Willow Valley Communities, a premier 55+ senior living community, is proud to announce its sponsorship of the Lancaster City Witness Stones Project, a powerful initiative that honors the lives and legacies of enslaved individuals who lived and labored in the area. This important project is part of the national Witness Stones Project, Inc., a nonprofit organization founded in 2017 in Guilford, Connecticut, that partners with local communities to commemorate the history of slavery and promote dialogue through education and remembrance.
Lancaster City is the first community in Pennsylvania to participate in the Witness Stones Project. The first public Witness Stones dedication ceremony took place May 27 in Penn Square, where stones were laid to honor Robert, Bet, and Susan—individuals enslaved by Revolutionary War General Edward Hand at his Lancaster City townhouse—and Frank, who was later enslaved at Hand’s Rock Ford estate.
The emotional and educational ceremony was hosted by representatives of the Historic Rock Ford Mansion, and included participation by students from J.P. McCaskey High School, who have studied and memorialized the lives of these four individuals as part of the project’s curriculum. The first three stones will be installed at the approximate location of the Hand townhouse, at the corner of South Queen and West King Streets. The dedication was followed by a community luncheon at Southern Market at Vine and Queen Streets, also sponsored by Willow Valley Communities.
The Lancaster City Witness Stones Project is a collaborative effort involving the African American Historical Society of South-Central Pennsylvania (AAHSSCPA), Historic Rock Ford, and the School District of Lancaster (SDoL). Over the next three years, the project plans to install 75 Witness Stones throughout downtown Lancaster.
Each Witness Stone is a 4x4x4-inch brass-capped marker, engraved with the name and skill of an enslaved individual, placed to publicly honor and reclaim their history. Willow Valley Communities is honored to support this deeply meaningful initiative. With over 40 years of commitment to excellence, Willow Valley Communities has always cherished its connection to Lancaster City. Its residents move from over 40 states across the nation. While many arrive with no previous ties to Lancaster, they quickly fall in love with its vibrant culture and rich history, and they are eager to give back.
“Our residents come to Lancaster because they’re drawn to the warmth and spirit of this community,” said John G. Swanson, CEO of Willow Valley Communities. “Supporting initiatives like the Witness Stones Project is one of the many ways we, and our residents, show appreciation for a city we all love.”
Willow Valley Communities’ sponsorship reflects a broader mission of civic engagement, historical recognition, and community unity. The Witness Stones Project ensures that the stories of enslaved individuals are never forgotten—and that the Lancaster community continues to reckon with and honor every chapter of its past.
