Bl4—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 8,1982
BY DEBBIE KOONTZ
LANCASTER Femaie tar
meis of l,ancaster County received
an early Mother’s Day treat
Monday as they left chores and
cleaning behind to gather for the
annual Ladies Day Out sponsored
by the PKA Women's Committee
Over 400 women from Lancaster
and neighboring counties gathered
at Indian Springs Golf Club for a
luncheon, cheese and sausage quiz
and a fashion show by Posers of
Park City Mall.
Conducting the cheese and
sausage quiz was Michelle
Rodgers from the local Extension
office. Each participant had op
portunity to win cheese by
guessing types of cheeses and
meats from a selection placed at
each table setting. Cheeses were
supplied by the County
Swiss Cheese Company, and
sausages came from Stauffers in
Intercourse.
Local PFA president Earl
Newcomer and PFA news media
representative Jan Carson were on
hand to address the audience on
the goals of PFA
The program was under the
direction of Women’s Committee
members Shirley Garner, Svea
Hoover, Linda Kreider, Ginny
Ranck - chairperson, Caiolyn
Wanner, Irene Wanner, Ruth
Wanner and Becky Wivell
The highlight of the day’s event
came in the morning, however,
when ladies had opportunity to
take part in the annual Heritage
Trail This event, now in its sixth
year, features open house to five
homes of PFA members
Included on this year’s schedule
was part of the historic Underground Railroad. The ceiling
rises to a point above the bed; at this point was once a wall
behind which' lesla hid.
Eileen’s pride and joy is this dining table the right, the entrance to the four-room
which can span the 25-foot room. In the back apartment. On the table are antique dishes
corner is one of the original fireplaces, and to Eileen inherited from her family.
Over 400 attend Ladies Day Out
weie the tarms ot Lilli Ann and
Galen Kopp, Eileen and Galen
Benner, Erma and Clair Hollinger,
Marian and Elvin Brenneman, and
the Cameron Estate Inn ot Betty
and Abram Groff
The Benners’ Hume
One of the older and more unique
houses on the lour, the Benners
home, can only be reached by
crossing a beautiful one lane stone
arch bridge which flows along
Little Chiques Creek near Mount
Joy
But even the little stone bridge
and the winding creek don’t
adequately prepare you for the
view which awaits you as you
round that last turn on Pinkerton
Road
Just past a 90 degree turn, and
the bend m the creek, sets the huge
stone house, bordered by a wind
mill on one side and a barn on the
other.
This "Rocky Acre Farm” in
cludes 250 acres and about 75 dairy
cows This figure will soon be
changing to 100 according to
Eileen, due to three sons who all
want to farm.
But if you’re thinking that the
five ot them must live very com
fortably in a 16-room house, count
again This family includes eight
members Besides Galen and
Eileen, are Lamar, 23; Dean, 20,
Arlin, 18, Holly, 16, Loien, 11, and
Noel, 7
A step into the Benner home is
like a step into a preserved piece ot
history The home features three
built-in closets complete with
butterfly shelves, and five
fireplaces including' one walk-in
and one the Benners built them
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The beautiful, remodelc itchen features connecting room between the dining room and
an original stone wall to the right, and one the family room - the newest addition to the
constructed by the Benners around the oven home,
and left side counters. The kitchen is the
selves Antiques line every wall,
and though Eileen professes to be
able to "probably” list everything
in the house, she admits she might
have a "little trouble.”
Perhaps the rarest attraction
associated with this home is a
room which was part ot the Un
derground Railroad chain span
ning to Canada.
The room is in the original part
of the house, supposedly built in
the late 1700’s. The wall behind
which the slaves hid, has since
been torn down and the wood used
to build a closet in another
bedroom.
The slave’s hideout is now part ot
a four-room apartment they rent to
tourists during the summer for a
mere $25 a day. Included in this
apartment is a full kitchen, walk-m
closet, and two bedrooms. The
apartment, though part of the
building, has only one entrance to
the rest of the home, allowing
tourists complete privacy.
The door which leads trom the
apartment into the house opens
into the dining room. Eileen’s
pride and joy in this room is a table
which can span the 25-toot room.
‘ This table can stretch trom
wall to wall and even has boards
left over,” Eileen said. ’ I had it
made so J could have as many
guests or tourists as I want to
dinner ”
From the dining room guests can
(Turn to Page B 16)
bordering Little Chiques Creek in Mount Joy. The home, built
in three parts, is approximately 200 years old according to
Eileen Benner.
the home, this one was actually built by the Benners in the
family room. The wooden beam was taken from an old barn.
- —g* ijo. part of one of the many
bedrooms. The bed was given to her as was most of her
antique furniture and dishes.