Thursday, October 10, 2019

Main Street Looking South - 1983 - Lancaster SC Photos

Main St. is seen looking south in this 1983 photograph.

(Photo by Bell Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)

©Travis Bell Photography. All Rights Reserved.








Wednesday, October 2, 2019

We'll Be Back!



The Lancaster Archive will return next Thursday, Oct. 10.  In the meantime, be sure to browse over 100 celebrated images on this site.


Thursday, September 26, 2019

BC Moore and Sons Weight Scales - 1956 - Lancaster SC Photos














































Weight scales that would also tell your future are see in front of B.C. Moore and Sons On March 16, 1956 at the corner of Main and Arch streets.

Downtown retail stores competed aggressively for customers by investing in their window fronts with the hopes that dramatic lighting and displays would lure buyers inside.

(Photo by Lavoy Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)

©Copyright. All Rights Reserved








Friday, September 20, 2019

Donate to The Lancaster Archive




The Lancaster Archive is the only organization that actively makes historic photographs available to the public. 

There are hundreds of hours spent on reviewing, preserving, restoring and digitizing your hometown's visual history. 


We appreciate donations to The Archive, which help us continue our efforts. 

Please find below a button that makes it easy to donate to The Archive.


Will you consider a donation of $10, $25 or $50? Your donation helps bring hundreds of celebrated, Lancaster images to life! 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 803.312.2942. 

Thank you! -Lancaster Archive Staff














Thursday, September 19, 2019

Springs Block - 1968 - Lancaster SC Photos


A Feb. 17, 1968 view of the Springs Block, showing Macks store and D.L. Robinson Co. Jewelers. Robinson's began doing business in 1904 and in the 1940's, moved to this location. Robinson's eventually became Garris Jewelers, currently located on North Main St.

(Photo by Lee Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)

©Travis Bell Photography. All Rights Reserved.







Thursday, September 12, 2019

Belk Parking Lot - 1968 - Lancaster SC Photos















A Feb. 17, 1968 view of the Belk parking lot, facing north, located on the 200 block of South Catawba St.

The photograph shows a telephone booth, which is nearly extinct today with the use of mobile phones. The front of Belk's was located on Main St.

(Photo by Lee Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)

©Travis Bell Photography. All Rights Reserved.






Thursday, September 5, 2019

North Main Street - 1955 - Lancaster SC Photos












North Main St. is seen near the intersection of Main and Meeting streets on June 17, 1955. We see the Dariy Queen sign! Can you spot it.?

If you keep traveling down Main and look at where it begins to curve to the right, that's where the present-day Wendy's is located.

 (Photo by Lavoy Studio/Image on file with Travis Bell Photography)












Hyatt Law


Thursday, August 29, 2019

Main Street Looking South - 1985 - Lancaster SC Photos
















South Main St. is seen following a parade celebrating Lancaster's bicentennial in March of 1985. The Springs Block can be seen at top left of photograph. Lancaster hosted the mayors of Lancaster, Pa.and Lancaster, England as part of the celebration.  (Photo by Bell Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)

©Travis Bell Photography. All Rights Reserved. Free Download is for Personal Use Only.










Thursday, August 22, 2019

Lancaster High School and Downtown - 1966 - Lancaster SC Photos












Lancaster High School, center, and downtown are seen in December of 1966. Also seen are Rice School (to the right of LHS) and The Lancaster Career Center (far right edge).

If you look closely towards downtown, you can see the former First Presbyterian Church and the water tower that sat beside the courthouse.

The track that is seen beside LHS is where the present-day high school is located.

This aerial photograph was made while flying fairly low over the current-day Chick-fil-A location.

Yes, we are in awe of this picture. One of the best aerials we've ever seen.

Lavoy Bauknight pulled off a lot of incredible aerials back in the day. He was a pilot and he could get the plane exactly where he wanted instead of trying to explain to a pilot where he needed to be.

(Photo by Lavoy Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)

©Travis Bell Photography. All Rights Reserved. Free Download is for Personal Use Only.







Sunday, August 11, 2019

Postman and Main Street - 1955 - Lancaster SC Photos


A postman begins his walk up Main Street from the U.S. Post Office near the intersection of Main and Arch streets on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 1955. 

The Parr Theater, which is advertising the movie "Davy Crockett" can be seen near the center of the photograph. 

B.C. Moore and Sons department store can be seen as well. At left is a Navy Recruiting poster. 

The water tower just over the shoulder of the postman sat beside the former police station, to the right of the Lancaster county courthouse. 

(Photo by Lavoy Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography) 

©Copyright. All Rights Reserved

















Friday, August 9, 2019

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Thursday, August 8, 2019

Springs Park Train - 1956 - Lancaster SC





The engineer gets the the engine ready as families prepare to head out on a train ride at Springs Park on August 8, 1956. 

Springs Park was located near Fishing Creek Reservoir and featured a skating rink, Olympic-size pool, a banquet hall and merry-go-round. 

When this photograph was made, Dwight Eisenhower was president and gasoline was just 30 cents per gallon. 

See below for a cropped version of the photograph. Maybe you'll see someone you know. (Photo by Lavoy Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography. 

©Copyright. All Rights Reserved. 














Thursday, August 1, 2019

Shell Service Station on Main Street - 1954 - Lancaster SC Photos


The Shell service station, located at 310 N Main St. is seen on April 24, 1954. The station sold auto supplies, tires and gasoline for just 34 cents per gallon. 

Customers remained in their car while an attendant filled up their tank, checked the oil and cleaned their front windshield. Today, this location is the home of Fox's Pizza Den. 

(Photo by Lavoy Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography) 

©Travis Bell Photography. All Rights Reserved. 





Thursday, July 25, 2019

Dixie League Baseball - 1991 - Lancaster SC Photos


Dixie League Baseball players pose for a group shot in July of 1991. (Photo by Bobby Bell/Bell Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)'

©Travis Bell Photography. Download is for personal, non-business related usage.


Tuesday, July 23, 2019

The Shops on Main


Stop by The Shops on Main, the best antique mall in Lancaster.
Carrying antiques, rare finds, oddities, hand-crafted furniture, local artists works, home decor & more.

 Call 289-MALL or follow the store on facebook at:


Open 7 Days a Week









Harpers Five and Dime - 1968 - Lancaster SC



Harpers Five and Dime is seen on Main St., looking north, on Feb. 17, 1968. Five-and-dimes were popular in the mid 20th century and sold many items that were just a nickel or dime. (Photo by Lee Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography) 

©Travis Bell Photography. All Rights Reserved. 

Sunday, July 21, 2019

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