Results tagged “Red Lion” from York Town Square

A mud slide caused this train accident on the Ma & Pa Railroad at the Ben Roy Station between Red Lion and York. Also of interest: Collector searching for Western Maryland Railroad memorabilia and Old Baltimore tunnel an intriguing reminder of the 'Ma' in Ma & Pa Railroad and What it was like aboard the Stewartstown Railroad.

Hundreds of miles of railroad lines operated in York County since tracks from Baltimore reached York in 1838.

Thousands of trains have rolled along those tracks.

Sometimes, they stopped rolling.

They halted with a crash.

So, history has recorded the deadly Good Friday, 1920, train wreck near Glen Rock... .

Red Lion's new year is traditionally ushered in with the raising of a huge cigar, reminding folks of the area's past might as a cigar manufacturer. The fiberglass cigar, held by a lion character, weighs 100 pounds and is 8 feet, 3 inches long. The borough's cigarmaking history is certain to be a topic of discussion in a tour of its streets on Tuesday, June 30. (See photos below of Red Lion's cigarmaking culture of the past.) Background posts: It couldn't happen in York County? Women were trampled in Depression-era labor unrest and York County cigars: 'They contained a vast amount of nicotine' and Red Lion's Ebert Furniture: From bedroom suites to gunstocks.

A guided walking tour through Red Lion, sponsored by the Kaltreider-Benfer Library, is set for 6:30 p.m. June 30... .

This mural at the Windsor Township Commerce Bank branch shows the scene as troops go off to the Great War - World War I - at the Red Lion Ma & Pa Railroad station in 1917. About 200 of the more than 6,000 York countians who served in World War I did not return. Some were victimized by the pandemic Spanish flu bug. (To see full mural, click here. Background posts: Great War hero Jeannette Zinn of York: 'She made the supreme sacrifice' and Spanish flu of 1918 no three-day fever. Try 365-day worldwide plague and Easter in York County, 1919: Sadness, joy, hope.

In my York Sunday News column History's lesson: Prepare now for pandemic, I pulled together several recent posts on the pandemic Spanish flu of 1918-1919 that caused so much death and despair.

I wasn't aware when I first started posting on the Spanish flu that the swine flu virus was already afflicting scores of people around the world.

I tied the Sunday column into an pandemic planning session in York, sponsored by the York-Adams Metropolitan Medical Response System.

For all those York Town Square posts on the Spanish or Swine flu, click here.

This video, part of the York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Remember" oral history series captures the cigarmaking industry - a major employer in small towns throughout York County. Background posts in 'Remember' series: In the shadow of disaster: York County and its newspaper tested 30 years ago and Great Depression work: 'It was the largest thesis in the history of the history department' and Readers tell about those blizzards of 1993, 1996.

People don't think of the rival boroughs of Red Lion and Dallastown working together.

But 84-year-old Flo Neff unwittingly informed viewers of the York Daily Record/Sunday News "Remember" series about an early 20th-century form of regionalization.

It involved the ubiquitious cigarmaking business, the most recent topic in the series.

Here is her transcribed audio clip: ... .

A caboose made its way from Lancaster to the yard of Markey Trucking near Dallastown, Pa., in January. Eventually, it will be moved to the Red Lion Train Station Museum. Background posts: Old Baltimore tunnel an intriguing reminder of the 'Ma' in Ma & Pa Railroad and Ma & Pa rabbit trains: 'I hope they thoroughly hosed out the cars.' and York County railroading: 'Something that gets into your blood'.

Red Lion is named after a tavern - a tavern that still stands but has morphed into a private residence.

So things tilt toward red there - the high school team colors, for example.

When a blue caboose destined for the restored Ma & Pa Railroad Station in Red Lion arrived in the area, it was natural for a news reporter to ask about any future paint job... .

Red Lion cigarmaker Harry L. Haines represented York County in U.S. Congress for most of the 1930s. Background posts: 34 years ago, Congressman Goodling replaced Congressman Goodling, Who were these congressional visitors to York Town, anyway? and Sixty years ago, Dem upset GOP incumbent for York County congressional seat.

Hinkey Haines' athletic successes sometimes overshadowed his accomplished father Harry Haines.

Harry was a cigarmaker - owner of three factories - and a successful amateur athlete around the region. He was mayor of Red Lion in the 1920s.

And he was York County's Democratic congressman in most of the Depression era.

