Lebanon County PA News
Disasters

The Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, PA)
13 Aug 1823 Page 3

On Monday last, the barn of Mr. John Eshelman, of Londonderry township, Lebanon county, was struck by lightning, and with its contents, consisting of upward of 20 tons of hay, and all the grain, the produce of a year's industrious labour, was entirely consumed. This is a heavy loss, and we sincerely sympathize with the unfortunate man.

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
July 27 1825

The barn of Jacob Housel, Esq. of Berlin, in this county, was consumed by lightning on Tuesday the 12th instant. Mr. Jacob Coldenbaugh, and his two apprentices, John Anthony and John Koons, were in the barn cleaning grain when it was struck. They were all stunned by the shock, but Mr. Coldenbaugh immediately recovered and went to the house for assistance - which arrived in time to save the lives of the young men, tho' the fire had already begun to fall about them. The lightning struck one of them on the left shoulder, where it divided - one part going down the left side, and the other, attracted by a knife in the right side pocket of his pantaloons, passed across his body, searing the skin severely in its course, particularly where the knife lay. The other was struck along the right side.

On the same evening, the Shop, Stable, barkmill, and bark house, of John Weidman, Esq., of Jonestown, Lebanon county, together with about 70 cords of bark and a quantity of hides, were destroyed by fire - one of the buildings having been struck by lightning.

On the same day an excellent barn, the property of Mr. Michael Brenneman, of Anville township, in the same county, was also struck by lightning and consumed, together with its contents, consisting of about 2000 dozen sheaves of grain, hay & c. Mr. Brenneman and two of his workmen, who were in one of the stables, were stunned by the lightning, but soon recovered and escaped.

Two barns, one the property of a Mr. Worthington, and the other belonging to Mrs. Smith, on Carrols' Manor, Frederick county, Md were also consumed by lightning on the same evening.

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
May 23 1827

Reading, May 15

Dreadful Fire

We understand, that on Saturday morning last, at about 7 o'clock, a dreadful fire occurred at Stumpstown, in Lebanon county, about nine miles north of Lebanon, by which nearly the whole town was destroyed. Upwards of 20 of the best buildings in the place, were consumed! The wind was high, there were no engines, and the inhabitants had naught to do but save such articles of furniture as they could grasp, and tacitly see the remainder of their property consumed by the devouring element! And reader how do you think this calamity was produced! By a boy shooting at blackbirds which were sitting on the roof of a barn!! -- Chronicle

Taken From the Chester Daily Times, Chester Pensylvania
June 1, 1881

A terrific thunder storm passed over the northern part of Lebanon county, in this state yesterday afternoon.  John Sarge, a brickmaker, was killed while working in a field near Jonestown. The house of John Colbert, in Salem Massachusetts, was struck by lightning on Monday night and his son Frank was killed. Other houses were struck and several persons injured during the same storm.

Annville Nearly Destroyed
Timely Assistance From Lebanon Saved the Town
Lebanon, April 17 - Fire today destroyed five business houses and dwellings, besides a number of stables and outbuildings in Annville. The timely arrival of assistance on a special train from Lebanon saved the town.  Loss about $40,000.  The properties were owned by Joseph A. Miler, Samuel Shenk, Thomas N. Werner, Samuel Keller and John Herr. The flames started in Miller's furniture repair shop.

Houses and Barns struck in Lebanon County
Lebanon, Sept 8 - A cloudburst, causing great damage to highways, railways,  and telephone and telegraph lines visited Lebanon and vicinity on Sunday evening and flooded many parts of the city and some of the county towns.  The heavy electrical discharges sounded like artillery fire and lightening struck in many places.

Barn Fires Light Up the Sky
The heavens to the south were lit up vividly by barn fires along the Lancaster border.  Advices from Cornwall says there were fires near Mt. Hope, and Lawn and Colebrook residents reported three fires in that region, one between Mt. Joy and Donegal, one between Colebrook and Mt. Joy and one betwen Mt. Joy and Union Square.  The fire nearest to Colebrook destroyed the barn of John Hershey, a mile on this side of Mt. Joy.

Near Annville, lightening struck and totally destroyed the barn of Hiram Peffley. All the livestock was saved, but many implements and much hay and straw wer burned. A barn was destroyed on a farm south of Mt. Gretna.  Many telephones were put out of service in that section.

The flames of a fire near Bachmanville, Dauphin County, could be seen from Campbelltown, this county.  The house of Samuel Sompson, 313  South First Street, was struck by lightening. The chimney was tore off the building and the woodwork was damaged.

Seriously Shocked
At Jonestown, a house belonging to ex-Sheriff Elias Gerhart, occupied by the family of John Bender, was struck by lightning, but was not set on fire. Mr. Bender and a daughter were shocked by the current and lay senseless for some time.

The total rainfall was over two inches. In the southern part of the county the rain was light but the lightning was most destructive. Lightening hit the store building of Edwin M. Miller on South Tenth Street, and following electric light wires, set fire to the interior.  Ephraim Gettle, the manager, lives in the building and put the fire out before much damage was done.

Lebanon County Town Suffers Heavy Loss Through Wind Storm

Annville Pa, Aug 22 -  Damage estimated at $50,000 was caused by a severe wind and rain storm which swept through the town last night.  The German Baptist Church was completed wrecked while several business places, school houses and nearly a hundred dwellings were badly damaged. The wind for a time assumed cyclonic proportions. Thousands of dead birds were found today on Lebanon Valley campus. Crops in the outlying sections were also considerably damaged.

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