Bob and Priscilla Steindl of Pompano Beach, Fla., shared this image of the former Hotel Penn in York copied from a postcard.

We’ve talked a few times here and there about hotels (and, in many cases, accompanying taverns) that used to be in York County, and my friend Buffy’s post about and photo of the former Hotel Dover (which I hope you’ll check out here) made me think it might be time to revisit this topic, on which I’ve received many comments!

Roy Flinchbaugh wrote after one previous installment, “I enjoyed learning (in one of your Sunday columns) about two hotels I’ve never before heard of. You undoubtedly remember the Penn Hotel (once on the site of the present County offices on North George Street), the Colonial Hotel and the Brooks Hotel (once on the site of the present Drovers Bank building). I suspect you are not familiar with The Lafayette House (NOT the Lafayette Club) which was located in the building across the alley from the McDonald’s on South George Street. My paternal grandparents owned and operated that hotel (with its accompanying saloon) early in the 20th century. The family lived upstairs (the saloon was on the street level) and there were hotel rooms above the living quarters, if I remember correctly my father’s telling about growing up there. The stagecoach from Red Lion stopped there.”

I was thrilled to find that in my collection of photos from readers, I had one of the Hotel Penn, which you can see above!

Speaking of former hotel owners, Brenda Neff found a biography online of one of her ancestors, George Munchel, a hotelier in York County for many years. According to his biography, George, who was born in Germany in 1823, first apprenticed as a shoemaker, and on July 2, 1847, came to America., where he stayed in Baltimore for a while, marrying a woman from Germany named Elizabeth Elsesser, whom he’d met on his trip to the United States. According to the bio Brenda found, “In the fall after their marriage the young couple came to York, and their first home was on South Penn street, later at No. 244 West Market Street, the latter place being now known as the ‘Alveni.’ Mr. Munchel applied himself to his trade with great success until about 1876, when for some few years he engaged in the hotel business, conducting the ‘Ninth Ward House.’ During the years he was engaged in the shoe business he had the largest establishment of its kind in the town, employing a number of hands in the manufacture of boots and shoes. He also carried a fine line of custom-made shoes. Although quiet and reserved in his manners, he was one of the best known men in the town, and he had warm friends all over the county.” He retired in 1890 and passed away in 1902.

Bob and Priscilla Steindl of Pompano Beach, Fla., shared this image from a postcard showing West Market Street looking toward downtown York, including the National Hotel and Jack’s department store.

Carl H. Williams wrote that, as a boy in the late 1950s and early 1960s, he remembers his father tending bar part-time on the first floor of a building on North George Street. “It was deteriorating at this time,” he wrote. “There were actually a newer section and an older section. The old section had a tile floor and a trough for water to run in the floor (not in use at my recollection) with no bar stools – standing patrons and one gender only? It was owned by a man called Gabby, and may have been called Gabby’s Corner. I remember visiting Gabby with my parents in old Shiloh on Church Road; years later I moved to Church Road and his widow was still living there (1986). Just some memories stirred.”

In some previous Ask Joan columns, we’d talked about The Northern Central Hotel at North George Street and North Avenue. Reader Beverly (Ayres) Landis had originally asked about it because her grandparents worked there.

Reader Rosalie Gurreri Kristick mentioned that in the early 1960s, a hotel on North George Street called The Union Hotel (Grand Hotel) was operated by her father, Joseph Gurreri, who passed away in 1972 at 64 years old. “It was amazing, you could see and meet anyone there from a prominent attorney to a homeless man,” Rosalie wrote. “The hotel had 35 rooms renting from $5 to $10 a night. He served fried pork sandwiches, seafood, pizza, hard-boiled eggs and red-beet eggs in large jars on the old mahogany bar which was about 20 feet long. After hours there were numerous activities going on. Everyone loved him and still remember the good old days. His nickname was Joe G. He was also the first person to open a restaurant in 1939 on the corner of Newberry and Princess streets to serve African-American people, called Jimmie Joe’s. He was a kind and generous man. He was my father.”

