The Long’s Park Amphitheater turned a actuality because of the private sacrifice of seven members of Lancaster’s Sertoma Club.
In 1957, the Lancaster Musical Association pledged $1,000 in direction of the development of an amphitheater in Long Park (then with out the possessive ‘s’), and the mission obtained an extra push from the Lancaster Sertoma Club.
Around the identical time, the membership’s members brainstormed how Long’s Park may higher serve a wider portion of Lancaster’s inhabitants. There was a nine-hole golf course the place the amphitheater presently stands, however solely 4% of park guests used it.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
A volunteer sprays the ‘special sauce’ over chickens cooking on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Pallets of charcoal are seen in entrance of the pits cooking rooster at Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. The occasion makes use of almost 40,000 kilos of charcoal to cook dinner the chickens.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
A volunteer checks chickens whereas they’re cooking on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours. Volunteers stared cooking round 3 a.m. on Saturday, utilizing 10 pits.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Chickens roast on one of many 10 cooking pits at Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Volunteers flip chickens whereas they’re cooking on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours. Volunteers stared cooking round 3 a.m. on Saturday, utilizing 10 pits.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Ron Baker, a volunteer, dumps extra charcoal into one of many cooking pits at Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Crews began cooking round 3 a.m. on Saturday, gearing as much as cook dinner 19,000 rooster halves.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Volunteers put chickens over the one of many 10 cooking pits on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours. Volunteers stared cooking round 3 a.m. on Saturday, utilizing 10 pits.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Volunteers get the rooster halves able to be placed on the cooking pit on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours. Volunteers stared cooking round 3 a.m. on Saturday, utilizing 10 pits.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
A volunteer sprays the ‘special sauce’ over chickens cooking on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Jackie Churchill, a volunteer, arms out rooster BBQ dinners on the ‘drive through’ line on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Volunteers get the rooster halves able to be boxed on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours. Volunteers stared cooking round 3 a.m. on Saturday, utilizing 10 pits.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Volunteers get the rooster halves able to be boxed on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours. Volunteers stared cooking round 3 a.m. on Saturday, utilizing 10 pits.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Teddy, a 4-year-old bichon poodle, was one among many canine having fun with the day at Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
People take pleasure in their rooster BBQ meals at Long’s Park through the Sertoma Chicken BBQ on Saturday, May 18, 2019. The climate this yr has been higher than the previous three years, in response to Gene Duncan, the BBQ chairman.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Children play at Long’s Park through the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ on Saturday, May 18, 2019. BBQ chairman Gene Duncan mentioned that the climate this yr is the most effective it has been in since 2016.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Sean Bradley, performing as Luke Skywalker, poses for a photograph on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Sean Bradley, performing as Luke Skywalker, poses for a photograph on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Zoey Knight, 11, and Megan McClary, 12, pose with a rooster mascot on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Stormtroopers transfer site visitors alongside and carry out ‘droid checks’ whereas individuals wait in line on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
A volunteer sprays the ‘special sauce’ over chickens cooking on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Pallets of charcoal are seen in entrance of the pits cooking rooster at Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. The occasion makes use of almost 40,000 kilos of charcoal to cook dinner the chickens.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
A volunteer checks chickens whereas they’re cooking on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours. Volunteers stared cooking round 3 a.m. on Saturday, utilizing 10 pits.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Chickens roast on one of many 10 cooking pits at Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Volunteers flip chickens whereas they’re cooking on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours. Volunteers stared cooking round 3 a.m. on Saturday, utilizing 10 pits.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Ron Baker, a volunteer, dumps extra charcoal into one of many cooking pits at Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Crews began cooking round 3 a.m. on Saturday, gearing as much as cook dinner 19,000 rooster halves.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Volunteers put chickens over the one of many 10 cooking pits on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours. Volunteers stared cooking round 3 a.m. on Saturday, utilizing 10 pits.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Volunteers get the rooster halves able to be placed on the cooking pit on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours. Volunteers stared cooking round 3 a.m. on Saturday, utilizing 10 pits.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
A volunteer sprays the ‘special sauce’ over chickens cooking on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Jackie Churchill, a volunteer, arms out rooster BBQ dinners on the ‘drive through’ line on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Volunteers get the rooster halves able to be boxed on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours. Volunteers stared cooking round 3 a.m. on Saturday, utilizing 10 pits.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Volunteers get the rooster halves able to be boxed on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Nearly 400 volunteers assist make the occasion run easily, which consists of 19,000 rooster halves cooking for greater than 12 hours. Volunteers stared cooking round 3 a.m. on Saturday, utilizing 10 pits.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Teddy, a 4-year-old bichon poodle, was one among many canine having fun with the day at Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
People take pleasure in their rooster BBQ meals at Long’s Park through the Sertoma Chicken BBQ on Saturday, May 18, 2019. The climate this yr has been higher than the previous three years, in response to Gene Duncan, the BBQ chairman.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Children play at Long’s Park through the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ on Saturday, May 18, 2019. BBQ chairman Gene Duncan mentioned that the climate this yr is the most effective it has been in since 2016.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Sean Bradley, performing as Luke Skywalker, poses for a photograph on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Sean Bradley, performing as Luke Skywalker, poses for a photograph on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Zoey Knight, 11, and Megan McClary, 12, pose with a rooster mascot on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
Sertoma Chicken BBQ
Stormtroopers transfer site visitors alongside and carry out ‘droid checks’ whereas individuals wait in line on the 67th annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ at Long’s Park on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
While the Sertomans raised vital funds in direction of the mission, they have been $35,000 wanting their fundraising aim.
So, a number of Sertomans put their private credit score on the road, every taking out a $5,000 mortgage to boost the wanted funds. That $5,000 debt they every assumed interprets to $40,000 at present.They deliberate to pay again the mortgage with proceeds from the group’s fashionable annual Chicken Barbecue.
Of course, their sacrifice wasn’t in useless. The mission broke floor in September of 1960, and the amphitheater was accomplished in 1962.
The late Dr. Paul Ripple, of Lancaster, was the final surviving member of these seven Sertomans. He died in 2020 at age 97.
“We were very proud of our amphitheater,” Ripple informed LNP in 2016. “Still are.”
Read extra in regards to the Sertomans’ efforts in that 2016 LNP | LancasterOn-line story at lanc.information/sertomans.
Success! An e-mail has been despatched with a hyperlink to verify checklist signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
