Results tagged “P.A. and S. Small” from York Town Square

The woman in this photo, courtesy York County Heritage Trust, is believed to be Isabel Cassat Small. She was the wife of businessman Samuel Small and a philanthropist in her own right. Background posts: Reader doesn't understand some things about York County, Old P.A. and S. Small building fit better than successors and Freedman kisses earth as canalboat crossed Mason-Dixon Line.

Samuel Small, 19th-century York businessman, is at the top of the community contributor's philanthropy list.

I pointed this out in a York Sunday News column (11/17/08), as I've done on elsewhere on this blog.

But Isabel Small, Samuel's wife, was an overlooked and integral part of the Small philanthropy machine, as outlined in the following gleaned from my "East of Gettysburg" and George Prowell's "History of York County:"

The demolition of buildings in 'the Swamp' part of York in August 2006 to make way for the stadium opened a view of Small Field, right, background, across the Codorus Creek. At one time, Small Field was a stadium site option. Background posts: 10 years ago, York's exclusive Lafayette Club became less exclusive, Part I, Old P.A. and S. Small building fit better than successors, Samuel Small tops list of community contributors and 1967 William Penn senior class scored firsts.

One of Bob Riese's questions about York County touched on Small Field - officially Small Field at the Meadow.

Why isn't it Small's Field? he wondered.

Discussion on that point (Reader doesn't understand some things about York County) led to an observation from another reader.

Luther B. Sowers, former assistant city schools superintendent, came across school board minutes showing the moment the field left the family of P.A. and S. Small and landed in the custody of the community... .

Gloria Miller, Gloriamm@comcast.net, is looking for information on her great-grandfather, John O. Altland.

He died at the age of 50 in 1914.

But here's a particularly clue. He worked in the city auction rooms.

What were they? Gloria wondered... .