The (Short) Story
of the
Village of Intercourse

      This village was originally known as “Cross Keys.” Its first structure, built at the intersection of the two main roads passing through the area, was The Cross Keys Tavern (this building now houses the Lunch Basket).
      In 1814 the name “Intercourse” was adopted when George Brungard attempted to expand the village, which had grown to include five buildings. Brungard bought 48 acres of land in Intercourse and divided them into 151 lots. Hoping to sell the lots for $250 each, Brungard planned a drawing to award the lots by number. The lottery was unsuccessful, and the development of the village proved slow.
      A second tavern, the Travelers Rest Inn, was built in 1827 by Lemuel Sapington (at the northwest corner of the west intersection). Two brothers, Jacob and Joseph Wenger, then built a series of houses, including a store building in 1833 (The Old Country Store  now stands on that site).
      The village continued to grow, a small, friendly town in the middle of a fertile agricultural heartland. Today the population of Intercourse (not officially organized as a town) is estimated at 900 persons.

The (Short) Story of the Village of Intercourse
How the Village of Intercourse Got Its Name
The Story of The Old Country Store
Milestones in the Life of the Village of Intercourse

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How the
Village of Intercourse
Got Its Name

      Visitors and local residents alike speculate about how the name “Intercourse” was chosen for this village. Three theories are commonly discussed, but none of the explanations can be proven.
One possibility relates to an old racetrack which was once located east of the village. The entrance to the course was positioned at the eastern end of town, and it was referred to as “enter course.” Some believe that this term gradually changed to “Intercourse.”
      The second theory regards the roads that cross in the village. The Old King’s Highway (now the Old Philadelphia Pike) ran through the town from east to west. The Newport Road (connecting to Newport, Delaware), ran southeasterly through the village and crossed the Old Philadelphia Pike in front of The Cross Keys Tavern (now the Lunch Basket). Some say that the intersection, or “intercourse” of the two roads, led to the village’s name.
      A third idea comes from writing dating to the early days of the town. The word “intercourse” was commonly used to refer to casual social interaction and friendship, certainly a part of a rural village like this one.
      Whether any of these theories are true or not, the name “Intercourse” was adopted in 1814 and has been used ever since.

The (Short) Story of the Village of Intercourse
How the Village of Intercourse Got Its Name
The Story of The Old Country Store
Milestones in the Life of the Village of Intercourse

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The Story of
The Old Country Store

      The first store in Intercourse was opened in 1833 at this location by Jacob Wenger. One year later, Moses Eaby took over the store, and eventually his son Jason joined him in the business. A fire in the fall of 1881 destroyed the store, but it was quickly rebuilt, this time in brick. In 1913 Jason died, and his wife, Amanda Zook Eaby, took over the store.
      Amanda passed the store responsibilities on to Ralph S. Worst in 1926, and eventually sold the business to him in 1931. Worst started a blacksmith shop behind the store, and opened the building next to the store (where the Village Pottery and Crafts of the World are now located), selling hardware and farming supplies. An elevator in the store was used to lift grains and hardware from the basement, and is still preserved in the Village Pottery.
      Through the years, the store has had a variety of occupants, including an antique business and a quilt shop. In 1984, the property was acquired by Merle and Phyllis Good and their partners (who also operate The People’s Place). They have overseen The Old Country Store since then, offering fabric, locally created crafts, quilting supplies, and food. The second floor of the Store features the nationally-acclaimed People’s Place Quilt Museum and The Museum Shop.

The (Short) Story of the Village of Intercourse
How the Village of Intercourse Got Its Name
The Story of The Old Country Store
Milestones in the Life of the Village of Intercourse

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Milestones in the
Life of the
Village of Intercourse

1724    The Scots-Irish members of the Pequea Presbyterian
            Church are a large part of the first settlers in the area.
1730    The King’s Highway (Route 340) is planned, running from
           Lancaster to Philadelphia (long since known as The Old
            Philadelphia Pike).
1754    Cross Keys Tavern (known today as the Lunch Basket)
            is established. This is the beginning of the village.
1790    (ca.) Amish arrive in Leacock Township.
1794    The Lancaster-Philadelphia Turnpike (Route 30) is
            completed.
1796    Newport Road (Route 772) is laid out, going from Mt.
            Hope, Pennsylvania to Newport, Delaware (now part of
            Wilmington).
1814    The name of the village changes to Intercourse; the
            village consists of five buildings.
1827    Traveler’s Rest Inn is established.
1833    Jacob Wenger builds the first store in Intercourse (now
            The Old Country Store).
1844    Leacock Township builds a public school in Intercourse.
1852    Intercourse Association of Lancaster County for the
            Detection of Horse and Other Thieves is organized.
1857    A second school is built in Intercourse.
1862    A second general store is established (now
            Zimmerman’s).
1881    Wenger’s Store, now owned by Moses and Jason Eaby,
            is destroyed by fire and rebuilt soon afterwards.
1883    Intercourse has 54 dwellings, 280 people, 2 stores,
            2 hotels, 1 feed store, 1 blacksmith, 1 wheelwright,
            2 harness makers, 1 shoe store, 1 cabinet shop,
            3 carpenter shops, 1 butcher shop, 2 churches, 2 schools,
            3 physicians, 1 dentist, 1 tobacco warehouse. There are
            158 owners of farms in Leacock Township (65 have
            Amish names).
1892    Diller’s Store (now Zimmerman’s) is destroyed by fire,
            along with a few other buildings.
1898    Stagecoach line from Intercourse to Lancaster is
            established.
1908    First National Bank of Intercourse is founded.
1909    Street lights are installed. Intercourse Telephone and
            Telegraph Company is organized.
1910    Motor truck replaces stagecoach.
1912    Jason Eaby builds a large new home (became The
            People’s Place in 1976).
1916    Zimmerman’s Store installs the village’s first gas pump.
1923    Willis Zimmerman installs the first radio set in Intercourse.
1924    Bus line is established on Route 340.
1951    Dial telephones are installed in Intercourse.
1953    Four-room school for seventh and eighth grades is built
            near Intercourse.
1956    Unsuccessful petitions to change the name of Intercourse
            back to “Cross Keys” or to “Smokerville” circulate.
1966    Eros Publishers, a pornography business, is turned
            down in its efforts to establish Intercourse as a mailing
            address.
1971    Plan to sell one-inch lots in Intercourse is refused.
1976    The People’s Place is established.
1979    The Old Country Store opens at the location of the oldest
            store in the area.
1988    The People's Place Quilt Museum opens its first exhibit
            of antique Amish quilts.

The (Short) Story of the Village of Intercourse
How the Village of Intercourse Got Its Name
The Story of The Old Country Store
Milestones in the Life of the Village of Intercourse

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