History of the Pilgerhaus

     George Klein’s farm encompassed most of what is now Lititz. Inspired by the Moravian settlements at Bethlehem and Nazareth, and by the preaching of Count Zinzendorf, George Klein offered the Moravian Church his 491-acre farm in 1753 for a settlement in Warwick Township. He was a member of the Lutheran church, but so strongly was he impressed by the preaching of Count Zinzendorf that he at once ceased his antagonism toward Moravian church activities. He ultimately became of the Moravian faith, and finally transferred to that church the whole of the land he owned in Lancaster county.

In 1754, he built a two-story stone house at 127 East Main Street, which became the “Pilgerhaus,” or “Pilgrim’s House.” This was the first house in Lititz.  This house was built by Mr. Klein before the transfer of land from him to the Moravian Church. He built it without having any definite purpose in mind for it.  This house afterwards gave the direction to the main street of the village, and accounts for the fact that it does not run due East and West. It was used as a dwelling for ministers, congregational meetings, and even as a house for refugees fleeing Indian raids. Bro. George Nixdorf, of Lancaster, was the first occupant.  It was in this building that the first settlers of Zinzendorf’s Congregation village, three families from Donegal and four from Bethel, found refuge when they fled here to escape Indian raids. A portion of the wall of this first house was left standing when the building was removed in 1866, and now forms part of the rear wall of the present three-story brick building which stands on its site at 125 to 129 East Main Street.

In August 1754 the legal transfer of the property was completed and in 1756, the village was laid out with streets and lots. The name “Litiz” was given to the new community.

From August 13 to 17, 1754, a Provincial Synod was held in the stone house, with Bishop August Spangenburg presiding. The general superintendent of the Country Congregations had been committed to Bishop Matthew Hehl, and as the new settlement was to be a center for them, it might have been assumed that Hehl should take up his residence here. The question, however, was brought up and discussed at a Conference of the Elders held the day after the meeting of the Synod on August 18, 1754.

Bishop Spangenberg stated the reasons pro and con for his own appointment, and also the pros and cons for Bishop Peter Boehler’s or Hehl’s appointment. It was decided the decision should be left to the lot. Four folded slips of paper were provided. On one was written the Latin word “est”, meaning “he is the one.” The others were left blank. It was possible that none of them would be designated. After fervent prayer, each one took a slip. Bishop Hehl received the one with “est.” He was accordingly charged with the organization and guidance of the new settlement, in external as well as spiritual affairs, and also the supervision of the various country churches. On November 9, 1754, he arrived from Bethlehem and took up residence in Klein’s stone house, which it was the custom thereafter to call the Pilgerhaus.

In 1760, the Congregational Store was located in the Pilgerhaus. It remained there until 1764, when it moved across the street to 120 East Main Street, the house built in 1762 by Mathias Schady. John Fenstermacher was the first manager. In 1767, Jasper Payne came to Lititz from Philadelphia to manage the store.

The Pilgerhaus was also the very first hotel in Lititz, started by the Moravian Brethren in 1762. The Zum Anker, or “Sign of the Anchor,” was originally located in George Klein’s stone house. The first innkeeper, who was paid by the Moravians, was the well-liked Brother Andrew Horn, who received his license on February 8, 1762. In 1764, Horn moved the inn to a newly constructed two-story frame building on the southeast corner of Broad and Main Streets and what is today known as the Lititz Springs Inn.

David Tannenberg moved to Lititz in 1765 because he couldn’t take the life style in Bethlehem. He set up his shop in a stone building to the rear of the Pilgerhaus. The individual trade shops were behind the residences and opened onto North Lane. Tannenberg was America’s first full-time organ builder. He constructed about forty-five instruments. He continued to build organs until falling off scaffolding to his death while installing an instrument for the Lutheran Church in York in 1804.

From December 19, 1777 to August 28, 1778, about 200 sick and wounded soldiers were cared for in a hospital that was established in the Brothers House. Various officers and doctors were quartered in the Pilgerhaus during this time.

From 1862 to 1874, 125 to 129 E. Main St. was a school for girls. In 1855, Rev. Julius Theodore Beckler was principal of Linden Hall. In 1862, during the Civil War, the enrollment at the school diminished and Beckler was dismissed. After his dismissal, he started Sunnyside College for Girls. It takes the name Sunnyside because the sun shines brightly on the front of the building. The school was greatly objected to by the Provincial Elders Conference, because of its possible injury to Linden Hall. In order to afford better accommodations for the young ladies, the present commodious edifice was erected in 1867, five years after the school opened. He replaced the two-story stone Pilgerhaus with the current three-story brick building (except for the rear stone wall).

A third floor was added, as was the wing out the back on the east side. In the back, you can still see the first and second floor made of stone, while the third is made of brick. On the second floor, a door led to an extensive balcony over-looking the main street, accessible to the young ladies at all times during the hours of recess. The principal, the Rev. Julius T. Beckler, lived next door in the Warden House. It was connected to the school by a doorway on the second floor. Theodora Beckler was the lady principal. Julius wanted his building to be taller than Linden Hall, so he added a widow’s walk on top. Later, Linden Hall added two widow’s walks of their own.

The original rear stone wall can be seen in this photo, taken during renovations:

J. W. G. Hershey purchased the building in 1906 as an apartment house. He kept horses in a barn where the garages were located. That was the area where the spring was located. Old Lititz maps show a small stream running from the spring to Lititz Run.

During World War II, the basement was designated an Air Raid Shelter. Shoe store owner Abe Hershey was Chief Air Warden and supplies were stored in the basement.

~ by Bill Oehme