This is one of two dormers that remained in place after renovation of the old Dempwolf-designed York County Courthouse into a York County administrative center. The dormer is an example of the design touches the York, Pa.-based Dempwolf family of architects gave to their buildings. Background posts: Downtown thrived in post-World War II York, Pa., What was famed architect John Dempwolf's own house like and How to accurately restore a historic home.
Some students in a recent session of my OLLI class at Penn State York were unfamiliar with the Dempwolf brothers and their family successors who designed so many significant buildings in York.
The Dempwolfs' work was so pervasive around York that it's easy to overlook it in plain sight.
J.A. and Reinhardt Dempwolf headed the Victorian-era firm whose shaping of York's skyline lasted well into the 20th century.
The following story, taken from York County's 250th anniversary publication "Builders and Heroes," tells more about the Dempwolfs:
