McCaskey students bring history to life through Witness Stones Project

A group of McCaskey High School students is helping uncover and preserve an important part of Lancaster’s history through the Lancaster City Witness Stones Project, an initiative that combines historical research, civic engagement and community partnership.

Highlighted on the School District of Lancaster website, the project gives students the opportunity to work alongside historians, educators and local organizations to research the lives of people who were enslaved in Lancaster and ensure their stories are remembered.

Most recently, students spent months researching the life of Hannah, an enslaved woman whose story was documented only sparingly in historical records. Their work culminated in the unveiling of a Witness Stone at YWCA Lancaster, located on the grounds where Hannah was once enslaved. The engraved marker serves as a lasting tribute to her life and a reminder of a chapter of local history that is often overlooked.

As part of their research, students examined original historical documents, analyzed evidence and collaborated with community partners to better understand Hannah’s experience and the realities faced by enslaved people in Pennsylvania. Through this process, students gained valuable skills in critical thinking, research and historical inquiry while contributing meaningful work to the broader community.

The Witness Stones Project demonstrates how public education can extend learning beyond the classroom. By investigating local history and sharing their findings with the public, students are helping create a more complete understanding of Lancaster’s past while honoring individuals whose stories might otherwise remain untold.

The project also highlights the power of community partnerships in education. Working with organizations such as Historic Rock Ford and the African American Historical Society of South Central Pennsylvania, students are not only learning about history but actively shaping how it is remembered.

Through their dedication and scholarship, McCaskey students are ensuring that Lancaster’s history remains visible, relevant and accessible for future generations.