The Conservation Society of York County

An organization presently responsible for the Codorus Furnace and Forge, the Wills One Room Schoolhouse, the 120-acre Bonham-Wake-Robin Wildlife Sanctuary, the Ulmer-Root-Haines Memorial Park and the Indian Steps Museum. The Indian Steps Museum is the flagship of our organization.

Our lifelong purpose has been to help make York County a better place to live and enjoy.

CSYC
Contact Martin Weiss
717.757.7858
Email

Wills Schoolhouse

Named for the original owner, the schoolhouse is situated on an elevated plot in Delroy, on Route 124, about 6 miles from the juncture of Route 83 (at Exit 18) and Mt. Rose Avenue, York.

The Wills School was built in 1875. The last class to occupy this 'little red schoolhouse' left in 1955 when the modern Eastern Jointure Elementary School was completed. It was acquired in 1956 from Lower Windsor Township School Board by Millard Winter, who hoped that it might one day be preserved as a one-room schoolhouse memorial.

The first teacher was Alice Beard–the last, Susan Herman. A total of 34 instructors served the school in the 80 years of community service. It was dedicated as a monument to educators of yesteryear in 1959.

Original contents such as the desks, organ, inkwells, blackboards, water cooler, pot-bellied stove, and pictures of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln remain. The original school bell is housed in the belfry from which it called thousands of neighborhood children to daily sessions.

The Wills Schoolhouse is now open to visitors on select Sundays throughout the year. Visiting hours on the following dates are 1 pm until 4 pm:

April 24, 2011
May 8, 2011
May 29, 2011
June 12, 2011
July 10, 2011
July 17, 2011
August 14, 2011
August 28, 2011
September 11, 2011
October 9, 2011

Ulmer-Root-Haines Trail

This nature trail is located across the roadway to the rear of Indian Steps Museum. It occupies 26 acres of wooded hillsides. The area abounds in a variety of wildflowers, small game, birds and trees which make it the ideal spot for nature study.

The trail is a memorial to H.C. Ulmer, Benjamin T. Root, and Mahlon N. Haines, all incorporators of the Conservation Society of York County.
Bonham-Wake-Robin Sanctuary

This wildlife sanctuary was made possible by the estate of Elizabeth S. Bonham who, prior to her death, requested that the latter portion of her name be used. The Conservation Society dedicated the sanctuary in her memory, May 17, 1977.

On October 18, 1968, the Spencer Farm was purchased and renovations and construction was begun to make it a center for study and research of wildlife in that area. The site abounds in a variety of birds and wildlife native to York County, as well as migratory birds.

An exhibit of mounts by Robert Gemmill, taxidermist, occupies one of the rooms. There is also a meeting room or workshop area for use by students and researchers. Use of the sanctuary center is by permission only. Contact Matthew or Michelle Posey at 717.495.1759 for more information.

Codorus Furnace and Forge

The Codorus Furnace, located about 6 miles southeast of Mt. Wolf on the south side of Codorus Creek near its confluence with the Susquehanna River, once supplied ammunition to the colonists fighting for independence during the American Revolution.

The forge and furnace, then known as the Hellam Iron Works, were erected in 1765 by William Bennet on a 150-acre tract he obtained from the Penn family. He operated the business until May 21, 1771 when it fell into the hands of Sheriff Samuel Edie. Edie sold the property to Charles Hamilton, who transferred it to James Smith of York, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and member of the Continental Congress. Smith lost about $25,000 in the venture before finally selling it on April 16, 1778 to Thomas Niel, a merchant.

Cannon and cannon balls were cast in the original furnace for the Continental Army during the Revolution and War of 1812. Iron ore for the furnace was quarried in the Hellam hills until the vein was exhausted.

In 1810, Henry Grubb bought and enlarged the works and it became known as Codorus Forge. The present furnace was built in 1837. Ore for this furnace was obtained from the famous Chestnut Hill mines of Lancaster County and was floated across the Susquehanna in flatboats. Large quantities of pig iron were made at the furnace. Much of the manufactured iron was loaded in shallops and floated downstream to tide water and on to Philadelphia and Baltimore.

It finally ceased operations in 1850, after 85 years of service.