Did African Americans help to make Lancaster City a better place?  Of course, although it may be hard to find some data backing that up?  The reason for this is actually quite obvious.  Since African Americans were not even considered citizens of the United States for hundreds of years, it is hardly surprising that people rarely bothered to keep track of any positive input made by blacks.  However, by researching diligently and doing various interviews with African Americans that lived in Lancaster City in the early 1940's and 50's I found that African Americans made various contributions to Lancaster City.

First of all I will discuss farming.  Lancaster City was a large farming industry in the past as well as at the present time.  Although, the majority of farmers today are white, this was not always the case.  During the early 1800's a small number of African Americans did own farms, and an even larger percent of blacks worked on farms.  Even though there was no cotton or rice to grow in Lancaster City, there was corn and wheat.   In some areas they also grew hemp and tobacco.  If a black person were to be working on farmland their pay would usually come in food, and meek proportions of it.  Located in Penn Square, in the center of Lancaster City, is the Central Market.  This is the country's oldest publicly owned farmers market.  It has been in operation since 1889.  The market sold vegetables and fruits, as well as dairy and poultry products.  African American farmers in Lancaster could not sell their food  here at first, but after a couple of decades they market was open for all to make money.

One of the most important contributions African Americans made in Lancaster City was deciding to go to war.  When the war began blacks were not even officially recognized as soldiers, and were hardly even treated human.  The white man placed the black soldiers in the front lines, so they would take the hardest impact and make the conquest easier for men in the rear.  However, the African American men fought long and hard for their country.  At the outbreak of the Revolution, Lancaster rapidly took on an increased importance.  Lancaster City was busy making large amounts of supplies for the soldiers during the war.  Some of these supplies included rifles, shoes, boots, uniforms, blankets, hardware and food.  Many African American women worked in the factories and warehouses that produced these important items.  Without the help of these women of color the soldiers, both white and black would have been out of luck. Lancaster City was even named capital for a day.  British troops were coming, and the congress was afraid for their lives, so they wanted to go inland more.  Lancaster was chosen because at the time it was the most important town in Pa, next to Philadelphia of course.  Since Lancaster was located on one of the main routes West, it was an important and well utilized trading center.  After discussing it in Lancaster Cities Court House, congress decided that York would be a safer hide out due to the fact that it is West of the Susquehanna River.

During the Civil War Lancaster Cities Fulton Opera House held benefit performances to raise money for the Lancaster son's in blue.  Some of these soldiers were black.  The Fulton Opera House opened in October of 1852, and a few decades later had hosted a number of important actors, including some african american actors. Diversification had always been one of Lancaster's economic salvation's, and now due to a new generation of needed industry it once again would rise to the calling.  Major companies moved in, leading names such as RCA and Grinnell.  These new factories made working opportunities for Lancaster natives, eventually including African Americans.  Smaller plants stayed around and continued to make shoes, clothing and hats.  Lancaster City seems to have had a nice amount of African American carpenters.

Lastly, Quakers played an important part in Lancaster.  The Quakers were among the first to protest against slavery.  William Penn had established a land of prosperity for the Quakers in Lancaster.  They, the quakers, basically were intertwined into every facet of Lancaster.  The strong beliefs of the Quakers helped some African American Lancaster City natives strive for, and achieve dreams.  Dreams of freedom, ownership of property, and true job chances.  The religious Quakers helped these goals to be achieved.

In conclusion, the African Americans of Lancaster City have helped make the city what it is today.  The contributions made by the black men and women of Lancaster City where all out of kindness by their hearts, and thankfully because their help was actually a necessity.  Without all of the soldiers from Lancaster the Revolution and Civil Wars may have ended differently.  The Fulton Opera House, along with other Lancaster Historical sites, would not be the same if not for the input of the African American carpenters help, as well as help with hard labor.  As always, the African American seems to get the short end of the sick when it come to history about the good contributions many of them have made in the distant past.  However, hopefully this little excerpt will allow you to enjoy some exciting information about the African American in Lancaster City's history.