Results tagged “Dempwolf” from York Town Square

In 1926, York, Pa.'s Union Evangelical Lutheran Church hired J.A. Dempwolf to design a new sanctuary. That would be his last church design, according to a church spokesman. In 1929, the new sanctuary was dedicated. "The shape of the ceiling is that of an inverted ship's hull; hand-carved oak figures of Moses and Luke flank the altar; and art-glass windows line the nave, choir loft and clerestory," the spokesman said. Interestingly, the first building the Dempwolf firm designed was a Lutheran church - First St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church on West King Street, according to a York Daily Record article. Background posts: Dempwolf windmill graced north bank of York's Codorus Creek in 1870s and Fawn Township's magnificent Centre Presbyterian Church worthy of a looksee and Dempwolf architects built York's skyline, history.

Brothers John A. and Reinhardt Dempwolf designed more than 400 schools, churches and other architecturally significant buildings.

Just in York County alone.

Eleven of those buildings will be on display during Historic York Inc.'s "Discovering Dempwolf" on Sunday, Oct. 11.

Some facts about the Dempwolfs and the tour:.. .

The face of 'Old Man Winter' on the side of famed York, Pa., architect John Augustus Dempwolf's own house was so deteriorated that it could not be saved. So, Mark Derrig, sculptor, and Ken Oatman, mason, created a replica. Background posts: Dempwolf windmill graced north bank of York's Codorus Creek in 1870s and Fawn Township's magnificent Centre Presbyterian Church worthy of a looksee and Dempwolf architects built York's skyline, history.

John Augustus Dempwolf designed his own home on South George Street in York in 1886.

Historian and fellow blogger Scott Butcher wrote in "York, America's Historic Crossroads" the he also designed several other homes occupied by neighbors.

"Designed in the Queen Anne Style, one of the most notable features of the building is the ornamental facade featuring 'Old Man Winter,' he wrote.

Well, "Old Man Winter" has suffered frostbite on many occasion since, and he was very long of tooth... .

The Dempwolf-designed City Market, with its 140-foot tower, stands sometime before its 1960s demolition in the block bordered on two sides by York, Pa.'s South Duke Street and East College Avenue. Background posts: Striking architecture lined York's South Duke Street and York Market House No. 2 - The architecturally striking City Market and There were 5, count 'em, 5 York markets.

Fellow blogger Scott Butcher has posted a wonderful color drawing of the landmark City Market that does the best job I've seen of communicating the beauty of this markethouse... .

This windmill, seen here in this photo from the York County Heritage Trust, operated in the 1870s in the Jefferson Avenue area, north of the Codorus Creek in York. Background posts: Dempwolf architects built York's skyline, history and What was famed architect John Dempwolf's own house like? and Fairmount fit for Roger, Anita and Pongo, Perdita.

But an early attempt in York County to harness the wind came with construction of a windmill of the type normally associated with Holland.

That structure went up near present-day Jefferson Avenue between Beaver and North George streets... .

Jim Marsteller took this photo of Centre Presbyterian Church in New Park. Fawn Township residents believe that the church is an accurate gauge of life in the town. 'Things are going on all the time, every night of the week,' he was quoted in a caption for this photo appearing in the Weekly Record in 2007. 'Always something to do at church to spend time with others in our town and praise the Lord at the same time, together as a group, as a community.' Background posts: Stewartstown Railroad: 'Truly a unique entity in the state, and possibly, the nation' , Old Shrewsbury house disappearing hand-hewn log, square nail at a time and 'Yesteryears' southern York County sites - Part II.

Local architectural expert Scott Butcher knew for some time about the wonderful style of Centre Presbyterian Church, within a literal stone throw from the Maryland Line in New Park.

So he made the long trip from York to see the Dempwolf-designed, 1880s-era rural church building and received a treat... .

Ashcombe, built in 1891 near Mechanicsburg, served as summer home for the wife of legislator and railroad exec Henry Moser. Its exterior of limestone, sandstone and wood frame iscovered by shingles, stucco and half-timbering. Ashcombe is near the market complex that resembles Brown's Orchards Farm Market in Loganville. It was featured in the October edition of Spaces, published by the York Daily Record/Sunday News. Background posts: The real big York County house that little false teeth built, 'You cannot stay stressed here for long', All Dempwolf posts.

The venerable Dempwolf architectural firm was everywhere in York city 100-125 years ago.

They firm even were associated with Spring Grove and Hanover, having designed the high schools in those towns.

But their buildings were found outside county borders in large numbers. As I wrote in "Never to be Forgotten," the Dempwolf firm was synonymous with architecture in southcentral Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland during the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

Cumberland County's Ashcombe Mansion is one such example.

An article in the October issue of Spaces magazine tells a bit about this area landmark:

When builders dug the Howard Tunnel through a southern York County ridge in 1840, they left room for two tracks. The second track was added after the Civil War.This is one of many interesting facts collected by Scott Butcher and included in captions in "York's Historic Architecture." (Butcher is signing his new book at 2 p.m. Sunday, at the York Emporium.) Because of the tunnel builders' foresight, the rail trail is able to follow the path of one of the old tracks today. The other track is still there for rail use. Background posts: Thousands discover formerly unheralded York County rail trail's Howard Tunnel , No light at the end of this (abandoned) Pa.Turnpike tunnel and York County ... 'A smorgasbord of architectural styles'.

Scott Butcher's new book "York's Historic Architecture" is packed with photos.

But it's also loaded with dates, details and architectural information, including many interesting tidbits about many buildings, well known and not.

Here are five points that are certain to pique your interest:

Did you know ? ...