PAST CRUISES
THE PIRATES AND THEIR CRUISES
The fun and fellowship of the group known as Pirates spans most of the Twentieth Century and forward into the Twenty-first Century. More than 100 years ago, Lancaster merchant, philanthropist, and civic leader, Henry S. Williamson believed in the beneficial effect of taking an occasional day off from work to go outdoors for fishing and hiking. He would get together with some congenial friends and enjoy a day along the banks of the Susquehanna River. Many of those excursions were climaxed with a shad dinner and enthusiastic group singing.
The earliest recorded date of such an outing was a plank shad dinner at Shurs Landing on the lower Susquehanna River in 1905. Such outings continued over the next several years, and in June, 1909, Williamson hosted the group at his home “Upland Lawn” in Lancaster, calling it “The First Outing of the Shad Choir Club.” “Upland Lawn” was on Wheatland Avenue, the current site of the Williamson Square Apartments.
The next year, 1910 at a similar afternoon of recreation and refreshment at Williamson’s home, the group adopted the name “Pirates,” and elected Williamson their Chief. Their logo, a sailing ship displaying a skull and cross bones, carried the notation, “Organized A.D. 1910 by H.S. Williamson.” There where no By-Laws, no formal minutes kept, and no dues. The cost of each of the outings were covered by those present.
Altogether, in 1910, there were eleven outings, which they called cruises. Three of those cruises were to the Fern Cliff Club at Benton in Drumore Township in Lancaster County. That location could be reached by taking a train from Columbia, south along the river to Benton Station. An alternate route they used was “take the trolley car to Quarryville, then the narrow gauge line to Peach Bottom, and from there, walk to Benton.” Accomac Inn, York County and fishing trips to Port Deposit were other destinations.
Following the great activity in 1910, no cruises were recorded in 1911. Cruises resumed in 1912, most of them to the Fern Cliff Club. Over the next five years the number of cruises per year dwindled from four or five to only three in 1916.
There was only one cruise in 1917. They visited Accomac on May 18. Chief Williamson died two days later. Pirates, as a group, attended his funeral and there were no further activities that year.
In May 1918, the Pirates cruised by auto to the Fern Cliff Club. This was the first mention of a cruise by auto. Augustus Rhoads, a close friend of Chief Williamson and one of the original Pirates, was now Chief.
After two cruises in 1919, there was at least one each year from 1921 to 1926, then a ten-year lapse of activity, except for a meeting at the Williamson Gateway to Williamson Park in 1930. For several years, a committee of Pirates had been planning a memorial gateway to the Park and the committee had raised the $4,197.00 cost of the project.
The single cruise in 1926 was a May visit to the Fern Cliff Club. Pirates going by trolley met at Penn Square to get the 7:30 A.M. car to Millersville. Reservations were to be made at First Mate Skipper Howell’s office calling Bell Phone 765. Those going by auto met at Prince and Chestnut Streets at 8:30, waited fifteen minutes to pick up any Pirates who came on foot, then departed for Quarryville, and via Mechanics Grove and Fairfield, to Benton. It is believed the Fern Cliff Club was damaged by fire a few years thereafter; the site is now part of the Ferncliff Wildflower and Wildlife Preserve.
During the ten-year lapse, many Pirates expressed an interest in having a reunion. Finally, in September 1936 a Reunion was held at Camp Shand of the Lancaster Y.M.C.A. at Cold Spring, Lebanon County. Fred F. Groff was elected Chief, and presided at this meeting, attended by thirty-one Pirates and three guests. The next cruise, in May 1937 was to the summer home of Chief Groff, “The White House” in Washington Boro.
Chief Groff died suddenly in 1938, and Andrew Rote was selected as Chief later that year. Speakers at meetings in these times talked on subjects such as “The Romance of the Susquehanna River and the Minstrelsy of the Susquehanna Hills,” and “The Importance and Value of Recreation.” The group was often called “The Susquehanna Pirates,” but the cruises, which usually had a crew of forty or fifty men, began to turn inland.
In the late 1930’s it was the practice at the dinner following the day’s cruise to appoint a Pirate or a Committee to organize the next cruise. A number of memorable cruises were made in that era.
Keeper of the Log Edwin B. Searles described a cruise to Hershey in December 1939, as one of the most enjoyable and educational cruises in Pirate history. They were the guests of Pirate Charles Ziegler, President of the Hershey Estates. Every detail of the afternoon tour was perfectly executed, and a memorable dinner was served in Hotel Hershey. After dinner, the Pirates were the guests of Mr. Ziegler at a hockey game of the Hershey Bears.
In 1941, a “most remarkable and instructive pilgrimage” was made to “the Lower End,” led by George W. Hensel, Jr. and Albert
H. Fritz of Quarryville. They pointed out notable and historic farms and buildings from Quarryville to Port Deposit, Perryville, and Bel Air, Maryland, ending with dinner at the Country Club at Bel Air.
Pirate membership had grown rapidly under the leadership of Chiefs Groff and Rote, and it had become difficult to arrange cruises and eating-places. In 1941 it was decided to limit the regular cruises to 100, and not induct new members until there was a vacancy. Since then, there has always been a waiting list.
There was one cruise in 1944. Fifty-one Pirates and eight guests visited the Naval Training Center at Bainbridge, Maryland. Captin C. F. Russel arranged for a tour of the facility and dinner for groups of Pirates in different mess halls. In the evening, a “Center Review Show” was staged for the Pirates.
Cruises to the R.C.A. plant in Lancaster and the Proving Grounds in Aberdeen, Maryland were made in 1945. Chief Rote died in March 1946, and in October, Herbert H. Beck was elected the new Chief.
