Mifflin House Interpretive Marker

As development threatens the Historic Mifflin House, here is YOUR chance to help peserve part of York County's vanishing history!

This crowd funding campaign was initiated through a "grass roots effort" to help raise money to purchase a historical marker to educate visitors on the role of the Mifflin House during the American Civil War, as well as serve as a reference point to the location if something unfortunate should happen to this historic home.  A location overloooking the Historic Mifflin House at the end of Cherry Street in Wrightsville is the proposed site for the Mifflin House Historical Marker.  The main goals for placing this marker are to raise the public awareness of this endangered historic site from the American Civil War and educating future visitors on the importance of the history of this location.

The Mifflin House was built in the mid-eighteenth century, and ended up becoming a rather successful stop or "station" on the famed "Underground Railroad."  During the American Civil War, the property was known as the "Huber Farm," after the family that owned the land.  In late June of 1863 as the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia pushed north into Pennsylvania, General Gordon and his brigade captured York and made their way towards Wrightsville.  Their goal was to cut through Wrightsville and cross the Susquehanna River on the covered bridge that connected York and Lancaster counties.  In the fields outside of town, they were met by the local home guard and newly formed regiments of the Pennsylvania Emergency Milita.

A skirmish for the town erupted on the Mifflin property as Georgia troops of General Gordon's command moved across the fields.  A section of "Tanner's Battery" of artillery was positioned on 'Hybla Hill" where the Mifflin House sits.  This section shelled the town of Wrightsville from this position and another location south of present-day 462.

The home guard and regiments of the Pennsylvania Emergency Militia delayed the enemy long enough for the rest of the defenders to retreat across the mile-long Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge.  Prior to the retreat, the bridge structure was weakend by removing supports and timbers, and later set on fire by the defenders as they withdrew.  This left General Gordon's Brigade of the Army of Northern Virginia without access to Lancaster County and a route north to the CIty of Harrisburg.

Flash forward to 2018, the Mifflin House property is in danger of being destroyed and developed into an industrial park in the name of "progress."  In addition to this crowd funding campaign, a dedicated group of reenactors and living historians from the Mid-Atlantic region are raising funds to help save the property, as well as placing this interpretive marker to depict the actions of June 28, 1863.

The action at Wrightsville on June 28, 1863 is often overlooked during the study of the Gettysburg Campaign.  An interpretive marker could help educate future history enthusiasts and tourists that are interested in the American Civil War, the Underground Railroad, and York County's local history.

The purchase of the marker and installation on Cherry Street will cost approximately $2,600.  A minimum of $3,000 would secure the marker and maintenance fees for the first two years.  Any funds raised over the $3,000 goal would be doanted to help with legal fees in the campaign to save this historic site.

Thank you to everyone who participates in this crowd funding campaign.  Without YOUR help, it would not be possible!

Thank you for contributing to the support of your local York County History.