History Part 1: Lititz and the First Inn
In 1776, the Moravian town of Lititz was born. Conceived as an experiment in utopia, the village was named to honor the Bohemian town of Lidice where, in 1756, the followers of John Hus had received sanctuary from religious persecution and formed the Moravian Church, the oldest of all Protestant denominations.
It was called "Litiz". To ensure that inhabitants would be "free from all dangerous and worldly connections, and live a peaceful and quiet life in Godliness and Honesty," the Town Regulations of 1756 were adopted. Only those who signed the Regulations were allowed to live in the town.
The strictness of the rules is self-evident. There was to be no "light-minded, disorderly and needless conversation, no changing of professions, no giving a night's lodging to any person or no undertaking a journey, either far or near, without permission." Furthermore, it was decreed that "parents shall be accountable for their children and families, and when any of them mis-behave or do amiss, it shall be required at their hand."
Even marriages were arranged. A prospective bridegroom would draw the name of his wife from a coconut shell filled with scrolls on which were written the names of eligible young women. Prohibited was all "dancing, taverning, feasting at weddings, christenings or burials, common sports and pastimes and the playing of the children in the streets.......They that have inclinations that way cannot live in Litiz."But change is inevitable. By 1856 the church found itself unable to enforce a way of life that no longer had community support. The "Rules" were abolished and the town opened to people of all religious persuasions - present day Lititz. It was "for the necessary entertainment of strangers and travellers" that in 1764 the present Inn was built and named the "Zum Anker" (the sign of the anchor).
The Inn became the Lititz Springs Hotel, then in 1930 the name was changed to The General Sutter Inn to honor John Augustus Sutter, a California Gold Rush pioneer, who lived his last seven years in Lititz, and is buried in the Moravian Cemetery. Continue to History Part 2