Pirate Dr. Beck was an educator, historian, and naturalist. He led the Pirates on a wide variety of cruises. In 1947, the “Star-Spangled Cruise” went to Fort McHenry in Baltimore, and learned of the incidents which inspired the writing of our National Anthem. The Pirates were given special attention there because a letter from Dr. Beck had instigated the floodlighting of the Flag there. Following dinner at the Maryland Yacht Club, Pirate Brig. General Daniel B. Strickler gave a talk on “The American Flag Overseas.” It was on a cruise to the U.S. Naval Base at Philadelphia in 1948 that the Piece-of-Eight was adopted as the Club emblem.
In 1917, Chief Williamson had planted a tree at Accomac, one of his favorite spots for relaxation. A memorial plaque was placed alongside the tree on a 1955 cruise to Accomac.
At the Fiftieth Anniversary Dinner in February 1960, the speaker was columnist Hal Boyle.
There had been just five Chiefs in the Pirates’ first fifty years when death claimed Chief Beck in 1960, each of them serving for life. While the Pirates had no by-laws, no dues, and no treasury, the functions of keeping the rolls, publishing cruise notices, and so forth were necessary. Only two secretaries, later called Keepers of the Log, performed those duties for forty-nine of those years. Edwin B. Searles served twenty years, and in 1950, wrote “Days Off, Story of the Susquehanna Pirates.” At a surprise ceremony in November 1951, Chief Beck knighted Searles who was thereafter known as Sir Edwin.
Such special recognition was given on only one other occasion. During the Annual meeting in 1968, Chief George W. Davis, Jr. knighted A. C. Darmstaetter, for his many years of faithful services. Sir A. C. was the oldest living member of the Pirates, having joined in April 1914.
Since 1960, there have been four cruises each year. The Annual Meeting in January is followed by a Spring Cruise. A Summer Picnic and a Fall Cruise complete the year. The January meeting has been held at the Hamilton Club since 1957. The picnics were held at Pirates’ homes, then various clubs, and since 1985, at the Lancaster Country Club.
Over the last 105 years, twenty-seven Chiefs have led the Pirates on more than three hundred seventy-one cruises. Many of those were possible only by the personal connections of some of the Pirates. One example was the visit to the Gettysburg farm of President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1963. Chief Brig. General Daniel B. Strickler was able to set up the first ever visit the farm by a group of civilians since General Strickler and General Eisenhower had served together in the United States Army.
Pirates have had the privilege of special tours of the Pentagon, the State Department, and military bases in the vicinity of our National Capital and elsewhere within a one hundred mile radius from Lancaster. They have enjoyed visits to dozens of museums, historical landmarks, and many industrial plants. And for all of the ninety-five years, the cruises have concluded with a convivial dinner! A complete list of Cruises has been compiled to 2015.
PIRATES ACTIVITIES
Since Organization in 1910
May 13, 1910
Cruise to Accomac, with wives
May 27, 1910
Cruise to the Fern Cliff Club at Benton
May 30, 1910
Pirates met at the home of Chief Williamson.
June 17, 1910
Cruise to Port Deposit, dinner at Tome Institute
July 13, 1910
Pirates met at the home of Chief Williamson.
August 2, 1910
Cruise to Port Deposit and went fishing for crabs
August 19, 1910
Crab fishing trip to the Chesapeake Bay
September 9, 1910
Fishing trip to the Chesapeake Bay
October 6, 1910
Cruise to Fern Cliff Club at Benton
November 11, 1910
Cruise to the Fern Cliff Club
December 30, 1910
(No information on this cruise)
1911
(No record of Cruises in 1911)
January 22, 1912
Pirates met in the Breneman Building.
April 12, 1912
Cruise to the Fern Cliff Club at Benton
June 18, 1912
Cruise to Accomac
July 12, 1912
Pirates met at Chief Williamson’s home.
October 11, 1912
Cruise to the Fern Cliff Club
November 10, 1912
Cruise to the Fern Cliff Club
December 6, 1912
Cruise to the Fern Cliff Club
January 13, 1913
Cruise to the Fern Cliff Club via Columbia
March 14, 1913
Cruise to the Fern Cliff Club
April 11, 1913
Cruise to Holtwood to see the power plant
May 16, 1913
Pirates visited West End Park.
May 23, 1913
Cruise to Fern Cliff Club via Columbia for a two-day outing
June 19, 1913
Cruise to Accomac
July 23, 1913
Cruise to Pequea
October 7, 1913
Cruise to Fern Cliff Club via Columbia for a two-day outing
November 21, 1913
Cruise to the Fern Cliff Club
January 16, 1914
Cruise to Fern Cliff Club via Columbia
March 3, 1914
Pirates and friends of Chief Williamson met on the Fulton Opera House stage for a group picture to be presented to the Chief upon his return from a trip to Europe.
March 13, 1914
A surprise party for Chief Williamson in recognition of his return from Europe was held in the Breneman Building.
(no date) 1914
Cruise to Williamson Park
January 15, 1915
Pirates met at 8:00 p.m. for “The Chief’s Blowout”.
April 9, 1915
Cruise to the Fern Cliff Club
June 17, 1915
Cruise to Accomac
August 19,1915
Cruise to Fern Cliff Club for a two-day outing
October 22, 1915
Cruise to Accomac
January 21, 1916
Cruise to Fern Cliff Club via Columbia
February 15, 1916
Pirates met in the Breneman Building.
