The White Hall Hotel, West Market and North Beaver streets, played host to Charles Dickens during the noted author's 1842 visit to America. The artist of this painting of York pulled from several eras. Bottom right, the York County Court House is seen without its neighbor, the State House, placing the drawing before 1793. But the White Hall or National House (follow Market Street west), as its known today, was not constructed until 1828. Today, the large painting, drawn in the mid- to late-1970s, serves as an unsung backdrop on a stage in Stein Hall at Trinity United Church of Christ, York. It was part of a sight-and-sound show used to orient new members and tourists. Background posts: Big Conewago serves as cultural divide, Author: York's streetscape diverse and Hillary Clinton's York site a little weird.
Several months ago, York's Roy Flinchbaugh e-mailed that a recent column on all the achievers from Dover reminded him, for some reason, of Charles Dickens' visit to York County in 1842.
The English author, a celebrity in his day, was touring America and on his way from Baltimore to Harrisburg and then via canal to Pittsburgh.
He arrived in York aboard the Baltimore-York railroad that had opened only four years before. He was forced to take a coach to Harrisburg, for the railroad ended at York.
Later, he wrote about his experiences in American Notes and he gives a glimpse into the character and color of York countians of the day:
