Welsh's Store in 1902 With Dollar Bible Sign.

I still don't understand why some people get upset when notices are published or signs posted in English and another language, usually Spanish nowadays. They seem to think that English is the only language all of us should use. If public notices hadn't been bilingual in Pennsylvania in the past, the ancestors of a great many of the people complaining wouldn't have known what was going on.

A few months ago I listed the publishers of York newspapers in 1837, with more German than English editions. Click here to read that post.

Below are a few more examples, illustrating the prevalence of the German language in York County for over 150 years.

Posted in 1700s 1830s 1840s 1870s 1900s Bibles German language Manheim Twp. Spanish Universal York York County education schools

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (1)

Every now and then some people get all bent out of shape because they think there should be no accommodation for anyone that doesn't speak or read English. Perhaps they should stop and think that their own ancestors might have been out of luck if that was the case in York County in the 1700s and 1800s.

A few weeks ago I quoted some expenditures from the 1837 York County Budget, as it was printed in the York Gazette. Click here to read about Commissioners salaries and fox scalps.

Which language did your family read and speak in 1837?

Posted in 1830s German language Universal York York County local government newspapers

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

One hundred twenty-five years ago people were a lot more passionate about their politics. A November 1882 Gazette article recounts a “DEMOCRATIC DEMONSTRATION AT RED LION.” Imagine the following spectacle today:

Posted in Democrats German language Red Lion Universal York history men organizations parades people politics

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)