One of the great rewards of writing this column is absorbing the cascade of surprising information that washes through the internet to the Scribbler’s desk each week.
From that wet metaphor, let us move on to Rich Stewart’s droll rendition of “How Dry I Am in Bird-in-Hand’’ to the tune of “How Dry I Am.’’
You can hear the song by googling “Folk Songs of Lancaster Co., Pa.’’ on Bandcamp, an online record store where music fans directly support their favorite artists.
The song is included on the fifth solo album of Stewart, aka “Homebrew Stew.’’ Other tunes include “Sunnyside Hotel’’ and “Curse on City Hall.’’
Rich, who lives in Lancaster, knew the Scribbler would appreciate “How Dry I Am’’ because the Scribbler grew up in Bird-in-Hand and his 19th- and early 20th-century ancestors were well-known teetotalers.
Here’s how the unpunctuated “How Dry I Am’’ begins:
How dry I am how dry I am
in this dry land of Bird-in-Hand
The Prohibition Party held their convention
For two thousand in Bird-in-hand
No rousing rhythms from a champagne band
in this dry land of Bird-in Hand
Stewart was inspired by the national convention of the Prohibition Party held in Bird-in-Hand in June 1999. The Prohibitionists nominated Earl P. Dodge of Lakewood, Colorado, for president of the United States. He lost the 2000 election. So did Al Gore.
Lancaster’s Lincoln
Quite a few leaves have fallen in the forests of the Garden Spot since this column last made reference to Lancaster’s Abraham Lincoln. Release of a tricentennial history of Bangor Episcopal Church in Churchtown, Caernarvon Township, offers a new opportunity.
Abraham Lincoln’s substantial obelisk near the church’s front door is not hard to find. Figuring how he is related to his more famous namesake is a bit more difficult.
Bangor’s Lincoln (1812-1900) was born into a Berks County family that included the president and the frontiersman Daniel Boone. Most of the Lincolns and Boones moved west. Bangor’s Abraham Lincoln, a third cousin to President Lincoln, settled in Churchtown.
Local observers said Abraham Lincoln’s homely features resembled those of the president, but they were offset by his pleasant disposition. A farmer, Lincoln married Sarah Anderson Jenkins and they had two daughters. Abraham and Sarah died six days apart in February 1900.
This information comes from a sketch of Bangor’s Lincoln in a section of “Holiness Becomes Thy House for Ever: A History of Bangor Episcopal Church,’’ published this autumn to mark last year’s church tricentennial.
A group of Welsh settlers gathered along the Conestoga River at Churchtown about 1722 and established an Anglican congregation. They built a log church in 1733-34 and a stone church in 1755-59. The present Gothic Revival stone church, completed in 1830, is one of the most distinguished buildings along Route 23.
Churchtown residents will value the book not only for its history of the church but for its description of the people and the place where they have lived and worshiped.
Hardback copies of the book are $30, paperback $15. Contact the church at Bangorclergy@gmail.com.
Stevens’ deeds
The Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds Office has completed its most recent digitization of more than 400,000 historical documents. They add to millions of other documents previously digitized.
Want to consult the property records for Thaddeus Stevens’ law practice? Check out the Recorder of Deeds’ website at lancasterdeeds.com.
Jack Brubaker, retired from the LNP staff, writes “The Scribbler’’ column every Sunday. He welcomes comments and contributions at scribblerlnp@gmail.com.
