The Gate to the Lisburn Cemetery

Many folks that live in Lisburn proper or even just outside our boundaries don't realize that there is a cemetery tucked between the fire company property and the Yellow Breeches Creek. For years the cemetery was only known by the swimmers who used it as a short cut to get to the deepest part of the creek to jump off the rope swings that used to hang from the trees on the steep cliffs.

The cemetery had a very elegant wrought iron gateway and fence that after years of neglect was over consumed by poison ivy , vines, and all sorts of overgrowth that hid the fact of it's existence.

Many people that know me, know my passion and commitment to the Boy Scouts. Scouting is a part of the American culture like a Norman Rockwell painting or a parade that happens every Memorial Day. For those not involved in scouting, it's easy to say without reservation that everyone knows the term "Eagle Scout" and what it takes to become one.

The Lisburn Cemetery Gate became my Eagle Scout project in the fall of 1980. The cemetery association had a need to restore the gate, and so I took on the challenge to restore a piece of our history. For (3) three weekends my scout troop and I camped along the mill race while spending the daylight hours with gloves, rakes, nippers, shovels and other tools of destruction to rid the area of the menacing overgrowth that covered the gate and fence. Then came the hard part, wire brushing down the gate and all the intricate parts of what is left of the original fence, then painting the entire structure.

One of the elements of preparing an Eagle Scout Project is putting together for approval the need and significance of the project. Usually a portfolio is put together with before and after pictures, the expected man hours, supplies needed, finances needed if any, and what leadership skills the Eagle candidate will show in completing the project. Part of the package to show the significance was to do research on the cemetery, compiling details of dates, prominent people buried there, etc.

It is fascinating to know that the lower part of the cemetery has native Americans buried there in unmarked graves. There are Civil War solders buried there, with GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) markers in front of their tombstones, although I believe unfortunately, many have been stolen through the years. The founder of the Churches of God for this area is buried there as well.

Many of the tombstones have been broken over the years and in an effort to be able to mow and trim throughout the grounds, have been stacked one on top of the other with no way of officially knowing where to relocate them in proper relationship to their owners. Many of the stones are so old and made of sandstone that the etchings are weathered and too smooth to read.

I hope that you each take a little time on some Sunday afternoon this summer and stroll through the cemetery grounds and read some of the stones. Find the grave of a Civil War solider or find the tombstone of a small child that only lived a very short time and imagine what might have happened to these people. By the way, I suggest starting your stroll of the cemetery grounds by walking through the actual gateway and fence. After 29 years, I'm still proud of my Eagle Scout Project.



Brian M. Kline
Eagle Scout Class of 1981

Emma Burns - Local Artist

Local Artist, Emma Burns, has created an original decorative door topper for the 270th Anniversary of Lisburn. (shown above) Ms. Burns graciously agreed to be interviewed on our community blog.

These decorated boards are available for sale. For more information on the details of the board, please click here to visit our website

1. Who are you, and what do you do?
My name is Emma Burns and I am an Artist.

2. How long have you lived in the area?
I've lived in the area off and on for about 35 years.

3. How long have you been an artist? Did you go to school for it? Self taught?
I've been an artist all my life. As far back as I can remember I drew or scribbled pictures that people recognized. I worked as a graphic artist for about 25 years and had some education in that area. About 15 years ago I retired from that area of art and began a new career of painting on all sorts of things, i.e., wood, tin, canvas furniture. You name it, I've painted on it.

4. What inspires your art?
I'm inspired by anything God has created, as well as some of man's creations. I've painted oceans, country scenes, lighthouses, covered bridges, old homes, barns, horses, dogs, cats and people. I'm inspired by just about anything.

5. Do you have a favorite subject?
My favorite, I suppose, is painting lighthouses. We have visited many of them all up and down the East Coast, the Great Lakes and The West Coast.

6. How did the idea for a Lisburn decorative board come about?
One day a man by the name of Tom Banks called me and said that he had seen one my of door toppers that I had created of Mechanicsburg and wanted one just like it with buildings from his town of Lisburn. This request expanded my repertoire of door toppers. I have about ten different towns that I have done.

7. What did you do to research the sites that are included on the board?
To create a door topper requires about 8 photos or drawings of old buildings. I sometime take these with my digital camera or use ones supplied by the client.

8. Where can we find your work?
You can find my work at my home or at the 2nd Floor Gallery in Mechanicsburg.

9. Do you have a catchphrase-style philosophy on life and/or art?
I'm a realist, and everything I paint is a real place or thing. I do use artist prerogative at times and add a different color or object that I think might enhance a painting. Everything God has created is perfect, and I don't feel I need to change a thing.

The Celebrate Lisburn! committee would like to thank Emma Burns for her generosity. Ms. Burns will donate 25% of the proceeds of each door topper sale to the committee's fund raising efforts.

