🎉 Celebrating 75 Years of Service & Support! 🎉

October is a special month at Cornwall Manor as we celebrate our founding and honor the Cornwall Manor Society—our incredible auxiliary—on their 75th anniversary! 💙

Founded in October 1950 as the Golden Cross Society, this dedicated group began just six months after Cornwall Manor was established. With a mission to support the Home both financially and spiritually, the Society has grown to over 400 members and continues to make a profound impact on our community.

💫 Highlights of the Society’s Legacy:

-Over $3 million contributed to Cornwall Manor since 1950
-Annual pledge to support benevolent care for residents with limited resources
-Operates beloved shoppes like the Manor Shoppe and Treasure Trove
-Hosts cherished events including the Blooms & More Festival, Winter Parties, Fun Fest and Cookies, Carols, Crafts & More
-Provides birthday parties, gifts and fellowship for Personal Care and Health Center residents
-Volunteers run the Shoppe on Wheels and Transporters programs
-Reinstated the Love Gift campaign to support major projects like the Health Center porch as well as supporting the Personal Care renovation that began in 2020.

🎊 This year’s anniversary celebration included special themed meetings, a commemoration of their anniversary in Zerr Chapel and luncheon and a luminary celebration coming up on December 6!

We are deeply grateful for the Cornwall Manor Society’s unwavering commitment and compassion. Their work enriches the lives of our residents every single day. 💐

Photo below - Cornwall Manor Society 75th Anniversary Planning Committee along with guest speaker, Harry McConnell, President & CEO.

Congratulations to the co-recipients of the 2025 Founders Day Award - the Cornwall Manor Society's Manor Shoppe and Treasure Trove!

This award was presented by Cornwall Manor President & CEO, Harry A. McConnell. This prestigious award recognizes individuals or groups “whose extraordinary commitment to Cornwall Manor has had a significant impact on our ministry.”

Founded in 1950 as the Golden Cross Society, the Cornwall Manor Society has grown into a dynamic auxiliary of more than 400 volunteers. Over the past 75 years, they have generously contributed more than $3.5 million to support Cornwall Manor’s mission, enriching the lives of residents and strengthening the community.

The Manor Shoppe and Treasure Trove are two shining examples of the Society’s enduring legacy. Operated entirely by volunteers, these year-round shops provide valuable services and delightful shopping experiences for residents, team members and visitors alike.

The Manor Shoppe began humbly in 1953 with a few card tables in the Buckingham Mansion, offering groceries, gifts and essentials at affordable prices. Today, it remains a charming and convenient destination for everyday needs in the Freeman Community Center.

The Treasure Trove, originally known as the Curiosity Shoppe and later Campus Collectibles, found its current home in 2018 at the rear of the Buckingham Mansion. It offers clothing, furniture, and household items—especially for healthcare residents in need—and has become a favorite among bargain hunters from surrounding communities. Donated items not sold in the shop are passed along to other organizations serving those in need, extending the Society’s impact even further.

As Cornwall Manor celebrates the Society’s 75 years of dedicated service, the Founders Day Award serves as a heartfelt tribute to the volunteers whose time, talent and generosity continue to shape our community.

Pictured: Cornwall Manor President & CEO Harry McConnell presents the 2025 Founders Day Award to the Cornwall Manor Society’s Manor Shoppe and Treasure Trove. Accepting the award are Marcella Orledge (on behalf of the Manor Shoppe), Jill Risser and Nancy Mills (on behalf of the Treasure Trove), along with Cornwall Manor Board Chair Mark Olson.

Cornwall Manor Retirement Community hosted its annual Founders Day event on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. The event recognized friends who play an important role in the retirement community’s founding as well as those who have supported the Cornwall Manor community through its 76 years of ministry to older adults.

A very special thank you to Gregg Scott, FAIA, our featured speaker for the Founders Day event. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, partner emeritus and co-founder of RLPS Architects. He was the lead architect for Cornwall Manor’s Gatehouse Lane exterior renovation project. This beautiful neighborhood of 20 duplex homes is nestled in a wooded setting adjacent to the Cornwall Post Office and connects to the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail. The exterior renovation, that began in fall 2024, included replacement of the siding, roofs, trim, soffit, windows, doors, garage doors, hardware trim, outdoor light and new front porch railings.

Scott is a graduate of Penn State University and oversees the monthly architectural column for LNP | Lancaster Online and is an architectural correspondent for NBC affiliate WGAL. He is a three-time recipient of the C. Emlen Urban Award from the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County and the award-winning author of Urban Legend: The Life & Legacy of Cassius Emlen Urban and Urban Alphabet: The Work of C. Emlen Urban A-Z.
RLPS Architects

🌟 Founders Day at Cornwall Manor 🌟

We celebrated the heart and history of our community during our annual Founders Day event yesterday! 💚

Read more: https://cornwallmanor.org/blog/rooted-in-legacy-founders-day-at-cornwall-manor/

This special day honors the visionaries who helped establish Cornwall Manor and the many friends and supporters who have contributed to our mission over the past 76 years of service to older adults. Thank you to everyone who continues to make Cornwall Manor a place of purpose, care and connection. Here's to the legacy—and the future! 🎉🌿

A special thank you to our generous sponsors (listed below) for helping make this celebration possible and for supporting our continued ministry and mission.

Manor Shoppe volunteers make the Shoppe what it is – a great resource for our community and a spot to link up with friends. We are thrilled to be recognized as a winner of the Founders Day Award this year, along with the Treasure Trove. Thank you to all our volunteers – our cashiers, buyers, and all those responsible for the convenience store section of the Shoppe. And thanks to all of you for being our customers.

The Manor Shoppe is located in Freeman Community Center. We are open Mondays from 9 AM to 3 PM, Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 AM to 1 PM and on Saturdays from 11 AM to 1 PM. All profits from your purchases support Benevolent Care.

Manor Shoppe News!

Looking for that grocery item that you forgot to get at the store? Or perhaps you need a gift for a sweet granddaughter or good friend. Come to the Manor Shoppe - we are open to the community!

We are located in Freeman Community Center and operated entirely by Cornwall Manor Society volunteers. Our well stocked convenience store may have just what you are looking for. The gift section, now with our lovely fall items, has napkins, pumpkins, jams and of course jewelry. 🍁🎃🥄📿

The Manor Shoppe is open Mondays from 9 AM to 3 PM, Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 AM to 1 PM, and Saturday from 11 AM to 1 PM. All profits from your purchases benefit Benevolent Care.

✅ Event Recap: Avoiding Financial Fraud – Protect Yourself!
Hosted by JBT Bank, this informative seminar offered practical tips, tools and resources to recognize scams, prevent fraud and respond effectively if targeted.

Special thanks to Alex Stehman (left), CFS, Financial Crimes Investigator/Analyst I and Vicki Williammee, Retirement Branch Manager from JBT Bank.