Friends of Camp Security takes out loan to pay for dig; public day planned
Photo by Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record/Sunday News
Nancy Godfrey, front, of York Township, begins with a row of other volunteers making a systematic walk across the latest dig site at the Camp Security on Monday May, 18, 2015.
(York) — The Friends of Camp Security have taken out a loan to help pay for an archaeological dig to find the footprint of a Revolutionary War prison camp in Springettsbury Township.
The dig, which has been underway off Locust Grove Road since May 18, is estimated to cost about $21,000. The Friends still need about $10,000 to complete it, said Carol Tanzola, president of the Friends of Camp Security.
The loan was obtained through York Traditions Bank, and Tanzola said she will be able to tap in to the money as needed. The Friends will have until mid to late January to pay it off.
“The hope is we’ll get donations in,” Tanzola said.
Senior archaeologist Steve Warfel hopes to find evidence of the palisade — a high fence used to protect the camp where the colonists held British prisoners for war. Last year’s dig did not locate the footprint of Camp Security, which included the high fence and a village site referred to as Camp Indulgence, but it did uncover some 18th century artifacts, including a Spanish silver coin.
Public day planned
A date has been set for the public to visit the dig site and learn more about it. It will be June 18.
Two presentations will be given that day, Tanzola said. One will be at 10 a.m. and the other will be at 1:30 p.m.
Senior archaeologist Steve Warfel will talk about the archaeological dig. Jonathan R. Stayer and June Lloyd, librarian emerita of the York County Heritage Trust, plan to talk about the history of the camp.
Jeff Mummert, founder of HistoriQuest LLC, will talk about the Friends of Camp Security website, which was recently redone.
What has been found so far
Volunteers have found a piece of tea cup, which would be of the time period, as well as pieces of red earthenware pottery, which is promising, Warfel said. Volunteers continue to find prehistoric stone artifacts.
Volunteers now have a trench that is more than 200 feet long, Warfel said on Thursday.
It is going well, but there is no sign of the stockade yet, he said.
Contact Teresa Boeckel at (717) 771-2031.
How to donate
Donations can be sent to Friends of Camp Security, PO Box 20008, York, PA 17402.
Donations also can be made through PayPal on the website, www.campsecurity.org.
Also of interest
Spear part, pottery found on first day of Camp Security archaeological dig
Piece of English stoneware tea cup found at Camp Security dig
Camp Security: Where exactly is it, and will archaeologists find it?
This article comes to us through a partnership between the York Daily Record and WITF.
Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don’t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your back. Each weekday morning, host Tim Lambert will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth.