I also heard from Bill Unger of Shrewsbury, who mentioned that on North George Street, opposite the Capitol Theatre, there was a hotel on the corner that he recalled being torn down or burned down. “Between there and the Ramona there was a local watering hole where I could buy hard stuff when I was only 18 in 1956,” he said. “Close by the Valencia ballroom was the King George Hotel. All circa mid ’50s.”

Thank you all for sharing these great hotel memories! I can’t wait to hear more about all of these places!

The late Jim Goodling, formerly of Dover Twp., took this photo of the former gas station at North Hills Road and Route 30.

I just got my car back from the shop today with a RECORD LOW bill – $26! (It still needs more work, but hey, I’ll take it – thanks to my buddy Steve at TeamOne Auto Group for taking good care of my piece of junk!)

In honor of my car fortune, today I’d like to continue to share memories of local service stations, always a big topic for remembrances!

Previous posts
June 12, 2011: Mail call: Service station memories
June 1, 2012: Mail call: Memories of Stony Brook Garage

I’m more than overdue to share more notes received since I wrote the more recent of those posts a year and a half ago! (And I’ve got some photos from our archives that I hope will spark some more memories, too!)

For my part, let me share that I remember fondly going with my dad to Ralph’s Exxon on the Dover square (where Tom’s is now) on weekends. My dad and Ralph were friends, and Ralph would often turn up a cold drink for me while he and Dad were sitting and visiting. Interestingly, when Ralph closed the Exxon, we then started taking our cars to Dellinger Motors, which at that time was at Carlisle and Harmony Grove roads headed out of Dover borough to the north, only a short distance away, and we would also sit THERE and hang out with Faron, the owner. So as I was reading everyone else’s similar memories, they brought back good feelings for me!

Kathy Campbell-Beaverson wrote, “I remember Kuentzler’s Gulf station at the corner of S. George St. and Boundary Ave. My father was friends with Abe, the owner. Our families would get together and go to the river, on Abe’s boat. His Gulf station was next to the market where I would go every Saturday, with my Nana, Helen Knox. Abe’s Service Station was the best in York!!!!! That’s where we used to buy Gulf Spray for bugs, it was the best!”

Mike King of York asked if anyone remembered his grandfather, John King, who owned King Oil Service on North Beaver Street, which was demolished during the Northwest Triangle building project some years ago.

I also heard from Ilene King, who recalled that a service station we’d previously talked about on North Sherman St. may have been “Rutter’s.” She writes, “Carl Rutter worked there for years; his dad had the place, can’t remember his name. Later they moved to where Al’s service station is now.” Ilene said she’s lived in the Pleasureville area since 1962 and so is quite familiar with these stations!

Ronald Dise shared this image from a postcard of Besser’s restaurant and service station south of York.

Mike Meckley wrote, “My wife’s uncle owned a Gulf gas station in the ’50s which was located on the southwest corner of Phila. and Beaver streets, which is now the White Rose Bar and Grill. He would let family and friends park there to go to Central Market. It was also rumored he ran a bookie joint in the back room. I am sure many people remember this station.”

From frequent correspondent Jim Fahringer, I heard, “I remember the Stony Brook Garage quite well. Actually I lived about 2 miles away from it. It was the closest garage to my house. Sometimes we would even walk to the garage. In those days it was not only a Pontiac Dealership and Service Center but also a full service gas station. We often bought gas there. Also, we would buy some candy inside the service station when we stopped for gas. I do not remember when the garage went out of business but I would guess somewhere in the 1970s. I often visited the station with my mom and dad from 1956 until the garage eventually closed. I used to attend evening Bible school at the Stony Brook Mennonite Church across the street. When Bible school was over, we would cross Route 30 (now 462) and get a soda from the machine at the garage. It was quite a treat. There were no convenience stores, supermarkets or restaurants in the immediate vicinity in those days. A convenience store was not even invented yet. Actually my father’s brother was married to Stuart Strickler Sr.’s sister. Originally the garage was called Strickler’s Garage. Stuart Strickler Jr. eventually took over the garage. I remember when it came time for me to buy my first new car. I saw those wonderful Trans-Am Pontiac sportscars at the garage and I just had to have one. I fully planned to purchase either the candy apple red one or the bright yellow one. Well, I found out that my insurance company considered this car to be a high performance car and I was in that 18-25 year old bracket and the insurance rates were prohibitive. Actually Stuart Strickler got very upset with me because he said I promised that I would buy a car from him and I didn’t. Man, I would still like to have one of those Trans-Ams but alas, no Pontiacs are made anymore. I settled for an inferior car as my first new one – it was a Chevy Malibu and it leaked like a sieve!”

