(part one)‘S Alt Marikhaus Mittes In D’r Schtadt or The Old Markethouse in the Middle of the Town

by Henry Lee Fisher with illustrations by Henry Barratt and original drawings by Lewis Miller

By York County History Center

York County History Center

Henry Lee FischerYork County History Center

Portrait of Henry Lee Fisher, Author

York County, Pennsylvania has produced its share of authors, and history, biography, and poetry are always popular. Henry Lee Fisher (1822-1909) combined all three in his narrative poems written in the Pennsylvania German dialect (Pennsylvania Dutch).

Fisher was the great-grandson of Kreutz Creek Valley pioneer Yost Harbaugh and a well-respected attorney. Fisher was recognized by his peers as a Pennsylvania German scholar. In the English introductions to his books he eloquently explains that Pennsylvania German is a transplanted dialect of High German with added English words. (High German refers to the language and pronunciation used in the more hilly area of southern German, as opposed to Low German spoken in flatter northern Germany.) The majority of early settlers of south central Pennsylvania came from southwestern Germany.

Market HousesYork County History Center

Photograph of Market Houses in York c. 1865

The Old Market-house in the Middle of the Town
And The Olden Times

Henry Lee Fisher wrote ‘S alt Marki-haus mittes in d’r Schtadt (The Old Market-house in the Middle of the Town). It was published in one volume with Die Alte Zeite, E'n Centennial Poem (The Olden Times, A Centennial Poem: or Pennsylvania Rural Life Some Fifty Years Ago, and Other Poems) in 1879.

Each stanza of the The Old Market House, a collection of 100 loosely joined verses, had to do with some aspect of the market sheds that then stood in the center of York or another York scene or personality. This epic poem seems to revere the old market until the verses about rats, tramps, and dirty butcher blocks are noted. Yorkers in his time were passionately divided on whether the sheds should stay or go. One writer later thought that Fisher’s satirical verses helped lead to the markets being pulled down one night in 1887.

The Olden Times is a collection of narrative verses describing the customs and labors of his farm family and their neighbors fifty years before. Each poem addressed a specific Pennsylvania German occupation or custom, from harvesting to militia drills to courting. Fisher saw these old customs fast disappearing. His aim was to capture the lives of the German and Scotch-Irish settlers of his boyhood.

The first book, ‘S alt Marki-haus mittes in d’r Schtadt, has been scanned in color and is presented in the following exhibit. The book includes illustrations by York artist Henry Barrett, as well as drawings in color with handwritten descriptions by York folk artist Lewis Miller.

Henry Barratt by Henry BarrattYork County History Center

Self-portrait, original drawing by Henry Barratt

A good portion of locally generated art of the past served a practical purpose, that of preserving images of people, places, and ways of life. This was especially true before photography was developed around 1840. Henry Barratt was an artist who captured York people and scenes of over 100 years ago.

Barratt was born in England in 1817. He settled first in Maryland where he married his wife Margaret and where the first two of their five children were born. The Barratts moved north to York in 1858. Henry evidently pursued art as a career all his life. He is listed variously in York City directories as a photographer, an artist, a crayon artist, and as proprietor of his own drawing school. Census records consistently list Barratt as an artist. He died in York in 1891.

Some of Barratt’s best known drawings were created to illustrate Henry Lee Fisher’s volume of local Pennsylvania German culture, ‘S alt Marki-haus mittes in d’r Schtadt (The Old Markethouse in the Middle of the Town) un Die Alte Zeite (The Olden Times). Both pieces were written in the Pennsylvania Dutch (or German) dialect.

Henry Fisher stated that he designed the illustrations and then Barratt drew them. After all, since he was writing about the past, it was Fisher who was eyewitness to the events, but Barratt who had the talent to transfer the images to paper. In his English preface Fisher relates his dilemma in realizing the need of numerous illustrations (over 100) after he had already presold the book by $2 subscriptions, “entirely too low.” He said that the engravings are, therefore, medium quality. This does not seem to reflect on Barratt’s original pen and ink drawings, but on the cost of having them etched on printing plates. In fact Fisher reused Barratt’s images in the 1888 English translation of Olden Times and also illustrated his sixty-page history of the York County Pennsylvania Germans in the 1886 History of York County with several of them.

Lewis Miller by Lewis MillerYork County History Center

Self-portrait, drawing by Lewis Miller
In writing below the portrait, “Lewis Miller is Drawing to Represent a land_Scape and old Citizen of York.”


Yorker Lewis Miller (1796-1882) stated that his aim was to chronicle York in his art, succeeding so well that York has been called the best illustrated American community of the nineteenth century. Lewis Miller used his copy of Henry Lee Fischer’s book ‘S alt Marki-haus mittes in d’r Schtadt un Die Alte Zeite (1879) to further document his life and memories of York. Drawings in color with handwritten descriptions can be found throughout the book.