June 22, 1916
Cruise to Accomac accompanied by wives
May 18, 1917
Cruise to Accomac
This was Chief Williamson’s last cruise with the Pirates. He died two days later on May 20.
May 23, 1917
Pirates attended Chief Williamson’s funeral at 3:00 p.m.
May 10, 1918
Cruise by auto to Fern Cliff Club (Augustus Rhoads was now Chief; no record tells when the election took place.)
August 21, 1918
Pirates attended a flag raising at Williamson Park.
May 23, 1919
Cruise to The Pequea Club
November 4, 1919
Cruise to Fern Cliff Club
(No record of outings during 1920)
March 3, 1921
Cruise to Conowingo, Maryland
February 27, 1922
Pirates met in the Breneman Building.
May 10, 1923
Cruise to Havre de Grace, Maryland
November 23, 1923
Cruise to Pequea
November 6, 1924
Cruise to Pequea
February 27, 1925
Pirates met. No details
June 19, 1925
Pirates met. No details
September 24, 1925
Cruise to Fern Cliff Club, Benton
Pirates met at Penn Square to take the 7:30 a.m. trolley to Millersville where they got the 8:00 a.m. car to Pequea.
May 20, 1926
Cruise to Fern Cliff Club for a shad dinner
(No record of cruises from 1927 to 1929)
June 25, 1930
Pirates as a body met at 4:00 p.m. at Williamson Park for the dedication of the Williamson Gateway.
(No record of any cruises from 1931 through 1935)
September 15, 1936
Pirate Reunion held at Camp Shand.
May 28, 1937
Outing at the summer home of Fred F. Groff, “The White House”
August 3, 1937
Outing at the summer home of Andrew B. Rote, “Green Acres”
October 19, 1937
Cruise to Accomac
June 1, 1938
Outing at Rote’s summer home, “Green Acres”
January 26, 1939
Tour of interesting places in Lititz, including a visit to the
Animal Trap Company; dinner at the General Sutter Hotel
May 24, 1939
Cruise to Accomac
September 22, 1939
Outing at the Groff summer home, “The White House” in Washington Boro
October 25, 1939
Historical tour to the Landis Museum, Cornwall Mines, Cornwall Furnace, and the Lebanon Canal Tunnel; dinner at Brickerville Scheier
December 6, 1939
Cruise to Hershey as the guests of Pirate Charles F. Zeigler, President of Hershey Estates
An afternoon tour was followed by dinner at Hotel Hershey. After dinner, Pirates were the guests of Mr. Ziegler at a hockey game
September 25, 1940
Outing at Groff’s “The White House,” Washington Boro
November 20, 1940
Tour of Windsor Forge, Pool Forge, and Spring Grove Forge; dinner followed at the Washington Inn in Churchtown
May 15, 1941
Cruise from Quarryville area into historic areas of Maryland
Dinner was at the Country Club at Bel Air, Maryland
June 24, 1941
Outing at Rote summer home, “Green Acres”
July 29, 1941
Cruise to the Military Reservation at Indiantown Gap; dinner at The Camp Cafeteria
October 7, 1941
Outing at Groff’s “The White House” at Washington Boro
October 30, 1941
Tour of McCaskey High School; dinner in school cafeteria
March 19,1942
Cruise to Franklin and Marshall College Campus; dinner in The Campus House
July 9, 1942
Outing at the summer home of Chief Rote
September 23, 1942
Tour of Williamson Park and the Edward Hand house; dinner at the Hamilton Club
September 29, 1943
Outing at Chief Rote’s summer home, “Green Acres” Dinner was served in the Play Barn.
June 29, 1944
Cruise to Bainbridge Naval Training Station at Bainbridge Groups of Pirates had dinner in different mess halls
February 15, 1945
Tour of the RCA plant in Lancaster; dinner in the plant’s banquet room
June 26, 1945
Cruise to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
October 10, 1946
Cruise to Ephrata for tour of the Cloister; dinner in the American Legion Home
December 12, 1946
Tour of Lancaster Water Works followed by a recognition
dinner for General Daniel B. Strickler at the parish house of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lancaster
May 15, 1947
Cruise to Hopewell Village; dinner at Keener’s Restaurant in Honeybrook
October 8, 1947
Cruise to Fort McHenry in Baltimore; dinner at the Maryland Yacht Club
November 19, 1947
Cruise to Gettysburg to attend the eighty-fourth anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the National Cemetery; lunch at Hotel Gettysburg, and dinner at the Pine Tree Inn in York
March 18, 1948
“The Swan Cruise” a journey to Perryville Maryland to see the migrating swans on the Chesapeake; dinner on the return trip at the Rhoads Spanish Tavern in Quarryville
May 26, 1948
Cruise to the Wright Mansion in Columbia; dinner at the Accomac Hotel
July 15, 1948
Cruise to Postlethwaite’s Tavern, Safe Harbor Hydroelectric plant; dinner at the Boy Scouts’ Camp Chiquetan
October 20, 1948
Cruise to U.S. Naval Base, Philadelphia; en route home, dinner in The Old Covered Wagon Inn at Stratford. (At this meeting, it was decided to make a Piece-of-Eight our Emblem of Membership.)
