> Also what is this Lancaster >House of Employment and Hospital? >Thanks, >Linda > My father grew up in Lancaster and their farm / glue works / rendering plant was near "the poor house" I'll be interested in seeing what other responses you get, but I suspect that the poor house and house of employment are the same instituion. The family farm was along the Conestoga River on the south side of Lancaster at the end of Rockland St. Immediately across the river from the farm was River View Cemetery. My impression from my father was that the poor house was very close. This should help you to identify the location of the institution in the early part of this century. My impression is that it was a mixture of people who were poor, mentally disabled, or physically disabled. My father spoke of a man who was the "shepherd" who led the cattle to pasture every day. He'd march in front of them playing an instrument. Some days it was a flute, and other days it was a violin. There was a "pit" where the "patients" went out for air or exercise. My dad and the kids would go up and look over the wall into the pit and watch them some times. Bob Lamparter Selinsgrove, PA ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== Abbreviations---PD=Pennsylvania Dutch, PMH=Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage magazine, MFH=Mennonite family History magazine, MRJ=Mennonite Research Journal, LMHS=Lancaster Mennonite Hist. Society. This and more list info at: http://members.aol.com/PennaDutch/pennadutch.html