Hamlet Histories Part 1

Peach Glen
Unincorporated community on the border of Adams and Cumberland Counties

In 1917 a canning plant was built by W. S. Adams

1922 – the plant was taken over by United Grocery Co. of Harrisburg

1926 – M.E. Knouse became manager and long with Al Fohl, purchased the plant and named it Knouse and Fohl Canning

1932 – Mr. Fohl retired and the business became Knouse Processing Plant

1940’s – The plant was bought by National Fruit Products of Winchester, VA

1949 – Pen Mar VA Packages Coop formed, purchased the plant and name changed to Knouse Foods Co-op.

Sources – Tidbits, History, Morsels by Larry Kennedy 2009

Quaker Valley

Settled in the mid 1700’s by Quakers who were emigrating westward

In the 1830’s, the Cyrus Griest family established a nursery there, selling fruit trees to farmers there and elsewhere.

The farm of Cyrus and Mary Ann Griest aided escaped slaves as part of the Underground Railroad

Sources: A History of Adams County, Pennsylvania 1700-1990 by Robert L. Bloom

Wenksville

An unincorporated community at the foot of South Mountain

Named for John Wenk, an early settler

Nearby is the Old Slate Quarry, which was serviced by the Hunter’s Run and Slate Belt Railroad

The country around Wenksville is called Broad Valley

Was home to the Schlosser Steam Saw Mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1879

The Lutheran and Methodist Union Church was dedicated in 1872. In 1891, the building was destroyed by fire, and at that time, the Methodist Church was rebuilt on the same lot. The Lutheran Church built across the road.

Sources: Wikipedia; Gettysburg Times 8/4/67; Lycoming.edu; Threespringsfruitfarm.com

Yellow Hill

Formerly called Pine Hill

Once a black settlement overlapping what is today Menallen and Butler Townships

Believed to be founded by fugitive slaves brought north by the Underground Railroad

Subsequently became a stop on the Underground Railroad

An AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Zion church was built here and burned to the ground in the 1890’s, after which most residents moved to Gettysburg

Sources: PAheritage.wpengine.com, Fall 2008, Black Settlement on Yellow Hill by Alisha Sanders and Debra McCauslin; Larry Kennedy