May 5, 1949
Cruise to the Battle Field of Brandywine; dinner at Mansion House Hotel in West Chester
July 14, 1949
Cruise to the Carlisle area and the new Camp Shand of the Lancaster Y.M.C.A.; dinner at the Molly Pitcher Hotel in Carlisle
October 16, 1949
Attendance at unveiling of the Tablet at the Birthplace of the Pennsylvania Rifle on Harry J. Snavely’s farm in West Lampeter Township; dinner at 6:00 p.m in Hotel Brunswick
December 7, 1949
Cruise to Lititz with dinner in the General Sutter Hotel
January 11, 1950
Cruise to the Campus of Franklin & Marshall College; dinner in the Campus House
June 5, 1950
Cruise to Pennsbury Manor: dinner at Penn Manor Club, Morrisville
September 24, 1950
Cruise to Holtwood for a boat ride on the boat of John A. Walls; dinner at Indian Steps served by ladies of the Presbyterian Church of Pine Grove, York County. (A bad storm canceled the boat rides and resulted in poor attendance.)
May 24, 1951
Repeat of the September 1950 cruise to Holtwood
September 13, 1951
Cruise to North East River Yacht Club
November 19, 1951
Cruise to Gettysburg in the observance of the anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address; lunch in Hotel Gettysburg with dinner at Pine Tree Inn, York
June 12, 1952
Cruise to Bainbridge Naval Training Center; dinner on Base
October 30, 1952
Cruise to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland; dinner on the return trip at Spanish Tavern, Quarryville
April 23, 1953
Cruise to Trexler Game Preserve, Allentown; dinner at Shankweiler’s Hotel near Schnecksville.
June 25, 1953
Cruise to Holtwood for boat ride on the Susquehanna; dinner at Indian Steps, York County
October 21, 1953
Cruise to Fort McHenry; dinner at Kingsville Inn, Baltimore
December 2, 1953
Visit North Museum, Franklin & Marshall College Campus; dinner in Campus House
June 16, 1954
Cruise to Antietam Battlefield, Frederick, Maryland; dinner in Francis Scott Key Hotel in Frederick
July 29, 1954
Visit to WGAL-TV transmission site, Hellam; dinner at Accomac Inn
October 24, 1954
Cruise to United States Naval Academy at Annapolis; lunch at Annapolis Yacht Club or Carvel Hall
May 12, 1955
Cruise to Accomac for “Grand Unveiling Ceremony” of bronze tablet at tree planted in 1917 by our first Chief, Henry S. Williamson; dinner in Accomac Inn
August 25, 1955
Cruise to Hershey for Pennsylvania Dutch Day; dinner in Community Building, Hershey
October 4, 1955
Cruise to Berks County to visit Beryllium Corporation and Ontelaune Orchards; dinner at Glockenspiel Restaurant
November 15, 1955
Surprise 80th Birthday Party for Chief Beck at Hamilton Club
January 26, 1956
“Mid Winter Get Together” at Franklin & Marshall College; dinner in Campus House
May 24, 1956
Cruise to Middletown for tour of Olmstead Air Depot; dinner at Officers’ Club
August 2, 1956
Corn Roast Cruise at “Warwick Woodlands”, home of Pirate Irl Daffin; catering by Stone Barn
October 11, 1956
Cruise to Valley Forge Park and John James Audubon home; dinner at Bull Tavern
January 31, 1957
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 16, 1957
Cruise to Winterthur Museum and tour of the Powder Mill grounds; dinner at Powder Mill Restaurant
June 27, 1957
Cruise to Glaffelter Paper Mill and Hanover Shoe Farms; dinner in Abbottstown
August 15, 1957
Picnic at home of Louis S. May
October 17, 1957
Tour of historical locations in Lancaster County led by Chief Beck; dinner in Brickerville Scheier
January 17, 1958
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 10, 1958
Cruise to Elizabethtown College for May Day and a baseball game; tour of the college buildings concluded with a dinner in the new Women’s Dormitory
July 1, 1958
Memorial cruise to Gettysburg honoring the memory of Lancaster’s General John F. Reynolds who was killed there July 1, 1863; dinner at Hotel Gettysburg
August 7, 1958
Picnic at “Wild Acres,” home of Pirate Paul Gardner
October 16, 1958
Cruise to Bethlehem Steel Company’s Grace Mine at
Morgantown followed by a historical program in Bangor
Episcopal Church in Churchtown; dinner at Historic
Washington Inn Churchtown
February 12, 1959
Annual Meeting at the Hamilton Club
May 28, 1959
Cruise to du Pont Gardens; dinner at Powder Mill Restaurant
July 16, 1959
Cruise on Strasburg Railroad; dinner at Dutch Town & Country Inn
August 13, 1959
Summer Outing at Slaymaker Lodge
October 14, 1959
Cruise to Hopewell Village and Daniel Boone Homestead; dinner at Stokesay Castle
February 11, 1960
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club, Pirates’ fiftieth anniversary, columnist Hal Boyle was guest speaker
May 26, 1960
Cruise to North East River Yacht Club for boating and dinner August 11, 1960
August 11, 1960
Picnic at Maximillian Elser’s Hopeland Farms, Furnace Hills
October 20, 1960
Cruise to George Widener’s estate, “Erdenheim” near Valley Forge; dinner at Fort Side Inn, Ambler
January 19, 1961
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club (Scheduled, but canceled due to a snow storm.)
April 20, 1961
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
June 29, 1961
Cruise to King Ranch and Brandywine Park; dinner at Lenape Inn
August 24, 1961
Annual Picnic at Slaymaker Lodge
October 12, 1961
Cruise to Lancaster County Historical Society for presentation of Pirate Chest, case for General Strickler’s battle flags, a Leaman Rifle, and a pair of Windsor Chairs used by the Continental Congress in Lancaster, September 17, 1777, then on to Brunner Island with dinner at Accomac Inn
January 11, 1962
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
June 7, 1962
Cruise to New Castle, Delaware; Arsenal-On-The-Green for dinner
August 16, 1962
Annual Picnic at Slaymaker Lodge
October 18, 1962
Cruise to Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia; dinner at the new, glamorous, Marriott Motor Hotel
January 10, 1963
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 16, 1963
Cruise to Gettysburg for visit to the farm of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who personally greeted his guests and was made an Honorary Pirate, then on to Union Mills to visit Fred Klein’s old Pipe Creek Homestead for dinner
August 1, 1963
Annual Picnic at Slaymaker Lodge
September 19, 1963
Cruise to Peach Bottom, York County for tour of the new Philadelphia Electric Atomic Energy Plant; dinner at Yorktowne Hotel, York
January 9, 1964
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
June 4, 1964
Cruise to Annapolis; dinner at New Annapolis Yacht Club
August 13, 1964
Annual Picnic at Slaymaker Lodge
November 18, 1964
Cruise to Wilmington for tour of the General Motors Auto Plant, and a visit to Hagley Museum; dinner at The Old Mill in Concordville
January 14, 1965
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
June 24, 1965
Cruise to Washington’s Crossing, then proceeding to New Hope for a cruise on the Delaware and then dinner at River’s Edge Restaurant
August 19, 1965
Annual Picnic at Boys Club Camp Snyder Lodge
October 21, 1965
Cruise to Harrisburg to visit Governor Scranton’s Reception Room, Pennsylvania Senate, and the newly dedicated William Penn Memorial Museum; dinner at Penn Harris Motor Inn
January 13, 1966
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
June 9, 1966
Cruise to Washington, D.C. for tour of city landmarks and lunch at Golden Ox Restaurant; after lunch, visit Bureau of Printing and Engraving and the National Gallery of Art; dinner at City Terrace association in Georgetown
July 27, 1966
Annual Picnic at Slaymaker Lodge
September 29, 1966
Cruise to Army War College in Carlisle; dinner at Officers’ Club
January 5, 1967
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 25, 1967
Cruise to Masonic Homes, Elizabethtown, Hershey Chocolate Company, Hershey Museum, and Hershey Rose Gardens; dinner at Hotel Hershey
July 27, 1967
Annual Picnic at Slaymaker Lodge
September 21, 1967
Cruise to Dover Delaware; dinner at Dinner Bell Inn
January 11, 1968
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 9, 1968
Cruise to Philadelphia to tour U.S. Mint and Philadelphia Naval Base; dinner at Topside Dining Room on the Base
July 18, 1968
Annual Picnic at Slaymaker Lodge
September 26, 1968
Cruise to York to visit York Historical Society, Plow Tavern, General Gates House, and Bonham House; dinner at Yorktowne Hotel
January 6, 1969
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 8, 1969
Cruise to Valley Forge Chapel and grounds and Valley Forge Military Academy; dinner at V.F. Military Academy
July 31, 1969
Annual Picnic at Slaymaker Lodge
October 9, 1969
Cruise in Lancaster County to visit “outstanding attractions” and ride through Amish Country; dinner at Sheraton Conestoga Motor Inn
January 8, 1970
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club, 60th Anniversary Program
May 7, 1970
Cruise to Baltimore’s Sherwood Gardens, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum, and U.S.S. “Constellation”; dinner at University Club in Baltimore
July 23, 1970
Annual Picnic at Slaymaker Lodge
September 24, 1970
Cruise to Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland; dinner at the new Baltimore Hilton
January 14, 1971
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 20, 1971
Cruise to Pennsbury - State Founder’s Home and Historic
Fallsington; dinner at Kimberton Country House, Kimberton, PA
July 29, 1971
Annual Picnic at Overlook Golf Clubhouse
October 21, 1971
Cruise to Gettysburg to visit the new National Museum (Electric Map) and the National Park Service Cyclorama;
dinner at the Red Barn
January 20, 1972
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 25, 1972
Cruise to Hanover and Hanover Shoe Farms; dinner at Altland House in Abbottstown
August 3, 1972
Annual Picnic at Overlook Golf Clubhouse
September 12, 1972
Special tour at the White House, Washington 9 a.m.; lunch there
Buses leave Franklin & Marshall parking lot at 5:30 a.m.
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January 11, 1973
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 24, 1973
Cruise to U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. and ride through the new city of Columbia, Maryland; dinner at Hunt Valley Inn
August 2, 1973
Annual Picnic at Overlook Country Club
October 18, 1973
Cruise to The Franklin Mint and its Museum; dinner in Lenape Inn
February 7, 1974
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 23, 1974
Cruise to Elutherian Mills and the Hagley Museum near Wilmington; dinner at Columbus Inn
August 1, 1974
Annual Picnic at Overlook Country Club
October 10, 1974
Visit to Pirate Vince Nolt’s Eagle Museum and a tour of the new Atomic Energy facility of Philadelphia Electric Company; dinner at San Carlos Restaurant, York
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January 30, 1975
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 15, 1975
Cruise to New Bolton Animal Research Center, London Grove, and the Brandywine River Museum; dinner at Lenape Inn
July 31, 1975
Annual Picnic at Meadia Heights Country Club.
