Results tagged “Historic York Inc.” from York Town Square

One of York, Pa.'s, Dempwolf architectural firm's lasting designs is the Schmidt House, at Springettsbury Avenue and South George Street. The large, architecturally significant structure, is being converted into three condominiums. (See additional photo below.) Also of interest: 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.

Fellow blogger Scott Butcher is also president of Historic York Inc., promoter of this weekend's three-day tribute to York, Pa.'s, Victorian-era Dempwolf architectural firm.

He sent out a long e-mail detailing this 'Discovering Dempwolf' weekend. Even if you're not able to make it to any of the York-area tours of Dempwolf designed houses and other buildings, you'll enjoy the insights Butcher puts forth about this famous firm.

His excerpted e-mail follows:

The Hess School on Rathton Road in Spring Garden Township is pictured here in 1926. (See two "after renovation" photos below.) Background posts: How one York County school district emerged from 1950s merger and Northeastern York County's Paddletown: Children paddled back and forth to visit grandma and All YT Square posts on one-room schools.

It's a simple equation.

Old schoolhouse + sweat equity = Lovely private residence.

Col. William H. Beckner of York purchased the old Hess School in 1936, and renovated it into a home in 1937.

The Beckner family sold the 416 Rathton Road building in the late 1960s

William Beckner's son, Martin, regrets that he did not talk to his father about the old school when the colonel was still alive.

Martin Beckner is looking for one piece of information, in particular... .

Historic York is offering a tour of Springettsbury Township's Johannes and Cristina Schultz House and surrounding buildings. The event is set for 5 p.m. (reception) and 6 p.m. (program), Thursday, May 15. Local author and blogger Scott Butcher will present on "Historic Properties: The Ultimate Green Buildings." To register, contact cjones@historicyork.org. (For five additional photos of this historic structure, see below.) Background posts: Old Schultz House might be younger than its datestone, Old house boasts all kinds of historic hooks and Virtual York provides colorful portrait of York, Pa.'s past.

At a recent event of the Schultz House, some astute folks started looking for the long-reported gun holes in the walls of the old house. The notion that has been out there for years is that settlers would use the holes in case American Indians attacked the mid-1700s vintage house... .

Historic York's Karen Arnold shows the barn near the old house built by Johannes and Christina Schultz in present-day Springettsbury Township. Research shows that the house might have been built as many as 20 years before its datestone, previously commonly used to date the structure. The house stood near Camp Security, a prisoner of war camp where British soldiers were detained in the American Revolution. Background post: , Old house boasts all kinds of historic hooks and Change flattens Stony Brook's drive-in, humpback bridge.

Now that the historic Schultz House is out of private hands, researchers have a straighter shot at understanding it more.

A archaeological dig is set for later this year.

And the date of the house's actual construction is under revision... .

York City Firefighters work to save the art deco facade of the AAA building on East Market Street in York. Fire was confined to the overhang of the structure in this 2000 fire. The bright neon facade and rotating sign is a York landmark. Most recently, Peoples Bank occupied this now vacant architecturally significant building. (See view of full facade below.) Background posts: Coca-Cola out in Springetts... self-storage space is real thing and York's housing stock not that revolutionary.

York Sunday News columnist Gordon Freireich provided a reminder in a recent piece about the many art deco buildings dot York-area streetscapes.

He pegged his column on the announced renovation of the Coca-Cola building along East Market Street. The uncovered entrance area gives away its art deco design under its siding... .

York's downtown post office on South George Street is built in Classical Revival or Neoclassical style, according to Historic York. York's postmaster said the idea of moving out of that building has been approved, but there's no funding to move anywhere yet. Comment below if you have ideas about how that site could best be put to use, if the post office moves out.

Did you notice the York Daily Record/Sunday News story on York's historic post office?

If you're walking around York looking at historic sites, check out the post office lobby.

It's like a step back in time. Well, to about 100 years ago.

For that post office's predecessor, see the postcard view of with the post Could York bus drivers also point out historic sites?

The story, "Future of city post office in limbo," follows:

John Robinson of York New Salem believes the community needs a Web site or resources that people can query with questions and at least get pointed in the right direction.

Well, we might not have a single entity with expertise to point people in the right direction, but York County has something better. We have two agencies with expertise:

With questions on architecture or buildings - what I call hardware - go to Historic York.

Queries about people, events or genealogy - software - go to York County Heritage Trust.

Of course, you can get information on people at Historic York and architecture at the Heritage Trust, but this is a good way of remembering specialties.

As I get such queries, I privately or via this blog try to point people in a direction.

Here are some responses to questions posed by our friend from York New Salem:

Historic York's Karen Arnold stands amid items salvaged from old buildings in and around York. The organization's Architectural Warehouse moved earlier this year from North George Street to Prospect Street.

For researchers doing history in York County, Historic York Inc.'s vast files on important buildings is a reliable repository to draw from. The staff there are accessible and welcoming.

The organization has been operating an architectural warehouse for many years and recently moved to a new site, 465 Prospect Street.

In a Saturday open house, Historic York is ready to show off its wares ... .