Historical background

EXEGESIS REPORT
Date: February 22, 2017 
Location Community and/or Neighborhood:

New Cumberland

Zip Code: 17070
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

History and Background of Community/Neighborhood:

In 1827, the United States Post Office changed the official designation to New Cumberland to avoid confusion with Cumberland, Maryland. New Cumberland was incorporated as a Borough in 1831.

The shelving shore line of the river and the nearby creek provided a useful harbor for landing lumber rafts. This led to the location of saw mills in the new town. Although it grew slowly in the first decade, the construction of a grain mill and depot made the town a shipping point for grain, iron, and other products destined for Baltimore and Philadelphia.

In the late 19th century new enterprises replaced the lumber trade. A woolen mill, carding mill, nail and carpet factories, and additional retail stores provided work. Some men crossed the river by rowboat or ferry to work in mills at Steelton. People endured periodic floods and fires. The Borough Council busied itself with such matters as providing a farmers market, repairing the turnpike, regulating burials in the town cemetery, offering bounties for Civil War volunteers, changing from gas to electric street lights, and coping with crimes from chicken stealing to housebreaking. Politically, the town became a republican stronghold.

The Woman’s Club purchased and gave to the Borough a creek side park where once the iron forge and mills stood. The present town band, fifty years old in 1996, brightens the Fourth of July and the annual Apple Festival. New Cumberland is part of West Shore suburbia but it still has attributes of a small town. 



OBSERVATIONS:




Social Climate Observations:

Small town feel just outside of Harrisburg where major highways intercect. Single family houses with gardens in the back of most. There is a small downtown area full of local mom and pop shops. The commercial stores are just outside of town across Yellow Breeches Creek. The Susquehanna River provides different water sport activities such as boating, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. There is an Annual Apple Festival in September. It is held at New Cumberland Borough Park. This park is a highlight to this community. It is meticulously kept with new playground equipment, walking trails, and pavilions. It is mainly middle class families who live there. There is not much diversity. It is primarily made up of caucasians. Drexel Hills is a housing development in the corner of town which has larger homes and bigger lots.

However, the town is changing. The homes that were once owned are now being turned into rentals. This brings in a different style of people into the town who usually don't have much stake in it. Toward the downtown area there are more rentals then on the outskirts of town. 




Physical Climate Observations:

The town sits between I-83, 581, and I-76. The Susquehanna River seperates it from Harrisburg. 

Economic Climate Observations:

 Most people have jobs and the average income is $80,000. They tend to work in and around the Harrisburg area. Since 3 major highway surround the city it is an easy commute. There is an industrial park just outside the city to the north. This does provide some jobs, but mainly management jobs for the residents of New Cumberland. 

Spiritual Climate Observations:

Primarily Protestant with some main line denominations. However, St. Theresa's Catholic Church with a school is in the center of town. It has a major facitily. With many parents working it provides the needed childcare along with other preschools in this community. I think the education it provides is more influential then the religion.

ABWE international's headquarters are located on Lewisberry Rd. in New Cumberland.



IDENTIFIED NEEDS:

Potential Needs Identified:

 Childcare - preschool, afterschool activities (Sports camp or BYBC at local park)

Anything with beautifying the downtown

Anything with maintaining the local park

CONNECTIONS:

Connections Made During Exegesis:

http://newcumberlandborough.com/



RECOMMENDATIONS:




Recommendation Summary:

I recommend that a church be planted in New Cumberland. I know that Tim and Sabrina are going through the process of making that a reality. This is a town with a small town feel in the middle of some major intersections. It will take someone who loves the town and is very sociable. I would recommend that they become very involved in all community events, and clubs.