In fact, those were the days when congressional races were, indeed, races... .

For years, the Ma & Pa's Taylor's Trestle has been forgotten between Red Lion and Yoe. Now a budding Eagle Scout wants to help restore it. Background posts: Ma & Pa rabbit trains: 'I hope they thoroughly hosed out the cars.', Ma & Pa Railroad, Muddy Creek Forks draw fans and Yo! More support for Yoe vs. Yohe.

The summary on the back cover of George W. Hilton's "The Ma & Pa" nicely describes the winding railroad:

"Connecting Baltimore and York, the line had everything needed to endear itself to local residents and rail enthusiasts: picturesque equipment, marvelous scenary, antique passenger trains, handsome small-scale locomotives, and enough curves - 476 - for a railroad many times longer than its 77 miles."

The writer could also have added in "curving trestles... ."

Henry 'Hinkey' Haines, left, and Babe Ruth were teammates on the 1923 World Series champion New York Yankees. Background posts: Southpaw could be next York/Adams major leaguer, York County sports a miniature Cooperstown and Red Lion's Butch Wynegar ranks bright among York's sports stars.

Henry L. "Hinkey" Haines might have been the most accomplished athlete ever to come out of York and Adams counties.

So contends Frank Bodani, who spearheaded the Greatest Athletes series now running weekly in the York Daily Record/Sunday News.

Certainly, he made the York Sunday News' top 10 list of greatest athletes of the 20th century.

But he did not make the top 10 list of Red Lion Area Senior High School athletes.

The book "Red Lion, The First One Hundred Years" offers a possible explanation for that:

Scott Fitzkee graduated from Red Lion High School in 1975 and went on to play football at Penn State and the NFL. He was one of a number of York County athletes to play professional sports. Background posts:
York County has produced star NFL players, Ex-York countian, ex-Phillie Greg Gross: 'I'm jealous not to be sitting there in the dugout with them' and
Who were most prominent 20th-century sports heroes in York and Adams counties?.

"He was arguably the most talented three-sport athlete ever to come out of York and Adams counties."

That's how the York Daily Record/Sunday News' Greatest Athletes series describes three-sport Red Lion start Scott Fitzkee.

That selection is also certain to draw controversy, but the Greatest Athletes description makes the case for Fitzkee's accomplishments in football, basketball and track. He went on to play wide receiver for Penn State and then the Philadelphia Eagles and San Diego Chargers in the NFL, before ending his career in the USFL... .

With fewer jobs and companies pinching, labor unrest erupted around York County during the Great Depression. When a dispute struck a town, everyone was affected including spinoffs to the cigar-making industries, the Consumers Cigar Box Co. (seen here in this York County Heritate Trust photo). Background posts: York County cigars: 'They contained a vast amount of nicotine', Windsor: Home of 'stately old houses that may appear to be miniature castles' and Red Lion's Ebert Furniture: From bedroom suites to gunstocks.

The recent Black Friday trampling of a young employee at a New York Wal-Mart store by rushing shoppers makes one wonder how that could ever happen.

Well, it happened it York County in 1934 under different circumstances.

And it wasn't deadly.

But it hurt, and it was women who were trampled... .

Adamsville United Methodist Church's Jon Butcher promotes the church's annual apple festival in this 2007 file photo. The church serves as the center of the York Township village of Adamsville. Background: Red Lion's towering Fairmont Park off the beaten track, York County cigars: 'They contained a vast amount of nicotine' and LBJ's, Lady Bird's visit a high point in Dallastown's history.

The village of Adamsville also has been called Pinch Gut and Arbor.

Its location, like its name, is also hard to pinpoint. Maybe it's near Red Lion. Maybe Dallastown. It's actually in York Township, somewhere between Route 24 and Route 214.

One hundred years ago - perhaps because it was near a lot of places - it was bustling with cigar factories and a dairy and a ballfield... .

David Kline works around his Red Lion-area Family Heir-Loom Weavers. He will demonstrate the use of old looms to OLLI Brown-Bag Lunch participants on Oct. 27, one of several such sessions that are part of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute classes this fall. Background posts: York County's landscape, buildings, landmarks can serve as a classroom,
OLLI's theme song: 'Don't stop thinking about learning' and Iron-mine-turned-into-party-spot turned into York County park.