October 23, 1975
Visit to Lancaster County Tourist Information Center, ride on the Strasburg Railroad, visit the Railroad Museum, then go to school at the old Weavertown one-room schoolhouse; dinner at Sherwood Knoll
January 15, 1976
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 13, 1976
Cruise to Longwood Gardens; dinner at the Mendenhall Inn
August 5, 1976
Annual Picnic at Meadia Heights Country Club
October 7, 1976
Cruise to Maryland to visit the Steiff Company and the Hampton House; dinner at San Carlos Restaurant, York
January 20, 1977
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 26, 1977
Cruise to Washington to visit the new National Air and Space Museum; dinner at Hunt Valley Inn
July 21, 1977
Annual Picnic at Meadia Heights Country Club
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October 13, 1977
Cruise to Washington to the Arts and Science Building of the Smithsonian Institute to see the 1876 Centennial Exhibition followed by a stop at Explorers Hall in the new Headquarters Building of the National Geographic Society; dinner at Yorktowne Hotel, York
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January 19, 1978
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
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May 25, 1978
Cruise to suburban Philadelphia’s Bryn Athyn Cathedral, and the Beth Sholo Synagogue in Elkins Park; dinner at Elks Club, Lancaster
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July 27, 1978
Annual Picnic at Meadia Heights Country Club
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October 12, 1978
Cruise to Philadelphia to Penn Mutual Tower, Independence Hall, Elfreth’s Alley, Society Hill, and other historic landmarks; dinner at Mendenhall Inn​
January 11, 1979
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 24, 1979
Cruise to Annapolis for tour of U.S. Naval Academy, the William Paca House and Garden, and Maryland State House; dinner at Maryland Inn
July 26, 1979
Annual Picnic at Meadia Heights Country Club
October 11, 1979
Cruise to Princeton, New Jersey to visit Princeton University Campus and historic sites in Princeton; dinner at Nassau Inn
January 17, 1980
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 5, 1980
Cruise to the Valley Forge area for inspection of the office building of the American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. Inc., in King of Prussia and the Valley Forge Military Academy; dinner served by the Academy
July 24, 1980
Outing at Rock Ford Plantation; catered dinner served in the Kauffman Museum in the barn on the Rock Ford grounds
October 16, 1980
Cruise to the Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, Maryland, then to Baltimore Harborplace and a cruise of the Baltimore Harbor aboard the Baltimore Patriot; dinner at Phillips Seafood Restaurant on the Harborplace
January 22, 1981
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 21, 1981
Cruise to New Castle, Delaware for tours of historic sites; dinner at Red Rose Inn in West Grove
July 30, 1981
Annual Picnic at Circle M Ranch
September 24, 1981
Cruise to U.S. Army War College, Carlisle; dinner at War College Officers Club
January 28, 1982
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 27, 1982
Cruise to U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command-TECOM, Aberdeen, Maryland; dinner at Officers Club
July 28, 1982
Outing at Dr. Edward Hand House, Rock Ford
October 28, 1982
Cruise to Hanover for tour of Hanover Shoe, Inc. followed by a tour of historic Conewago Chapel; dinner at Altland House, Abbottstown
January 27, 1983
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 12, 1983
Cruise to Nemours; dinner at University and Whist Club, Wilmington
July 21, 1983
Annual Picnic at Meadia Heights Country Club
October 6, 1983
Cruise to Delaware to Dover Air Force Base; dinner at Officers Club
January 19, 1984
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 31, 1984
Cruise to Suitland, Maryland for tour of National Air and Space Museum’s Paul Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage facility; dinner at San Carlos Restaurant, York
July 26, 1984
Annual Picnic at Tucquan Club
October 11, 1984
Cruise to Baltimore to tour the B&O Railroad Museum, and the nearby Trolley Museum; dinner at Haussner’s Restaurant
January 24, 1985
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club; keynote address for our 75th anniversary by Senator Richard A. Snyder
May 23, 1985
Cruise to Brandywine Museum at Chadd’s Ford, then on to Delaware Museum of Natural History; dinner at Mendenhall Inn
July 25, 1985
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 24, 1985
Cruise to the David Taylor Naval Ship Research and
Development Center and the Washington Navy Yard; dinner at Officers Club at the Navy Yard
February 13, 1986
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 15, 1986
Cruise to U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, Aberdeen, Maryland; dinner at Officers Club
July 31, 1986
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 16, 1986
Cruise to U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, PA; dinner at Officers Club
January 22, 1987
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club (Many of the crew were Snowbound.)
May 21, 1987
Cruise to Pennsylvania State Police Academy, Hershey, PA; dinner at Lebanon Valley Quality Inn.
