Located in the green rolling hills of
Central Pennsylvania, Lititz,
PA has a rich past. Founded in the year 1743,
Count Zinzendorf of the
Renewed Church of the United Brethren, or
Moravians, as they are known in
America, came to this
continent and visited Pennsylvania where several other settlements had already been established. A rich farmer
converted to the Moravian cause and donated his whole
farm of 600 acres. On this land they founded a
settlement and in 1754 built a large
congregation house.
In 1756, Count Zinzendorf named the colony "Lititz" after the barony of Lititz in Bohemia where the church had found refuge from persecution 300 years earlier.
During 1778, the town found itself serving as a hospital for about 200 Revolutionary Soldiers. More than 100 soldiers died in Lititz and were buried in a field east of the town. No traces of the graveyard remain today. (The site was found again in 1932 and a monument was built there for them.)
America's first Pharmacoepia (Cyclopedia of Medicinal Formulae) was published in Lititz in 1778 by Dr. William Brown.
Pretzel baking, for which Lititz has become famous, dates back to 1810. In 1861, however, Julius F. Sturgis perfected their quality and he practically obtained a monopoly on the business. A continuation of this early success is now run by Mr. N. D. Sturgis, son of Julius. (The Sturgis Pretzel Bakery is now owned by someone outside to the original family).
Lititz is also home to the Wilbur Chocolate Company, where over 100 million pounds of chocolate products are made here yearly, used by many of America’s most well-known food processors.
Lititz has also made a name for itself in the music industry. Home to Tait Towers and Claire Brothers Systems, two large manufacturers of custom stage speaker rigging, there is always a rock star or two rolling through town.
The ramp used in Tony Hawk's Boom Boom Huck Jam was made by Tait Towers, and Tony came to test it out. There is also a small local skatepark, though nothing like Tony's.
Today, Lititz is a tourism honey pot. From it's Old Timey feel, to the many small shops, to the chocolate and pretzels, tourists flock to Lititz. However, no matter how much the city grows, it still smells like a farm.