Miller was a most prolific American folk artist. His depictions of people going about their everyday lives have been used repeatedly in books, articles and documentaries to illustrate nineteenth century America. Miller drew the people and places he knew and saw, at home in York and in his travels, during the first half of the nineteenth century, even though he seems to have drawn them much later after he retired in the late 1850s. When his drawings are examined closely and compared with contemporary likenesses, Lewis is quite accurate.

Lewis was the youngest child born to Pennsylvania Germans John Ludwig Miller and Eve Catherine Rothenberger. They arrived in America in 1772. Lewis was born in York, where their father was schoolteacher and choirmaster at Christ Lutheran Church. Miller was apprenticed to his brother John to learn house carpentry and carpentered for about 35 years until he retired at around 61.

Lewis loved to travel. He listed York County communities he visited in his drawings. In 1840 he toured Europe for nearly a year. After the Civil War he spent more time in Virginia, finally making his permanent home with his niece in Christiansburg. He still managed to do some traveling, making several visits to York, including one following a visit to the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876.
Through his illustrated writings, Lewis Miller reveals something of himself as well as his contemporaries. Through his works we can get to know the people who lived 150-200 years ago. Many of the drawings in the collection of York County History Center came from York families and are displayed on a rotating basis. Other drawings are in the collections of the New York Historical Society, Virginia Historical Society, Henry Ford Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum in Williamsburg, Virginia.

York Square by Lewis MillerYork County History Center

The Square in York, Pennsylvania in 1799
Drawing by Lewis Miller, 1870

York, Pennsylvania’s population was 2,076 in 1790. A few years later, York had around 400 dwellings, at least six churches and numerous businesses. As county seat, York was the center of the political, legal and commercial life of York County. York also held an important geographical position on the path of westward migration. The vast majority of early German immigrants came into the port of Philadelphia. As families grew, they spread to the west through Lancaster and York and then followed the valleys southwest to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Introductory panels by June Lloyd, Librarian Emeritus

Cover by Henry L. Fischer and Henry BarrattYork County History Center

‘S Alt Marikhaus Mittes In D’r Schtadt un Die Alte’ Zeite’
(YCHC Collection #28634B)

In English, “The Old Markethouse in the Middle of the Town and The Olden Times”

Written by Henry Lee Fischer and illustrated by Henry Barratt. This volume is extensively annotated with drawings and writing by York folk artist Lewis Miller.

Printed by the York Republican, York PA, 1879

Front pages AB by Lewis MillerYork County History Center

Left – “The old Lutheran Church on South George Street” and “All the preachers in the Lutheran Church from the year 1730 to 1807.” Includes a partial view of the old School House in 1800. Drawing by Lewis Miller

Right – Introductory page handwritten by Lewis Miller in 1880. According to Miller, “Mr. Fischer who has written this book was not born in York nor in the county of York…he did not see the old buildings. I could make more than a hundred pieces that I know of York in my time that I saw - and happened, and all fun of high sport.”

Front pages CD by Lewis MillerYork County History Center

Left below – “The Quakers Meeting House in West Philadelphia Street York Borough. One hundred and twelve years old in the year 1879.” Includes names of “Sum of the old Friends.”

Left above – “I often seeing Goats licking of hand bills of publick sails.” Drawings by Lewis Miller

Right – “The Moravians Church in West Prince Street” and “burying ground”. Drawing by Lewis Miller

Front pages EF by Lewis MillerYork County History Center

Left – “The Old Jail in South George Street…It was taken down in 1859.” Drawing by Lewis Miller

Right – “The Odd Fellow Hall on the corner of George and King Street.” Drawing by Lewis Miller

Front pages GH by Lewis MillerYork County History Center

Left below – “Major Clark’s house on the corner of Main and Beaver Street, the largest building in York at one time in 1796…Mr. Clark was in his time an attorney of law and one of the old Continental Army of 1776.”

Left above-Old Jacob Upp Tavern, Old John Hay lot and “the old fire engine house in Centre Square, the only one in 1799.” Drawings by Lewis Miller

Right below – “The Old Market house below the gable end of the old Court-house.”

Right Above- “Mr. Lenhart Silver Smith Shop on the corner of Centre Square, opposite the old market house.”
Drawings by Lewis Miller

Pages I and II by Lewis MillerYork County History Center

Left - “The Large Fire in 1804” in South George Street. “It begun in the alley of old Mr. John Hay and his son George Hay in their Barns and Stables full of Straw and hay.”
Drawing by Lewis Miller

Right – “The German Lutheran Church in South George Street was build in the year eighteen hundred and twelve. It is the largest building in York…More then 2000 are buryd on the grounds.” Includes a list of preachers.
Drawing by Lewis Miller

Pages illus and III by Henry Barratt and Lewis MillerYork County History Center

Left - Illustration of the Market Houses in the square of York.
By Henry Barratt

Right above- “The residence of Mr. Hardly (Hartley) in Main Street.”