This photo shows the Windsor Service Station sometime in the 1930s with Frederick “Fritz” Frey, left, and one of the original partners at right.

Finally, it sounds like SOMEONE got their fancy car from Stony Brook, at least, Jim; John Loeper writes, “My father told me many times about buying a brand new 1946 Pontiac sedan from the Stony Brook Garage. He told me his old car was worn out but he had to wait until WWII was over and they started making cars again until he could get a new one. I remember him telling me he waited and waited and waited for that Pontiac to come in. It must have been a grand day in our family when it finally did. I was only 1 year old at the time so I don’t recall it myself.”

Thank you all for sharing these memories; please keep them coming! What service stations do you remember in your town?

This photo, originally seen on June Lloyd’s Universal York blog, shows the Peoples Drug in York in September 1955, with its windows taped as protection against a coming storm.

Today I’d like to share some memories of a former downtown store that MANY Yorkers seem to recall fondly – Peoples Drug!

Previous posts
July 15, 2011: Mail call: Memories of Peoples Drug
Jan. 27, 2012: A couple of quick memories about Peoples Drug
March 1, 2013: Ask Joan: Seeking recipe for Peoples Drug sandwich
April 15, 2013: Yet more memories of downtown York from the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s

Since I shared those posts, I’ve received dozens more memories, and would like to share a few here today!

Sylvia L. Snellbaker wrote, “I worked at Peoples Drug Store from 1970 till 1973 behind the soda fountain with Lillian Eckenrode and Lucille Dehoff, and Charles Dohn who came in after school to clean up. We were really busy back in those days with all the downtown stores in full operation, and of course we had our daily regulars, people getting off from work stopping in for a quick sandwich before heading home. One of my fondest memories was the hippies, they loved to hang at the lunch counter. (Back in those days they didn’t have cell phones.) And they would sit sipping a soda waiting for the phone to ring, every head would turn in anticipation that it might be the call they were waiting for, that phone booth sure got a workout.”

She continued, “We may have been a small lunch counter but the food was tasty, we sold a lot of club sandwiches and ice cream, soda, milk shakes and floats. Mr. Spangler was the manager and Mr. Jackson was the pharmacist. Working behind the pharmacy counter was Pat Kerrigan, and behind the candy/cigarette counter was Ruth McDonald, I still run into Ruth and Lillian and we always talk about the good old days at Peoples drug store.”

Sylvia shared three great photos from her time working at Peoples today that I want to share as well!

From Harriet Harman, I heard, “I would like to comment about People’s Drug store. Evidently, in the late 1930s and early 1940s there were no kitchens at the stores to cook for the lunch counters, because my grandmother cooked at home, in our kitchen and someone would come to the house and take the soups, stews, etc. to the stores to serve at lunch time. I have no idea how many women did this, but I know that grandma did it, 5 days a week for $10 a week. I was just a little girl at the time, but I remember it well.”

And from Jim Fahringer I heard, I don’t remember the Peoples Drug Store at the corner of West Market and Beaver Streets but I do remember The Peoples Drug Store on the southwest corner of Continental Square in the first floor of the Colonial Hotel. I loved their old fashioned soda fountain. Back in the late 1950s and very early 1960s I was a member of Boy Scout Troop #132 of the First Moravian Church at 39 North Duke Street. On Easter Eve the Boy Scouts camped out at the church so they could get up real early and go to Prospect Hill Cemetery to direct cars to the Easter Sunrise Services. Of course we had fun sleeping in the Fellowship Hall or not sleeping as was often the case. In those days Peoples on the Square was open all night. Well, about 10 or 11 0′clock that night we decided to walk down to the drug store and have a late night snack at the old soda fountain. I ordered the old fashioned cherry Coke – the one made from real cherry syrup – and some of my friends ordered ice cream sodas. The cherry Cokes of today are nothing like those cherry Cokes at a real soda fountain.”

