The caption with this photo identifies community leaders about 50 years ago. It shows heirs of York leaders from the 19th century. For example, Beauchamp Smith is a descendent of S. Morgan Smith and P.H. Glatfelter III is in the lineage of the paper mill founder. Earl Herting, seen here, chaired this community improvement effort, one of many post World War II initiatives.The commission originated with the Chamber of Commerce Committee for 100 for Community Development, Herting wrote in a recent e-mail. Background posts: Who will lead the York area in the future? and Glatfelter, Morgan Smith head industrial legacy list and Samuel Small tops York, Pa. community contributor list.
The York Plan that brought factories together to capture defense work in World War II is the best example from history of a York-area community improvement initiative that worked.
The plan - and York County - became internationally known as a strategy to bring a community together to help supply the Allied war machine.
The York Committee of Safety's efforts to coordinate defense and recruitment strategies in the Civil War is an example of such a community project that did not.
Confederate invaders overwhelmed the town in 1863 after the community mustered only a handful of defenders.
In times of peace, the county has seen numerous other committees designed to pool resources to better the community.
Sometimes, the plans sat on a shelf... .
