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A musical burlesque

1 pp 1879

Shown here is the cast of The Sack of Lancaster, a musical burlesque presented by the Theatre Lancaster Social Union on Friday evening, May 16, 1879 at the Lancaster Town Hall. These live burlesques, in which the serious was treated lightly and the frivolous seriously, were a popular form of entertainment in the days before film and television.

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photograph

A pageant program

1 pp 1912

On July 4, 1912, an elaborate historical pageant was held on the Lancaster Town Green. The day's events are listed on the front cover of the program shown here.

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A panorama of the Parker estate

1 pp 1850

Here is a broad view of the former George A. Parker Estate. It was later occupied by his son Harold Parker (1854-1916), who was the chief engineer on the Clinton Dam project in the late 19th century. The buildings have long since been taken down, with the exception of a "bowling alley" section (toward the middle of the photograph). That section was converted into a home occupied for many years by Harold's daughter Cornelia (Connie) Parker.

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photograph

A perfect stage

1 pp 1912

Shown here are scenes from Settlement of Lancaster and Reception of Lafayette. Architect Robert H. Mutrux notes of the green in Great New England Churches, "In its layout and in the orientation and the quality of the buildings that face it on three sides, it resembles a self-conscious stage set." It was estimated that about 4,000 people witnessed the pageant.

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A perfect stage

1 pp 1912

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A postcard view of Hawthorne Hill gardens

1 pp 1904

Shown here is a view of the elaborate rose garden, fountain, and lotus pool.

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A rhododendron walk

1 pp 1850

Here is a view of the rhododendron in full bloom lining the walkway around Thayer Pond in back of the Homestead. The Hurricane of 1938 did extensive damage to the gardens and, today, nature has all but taken them back.

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A rough-hewn marker

1 pp 1850

Shown here is a rough-hewn early grave marker from the Old Settler's Burial Field. The earliest stones in this cemetery were granite slabs crudely inscribed using a blacksmith's chisel.

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photograph

A ski jump championship

1 pp 1928

One of Lancaster's most eagerly awaited winter sporting events was the Massachusetts State Ski Jump Championship. The event, which began in 1928, was sponsored by the Lancaster Outing Club and was held each February 22 on George Hill. Related events included a five-mile cross-country skiing trek and the crowning of a ski queen at the Lancaster Town Hall Annual Ski Ball. With the threat of World War II, interest in the event declined and the last event meet was held c. 1943.

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A street scene in Lancaster Center

1 pp 1850

Children are pictured face to face with two vendors and a cart outside the A.L. Safford Store and Post Office, located on Main Street. Note the cobblestone street and trolley tracks in the foreground. The elegant Lancaster Hotel is on the right. The store burned down in 1913.

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photograph

A title page

1 pp 1850

The Lancaster firm of Carter and Andrews dealt in such things as book publishing, map printing and coloring, wood engraving, and lithography. At the height of the company's success, from 1827 to 1834, they produced up to 250,000 maps a year. Shown here is the title page from one of their publications for the instruction of children.

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photograph

A town farm

1 pp 1884

Lancaster's first almshouse, established in the early 19th century, was located in a remote section of town near the Old Slate Quarry. Later, it was moved to the Ballard Hill area. This card shows the last "poor farm" facility, which was built there in 1884. Eventually, the building was sold an, in 1947, was converted into the Rest Haven Nursing Home. In 1968, the outdated building was razed and the River Terrace Healthcare facility was put in its place.

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A musical burlesque

A pageant program

A panorama of the Parker estate

A perfect stage

A perfect stage

A postcard view of Hawthorne Hill gardens

A rhododendron walk

A rough-hewn marker

A ski jump championship

A street scene in Lancaster Center

A title page

A town farm