July 30, 1987
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 15, 1987
Cruise to Philadelphia Navy Yard; dinner at Officers Club
January 21, 1988
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 5, 1988
Cruise to Fort Delaware State Park, Pea Patch Island; dinner at University and Whist Club, Wilmington
July 21, 1988
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 6, 1988
Cruise to American Automobile Association National Headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia; dinner at Bethesda Naval Officers Club
January 19, 1989
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 18, 1989
Cruise to the Governor’s Mansion and the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg; dinner at the Tuesday Club in Harrisburg
July 27, 1989
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 5, 1989
Cruise to Historic Game Park in Horsham Township, Montgomery County, PA and to The Mercer Mile in Doylestown; dinner at The Widow Brown’s Inn in Plumsteadville, PA
January 18, 1990
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 10, 1990
Cruise to Goddard Space Flight Center and Andrews Air Force Base; dinner at Andrews AFB Officers Club
July 26, 1990
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 10, 1990
Cruise to Yeungling Brewery, Pottsville, the Restored Coal Mine and Walter Baran’s Antique Auto Collection in Ashland, PA; dinner at the Pottsville Club
January 17, 1991
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 16, 1991
Cruise to Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.; dinner at Bethesda Officers Club
July 25, 1991
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 10, 1991
Cruise to Philadelphia to tour Philadelphia Mint; dinner at Racquet Club
January 16, 1992
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 7, 1992
Cruise to Washington, D.C. to visit the State Department; dinner at Andrews AFB Officers Club
July 30, 1992
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 8, 1992
Cruise to Carlisle, PA to visit Army War College; dinner at Army War College Officers Club
January 21, 1993
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 6, 1993
Cruise to University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine at Kennett Square, PA; dinner at Nottingham Inn
July 15, 1993
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 7, 1993
Cruise to Three Mile Island and Armstrong World Industries Ceiling Plant at Marietta; dinner at Revere Tavern
January 20, 1994
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 19, 1994
Cruise to National Defense University, Washington, D.C.; dinner at Fort McNair Officers Club
July 28, 1994
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 27, 1994
Cruise to Lancaster’s Kellogg Plant, Y&S Candies, and Lancaster General Hospital Campus; dinner at LGH Campus
January 19, 1995
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 25, 1995
Cruise to Office of Secretary of Defense, National Military Command Center, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.;
dinner at Andrews AFB Officers Club
July 27, 1995
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 12, 1995
Cruise to Hatfield Meat Packing Plant, Hatfield, PA; dinner at Revere Tavern
January 18, 1996
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 23, 1996
Cruise to Allentown, PA area to visit Mack Truck Plant, Allen Organ Company, and Lehigh Canal House and Museum; dinner at Pomfret Club, Easton, PA
July 25, 1996
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 3, 1996
Cruise to Thomson (RCA) plant near Scranton, PA; dinner at Pottsville Club, Pottsville
January 16, 1997
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
June 13, 1997
Cruise to U.S. Coast Guard Station, Cape May, NJ; dinner at Revere Tavern
July 31, 1997
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 9, 1997
Cruise to Harley Davidson Motorcycle Plant, York, PA, and the Glatfelter Paper Company Plant, Spring Grove, PA;
dinner at Country Club of York
January 15, 1998
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
April 23, 1998
Cruise to Denver and Ephrata Telephone Company, Ephrata, PA; dinner at Donecker’s Convention Center, Ephrata
July30, 1998
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 1, 1998
Cruise to Baltimore to visit Museum of Industry; dinner at Nottingham Inn
January 21, 1999
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 13, 1999
Cruise to Delaware Museum of Natural History on Kennett Pike near Wilmington, and American Helicopter Museum on Brandywine Airport, West Chester, PA; dinner at Revere Tavern
July 29, 1999
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 21, 1999
Cruise to Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD; dinner at Fort Meade Officers Club
January 20, 2000
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
April 20, 2000
Cruise to Kemp Foods Plant, Lancaster, and National Watch and Clock Museum, Columbia; dinner at Quality Inn and Suites, Lancaster
May 18, 2000
Shad Dinner at Tucquan Club
July 27, 2000
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 5, 2000
Cruise to Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, dinner at Revere Tavern
January 18, 2001
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
April 26, 2001
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Shad Dinner at Tucquan Club
May 17, 2001
Cruise to Mount Vernon, dinner at Fort Meade Officers Club
July 19, 2001
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 4, 2001
Planned Cruise to State Department in Washington, with dinner at Andrews Air Force Base was canceled due to events of 9-11-01.
January 17, 2002
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
April 25, 2002
Shad Dinner at Tucquan Club
May 23, 2002
Cruise to Army War College at Carlisle, dinner at Letort View Community Center
July 18, 2002
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 24, 2002
Cruise to two plants of R.R. Donnelley Corporation in Lancaster; dinner at Lancaster Country Club
January 16, 2003
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
March 24, 2003
Shad dinner at Tucquan Club
May 22, 2003
Cruise to Pennsylvania Air National Guard facility at Harrisburg International Airport; dinner at Hershey Convention Center
July 24, 2003
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 23, 2003
Cruise to Lehigh University to tour facilities of worldwide caterer Sodexho; dinner at Moselem Springs Golf Club
January 15, 2004
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
April 22, 2004
Shad dinner at Tucquan Club
May 20, 2004
Cruise to Washington D.C. to tour Smithsonian Museum of American History, dinner at Fort Meade Club
July 22, 2004
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 21, 2004
Cruise to Constitution Center and Independence Square, Philadelphia; dinner at Revere Tavern
January 20, 2005
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
April 21, 2005
Shad dinner at Tucquan Club
May 23, 2005
Cruise to Lewes, Del. to tour colonial homes and historic light ship and visit Fort Miles; dinner at Nottingham Inn
July 23, 2005
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 13, 2005
Cruise to Byrn Athyn Cathedral, Bensalem; dinner at
Revere Tavern
January 20, 2006
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
May 5, 2006
Shad dinner at Hamilton Club
May 18, 2006
Cruise to Gettysburg National Military Park; dinner at Altland House
July 20, 2006
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 26, 2006
Cruise to Harrisburg State Capitol and Civil War Museum; dinner at Altland House
January 18, 2007
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
April 26, 2007
Shad dinner at Tucquan Club
May 25, 2007
Cruise to Chalfont, Pa. to tour Allen Organ Co. and Doll House; dinner at the Inn at Moselem
July 19, 2007
Annual Picnic at Conestoga Country Club
October 25, 2007
Cruise to Dover (Del.) Air Force Museum; dinner at Revere Tavern
Jan. 27, 2008
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
April 24, 2008
Shad dinner at Tucquan Club
May 8, 2008
Cruise to Fulton Financial Corp. office; dinner at Conestoga Country Club
July 17, 2008
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 9, 2008
Cruise to Triangle, Va. Marine Corp. Museum; dinner at the Altland House in New Oxford
January 15, 2009
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
April 23, 2009
Shad dinner at Tucquan Club
May 21, 2009
Cruise to Penn State University; dinner in University Park
July 9, 2009
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 9, 2009
Cruise to U. S. Hospital Ship Comfort, Baltimore, Md.;
dinner at Maryland Club
January 14, 2010
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
April 22, 2010
Shad dinner at Tucquan Club
May 13, 2010
Celebration of l00th anniversary of first meeting of Lancaster Pirates on May 13, 1910, on grounds
of Lancaster County Historical Society; continued celebration at dinner at Riverdale Manor
July 8, 2010
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 21, 2010
Cruise to Linden Hall and Tait Towers, Lititz;
dinner at General Sutter Inn
January 13, 2011
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
April 21, 2011
Shad dinner at Tucquan Glen
May 5, 2011
Cruise to Fort Indiantown Gap; dinner at the Community Club on base
July 7, 2011
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 13, 2011
Cruise to U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.; dinner at Officers Club
January 12, 2012
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
April 12, 2012
Shad dinner at Tucquan Club
May 30, 2012
Cruise to Lancaster County Emergency Training Facility at Landisville and then to Hershey Museum and Milton Hershey School; dinner at Drearden House
July 12, 2012
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 11, 2012
Cruise to Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia; dinner aboard tall ship Moshula
January 10, 2013
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
Pirates induct Willis W. Shenk, retired chairman of Steinman Enterprises, owner of Lancaster Newspapers, as honorary member. He is the second honorary member. The first, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, was inducted in 1963.
April 22, 2013
Shad dinner at Tucquan Club
May 16, 2013
Cruise to New Holland Haytools Plant and Kreider’s Dairy Farm, wine tasting at Waltz Vineyards; dinner at Bent Creek Country Club.
July 25, 2013
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 10, 2013
Cruise to the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center at Brandywine Airport and QVC in West Chester; dinner at Revere Tavern in Paradise.
January 9, 2014
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
Ten shabby Neophytes are transformed into Pirates, a record number inducted at one time, as far as anyone can remember.
April 17, 2014
Shad dinner at Tucquan Club
May 15, 2014
Local history cruise to Hans Herr House, Susquehannock Longhouse, Rock Ford Plantation, Wheatland and LancasterHistory.org where a plaque honoring Pirates founder Henry S. Williamson was dedicated; dinner at the Cork Factory on New Holland Avenue
July 24, 2014
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 23, 2014
Cruise to the Pennsylvania State Police Academy and the
Antique Auto Club, both in the Hershey area; dinner at Bent Creek Country Club.
January 8, 2015
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
Nine newbies walk the plank and fall into Pirate membership.
March 21, 2015
Shad dinner at Tucquan Club
May 21, 2015
Cruise to Winterthur and the Hagley Museum, DuPont family landmarks in Wilminton, DE; dinner at Wilmington’s University and Whist Club
July 23, 2015
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
October 22, 2015
Cruise to Valley Forge National Historical Park; dinner at the Revere Tavern, Paradise.
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January 14, 2016
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
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April 28, 2016
Shad dinner at Tucquan Glen
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May 24, 2016
Cruise to Yuengling Brewery, Pottsville, and Pioneer
Anthracite Mine, Ashland, with dinner at
Bent Creek Country Club
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July 14, 2016
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
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October 13, 2016
Cruise to LCSWMA facilities:
Lancaster Transfer Station, Bainbridge
Trash-to-Steam Incinerator, Frey Farm Landfill;
Dinner at John Wright Restaurant
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January 12, 2017
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
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April 28, 2017
Shad dinner at Tucquan Glen
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May 25, 2017
Cruise to Battleship New Jersey, Camden
Dinner at Pyramid Club, Philadelphia
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July 27, 2017
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
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October 12, 2017
Cruise to Snyders of Hanover and
Utz Quality Foods, Hanover
Dinner at Wyndridge Farm Craft Brewery
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January 13, 2018
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
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April 28, 2018
Shad dinner at Tucquan Glen
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May 24. 2018
Cruise to Museum of the American Revolution
Dinner at Moshulu, Philadelphia
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July 26, 2018
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
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October 11, 2018
Smithgall Artillary Museum
Dinner at DoubleTree Resort
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January 10, 2019
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
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April 18, 2019
Shad dinner at Tucquan Glen
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May 16, 2019
America on Wheels Museum
Dinner at Berkshire Country Club
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July 11, 2019
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
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October 10, 2019
The White House
Dinner at The Maryland Club
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January 9, 2020
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
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September 30, 2021
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
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January 6, 2022
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
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April 28, 2022
Shad dinner at Tucquan Glen
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June 9, 2022
Railroad Museum of PA & Strasburg Railroad
Dinner at Bent Creek Country Club
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July 19, 2022
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
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November 3, 2022
Lincoln Financial Field
Dinner at Bent Creek Country Club
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January 5, 2023
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
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April 27, 2023
Shad dinner at Tucquan Glen
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June 8, 2023
Citizens Bank Park
Dinner at Bent Creek Country Club
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July 28, 2023
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
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October 31, 2023
Manheim Auto Auction & National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum
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January 18, 2024
Annual Meeting at Hamilton Club
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April 25, 2024
Shad dinner at Tucquan Glen
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May 2, 2024
High Industries & Lancaster Medical Heritage Museum
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August 1, 2024
Annual Picnic at Lancaster Country Club
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November 7, 2024
Fort McHenry & Baltimore Museum of Industry