Garden Spot townlively.com
MARCH 8, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LIX • NO 11
Photographic history NHAHS presentation to explore the life of H. Clifton Thorbahn BY ANN MEAD ASH
or Gap resident Brett Snyder, acting vice president with the Historical Society of Salisbury Township, history is not merely a hobby. Snyder’s business, PAST paper.com, deals in rare magazines and other vintage paper items. Snyder first became interested in the life of noted Lancastrian H. Clifton Thorbahn about 10 years ago when he came across some photos and clippings of the man mounted on a board. “It was band and orchestra stuff and WGAL radio photos,” said Snyder. “I thought, ‘There’s a story there,’ but I put it aside.’” A year ago, Snyder’s work brought him some copies of Lancaster Magazine, published from the 1950s to the 1970s. “The editor and owner was a guy named Thorbahn,” recalled Snyder. “I thought, ‘I know this name.’ I looked at the scrapbook boards, and it was all his stuff.” Snyder will present the results of his research into Thorbahn’s life in
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the New Holland Area Historical Society (NHAHS) program titled “H. Clifton Thorbahn: Lancaster Jazz Pioneer, Historian, Editor, and Publisher” on Thursday, March 16, at 7 p.m. in the chapel at Garden Spot Village, 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland. The public is invited to attend. “When I started putting it all together, I thought, ‘What a fascinating life this guy had,’” said Snyder of Thorbahn, who as a young man played checkers with Groucho Marx and then started one of the first jazz bands in Lancaster. “The band went on tour and played Warren G. Harding’s inaugural ball,” reported Snyder. When Thorbahn returned to Lancaster, he managed other bands. Snyder noted that Thorbahn also played the piano at silent movie theaters. “He was one of those guys who could play any song,” said Snyder, who added that Thorbahn’s father was orchestra director for the Lancaster schools. “There was a lot of music (talent) in
the family,” Snyder said. Thorbahn also dabbled in education, serving as assistant principal at Salisbury High School and principal of Strasburg High School. In the summer of 1926, Thorbahn moved in a different direction when he co-wrote the Lancaster Pageant of Liberty, which was held at Franklin & Marshall. “It was a big historical pageant about Lancaster and the American Revolution,” said Snyder, who noted that the show featured 600 singers and 400 dancers. Thorbahn H. Clifton Thorbahn (center) was the director of Lancaster’s segued into working for first jazz band. WGAL radio, where he produced, directed, and acted. historical societies. research Thorbahn concentrate on In addition to musical tal“He had his fingers his band period from 1919 through ents, Thorbahn began workin anything that the late 1920s. “(Thorbahn) lived ing in publishing, creating in a black-and-white world, but he was history.” the first tourist guide for the By the end of the lived a colorful life,” said Snyder. Lancaster County, and writMore information about NHAHS 1960s, Thorbahn ing history features for H. Clifton Thorbahn’s was ready to retire, may be found at https:// Lancaster Sunday News. Sny- F&M graduation photo and he died in nhhistorical.com or by searching for der added that Thorbahn was 1983. The scrapbook photos that “New Holland Area Historical Society” involved with a number of area originally inspired Snyder to on Facebook.
A question for Christians GDN
Metaxas to speak at school banquet BY ANN MEAD ASH
In explaining why Eric Metaxas was chosen as the speaker for the Linville Hill Christian School spring banquet, head of school Matt Buckwalter quoted the school’s mission statement. “Linville Hill is a community of faith where students learn to think deeply about who God is as they discover their Godgiven purpose in preparation for a lifetime of service to the King,” said Buckwalter. Explaining that a few of the author’s many books are utilized in the high school curriculum,
Building a legacy Servants Inc. plans annual gala BY ANN MEAD ASH
Buckwalter added, “(Metaxas’ words) help students think about looking back to those who’ve gone before us for answers to (the question), ‘How do we live in a time when maybe the prevailing values of the culture are out of sync with the heroes of faith from old?’ We need someone who can help draw our young people back to those voices.” Metaxas will be the featured speaker at the Linville Hill 2023 spring banquet on Tuesday, March 28, at Beechdale Farms, 458 Beechdale Road, Bird-in-Hand. A meet-and-greet will
Servants Inc. has its roots in a mission trip that founder and CEO Trent Davis took to Guatemala around the year 2000. Davis wanted to share his experience with others, and he began coordinating mission trips, but that was just the beginning. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina inspired Davis to do home repair work stateside. Flooding in York County in 2010 brought the program home. Servants now has a presence in Adams and Lancaster counties as well. In Lancaster County, Servants is mostly active in the
ELANCO area as well as Columbia and Marietta. Servants Inc. completed more than 110 projects and had more than 10,000 volunteer hours total in 2022. To raise funds to help area families in need, Servants holds a spring gala. The 2023 event, which will be the fifth for the organization, will be held on Friday, April 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Stone Mill Inn, 305 S. Broad St., Hallam. The event will include a cocktail hour, a sitdown multicourse meal, videos, live and silent auctions, and live music, and Davis will give an update on the work of the ministry.
See Linville Hill pg 5
Eric Metaxas Over 450,000 sq. ft. of flooring in stock!
See Servants Inc. pg 2
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