A familiar structure or feature that helps individuals to determine their location, landmarks can define and distinguish an area. Landmarks also possess the power to bridge the passage of time.

The Manheim Township Historical Society's new exhibit explores the effects that landmarks continue to have on our area.

"Landmark can be a formal term, but what I'm sharing are informal landmarks," said Ben Webber, who's been the president of the Manheim Township Historical Society for six years. "I use it in the vernacular of what people use to know where they're going. How do we gauge where we are with landmarks in the township? People might not know the histories of these places, but they might be tempted to learn about the history of these places. Where? When? And what was it used for? Those are all the questions I hope it spurs in people."

The Manheim Township Historical Society's "Landmarks of Manheim Township - Then and Now" exhibit is currently on display at the historical society's Stoner House Museum, located inside Overlook Park, 601 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster. The exhibit can be viewed by the public free of charge from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday from now until December.

"The purpose is to help people develop an appreciation of these landmarks," said Webber. "The then and now helps people to explore and feel the passage of time. These are things that were here 200 years ago and still are. It's hard to capture that without photos, and it's very captivating to think through these comparisons. We're using this to tell stories and to get people to look into the past."

"I want members of the community to know that they live in a continuum," Webber continued. "Things haven't always been the way they are today, and things aren't always going to be the way they are today."

The exhibit features comparison photos of 15 recognizable buildings or places, all of which hold some sort of historic significance locally. The comparison photos are enhanced by short narrative descriptions and maps showing their exact locations in Manheim Township.

Included in the exhibit are the oldest tavern in Lancaster County, a mill, a local neighborhood, estates and roadways. All of the landmarks are at least a century old, and some are more than 300 years old.

"I'd say about half of (the landmarks) are still being used for what they were originally intended, and the other half have been repurposed," said Webber. "Some of them were just built better, built to be more robust. They've been loved and appreciated and taken care of. For others, reasons were determined to keep maintaining them. Each story is different. Some have public money that has gone into them, and some have private money that has gone into them."

Webber has identified dozens of other landmarks in Manheim Township worthy of exploration and display.

"These (15) were the ones I had already pulled together," said Webber. "I felt like these would be the ones people would react to. I do have a whole slew more that I can do. I would say there's probably 60 landmarks I'd like to have on display. I'm working on the next round, but they probably won't be ready to put up before the end of the year."

"Landmarks of Manheim Township - Then and Now" is a great example of the kind of informational program that the historical society strives to present to the community. Founded in 2014, the Manheim Township Historical Society is made up of about 70 active members.

"The mission of the Manheim Township Historical Society is to research and promote the history of Manheim Township," said Webber. "The main impetus from the beginning was to turn the Stoner House into a museum. It took a lot of effort and energy, but that mission has been pretty much accomplished. Now we've shifted to research and public awareness and getting people engaged in educational programs."

For additional information, go to http://www.mthistoricalsociety.com.