He continued, “Sometimes I would shop for cards in the drug store – however, later I believe a separate Hallmark Card shop opened in the northern part of the same building. It was comforting having a drug store open all night right in the center of the city.”

Fellow Yorkblogger June Lloyd shared this Golden Glow Cafeteria advertisement – as well as many memories of that eatery – in a 2012 post on her Universal York blog. Click the photo to read more about the Golden Glow!

It’s AWFULLY cold. I’m done with winter. So what better thing to blog about than… comfort food! Today I’m going to share some feedback and memories I’ve received about several former cafeteria-type restaurants in downtown York. I hope you’ll tuck into something warm and enjoy!

Previous posts
Dec. 20, 2010: More memories of stores in downtown York
Feb. 12, 2013: Ask Joan: What and where was cafeteria?

Now, here are some more memories about some of these great eateries!

Responding to the Ask Joan question about a downtown cafeteria, Jim Fahringer said, “The question about the cafeteria in back of Bear’s was interesting. Actually, I am thinking that Kathy Reisinger may be thinking of the Bear’s Cafeteria. Bear’s had their own cafeteria. I ate there in the very late 1960s and very early 1970s. The entrance was to the rear of Bear’s Department Store. I ate there with my great aunt who owned and operated Thompson’s Book and Stationary Store. She took me there a number of times. The food was actually very good – at least to a 17 to 19 year old growing teen! Les’s Cafeteria was in the back of Central Market – approximately where Cherry Lane meets the alley that runs between the first block of West Market Street and West Philadelphia Streets. If I remember correctly, the building that housed Les’s Cafeteria was actually connected to the Central Market. This cafeteria was only a few steps from the back entrance of Thompson’s Book and Stationary Store which was located at 35 West Market Street. I ate there a number of times also but I personally enjoyed the food at Bear’s Cafeteria more. … Speaking of cafeterias, does anyone remember the old YMCA Cafeteria? I ate there a number of times with my grandmother and great aunt but I was rather young. The food was quite good. I ate there in the 1960s. If my memory serves me correctly, the cafeteria stood on the north side of East Market Street between Duke Street and Queen Street – at least that is what I remember. It could have been between Queen Street and Pine Street but I don’t think so.”

Nancy Lipschutz wrote and said, “The old YWCA cafeteria was located in the 100 block of East Market St., across the street from the former YWCA building. I believe Bailey travel is located there now. One of the Y’s specials was shepherd’s pie.”

And from Dan Kohler, I heard, “I remember Bear’s Dept. store because she was a cook in their cafeteria in the basement. I really loved going there because I got free stuff. When the ladies would take a break some of them would sit in a booth with my mother and I. They must have thought I was cute because they’d fuss over me and bring me free goodies. At least I didn’t pay for anything. One time one of the ladies gave me buttermilk by accident. The first mouthful went on the table. It was then replaced with whole milk, you know, the kind that leaves a coating of grease in your mouth. Good stuff! When I was about sixteen I got the job winding down the awnings with a long pole with a hook on the end at Bear’s, Jack’s and Walker’s men’s store very early Sunday mornings and then winding them back up Sunday evening. I think I made $20 for all three stores. Heck I’d do it now for $20. Of course $20 went a lot further then. Before the York Co. Shopping Center opened downtown York on a Saturday was packed.”

Back to Les’s, Allan Dameshek noted, “Just wanted to tell you about Les’s Cafeteria.. It was owned by Lester Holtzapple, a former army cook, and was located where the Mudhook Brewery is now located in the building connected to Central Market. I don’t remember if there was access then into the restaurant from the market house. Everyone ate at Les’s… business execs, workers, et al, because he made good food, especially his soups… The prices were very low. When you ate there and went back to work you always took the smell of the restaurant with you… but who cared!”

Craig Smith also noted that the former Les’s is in the current Mudhook Brewing Company location, entering from Cherry Lane, and wrote, “Les was an old Navy cook and made the best soups… His specialty was turtle/snapper soup which he served with the rest of his fare cafeteria-style. The bowls/plates were white with the green trim we all experienced in the ’50s-’60s in the school cafeteria, but Les prided himself in making sure the bowl/plate was overflowing with food! A real character in his T-shirt and white apron!”

Another reader, Bob Fahringer, wrote, “In regards to your information about Les’s Cafeteria. I remember going in there when I was a youngster. My grandmother worked for Lester Holtzapple (Les) for years. He and his family were good friends of my mother’s side of the family, so much as they attended our annual family reunion for years. As my parents can recall, Les operated his cafeteria from sometime in the late ’50s till about the early ’70s. It was located on the right side of the alley between the Strand and the Market. It was a separate building from the Market. My parents added that his food was excellent.”

Sarann Boring wrote and said, “When I worked at Graybill Electric on Broad Street we ate at Les’s Cafeteria every payday after cashing our checks at the York Bank & Trust on Market St. across from the Court House. Les’s was at Clarke & Cherry Lane & looked like it was built against the Central Market. It was a long narrow restaurant & I think the entrance was at Cherry Lane.”

And Hilda Rudy noted, “I too worked downtown at McCrory’s for many years. At least twice a week we ate at Les’s. It was one of the best places to eat. The owner was Lester Holtzapple. He was the best cook. You could get soup and hot sandwiches (my favorite was hot chicken). Thank you for helping bring back good memories.”

I also heard from William F. Hoffmeyer, Esq., who added, “Les’s Cafeteria occupied the space which is now occupied by the Mudhook Restaurant and Brewery. Les Holtzapple was the owner of Les’s and a delightful character in his own right. Both myself and members of my staff ate at Les’s from the late 1960s through either the late 1970s or early 1980s. Les made the absolute best turtle soup ever made by an human hands and people came from all around to purchase his turtle soup even if they did not eat in his restaurant. Les passed away shortly after he retired and after a brief hiatus with another owner whose name escapes me, Ruth Lehman opened La Country Cuisine Restaurant, which she operated until it was purchased by the current owner of Mudhook. Since Les’s Cafeteria/La Country Cuisine/Mudhoook is directly behind my law office, it was truly my neighborhood restaurant where I ate virtually ever breakfast and lunch. I am sure that Les’s comeback to the question ‘What’s good today?,’ ‘I don’t know, I don’t eat here,’ is well remembered by those of us who frequented Les’s Cafeteria.”

June Lloyd also shared this advertisement, possibly clipped from a matchbook cover, in a 2012 post on her Universal York blog detailing many memories of the Golden Glow Cafeteria. Click the picture to read her post!

Finally, regarding another downtown eatery, the Golden Glow cafeteria, you will see some pictures with today’s post from June Lloyd, who blogs at Universal York. She had a 2012 post sharing memories of that cafeteria, Golden Glow Cafeteria glows in York memories; I hope you’ll check that out.

And finally today, from Karen Behr, I heard, “My grandmother and I often ate at a cafeteria on first block of N. George St. called the Golden Glow. All the food was homemade and delicious! I always thought that the staff were farm wives, but that is probably due to a child’s imagination!? Perhaps this cafeteria had an entrance in the alley? The timeframe would have been the ’60s.”

While I am not sure about the entrance location, it does seem from memories shared in June’s post that it is correct that the cafeteria was owned by members of a farm family!

The free event includes a Pennsylvania German (or Pa. Dutch, if you prefer) singalong at 9:30 a.m., a program on the Pennsylvania German and Yiddish languages at 10:45 a.m.; entertainment in the dialect at noon; an acution at 1 p.m.; and several other presentations, games, food and crafts.

I am hoping very much to make this event, which sounds awesome! You can find out more at the PaGermanZammelaaf Facebook page.

We received this photo here at the York Daily Record this week, and while I haven’t been posting regularly recently, I had to take just a minute to share it!

It was submitted by Lee Thomson, who wrote, “Remember Spurg’s Restaurant in Spry? Syd Grim is having her 80th birthday on February 14th. If you have a funny story, memory, or picture from Spurg’s, please send it to Syd at 193 Dew Drop Rd, York PA 17402.”

