Excerpt from Papers Read Before the Lancaster County Historical Society, May 3, 1907, Vol. 11: An Early Newspaper; Notes and Queries; Minutes of the May Meeting

I will be allowed at this point to digress for a few moments in order to state a fact that may not be known to many of our members. It is a note worthy occurrence that the greatest of allpennsylvanians, benjamin Franklin, was the promoter and proprietor of the first printing establishment in the city of Lancaster. His name was not known in the matter at the time, and only came to light a few years ago through the discovery of certain legal documents drawn up at the time. Franklin had been doing much of the printing for the Ephrata community before it procured its own press, and for the other religious sects in the State. Lancaster county was the home of these people. He wished to retaintheir patronage, and, not caring to wait until it came to him at Philadel phia, be resolved to go to it. He was, also, no doubt, fearful that the Eph rata Brethren and Christopher Saur would secure the greater portion of it unless he made special efforts to re tain what he already had, hence the establishment of an office in this city to do German as well as English print. Ing. James Chattin was sent here by Franklin with a printing outfit in 1751. All the issues of his office so far as known were an almanac. Then Miller Holland were put in charge. The enterprise does not seem to have been on a paying basis, so in 1753 Franklin sold the entire plant to Holland for �200. Evidently Holland could not pay the bond he had given for the purchase money, and Franklin in 1754 put one William Dunlap in charge. He rented the establishment to the latter from February, 1754, to April, 1757, at the rate of �20 per annum, then ceased.

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