Results tagged “Crispus Attucks Community Center” from York Town Square

Crispus Attucks Association's Cindy Leiphart can be seen in a room in the former home of William C. Goodridge that was reportedly used to hide fugitive slaves as part of the Underground Railroad. A hole in the floor above the room was formerly covered by a trapdoor. Background posts: Stack of books on York County's Civil War past getting higher and Research needed to unearth Underground Railroad in York County - Part I and 10 years ago, York's exclusive Lafayette Club became less exclusive, Part III.

The life and times of William C. Goodridge's former slave who became a successful 19th-century York businessman were filled with controversy.

He and his family developed national applause despite - or maybe because of - these obstacles.

I made that point in an upcoming York Sunday News column (3/01/09) and urge readers to get behind efforts to create a Goodridge Freedom House and Underground Railroad Museum in Goodridge's former residence.

In addition to honoring this community leader, the museum could become a center for studying York County's still-obscure Underground Railroad history... .

George H.W. Bush visited York County in Sept. 1988 in his bid for election against Michael Dukakis. In 1992, President Bush visited northern York County for a political fundraiser in Monaghan Township. His efforts brought $800,000 to U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's campaign. The president endorsed Specter, commenting: "This is not a normal kind of endorsement. I really mean it." (For a list of past presidential visits, click here. Background posts: Battle of New Orleans hero slides into York and
Coin designer signs his D.E. on all his handiwork and Hillary Clinton's rally site in York a little odd.

On the campaign trail in 1988, Bush visited York, and his wife, Barbara, split off to visit Crispus Attucks Community Center's Day Care Center.

The Republican candidate gave a 20-minute speech before 4,500 assembled at the Colonial Courthouse.

It was a fairly standard visit by a presidential candidate.

One of the most interesting parts involved meticulous prep work for the visit.

According to the York Daily Record:

Crispus Attucks Community Center's Mildred Chapman told girls that they should care about the way they looked. 'You can be poor,' she said, 'but you don't have to look bad, or smell bad.' She and her husband, Russell W., (see photo below) were among the top leaders in York's black community in the middle of the 20th century. Background posts: Thackston Park area connects to York's past and Civil rights heroes stand out at Bradley exhibit.

Everyone in York's black community - heck, everyone in York - knew Mildred and Russell W. Chapman... .

This graphic from the "Recapture the Riverfront" booklet raises the possibility of relocating Helen Thackston Park from the north side of West College Avenue across the street to the side south, where public housing now stands. Background posts: Helen Reeves Thackston's name lives on and Histories attempt to fill blanks in women's, black history.

A potentially controversial proposal to relocate Thackston Park touches on several historic sites in that part of town.

First, the park itself points to a revered community matriarch: Helen Reeves Thackston.

As director of the Crispus Attucks Early Learning Center from 1932 to 1964, she touched the lives of hundreds of people who gratefully remember her contributions.

"Helen didn't just teach children, she taught them to be proud," Sylvia Newcombe, retired York Recreation Commission head, said in 1979... .

Elliott Breese, former York Caterpillar Plant general manager and Crispus Attucks Community Association campaign chairman, addressed a gathering at the new 605 S. Duke Street Center. The center's cornerstone is dated 1973. Breese, who died this week, is feted for heading fund-raising that made the center possible. Incidentally, noted York City Schools Supt. Frederick D. Holliday is pictured at far left. Background link: York's Crispus Attucks Center had intriguing start.

"In my mind, the biggest single factor in the success of the Crispus Attucks Building Fund drive was your acceptance as general chairman," William Wolf of Wolf Supply wrote.

His letter was directed to Elliott Breese, York Caterpillar Plant manager, who headed fund-raising for a new center that provided services primarily to the black community.

Breese died this week at the age of 91... .

The Lions state convention took place at York's Valencia Ballroom in June 1938. This was typical of the scope of the gatherings taking place at the ballroom in those days. In addition to the dancing, the Valencia played host to industrial expositions, business shows and fashion shows. The ballroom continues to play host to dinners and meetings today. Background post about York's contributions to the national entertainment world: Cameron Mitchell, Craig Sheffer, Dixie Chick born here.

Deb Hummel, a York Daily Record copy editor and avid auction goer, showed me the Valencia Ballroom's 10th anniversary book. It celebrated a decade under Tassia family ownership.

Some snippets from the book about the iconic South George Street ballroom:

Myrtle Legotte, left, and Mary Sims use the key to identify community achievers during the unveiling of the 'Civil Rights Heroes of York' mural in 2005.

An unsung mural of York does not appear on the side of a building, as do the 18 panels in the Murals of York. program.

"Civil Rights Heroes of York" is a three-panel, life-size mural that is often on display at events around town.

Through March 3, it's part of Bradley Academy's exhibit: "A Rich History of Black Artistry in York County.

I worked with Bradley Academy officials to identify art by black artists or depicting black people in York's past.

The exhibit impressively brings together works from collections at Crispus Attucks Community Center, York City Human Relations Commission, York County Heritage Trust, private collections and current artists... .

Sylvia Colston-Still

Sylvia Colston-Still came home Tuesday to visit Crispus Attucks Community Center. She starred in basketball in the 1950s and participated in other programs at CA's former center at 125 E. Maple St. building. In those days, the converted church was viewed as a home away from home by many in the black community.

After a long career as a school guidance counselor, Dr. Colston-Still continues to play basketball every day at age 71... .

It's interesting the work you do on a snowy day can pay off when it's hot months later.

In December, the York Daily Record/Sunday News' Ted Sickler and I went through tubs of material at Crispus Attucks Community Center telling about that organization's 75th anniversary.

We organized the photos and stories into a series of 30 profiles about the organization that has long so successfully served the recreational and social needs of minorities in York.

The profiles have been running in the York Sunday News Viewpoints section since March. They will end in the fall at about the time that CA is planning a major event.

We have the complete set online at http://ydr.inyork.com/ydr/blackhistory. ...

An e-mailer was curious about the history of a friend's house.

How could she determine who previously lived in the house? she wondered. ...