What: Snow on Main Street in Spring Grove
Submitted by: Judy Ensminger of North Codorus Township
Something interesting: Since I’m going to Vermont Wednesday and Thursday, where I hope it WON’T be snowy (imagine that), I thought it might be fun to share a snow-based reader photo I received a couple weeks ago. You know, kind of a “reverse psychology” kind of thing?
As always, you can share your own photos of scenes around York County here.
Hubby and I are taking a special trip this week – my Christmas present was a getaway to Bennington, Vermont! After a hectic week and weekend last week, it’ll be nice to get away, but the preparations are keeping me busy! (Don’t worry, Only in York County will continue uninterrupted, though today’s Ask Joan material is some “quick questions” for which I’m hoping you’ll be willing to help me provide details.)
What’s inside
1. Finding organic local restaurant options
2. Where was the Slug’s Roost
3. Remembering “Tales from the Tomb”
Continue reading
I love Facebook. For better or worse, I really am on there all the time (to be fair, much of it is for work).
One thing I’m having happen more and more often is that readers will find me on Facebook to share their stories and memories, which I think is great!
This, for example, came from Dale Boyce. He writes, “Do you remember Silo appliances, Sterner Chevy and Hickey Toyota in Red Lion? Silo was on Rt 30 across from the North Mall. Sterner was where the Rite Aid close to Dairyland Square is and Hickey was originally down Rt 74 where Pleasant View school is located. I think Hickey was originally an AMC dealer when I was a kid. Then they changed to Toyota then moved to where Red Lion Chevy is today. Then they changed to Diehl Toyota. Also when I was young, Barnhart Ford was where the antique shop is today on Main St in Red Lion. Then it was Smeltzer Bros and they moved to where Apple Ford is today. After Smeltzer’s it was Mac Jones Ford and then Apple. I think I am right but not positive.”
Any ideas for Dale? I will share them ALL OVER THE PLACE – on the blog, on Facebook and probably in print – if you do! 
Meanwhile, you’re welcome to be my friend on Facebook as well (request me here) – but if you don’t want to see all my goofy Facebook games, I might recommend you “subscribe” to me instead…
… which you can do right here!
Looking forward to staying connected in as many ways as possible!
Tuesday, we talked about Stewartstown memories, including Norris Grocery – which had formerly been an A&P.
That got me started thinking about that chain again, which no longer exists in York County. We’d talked about them back in June (that’s when I’d originally shared the Norris Grocery photo from Mary Kurman).
And originally, in this April post, we starting talking about A&P following a letter from Linda Arnold.
Since then, I’ve heard from some other folks who remember this grocery chain. Continue reading
Longtime readers and longtime residents of the area certainly know Gino’s, especially since it’s made news recently for reopening even more stores.
Today, a few quick notes to share on this awesome restaurant.
My husband found this neat retrospective from Philly.com, which delves a bit into the chain’s demise and recent resurgence.
This photo slideshow from the Baltimore Sun depicts the August opening of a Gino’s in Towson, and was shared with me by reader Sue McKinsey. She says, “I am from Dundalk, MD & we had a Gino’s & Ameche’s not to far apart. My brother lives in Bel Air, MD & sent me this from The Baltimore Sun paper. The person they quote, Bob Currier, I went to school with, graduated with & am still in contact with. We graduated in 1964 from Dundalk Senior High School & a bunch of us get together several times a year just to stay in touch.”
There are now three open Gino’s – the King of Prussia location I visited with some readers last year; one in Bensalem; and the Towson, Md., store. Also planned for this year are stores in Perryhall, Md., and Coatesville, as well as, according to the official website, “23 others.” York, PA, anyone??
(On that note, I heard from another reader, Katie, about one of the store’s former York County locations – she says, “I also worked at the Susquehanna Trail store in 1976 had lots of fun.” Have Gino’s memories of your own to share? Leave me a comment!)
And, of course, if you’ve missed our earlier notes on Gino’s…
April 20, 2011: Even more Gino’s memories from a longtime manager and others
March 30, 2011: Food, geography, and our blog in the newspaper
March 16, 2011: Everybody goes to Gino’s, Part II: Catching up more on our recent trip
March 9, 2011: More on Gino’s: It’s all about the people and the food
March 7, 2011: An amazing weekend criss-crossing Pennsylvania: Gino’s welcomes York, PA
Nov. 24, 2010: The return of Gino’s to Pennsylvania, and a local reunion
June 29, 2010: Everybody goes to Gino’s, because Gino’s is the place to go!
Today’s letter comes to me from Jackie Tredway Korte of Red Lion, who you might remember sent me a clipping of some quotes from the 1950s.
In her accompanying letter, Jackie talked about memories trigged by this post, in which reader Mary Kurman shared a photo of her family’s grocery store in the town after a huge snowstorm.
