Variety Iron Works from 1868-69 city directory at York County Heritage Trust

I am glad to see that some of the remaining buildings of the Smyser-Royer Variety Iron Works complex are part of York City’s Northwest Triangle redevelopment project.

One of my York Sunday News columns outlined the metamorphosis of the company from a small stove manufacturer to a huge fabricator of mill gears and turbines; garden benches, fountains, and statuary; cast iron buildings fronts; light posts; lacy iron railings, such as the famous ones in New Orleans; iron bridge parts; and much more. You can read that column below.

Then I just came across an article in an 1867 York Gazette that added even more variety to the company’s products.

Posted in 1840s 1850s 1860s 1880s 1940s Universal York York City architecture buildings industry iron manufacturing steam power

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One hundred and twenty-five years ago there was excitement in Glen Rock, according to an article in the Glen Rock Item, which was reprinted in the York Gazette of November 28, 1882.

A new steam engine had arrived to bring York County agriculture into the automated age. According to the tone of awe in which the article is written, this might have been one of the first steam engines in that area. It certainly seems to have been the first traction steam engine, one that could move under its own power, ever seen climbing the hills of Glen Rock, as the following description attests:

Posted in 1880s Glen Rock Universal York agriculture industry manufacturing steam power transportation

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