Right below – “The residence of Mr. Charles Barnitz, attorney.”
Drawings by Lewis Miller

Pages IV and V by Lewis Miller and Henry L. FischerYork County History Center

Left – “The German Reformed Church in 1800.” Also pictured is the old John Hay house on left and George Barnitz house on right of church.
Drawing by Lewis Miller

Right - Title page for “‘S Alt Marik-haus Mittes In D’r Schtadt un Die Alte’ Zeite’, E'n Centennial Poem” or in English “The Old Markethouse in the Middle of the Town and The Olden Times, A Centennial Poem” by H. L. Fischer. Printed at the Office of The York Republican, York, PA 1879.

Pages VI and VII by Lewis Miller and Henry L. FischerYork County History Center

Left top – “Old Captain Staegs home in 1798.” Includes a list of men from York that were in the Continental Army in 1776. Left bottom – “Philip Waldemyer in his tavern.” Drawing shows him angrily breaking bottles because his wife (pictured right) would not give him money to go to Baltimore. “And she said to him ‘You old fool it is your furniture as well as mine. You must buy more new glass wear.’” Drawings by Lewis Miller

Right-The beginning of the English Preface by Henry Fischer. Includes a handwritten description by Lewis Miller of the churches in York.

Pages VIII and IX by Henry L. Fischer and Lewis MillerYork County History Center

Left – English Preface continued.

Right – English Preface with a drawing and description “old Polly Waldemeyer had a white horse on her sign” in 1810.
Drawing by Lewis Miller

Pages X and XI by Henry L. FischerYork County History Center

Left, Right – English Preface continued.

Pages XII and XIII by Henry L. FischerYork County History Center

Left, Right – English Preface continued.

Pages XIV and XV by Henry L. Fischer and Lewis MillerYork County History Center

Left - English Preface continued.

Right – English Preface with a drawing and description of the “Cider Press at the York County poor house, 1813” and “John Allbrecht found dead in the morning at the cider press.” According to the description he slipped from a beam while trying to steal a turkey that was roasting.
Drawing by Lewis Miller

Pages XVI and XVII by Henry L. FischerYork County History Center

Left, Right – English Preface continued.

Pages XVIII and XIX by Henry L. Fischer and Lewis MillerYork County History Center

Left - English Preface with a drawing of Reverend Jacob Göring.
Drawing by Lewis Miller

Right – List of Illustrations

Pages XX and XXI by Henry L. Fischer and Lewis MillerYork County History Center

Left – List of Illustrations with a drawing of “old Schallere killing his calf” in 1800. His wife is also pictured.
Drawing by Lewis Miller

Right – List of Illustrations with a drawing of “Old Jacob Kauffeld killing his flook of Sheep. He came home full of liquor-Strong-drink and the sheep made – bla – as sheep do cry, and he thought the cry at him. So he cut their throats with a large knife, without mercy in his spree. 1789. We boys vex and harass him by hallowing – bla – bla and run quick, in 1804 and 5, & so on in town”.
Drawing by Lewis Miller

Pages XXII and XXIII by Henry L. Fischer and Lewis MillerYork County History Center

Left - List of Illustrations followed by an illustration of George Washington. Includes a drawing of an eagle with a flag and writing “God Save the Republic,” and “United States of North American from 1776”.
Drawing by Lewis Miller

Right – Printed dedication page “To the Honest, Virtuous, Intelligent and Patriotic Pennsylvania Germans, this Humble Effort to Illustrate The Manners, Customs and General Mode of Life in Their Own Dialect, is Respectfully Inscribed by the Author.”

Includes drawing and description of “A plot of Conspirators by the negros in York to set the town on fire and plunder it…Before the Sqire or magistrate, Justice of peace.”

Lewis Miller goes on to describe below, “In the year 1803, fire broke out in Barns and Stables in day time and after night and no one positive can tell who done it. At last it was discovered by young lady of Mistress John Spangler – I saw our coloured boy Tom take some fire out the kitchen in a cup and Mrs. Spangler told it to her neighbor Colonel George Spangler and Tom was taken to a Squire. He should tell who set fire to the buildings if he know he can tell and we set you free and he told them all who done it. He was one himself and black Isac and Bill Penn and Tom Rur, Jes[?], Bob Cole, Pit Mole[sp?] and Penn’s wife, all Black Colourd. The where taken to jail and in court and after their sentence, the where all send to the State Prison in Philadelphia. The where all Slaves at the time. The law and act was not passed to set them free at that time. The all died in the State Prison”.
Drawing by Lewis Miller

(Exhibit continued in Part Two)

Credits: Story

York County History Center
York, Pennsylvania
9/22/2017

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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