Many of the historical facts and events that influence a community over time also contribute to its character and identity.  By realizing these historical events, landmarks, and influences that have contributed to the community, planners are better able to understand how the community has developed and evolved over time in terms of its physical development, architectural progressions, and cultural heritage.  This information will be helpful to leaders of the community in consciously formulating development strategies that will be consistent with past development trends, while still preserving the character of significant historical areas and features into the future.

In this age when construction techniques and trends are very similar from region to region, historic buildings and landmarks have taken on a new significance and meaning as the witnesses of time and history of the community and the many skills of generations past.  Through the responsible use of comprehensive planning and the land use tools of zoning, subdivision and land development and building code regulations, preservation of these important historical assets as well as the community character can be maintained into the future.  However, without first recognizing the historical areas of the community and taking proper steps to ensure their preservation, the community could jeopardize loosing these area through irresponsible growth and development.

In order for current and future leaders and residents of Londonderry Township to better understand the origins of Dauphin County and Londonderry Township, this chapter will present a brief historical synopsis of the Township and will identify some significant sights and structures within the Township.  The following "History of Londonderry Township" was compiled and created by the Londonderry Township Bicentennial Commission with Mrs. Lucille Gardner and Mrs. Lida Hail as the co-chairpersons for the Commission.  This synopsis outlines a brief history of the early settlers and their contributions to the nation's history as well as their business, industrial, and educational contributions through time.  Throughout the reading, many significant places in the Township that have historical value are highlighted.

For visual reference to the locations mentioned within the text, an 1875 map of Londonderry Township has also been included.  This map was taken from the Dauphin County Historical Atlas of 1875, published in 1985 by the Dauphin County Historical Society.

History of Londonderry Township

There is no recorded time when man first settled in the area known as Londonderry Township, but archaeologist believe the land was first used by the Susquehannock.  These aborigines are believed to have been of the same stock as the Nations which make up the famous Iroquoian Confederacy.  Some time after 1500 A.D. it is believed the Susquehannock started to move south along the Susquehanna River from their northern New York origin.  The Susquehannock have been described as a murderous tribe, quick skilled in fabricating and repairing weapons which they used removing all opposition in order to extend their trading empire by 1675 the Susquehannock were almost totally wiped out by the Iroquois and a small pox epidemic.  The Shawnee moved north from Maryland about 1683 and finally settled in this general area.

It isn't know for certain when the first white man settled here.  When Captain John Smith explored the Susquehanna in 1609 he came as far North as the Great Falls (Conewago).  William Pen traveled up the River as far as the mouth of the Swatara Creek and in 1690 proposed locating a city at or above the mouth of the creek.  The word Swatara translated from the Indian means "whee we fed on eels".  Historically the Scotch Irish are accepted the first settlers.  During Queen Elizabeth's reign, the scott had emigrated to northern Ireland in search of religious freedom from 1700 to 1750, they migrated to the "New World" drawn Penn's promise of religious and political freedom.  This was a drawing card that almost every race, nationality and religions was represented by first settlers.  The Scotch Irish did not appreciate inter-marriage with the Germans and, because the Quakers still would not permit free suffrage, many moving southward to Virginia and other parts of the country, leaving almost entirely people of German descent to settle this area.

In 1682 there were only three counties in the Province Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Bucks, and Chester.  The General Assembly of the Province was petitioned in 1729 to form Lancaster County.  It comprised all the territory west and north of Chester between the Schuylkill and the Susquehanna Rivers and all west of the Susquehanna.  Derry was one of the Townships formed in the new county.  It included all the land from the mouth of the Conewago up the Susquehanna to the Swatara Creek.  From there it followed the Swatara to the mouth of the Quittapahilla and the south in a direct line to the Conewago and back down the Creek to the beginning.  The Court of Quoarter Sessions of Lancaster further divided the County in 1785, and Dauphin County was formed.  Londonderry Township originally was part of Derry Since the Township was so large and difficult to govern, the residents petitioned the court in 1767 to subdivide the land into two parts, the western section to remain Derry and the eastern section to be called Londonderry.  The Court was further petitioned in 1826 when Lebanon County was formed, which took Large part of the northern portion of Londonderry.  At that time boundary lines were redrawn and the southern portion of the
territory was named Londonderry Township.  Both contributed land to form what is presently Conewago Township.

The Township is comprised of large areas of rolling farm land and woods.  Some scattered localities are dominated by huge surface stone.  The land is comparatively rich and water supplies are generally good.  Londonderry can boast of some of the most beautiful and fertile farms in Dauphin County.  Colonel James Young owned two farms in the Township, Sunset and Locust Grove, that were visited by many dignitaries.  The Township has extensive water frontage along the Swatara and Conewago Creeks and the Susquehanna River.  There are several islands included in the Township.  Chief among these are Shelly's, Elliot's (now called Three Mile Island, the site of a nuclear power plant), and Hill Island.  The islands and River have been a part of history from the beginning.  The Indians and early settlers used them for travel and as a source of food for all types of fresh water fish were plentiful.  Due to the richness of the soil, the islands were utilized for growing tobacco.

Port Royal, now known as Royalton, was the first and largest village in the Township.  It was one of the main stops for the Union Canal.  In 1811 Gainsburg, formerly called Franklin, was land out by land speculators and consisted of about 12 houses.  It was located on the King's Highway, a log road built about 1730 for travel from Philadelphia to Ohio, and known as Harrisburg Pike.  The Keiper home next to the Knights of Columbus was originally used as a stagecoach stop known as the Drover's Inn.  A toll-house was built on this road near the Swatara Hill Church to collect tolls for travel along the King's Highway.

The settlers were people of strong beliefs.  In 1774, the inhabitants met and resolved to stand by other townships in all actions to preserve their rights.  Within 48 hours of receipt of the news of the battle of Lexington, the first Company of the Associators was formed.  It was called the Liberty Company and consisted almost entirely of men from Londonderry Township.  These men served in the Revolutionary War from Quebec to Yorktown, and many died for the sake of Liberty.  History does not point out any definite participation in the Civil War, but residents from the West Shore moved cattle and horses across the river into Londonderry for safe keeping as the rebels advanced into the Cumberland Valley.

The people of Londonderry were also quite industrious.  In addition to farming, there were many small industries such as grist, chopping and cider mills, a cradle and scythe factory, casket factory, broom making, blacksmiths, carpet weaving and cigar manufacturing.  Glen Gery Brick Company was originally part of Londonderry.  It had charcoal fired furnaces that produced tons of pig iron.  The timbers were cut from Round Top, the highest elevation in the Township, to make the charcoal.

Records are not available as to the date when the first school was erected, but classes were held in homes during the 1700's.  By 1875 there were 14 one-room shcool houses.  Six years was  considered a good education, with the first five ten lasting four months.  The teachers were required to ride themselves to and from the islands.  Residents realized the need for consolidation in 1950, so land was purchased and Londonderry Elementary School was erected.  The last eight one-room school were closed in 1955 when the new elementary school opened Students in grades 7 through 12 attended Lower Dauphin, Hershey and Middletown High Schools.  In 1966, the present Lower Dauphin School District was formed by consolidating five elementary schools and one joint junior-senior high school.

Londonderry has had many churches.  One of the earliest was the Conewago Presbyterian Church, housed in a log building erected prior to 1741.  The church is no longer in existence by the title to the old graveyard is by law vested in the Presbyte of Carlisle.  The United Zion Children Church was built in 18th but  but the building is now a private home.  In 1874 the Round Top Class erected a small frame church.  Services continue to be here in this same building and it is known as Shope's EUB Church.  The former Gainsburg School was the meeting place of the Swatara High Sunday School in 1849.  A need was felt for another church building in the community, and in 1859 a United Brethern Meeting House was dedicated on the ground on which it still stands.  Early as 1846 there was a Bible Class whose meeting place was the Detweiler school house.  In 1848 a church was built and it serve its congregation until March, 1973 when a new building was dedicated.  The old church still stands.  This Church has been known by several names over the years.  They were Cemetery Gingrich, Geyer's, and Hillsdale Church.  The congregation presently the Geyer's United Methodist Church.  Strickler Mennonite Church was built on land donated by six Strickler families in 1837.  The building was replaced in 1923.  The Middletown congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses recently built new church at Harrisburg Picke and Geye'rs Church Road.

The Township continues to grow.  The population is now estimated at about 5,300 residents.  Though it is still basically a farm community, several small businesses are moving into the area.  The Township has its own 18 hole golf course, a picnic area, and a ball field all located on the old Sunset Farm Playground equipment, tennis courts and a baseball field having been built on land dedicated as Colonel Stinson Memorial Park located in Brae-Burn.  In 1963, a group of citizens formed Londonderry Fire Company No. 1 to provide fire protection within the Township.  Ambulance service was added in 1973.  As the land to the west and north of the Township becomes more and more congested, people are looking toward Londonderry Township.

The history of Londonderry Township is quite rich, as we can see from above.  Many of the farms and structures that are located within the Township are significant as land marks of the Township's past and have been recognized locally through the Middletown Historical Society.  However, currently there is only one farmstead that has been identified and recognized nationally.  In 1988 the Henry Smith farm, located at 950 Swatara Creek Road, became the Township's only structure to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The purpose of Historical Preservation is to increase public awareness of the importance of preservation is to increase public awareness of the importance of preserving and maintaining sites and structures indicative of our religious, cultural and physical development, and to encourage public and private involvement in establishing and implementing programs to achieve the goal of preserving historically significant sites and structures for the enjoyment and education of present and future generations.  The following excerpt from the preamble to the National Foundation of the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965 sets the spirit of historic awareness and preservation, and eloquently reinforces its status as a major planning element:

"The Congress hereby finds and declares . . that a high civilization must not limit its effort to science and technology alone, but must give full value and support to the other great branches of man's scholarly and cultural activity in order to achieve a better understanding of the past, a better analysis of the present, and a better view of the future."