Camp Security to be Preserved

Posted on May 11, 2012 by june lloyd

Correspondence between General Washington and British General Carleton about removing Revolutionary War prisoners from Camp Security and other camps at the end of the war, 1783. (Original at the U.S. National Archives.)

I am so glad to hear the good news that the Pasch property (also known as the Weist farm), a vital part of the original tract on which Camp Security was located, is going to be preserved. Camp Security is the last remaining undeveloped Revolutionary War Prisoner of War camp in the U.S.

Many thanks are due to the Conservation Fund, Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Springettsbury Township Supervisors and Friends of Camp Security, all working together to make conserving this vital part of national and local history a reality.

A lot needs to be done yet–immediate fund raising to ensure future preservation, additional archaeological explorations and documental research, but having the land official preserved is the necessary first step.

For background, click this link for my previous Camp Security posts.

Posted in 1780s, Camp Security, prisoners, Revolutionary War, Springettsbury Twp., Uncategorized, Universal York | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Horn Farm Center–Good Example of History and Future of York County Agriculture

Posted on May 8, 2012 by june lloyd

Aerial view of Horn Farm, circa late 1950s (Leonard Leiphart)

Thanks to June Evans for sharing the history of the Horn Farm Center for Educational Agriculture with me, as well as these old photographs of the site. See the captions for more identification and attribution.

A portion of the eastern part of the present farm goes back to Christian Crowl in 1736 and part the western section to Joseph Sultzbach, 1747, so settlers wanted this valley land even before York County was established in 1749. Other names associated with the tracts over its history include Strickler, Ruby, Rudy, Kline and Loucks.

The farm was deeded to York County in 1981 by the family of David E. Horn, in his memory. The Horns had owned the land and kept it a working farm from the time they acquired it in 1946.

Several centuries of farming will be interpreted at the center, starting with the Native Americans in the 17th century. A European settler’s log house with kitchen garden and early crops will showcase the 18th century.

The present house and auxiliary buildings, with summer kitchen and working squirrel tail oven and garden already showcase 19th century progress. A planned orchard will feature the York Imperial apple, commercially developed by Jonathan Jessop, but allegedly first discovered on a Kline property near Hallam.

Part of the farm is now utilized as an incubator farm, for those starting out in agriculture. Some of the produce grown there will be on sale Wednesdays and Saturdays at the farm stand on the property, beginning May 19.

One of the most popular programs, and right on track with the current trend, is community gardening. There are 102 garden plots available, and all are taken for 2012. If you are at all interested in growing your own fresh vegetables, the farm manager is taking names for a waiting list for next year.

Having been born on a York County farm and being an advocate of local history and of farmland preservation, I am pleased to see the progress being realized by the Horn Farm board, manager and dedicated volunteers.

See more photos below: Continue reading →

Posted in 1730s, 1740s, 1940s, 1980s, agriculture, apples, farming, food, Hallam, Hellam Twp., Indians, markets, Native Americans, Universal York, vegetables, York County | Tagged , | Leave a comment

York WASP comes home

Posted on May 5, 2012 by june lloyd

Reineberg window at St.Mary's Catholic Church

One of my posts not too long ago contained a link to the story of Mary Reineberg Buchard, a young podiatrist from York. Mary had developed a love for flying small airplanes locally, so when she heard about the World War II WASP (Women Airforce Service Program) she realized she could combine her passion with aviation with service to her country.

Mary closed her practice and joined the 1,100 other women who spent many hours in the air, ferrying aircraft and testing planes, freeing up male pilots for combat. Only fairly recently have these women been recognized for their service.

Mary passed away in California a few months ago, and yesterday, along with her family and friends, I attended her memorial service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in York, the church in which she grew up and was married. I never had the privilege of meeting Mary, although I know some of her family members. I also share in the pride that her story is one of many of remarkable local women who made a difference, even in the days when their exploits were not the norm.

On a beautiful spring day, light was shining down through the window above–the right panel of which is inscribed “Gift of Edward Reineberg.” Edward was Mary’s grandfather, the founder of Reineberg’s shoe store 135 years ago. There’s a story there too–Edward Reineberg was a young Jewish Yorker who fell in love with, and later married, Mary Helfrich, whose German Catholic parents had come to York in the first quarter of the 19th century. Edward converted to the Catholic faith and became one of the pillars of St. Mary’s congregation.

(Mary Helfrich Reineberg’s father was prolific York cabinetmaker and undertaker Nicholas Helfrich. Some of his account books, tools and furniture are now in the collections of York County Heritage Trust–more on Nicholas Helfrich and his furniture later.)

Posted in 1940s, Air Force, airplanes, cabinetmakers, Catholics, Jewish, Universal York, World War II, York County | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

News from Yoe

Posted on May 2, 2012 by june lloyd

In the late 19th century and well into the 20th century, York newspapers had stringers in just about every small community throughout the county. These local people reported on church, school and social happenings. I mentioned before that my aunt was the Gazette and Daily stringer at New Bridgeville, Chanceford Township, so our Sunday dinners together sometimes ended up in the paper.

I think the community reporters were paid by the inches of copy reported, so they didn’t miss a lot. For example, see below for the December 15, 1899 Yoe news of the week from the York Press: Continue reading →

Posted in 1890s, bakers, Chanceford Twp., firemen, newspapers, Universal York, Yoe, York County | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

York’s Bee Hive for style in the nineteen-teens

Posted on April 29, 2012 by june lloyd


In my York Sunday News column few months ago I wrote about the wealth of local history you can find in City Directory Collection at York County Heritage Trust. The advertisements alone paint a picture of how our families lived and how they spent their hard-earned wages. The directory references often send me to the newspapers on microfilm at YCHT to see what else I can find on the subject. Sometimes it works the other way around.

