Presentation On Homesteads Planned

The names Weber and Weaver are actually the same - Weaver being the anglicized version of the German Weber.

When the Weber family came to Philadelphia from Switzerland between 1711 and 1717, it originally settled in Germantown and then in the Lampeter area. Johannes, the father, had four sons. Hans, remained in Lampeter, and his three brothers - Jacob, Henry, and George - moved to East Earl Township, in an area that came to be known as the Weaverland Valley.

The connection between these two areas will be explored in a presentation featuring descendants John Weber, Lamar Weaver, and Mary Lou Weaver Houser, to be held at a meeting of the New Holland Area Historical Society (NHAHS). The presentation will take place in the chapel at Garden Spot Village (GSV), 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland, on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

The presentation has its roots in a competition of sorts held in November 2021 at the Lancaster County Art Association in Strasburg. Weber explained that 22 artists completed paintings of the Weber 1724 pioneer homestead in Lampeter. Weber, along with Weaver Houser and Jean Kilhefner-Hess of Mennonite Life (formerly the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society), selected a watercolor by Marita Hines to be made into prints, which will be available for sale at the meeting. Some of the renditions by other local artists will be on display as well. Susan Moedinger, who occupies the 1763 house at the homestead in Lampeter, plans to attend.

Also on display will be paintings and photographs of the 1761 Heinie Weber house, which was located on Quarry Road in East Earl. That house was razed in 1981. One of the paintings of the Heinie Weber house was completed by GSV resident Earl Horst, who has been invited to the meeting. "It's an excellent representation (of the East Earl house)," said Weber, who will also bring remnants of roof tiles from that home. "(The roof) was unique to Lancaster County," said Weber, who noted that the handmade tiles are rumored to have come from Europe.

Weber noted that the commonalities between the two houses will be pointed out. "They were constructed very similarly," said Weber. "They had the large stone fireplace in the center of the house to help heat the whole house when winter set in."

It is possible that the Webers (who became Weavers) took a branch of the Pequea Creek to the Conestoga River on their journey to the northeast portion of the county and even to Berks County. "The Conestoga River plays an important part in the legacy of moving people to other parts of the county," said Weber. "The intention is to clarify or highlight the relationship between these two settlements," he noted, adding, "It's the Lampeter intermediate settlement that allows the others to take place. It was the first stop after Germantown."

More information about NHAHS may be found at https://nhhistorical.com or by searching for "New Holland Area Historical Society" on Facebook.