A lot has been written over the years about the infamous Welsh Mountain-based Buzzard Gang of the late 1800s and early 1900s. On Thursday, a New Holland police officer who studies the gang as a hobby will present a talk at Garden Spot Village retirement community.
The story below, by correspondent Carole Deck, ran in the East Zone of the Intell/New Era today. Here’s her preview story on Thursday’s event, and her photo of the presenter, Officer Mike Zimmerman, with some of the items from his collection.
Local outlaws are talk topic Thurs.
BY CAROLE DECK
Correspondent
Famous for their crime spree in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the members of the Buzzard Gang were labeled the “most notorious criminals in Lancaster County’s history.”
New Holland police Officer Mike Zimmerman (right) will bring the tale of the Welsh Mountain outlaws to life at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Garden Spot Village Chapel.
The program, sponsored by the New Holland Historical Society, will capture the life of crime cultivated by the Buzzard brothers, Abe (below, left), Ike and Joe.
“Everyone’s heard about the legendary Welsh Mountain gang, but knows very little about them. This will be an awesome and informative program,” said Steve Loewen, historical society president.
The police officer’s 14-year infatuation with the county criminals began after hearing about them from his mother, Jeannette.
“As a teenager, I was interested in the Wild West outlaws. When my mother told me there were once outlaws close to home, I began to study them,” Zimmerman said.
His love of history and law enforcement led to research about the Buzzard Gang, resulting in an extensive collection of newspaper articles, photographs, documents and his prized possession — a “dime” novel believed to be written by Isaac Buzzard.
The gang was mostly involved in burglaries. Ike was fond of stealing horses. Abe had a penchant for chickens. They robbed bars, stores, hotels and railroad stations all over eastern Lancaster County, and spent considerable time in prison.
Abe, the gang’s leader and alleged evangelist, held revival meetings for his neighbors. The gang would steal horses and chickens from the farms of those attending the meetings.
Zimmerman said the gang was featured in many local and regional newspapers, as well as the New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer.
One thing Zimmerman wants people to understand clearly is that the outlaws of the past have no reflection on their descendants who still live in the area.
“These distant descendants are good, upstanding members of the community,” Zimmerman said.
Garden Spot Village is located at 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland.