That machinery has produced costumes for actors in the films "Amistad," "Gods and Generals," "Gettysburg" and "Cold Mountain."

His Family Heir-Loom Weavers have produced items for nine presidential homes. That resume includes carpets at Abraham Lincoln's home in Springfield, Ill., and George Washington's Mount Vernon home.

But he'll leave the big machinery behind in a Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program in October, part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute fall lineup... ... .

York County's borough of Windsor shortened its name from the Windsor Township village of Windsorville when it was incorporated in 1905. The sleepy town today bustled 75 years ago with trolley traffic and cigar factories. Background posts: York County cigars: 'They contained a vast amount of nicotine', That's Windsor Park, not Windsor ... and Research offers insight into York County's trolley.

A statement in Windsor borough's history book "Windsor Borough, The First One Hundred Years" caused me pause: "The town is dotted with stately old houses that may appear to be miniature castles."

Castles? In Windsor, that younger valley-dwelling brother of hillside neighor Red Lion?

The Red Lion (Pa.) Grange Hall, background, stood at Cape Horn Road and Lombard Street for years, but lost its battle to surrounding sprawl about five years ago. It still serves as a bell weather of change in York County. Background posts: Mother Goose teaches York County, Pa., lessons, Property rights foundational factor in Lauxmont dispute - 19/20 iconic photos and Horn Farm: 'A very special living history memorial to those hardy ancestors'.

The now-demolished Red Lion Grange Hall has fascinated me for years as a symbol of change in York County.

It was a case of the county's long-held agrarianism battling unchecked development. Its demise five years ago signaled which side is winning... .

Kaltreider-Benfer Memorial Library is known for a lot of quality public services, including its used book sales. The next Book Nook is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 17, at the Red Lion Country Club, formerly Copper Beech. But where does the Kaltreider come from in its name? This is part of a continuing blog series about the sources of names on the sides of York County's buildings.Grange Hall represented past way of York County life, Red Lion's Ebert Furniture: From bedroom suites to gunstocks and Red Lion's towering Fairmont Park off the beaten track.

Historian George Prowell considered cigarmaker D. Frank Kaltreider as the epitomy of a self-made man, starting at the bottom and achieving "sound" financial condition by the age of 29... .

The Red Lion Grange Hall, the gray building in the background, is surrounded by development in this mid-1990s photograph of the Cape Horn area. Background posts about the Red Lion area: Red Lion's towering Fairmont Park off the beaten track , York County cigars: 'They contained a vast amount of nicotine', Cigarmaking Red Lion on top of York County and Red Lion's Ebert Furniture: From bedroom suites to gunstocks.

Continuing the series of telling York County, Pa.'s, history through images: ... .

Harry Flinchbaugh of Red Lion's Flinchbaugh Cigars was a hands-on owner. His factory, along with scores of other cigarmakers, helped Red Lion and other York County communities prosper in the first part of the 20th century. Red Lion may have claim to the top cigarmaking community. "Red Lion: The First 100 Years" notes that the peak number of factories in the borough between 1880 and 1930 was 150. (York County Heritage Trust photo.) Background posts: Cigarmaking Red Lion on top of York County and Red Lion's Ebert Furniture: From bedroom suites to gunstocks.

York County has long put forth products that attract so-called sin taxes.

We have brewed beer in York, distilled whiskey in Foustown and rolled tobacco in Red Lion and scores of other locations throughout the county... .

Don Warner, left, and his wife, Ruth, of 70 years are seen near his 40-year-old Conn organ. Warner stars in the weekly "Don Warner at the Organ' on WGCB in Red Lion, Pa.. Background posts: The organ: 'It is a whole orchestra in itself' and Research topic: 18th-century helicopter could have aided pastor.

There's something about keyboard players that brings recognition.

Everyone, for example, knows Sam Keeney.

And Don Warner. (See video of Don in action:)

Maybe it's because they play so many gigs in such varied places ... .

Red Lion resident Barbara Krout is seen with her cousin Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, the 35th chief of staff of the U.S. Army. Peter and his Army surgeon general brother, Eric, have spent many days in York County. Background posts: York has produced its share of high-ranking naval officers and York/Adams residents contributed to 'The War'.

Some links between York County and national achievers are strong. See the previous post on New York Giants' offensive line coach Pat Flaherty, for example.

Others are a bit more tenuous. Still, when two brothers of high military rank have strong family connections to York County, it's worth noting... .