Poetry From Lisburn

Here is a poem, composed by one of our residents, that was included in the first history of Lisburn book from 1976.

To Our History Buff


The sun came up one beautiful morn

Upon a town not yet born

Wild deer, tall trees, and meadows of green

Oh! Such a sight I would love to have seen.



A man was here, red the color of skin

But who cared what shade he was then!

Redman didn’t care where he was at

There were deer to hunt and furs to trap.



The white man came to settle here

And chased alike the Redman and deer.

Of the Penn’s there were many, The Fraziers a few

But our man Alex knew just what to do.



Upon a muddy creek he built a mill

With fringe benefits of a good ole still.

Good corn liquor was here in those days

To kill aches and pains and chase tears away.



Soon there were many settlers around

They all got together and formed a town.

Lisburn's name is from Ireland you see

And that is how this town came to be.



The counties and townships were all broken down

First it was LANCASTER, yes this little town.

It became EAST PENNSBORO in the year 1745

And in 1766 became ALLEN without batting an eye.



NO! We did not forget about 1750

A new County was born, CUMBERLAND, the nifty.

To finish our story a hundred years past.

WE”RE now in LOWER ALLEN township – at last!



by Linda L. Kilmore

Come To The Lisburn Village Tour!

Lisburn located in Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County will host a Village Tour on May 17th, 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM. Lisburn is located on Rt. 114 halfway between Mechanicsburg and New Cumberland and the cost is $10.00 for advance tickets and $12.00 at the door. There will be 14 sites in and around Lisburn. Please start your tour at Lisburn Community Fire Company Social Hall where you will receive your receipt for pre-order or to purchase your tickets. At the social hall you will find a pictorial history of Lisburn Village with some great pictures and refreshments.

For pictures of each location, please see our website: http://www.villageoflisburn.us/Tour_stops.html

Lisburn’s earliest settlers, Indians and slaves are said to be buried at the Lisburn Cemetery located on the Yellow Breeches. Take advantage of this opportunity to have a tour of the cemetery by the current caretaker and learn about some of those interred here.

The Lower Allen Township EMS will be on hand at the Fire Station for free blood pressure checks. The Firemen of Lisburn Community Fire Company will demonstrate the present apparatus and gladly talk about their new engine which is to be delivered in October of this year.

The houses/businesses on the Village Tour include:

1) Jan Jarrett’s circa 1820 home at 1740 Main Street, Lisburn with a large addition including a reproduction of the original summer kitchen fireplace.

2) Earl Blust Studio at 1029 Oak Hill Road, Lewisberry features Earl’s paintings throughout the home which was built around 1800. Earl is the only remaining member of the original Seven Lively Arts of the Harrisburg area.

3) Wendy and Thomas Sawyer’s circa1816 brownstone farm house at 981 Oak Hill Road, Lewisberry features an addition by the previous owners using only period materials.

4) W. S. Carey Electric at 1781 Main Street, Lisburn is a converted mill originally built in 1751. This stop will only include the outside of the building.

5) Gene & Terrie Hosey’s circa 1812 home at 1633 Main Street, Lisburn began as two buildings connected by a kitchen in the 1920’s. The backyard includes brick pathways and a fish pond.

6) The Church of God at 1621 Main Street, Lisburn was built in 1878. Pastor Larry Billet and his wife along with life-members of the church will greet you and be able to discuss not only the history of the church, but Lisburn as well.

7) Marietta Egervary and Terry Fackler of 1609 Main Street, Lisburn have converted a 1917 church into a beautiful and unusual residence.

8) Michael Jarrett and Patricia Crogan have upgraded their 1840 red brick farm house at 1624 Main Street, Lisburn since their purchase in 2001.

9) Greg and Christy Black purchased their home at 1421 Main Street, Lisburn in 2004. The original home and barn’s deed states it was built in 1904; however, appear to be much older. They have done extensive updating inside, and added many features outside including stone work, a front porch, a pool, patios, pool deck and a pond in the back yard.

10) The Lower Allen Township Barn was built in 1847 by George Barber and purchased by Lower Allen in 1963 as part of their township park. They have remodeled it into a public meeting place and social hall.

11) Tom and Julie Waddington’s home is located in Lisburn Estates at 1540 McCormick Drive and was built in 1970. The home includes a wonderful screen porch on the back that overlooks the Yellow Breeches Creek.


The Village of Lisburn in Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, is celebrating their 270th Anniversary Celebration this year with numerous events. To read more about these events, please visit their website at www.villageoflisburn.us . These events will help fund a new book about Lisburn and the Lisburn Community.

For more information or to reserve tickets, please contact Mary Ellen Banks @ 697-5003, 1780 Main Street, Lisburn, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055; or you can email LisburnVillage270@Comcast.net. Please help support us in raising money for other events planned in 2009 including a Founder’s Day Picnic in October and a final 2009 New Year’s Eve drop.

Posted by Mary Ellen Banks - Tour coordinator