4-2 consolidates the inventory of National Register (Listed and Eligible Properties) in PA maintained by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. 4-3 5/7/03 TABLE 4.1 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION: LIST OF HISTORICAL MARKERS IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY 1 Municipality: Camp Hill Marker Text: Legislator and official lived here in Lowther Manor on land Marker Name: Robert Whitehill conveyed by the Penns in 1771. At the state’s 1787 convention to ratify the Date Dedicated: Dec. 15, 1991 U.S. Constitution, Whitehill led the Antifederalist minority; he presented Location: 1903 Market Street amendments later embodied in the Bill of Rights. A drafter of the 1776 state constitution, he served terms with both the legislature and executive council; was in congress, 1805-13. 2 Municipality: Camp Hill Marker Text: Capt. William Hendricks led from nearby Cumberland Marker Name: Cumberland Riflemen County points a company of riflemen to Quebec, Canada. There they fought Date Dedicated: May 25, 1948 Dec. 31, 1775, at the side of Gen. Richard Montgomery. Hendricks was Location: Market Street between 24th and 25th Streets killed in action. 3 Municipality: Camp Hill Marker Text: Farthest advance of a body of Confederate troops toward Marker Name: Gettysburg Campaign Harrisburg. Southern units under General A.G. Jenkins of Ewell’s Corp Date Dedicated: June 28, 1963 reached Oyster Point on June 28, 1863. On the next day defending militia Location: 3025 Market Street faced them here in a skirmish in which both sides suffered casualties. 4 Municipality: Carlisle Marker Text: On a 116-acre tract here stood the model farm created 1857- Marker Name: Fredrick Watts 67 by this agricultural reformer. Watts was the first president of the Date Dedicated: June 11, 1994 Pennsylvania Agricultural Society, 1851; a founder of the Farmers’ High Location: Watts Business Park, Ritner Highway School (now Penn State); and U.S Commissioner of Agriculture, 1871-76. The farm remained until 1988. Its site selection, layout, and building designs reflected Watts’s pioneering ideas on farm efficiency. 5 Municipality: Carlisle Marker Text: Formed January 27, 1750 from Lancaster County.