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Jackson House – Going once, going twice …

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  Jackson House in its better days as Cornwall Children's Center The historic Jackson House at 220 Boyd Street, Cornwall Pennsylvania just might see its 200 th anniversary in a few more years, if the Cornwall Borough fulfills its dream of acquiring the property. The house is believed to date back to the 1830s, used as a tavern on the old road which had been completed in 1829. The Turnpikes In 1792 the Pennsylvania legislature approved the Downingtown turnpike, officially the “Philadelphia to Lancaster Turnpike” as part of efforts to improve roads and promote commerce. The midpoint of the 62-mile private toll road was Downingtown. The road later became “Lincoln Highway” and designated Route 30. An extension, the Downingtown, Ephrata, and Harrisburg Turnpike was chartered in 1803, forming what we know locally as Route 322. Over the years this route has extended diagonally southeast to northwest through Pennsylvania, connecting Cleveland Ohio to Atlantic City, New Jerse...
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Video: "The Mansions of Cornwall"

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  On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, L. Susan Wentzel and Michael A. Trump gave a lecture entitled: “The Mansions of Cornwall: Icons of an Industrial Dynasty.” Their program showcased the various mansions, past and present, located throughout the Cornwall area. The program utilized many historic photographs, and focused on the families that resided in them, as well as highlighted the various architectural styles designed by highly acclaimed and nationally renowned architects. Spanning from the eighteenth century to the mid-twentieth century, many of these imposing structures were not only a status symbol that exhibited the wealth of the family’s dynasty but stood as icons of Cornwall, Pennsylvania's remarkable iron industry. The speakers are well known Lebanon County educators and authors of local history who have collaborated on numerous projects together including their publications: “Communities of Cornwall Across Time.” This talk was done as part of a series of lectures for t...
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The Unpublished Story of Robert H. Coleman

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      John and Margery Feitig spent decades researching Cornwall's Robert H. Coleman, however both passed away before fulfilling their dream of publishing a book on Coleman and the historic treasures in Cornwall.  Furnace associate Bruce Chadbourne presented the "Cliff Notes" version of their "unpublished book," presented as part of the 2025 Cornwall Iron Furnace lecture series, held at Cornwall Manor's Freeman Auditorium and simultaneously on Zoom. The lecture may be viewed on YouTube here . Please enjoy all of the Cornwall Iron Furnace videos on the Furnace YouTube Channel .    Stay current with Furnace events and upcoming lectures on  their FaceBook page and visit their  website for general information.
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Like a Good Mystery?

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  One of the mysteries of Cornwall that fascinated the late, local historian John Feitig was Robert H. Coleman's first Cornwall mansion, built in 1880.  The above photo was purported by Coleman family descendants to be that very mansion, but they were wrong. The mystery of the above photo is now solved -- read the story on LebTown , released on November 28, 2023.
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Anne of Cornwall

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Here's a great story about a local woman who attained great heights in American life, touching presidents and kings. Ironically relatively few people know of her compared to all that's known about her brother, Robert H. Coleman - the "king (according to old press clippings) of Lebanon." Read the full 4-part story: her roots, growing up in Cornwall, and landing among America's wealthiest. Published in LebTown by author Bruce Chadbourne.   Anne of Cornwall - Part 1 Anne of Cornwall -- Part 2 Anne of Cornwall -- Part 3 Anne of Cornwall -- Part 4 If you enjoy the author's stories - you may find all of them on LebTown.com .
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In Case You Missed it... The Cornwall Grist Mill

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  Not so long ago, this mill operated in Cornwall Center opposite the Cornwall Store from the Cornwall & Lebanon Railroad bridge. Read the fuller story as published in LebTown, by author Bruce Chadbourne:  The Story of the Cornwall Grist Mill
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Cornwall Borough’s “Cold Springs” Water Supply

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 by Bruce Chadbourne January 2023 (similar to that published in LebTown.com) Admit it, these days when you need water you reach for the faucet with very little thought. In the old days when indoor plumbing was still more of a luxury, the supply of water required some planning. In 1879 newly married Robert H. Coleman was building an exquisite mansion in Cornwall center for his new bride. He literally went to great lengths to furnish it with running water. How did he do it? At Coleman’s request, civil engineer Henry Kendall reported on January 14, 1880 the results of a survey of springs in the wooded hills of Anne Coleman Alden’s property known as Cold Springs [Note: vicinity of Old Mine Road and Route 117 today]. The survey had been conducted two months earlier in November 1879 in a period he described as “great drought.” Even so, per his report the survey of three outlets provided a combined flow of 42,000 gallons per day. From his Lebanon office at 927 Cumberland Street, Kendall...
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