This time I tracked down The Bee Hive, a downtown York store that I have been hearing about for years. The ad above, from a 1915 York City Directory, gives us an idea of the variety of clothing and dry goods they sold. Below is a much more detailed advertisement from the April 20, 1912 York Gazette. I especially like the flamboyant hats, and what woman could resist a bargain in: “We have the best 50¢ Corset made… .”

Why had I heard of The Bee Hive? Continue reading →

Posted in 1910s, Chanceford Twp., children, clothing, directories, fashion, retail stores, shopping, Universal York, York City, York County | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Escaped steer causes York turmoil

Posted on April 25, 2012 by june lloyd

Can you imagine droves of cattle on Market Street? That was evidently a fairly common sight a hundred years ago. According to the June 18, 1907 York Dispatch article below, excitement ensued when one steer cut loose:

STEER ON RAMPAGE ENTERS BARBER SHOP
West End Tonsorial Artist Interrupted While Shaving a Patron–Animal Tied Up Street Car Traffic.

A steer, belonging to a herd that was being driven to the slaughter house of a local dealer, got away from its driver yesterday shortly before the noon house and started to make things lively in the West End. The animal escaped from the drove in the vicinity of West Market and Penn streets. In wild bounds he dashed down North Penn street frightening children and pedestrians. Continue reading →

Posted in 1900s, animals, cows, Universal York, York County | 1 Comment

What is wrong with this York tombstone?

Posted on April 21, 2012 by june lloyd

Dr. Benjamin Hoover and his committee have been very busy researching all aspects of the history of York’s First Presbyterian Church in celebration of the congregation’s 250th anniversary. They have made some interesting finds, such as the unusual date on the tombstone above.

Was there something different about the year 1846? Or did the stone cutter just not know the rhyme “Thirty days hath September… ?”

A check of the microfilm of the York Republican newspaper at York County Heritage Trust shows that 1846 had the usual number of days, no special leap day in June.
Continue reading →

Posted in 1840s, cemeteries, churches, Presbyterians, tombstones, Universal York, York County | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

York County Links with the Titanic

Posted on April 18, 2012 by june lloyd

York Gazette--Titanic Disaster

There has been a lot of coverage of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster this week. As with many events, there usually seems to be some kind of York County connection. There are several local ties to the Titanic story. Some have been known for years, but more seem to be appearing all the time.

No York County people went down with the ship, but there was at least one York County couple that was to be on board.

A deed to the Small family mansion was on the ship, and happens that the grandson of the builder of that house was the vice-president of the company that built and owned the Titanic. It was he who got the call with the official news of the tragedy, and he was also the focus of the Congressional hearings held shortly after the disaster.

Three years later, in 1915, a York native was a star expert witness against the steamship line during a liability trial, testifying how the ship’s construction led to the sinking of the ship thought unsinkable.

Finally, the last survivor of the accident, 70 days old at the time, became friends with Yorkers late in life and visited here several times.

See below for my recent York Sunday News column to see who these people were and find out their role in this historic and tragic event:
Continue reading →

Posted in 1910s, accidents, disasters, rescues, ships, travel, Uncategorized, Universal York, York County, York Township | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Funding York’s Penn Park’s 1912 Improvements

Posted on April 14, 2012 by june lloyd

Penn Common 1908 or before


quoted anA recent post quoted an April 1912 York Gazette article on planned improvements for York’s Penn Park/Penn Common. A slightly earlier view on the postcard above, sent in 1908, shows an already impressive scene. A huge fountain is in the background (more about that later) and the lofty Civil War monument, then surrounded by a circle of real cannons, is in the foreground.

The article continues with some of the things the park commissioners wanted to have done and some proposed costs. The commissioners were worried that the park budget might be cut. It reads:
Continue reading →

Posted in 1910s, entertainment, government, mayors, parks, Universal York, York City, York County | Tagged , | Leave a comment

York County connections to the Conestoga Indian Massacre

Posted on April 11, 2012 by june lloyd

I enjoyed an interesting talk this evening at the Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area Zimmerman Center. Lancaster County journalist Jack Brubaker talked about his recent book Massacre of the Conestogas: On the Trail of the Paxton Boys in Lancaster County.

I have done some reading on the massacre of the 20 men, women and children who were the last known Conestoga Indians, and I am anxious to dig deeper into this book. The first half dozen were surprised and murdered by the Paxton Rangers on December 14, 1763 at their village in present day Manor Township a few miles from Susquehanna River, just east of Turkey Hill. The site, near the intersection of Indian Marker Road and Safe Harbor Road, is marked by a modern blue and yellow historical marker as well as one of the older brass plaques mounted on a large rock.

After the killings, the other fourteen, who had been away from the village, were lodged in the workhouse next to the Lancaster jail, supposedly for their safety. On December 27, the Paxton Rangers entered the workhouse and slaughtered all the Indians. No one was ever brought to justice.

Of course, there are York County connections. First, these Conestogas were the remnants of the once-numerous Susquehannocks who occupied the last two Native America sites in York County. Those sites, at Long Level in Lower Windsor Township, have now been preserved. Click here to read my previous York Sunday News column on the Susquehannocks in York County.

Another connection:
Continue reading →

Posted in 1760s, Adams County, crime, Indians, Lancaster County, Native Americans, Susquehanna River, Universal York, York County, York Springs | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment