Charles Demuth is the most famous painter from Lancaster County, but Milton Denlinger might be one of the most prolific.
Even if you’ve never heard his name, you’ve probably seen his visual or graphic art work. Whether it was bucolic landscape paintings, decorative objects with hand-printed Bible verses or logos, or signage and lettering for local businesses, Milton Denlinger decorated the county with his art.
Milton Denlinger lived from 1909-91 in Gap and Soudersburg, an unincorporated community in East Lampeter and Leacock townships. And now, more than three decades after his death, his work will be celebrated with a special event.
An exhibition of the artist’s work curated by the Historical Society of Salisbury Township will be held July 20 during the Living History Celebration at White Chimneys Estate. The career-spanning exhibit will feature about 35 paintings, as well as photographs of the artist’s design and signage work.
“This exhibit is unique because it’s the first ever that we’re collecting all his works from his art school days in 1925 through his truck and sign lettering that he’s done for businesses throughout Lancaster County,” said Sherry Groff, Milton Denlinger’s granddaughter.
READ: Lancaster artist gets 'married' to the Christian Street Garage art installation
Though he made more than 800 paintings, Denlinger once told a friend he painted landscapes and other pieces to "keep his hand nimble." He made his living by hand-lettering signs for local businesses and doing engraving work.
The exhibit pairs well with the living history event, too. Much of Milton Denlinger’s work captures what the landscape, buildings, homes, vehicles and people looked like in Lancaster County during the middle of the 20th century, and the photographs of his commercial work illustrate the types of businesses that thrived at the time.
“He’s done scenes and structures that no longer exist,” said Groff, a nurse at Lancaster General Hospital.
Keeping his hands ‘nimble’
Andy Warhol may have popularized the concept of an “art factory,” but a decade before the famous pop artist opened his Factory in Manhattan, Milton Denlinger and his sons Donald and David were operating a much less glamorous — but way more practical — art factory along Lincoln Highway East in Soudersburg.
Milton Denlinger’s business, Artists Emblem Co., specialized in design, silversmithing and engraving. A 1954 Intelligencer Journal article described the business as “the only one of its kind in the county, and possibly, the only one of its kind in the nation.”
The article also predicted that the Denlinger shop could very well start the greatest mass production of paintings this, or any other country, ever witnessed.
Milton Denlinger (1901-1991) captured the beauty of Lancaster County in his landscapes, many of which will be on display during the White Chimney's living history event on July 20.
Milton Denlinger and his wife Mae Denlinger were active in the Mennonite Church. Milton would often paint a scene from the Bible as Mae read the story to the congregation.
During the decade prior to purchasing and operating the business in 1954, Milton Denlinger devoted his time to painting. He was reported to have made more than 800 paintings during that time. The landscapes highlight the natural beauty of Lancaster County, and many featured Bible verses printed on the back.
Faith was intertwined with Milton Denlinger’s work. Milton Denlinger and his wife Mae were active in the Mennonite church; often, Mae would read a Bible story to the congregation while Milton Denlinger would interpret the scene on canvas.
“There’s old school Mennonite churches all over Lancaster County that still have them,” said Tom Denlinger, Milton Denlinger’s grandson.
Milton Denlinger was a prolific, and serious, painter, but according to Groff, it was never something he pursued as a full-time career.
“One person I talked to was a patient at the hospital and recognized my name, and he said he’d go over with his father to get his watch clean or repaired. Grandpa worked on jewelry and watches,” Groff said. “And my grandfather told this gentleman’s father, ‘I do this artwork to keep my hands nimble.’ ”
READ: 'Threads and Treads' event aims to help Elizabethtown students
Milton Denlinger, a Lancaster County artist who lived from 1909-1991, was prolific in his lifetime. His work included bucolic Lancaster County scenes and local landmarks like the Fulton Steamboat Inn. He also did many hand-lettered signs for local businesses. White Chimneys' Living History event on July 20 will include an exhibit of Denlinger's work.
Intricate handwork
Commercial artists, like Milton Denlinger, who were working during the middle of the 20th century didn’t have the luxury of Photoshop or other computer-based design programs.
“This was another time when people appreciated handwork,” said Tom Denlinger, of Elizabethtown. “Most of the hand-painted stuff isn’t around anymore, just because it wears away.”
The cabooses at the Red Caboose Motel at Paradise Station in Ronks were all hand-lettered by Milton Denlinger.
“There’s a sign or two that’s still there,” Tom Denlinger said. “I used to help him hand-letter cabooses.”
Tom Denlinger followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and became a sign painter too.
“He taught me to hand-letter in the early ’80s,” Tom Denlinger said. “I was always drawn to what he did.”
Even though most of Milton Denlinger’s commercial work has faded away over the years, much of it is documented in photographs on a Facebook page Tom Denlinger created to preserve the work as well as images of paintings.
“I wanted to create an appreciation for (his work),” Tom Denlinger said.
READ: Ronks Bible museum to close this month, offers select items to visitors
‘Everyone is awestruck’
Milton Denlinger painted in a range of sizes but often created large-format pieces. Some are still on display, like the large painting of the Fulton Steamboat Inn in the hotel’s restaurant or a religious mural for the Akron United Zion Church.
In 1953, Milton Denlinger was commissioned by Noah E. Martin to paint for the Leola Community Building a series of three large-scale Lancaster County images: the past, the present and the future.
Milton Denlinger, a Lancaster County artist who lived from 1909-1991, was prolific in his lifetime. His work included bucolic Lancaster County scenes and local landmarks like the Fulton Steamboat Inn. He also did many hand-lettered signs for local businesses. White Chimneys' Living History event on July 20 will include an exhibit of Denlinger's work.
According to a 1953 Sunday News article, Milton Denlinger worked on each painting for about a month — which is a pretty rapid pace, considering each of the paintings measure 12 1/2 feet by 4 1/2 feet.
The images, painted on masonite board, depict Lancaster County landscapes in the past, present and future and in three seasons: winter, summer and autumn.
“Winter” is the Lancaster County of the 18th century and features a mill, waterwheel, skating pond and heavy snow. “Summer” shows a thresher, a one-room schoolhouse, a Conestoga wagon and a steam-powered train engine. In “Autumn,” Milton Denlinger paints the Lancaster County of 1953 and beyond with his vision of the future. There are superhighways, high-powered farming equipment and a jet flying over a smoggy city skyline looming in the distance.
Screaming Lion Antiques in New Holland acquired the set of paintings from the Upper Leacock Township War Memorial Association in 2019. Because of the size and weight, these paintings won’t be included in the exhibit at White Chimneys. Their heft is also how they ended up at Screaming Lion Antiques.
“They couldn’t find anybody that would be interested in housing them or purchasing them to get them out of the basement they were being stored in, so they contacted us,” said Linda Dibartolo, who owns and operates the business with her husband for the past eight years.
The paintings, which are currently priced by Screaming Lion Antiques for $150,000 for the set of three, are signed by Milton Denlinger and have a hand-written Bible verse printed on the back.
“Mr. Denlinger was a very talented man,” Dibartolo said. “The paintings have been seen by people from all over the world that have come to our shop. An Italian motorcycle racing team was in the shop taking pictures and videos with them, people from the Netherlands, Scotland, Australia. There were a couple guys from New Zealand who just loved them. Everyone is awestruck by them.”
The Denlinger family has expressed an interest in finding a buyer for the paintings so they can stay in Lancaster.
“Our ultimate goal is to try to find a home for those three big paintings,” Tom Denlinger said.