Here’s Mary’s photo, which was taken in February of 1958.
And here’s a photo shared with me by Jackie, also taken in 1958.
Jackie writes, “I grew up in Stewartstown. The picture … of the snowstorm, I remember well. Norris’s Grocery Store was on the square next door to Malles’ 5&10 store.”
The picture, she says, is “me in front of the house on Mill St. where I grew up. My mom and I did a lot of shoveling that day.”
And, she concludes, “Stewartstown was a very nice town to grow up in. Some of my friends still live there.” As do some of mine, Jackie, and I know they’d agree!
Regular readers might know that I study tae kwon do at Dover Dragons TKD. Well, one of our programs for more advanced students has included lessons this month in using nunchucks (nunchaku). I love it. Thankfully for those in close physical proximity, we practice with foam ones. After a while, though, it still can hurt if you miss too often!
What’s inside
1. Seeking venue for 100 people
2. Sycamore trees along the Trail
3. More details on antique store
Continue reading
Today’s reader letter hits on an area of York County we don’t talk about as often – Dallastown. But in this March post, commenter Skipper mentioned a Streavig’s Grocery in that area, and it’s that which sparked today’s letter in response.
The letter is from Kim Anderson, who writes, “I remember Turkey Hill in Dallastown, that used to be Streavig’s (I never knew it as Streavig’s Grocery, it was Turkey Hill when I was a child). The Streavig’s laundromat was right beside it as well as Streavig’s gas station across the street and I remember going to the Turkey Hill when I went with my mother & sisters to do our laundry every Sunday. We would always go to Turkey Hill to get ‘snacks and drinks.’ Then when I had a family I went there to do my laundry and my son would want to go to the Turkey Hill. Also, right up the street, was Tyson’s Restaurant, I remember getting chicken there. (I think they served Ice Cream too). I also remember the Fife’s store in Dallastown. There was also another little store going the other way on Main St. My grandparents lived right down the street and when we would go to their house, we would always walk there with our change and buy penny candy. I can’t remember the name of the store, but it was located where Boyd’s Furniture is now. Does anyone remember the name?”
Any suggestions for Kim? I’d love to help – especially after receiving such detailed memories!
No, I’m not sure “I love it when a plan comes together” was said in 1955.
But I recently received, from two different people, a list of quotes from the 1950s that make for interesting reading today. First, I’d received a clipping from the Northern Adams/York Area Merchandiser, from Feb. 6, 2002, sent to me by Jackie Korte. Jackie says, “I thought youd would like this article. We lived outside Dover and received the Merchandiser from Hanover. Your readers would enjoy this.”
I saw it, and thought – oh, how neat! Then it went into my “to blog at some point” folder. Well, today, I received essentially the same text in an email chain from my mom, Joan Concilio (yep, she’s Joan too!), with some awesome accompanying photos. “That’s it!” I thought – it’s a sign; I should blog this today! So here we go. Original source is unknown for both the text and pictures, but I think my memory-loving readers will enjoy.
“Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won’t be long before $5,000 will only buy a used one.”
“I’ll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it’s going to be impossible to buy a week’s groceries for $20.”
“If cigarettes keep going up in price, I’m going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous!”
“Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter?”
“If they raise the minimum wage to $1, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.”
“No one can afford to be sick anymore. At $15 a day in the hospital, it’s too rich for my blood.”
“I read the other day where some scientist thinks it’s possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas.”
“It’s too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet.”
“Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $50,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn’t surprise me if someday they’ll be making more than the president.”
“If they think I’ll pay 50 cents for a haircut, forget it!”
“I never thought I’d see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They’re even making electric typewriters now.”
“When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon? Guess we’d be better off leaving the car in the garage.”
“The fast food restaurant is convenient for a quick meal, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.”
I think my mom summed it up best – she is amazed at the changes she’s seen in her lifetime, and she says if you went back to her grandparents, they’d have almost no way of understanding so much of our world. It truly is mind-blowing!
It’s cold and wet out, and that means comfort food, right?
And what better as a comfort food in York County than potpie! My sister made what she called chicken-and-dumplings when we went to visit her in New Jersey during the week following Christmas, and that got me thinking about the other aspect of our potpie debate. We’ve often talked about whether a pie with a crust or a “slippery” potpie is “real” potpie, but we haven’t talked about the people who eat the slippery version but call it chicken-and-dumplings. Thoughts on that?
And since we last talked about this dish, I had yet more feedback to share, too. Continue reading
My name is Joan and I'm a lifelong Yorker. Throughout high school and college, I swore I was getting out of here as soon as possible. Now, a few years later, I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be. I love my town. And, as a local editor, I hear every day how much you love your towns, too. So please, connect with me and let's share what makes life in York County great. I'm here to help you enjoy this place as much as I do!
