New public entrance for African American cemetery; WellSpan opens center near Fayetteville

Julie E. Greene, The Herald-Mail
·3 min read

Historic African American cemetery has new public entrance

The Friends of Halfway African American Cemetery planned a ribbon cutting this past Sunday to celebrate the new public entrance to the cemetery in a residential neighborhood off Virginia Avenue.

With several grants, the Friends created a street entrance and access into the cemetery so visitors will no longer have to trespass on private property to visit the cemetery at 11027 Clinton Ave. in Halfway, according to a news release and Friends board member Emilie Amt.

Neighbor Elizabeth Paul donated an easement to help with public access.

Halfway African American Cemetery now has public access. A ribbon-cutting was scheduled for April 21 to celebrate the new public entrance. The cemetery has been surrounded by private property.
Halfway African American Cemetery now has public access. A ribbon-cutting was scheduled for April 21 to celebrate the new public entrance. The cemetery has been surrounded by private property.

The new access lane is initially a steep, paved entryway that transitions to gravel to get to the cemetery that is surrounded by residential properties.

Visitors are encouraged to park along the main street because the cemetery does not have a parking area, Amt said. The access lane, bordered by a black fence on the right, can be driven up for maintenance or for handicapped access. Ground is uneven in the cemetery.

A tombstone leans against a tree in the Halfway African American Cemetery.
A tombstone leans against a tree in the Halfway African American Cemetery.

Almost 400 Black citizens were buried at the cemetery between 1897 and 1932, including 15 veterans, with more veterans being discovered as further research is done, Amt said. Most of the veterans are from the Civil War.

Visiting hours at the cemetery are daylight hours.

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WellSpan recently opened new health center near Fayetteville, Pa.

WellSpan Health opened the new WellSpan Health Center at Penn National south of Fayetteville, Pa., on March 4.

"We are proud to offer an integrated healthcare facility including a variety of services in fields like primary care, imaging, laboratory and rehabilitation services all at one spot," Niki Hinckle, senior vice president of WellSpan’s west region, said in a news release. "In furthering WellSpan’s vision to be a trusted healthcare partner, this health center improves access to care for patients in this growing area of Franklin County."

The 15,000-square-foot health center is off the main entrance to the Penn National Golf Club at 8131 Spyglass Hill Drive. That is off Anthony Highway, also known as Pa. 997.

WellSpan Health held a ribbon cutting on March 6 for the new WellSpan Health Center at Penn National near Fayetteville, Pa. Attendees included officials of WellSpan, the Penn National retirement community and the Waynesboro and Chambersburg chambers of commerce.
WellSpan Health held a ribbon cutting on March 6 for the new WellSpan Health Center at Penn National near Fayetteville, Pa. Attendees included officials of WellSpan, the Penn National retirement community and the Waynesboro and Chambersburg chambers of commerce.

The center houses WellSpan Family Medicine – Penn National practice. Team members from the practice closed the former Mont Alto, Pa., practice on March 1 and moved into the Fayetteville-area center on March 4, according to a WellSpan Health spokesperson.

Services at the health center include rehabilitation, podiatry, and laboratory services. The center has the ability to expand to meet future healthcare needs, the release states.

With an expanded level of care and treatment available, patients will have access to doctors and advanced practice clinicians that are specialists in preventative care, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses through primary care services, the release states.

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This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: WellSpan Health opens health center near Fayetteville, Pennsylvania