I would LOVE to floor Syd with birthday memories of Spurg’s! It tentatively looks like I’ll be blogging here regularly again soon, and what a great way to kick that off than to help make a birthday fun!

What’s inside
1. Where was former Highland Park?
2. Having Twin Pines bologna shipped
3. Seeking info about Naples Cafe

1. We see a lot of old post cards from York that are of Highland Park York PA where was or what was this place?
- Cathy

I shared with Cathy that Highland Park was in West Manchester Township (near the “Dogtown” neighborhood – if you’re familiar with the area, it is now mostly covered by a large stone quarry) – and it was first a trolley station and then a large amusement park. You can see some photos of it and a little more info on Jim McClure’s York Town Square blog here.

Well, talk about funny coincidences, Cathy wrote back: “What is so strange is I grew up in Dogtown right in the center of it, and I never knew. Thank you so much, you cleared up a lot for me!”

Glad to help!

2. I lived in York County from birth (1964) until after I was married (1987). I was back there a few years ago for a niece’s wedding and they served Twin Pines Sweet Butcher Bologna that I remember so well from childhood. I now live on the Gulf Coast in Mississippi (you might remember Hurricane Katrina, that happened in my back yard). I would love to be able to order this online and have it sent to me. I have since ordered some Lebanon Bologna and I am trying to introduce people down here to things I grew up with. I have made Scrapple for a few of them as well and I have an order of that coming to me as well.
- Barbara Donald

I told Barbara I would see what I could find out – and was planning to call Twin Pines and see if they had any suggestions – but she beat me to it!

That said, I get this question often, believe it or not, so I am sharing her findings in the hope of helping others! She said, “I was able to contact Twin Pines directly and got this response, so feel free to share with others.”

Twin Pines told Barbara, “While we do have a website we never got the ordering online completed yet. But if you call our butcher shop at 717-428-1873 and ask for Neta, she will take your information and get an order on the way.”

Excellent! Happy butcher bologna shipping!

3. Do you know anything concerning a Naples Cafe located at 124 E. College Avenue in York Pa? I have a glass stirrer with a 59325 phone number.
- Dave Berger

I would love to have any memories or info on the Naples Cafe to share with Dave; please do share if you have some!

Got any questions? Ask Joan using the form at right. I’ll attempt to answer them in a future “Ask Joan” column on this blog. I get a large volume, but I will feature three each week and answer as many as possible!

Today, just a couple of quick and neat things. First, here’s something neat our image technician, my friend Brenda Hake, put together: A gallery of all sorts of postcards showing York County in the past, more than 60 of them altogether. You may have seen many of them in earlier blog posts, but here they are much larger and all in one place. I hope you enjoy!

Next, for those of you on Twitter, you can now follow me @YDRAskJoan for all sorts of local goodness. I’ll update there even when I’m not able to write full posts here, so please stay in touch that way if you can!

Finally, wish me luck… I test tomorrow for my first-degree black belt in tae kwon do at Dover Dragons! I’ve talked about that journey occasionally in the past here, and I appreciate all the support!

Photo by flickr user Takot (click to view original)

… or lightning bugs?

This “maybe it’s a Yorkism” question was originally asked of me by one of my fellow YDR editors, Brad Jennings, and I thought it would be great to share and get your thoughts.

In our family, we pretty much use them interchangeably, probably leaning a little heavier toward lightning bugs.

Either way, summer is all about catching them in Sarah’s mesh bug house, then letting them go. (Record so far? 7 at once.)

What do you call them? Comment and let us know!

Betsy Baird of Springettsbury Township shared this former Sunday News clipping of locals, including a Mark Gillespie, swimming in ‘The Swamp,’ a swimming hole on Barshinger Creek, south of Dallastown. Betsy also remembered that area being called ‘Rye.’

I thought, as we kick off summer, it might be fun to hear memories of this and other swimming holes around the county. Some of our Dogtown crew have mentioned a couple in their area, I know, and I would love to hear your thoughts on where you swam!