About this blog
As a local historian, writer and photo- grapher, I look at York County’s history in visual terms. For more than 15 years I’ve been enamored with local buildings and the stories behind their facades – from prominent architecture to non-assuming buildings, their walls and roofs are filled with stories just waiting to be told. Whether giving a downtown York walking tour, exploring the history of a local building for my job at the Nutec Group, or taking photos for an upcoming coffee table book, I’m always looking for those unique “windows” into York County’s past and present. — Scott Butcher
Monthly Archives: October 2007
Cannibalism in our Midst?
In celebration of the Halloween season, here’s a bit of dark history from York’s past. Today the site of the York County Judicial Center, the southeast intersection of North George Street and Philadelphia Street was once the site of the … Continue reading
Posted in 19th Century
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Historic House Open This Weekend
Do you love historic architecture? If so, this Saturday offers a rare glimpse to take a trip back in time to the days when York County was still part of Lancaster County. Historic York, Inc., a local non-profit dedicated to … Continue reading
Posted in County Buildings, Events, German Architecture
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William C. Goodridge Freedom House
After years of planning, the William C. Goodridge Freedom House & Underground Railroad Museum is coming closer to reality. Construction on the first floor and rear courtyard is underway – though more funds are needed to complete the construction on … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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William Goodridge & the Underground Railroad
In the span of 25 years, William Goodridge went from a young slave in Maryland to one of York’s most prominent businessmen. He grew from barber to entrepreneur, expanding his business, purchasing new properties, and starting new ventures. For a … Continue reading
Goodridge House to Become Museum
One of the benefits of my day job with the Nutec Group is that I sometimes have the opportunity to become involved with local projects of historic significance. Such is the case with the home once owned by William C. … Continue reading
Ghosts to Benefit Goodridge House
If it is October, it must be time for ghost tours in downtown York. This year, the William C. Goodridge Freedom House & Underground Railroad Museum will be getting in on the fun, offering Downtown York Ghost Tours on Friday, … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Researching Local History, Part II
In the last post I responded to a query about researching York County history by beginning a list of reference books – many that are recent and readily available at the Museum Shop of the York County Heritage Trust or … Continue reading
Posted in Research & Books
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Researching Local History
At the conclusion of the Leadership York downtown walking tour earlier this week, one of the participants asked about where to find books on York history. A similar question about local history book recommendations was posted by Cindy Hoke. If … Continue reading
Posted in Research & Books
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Walking & Talking with York’s Leaders
Last evening I had the opportunity to participate in an annual autumn tradition – one that doesn’t involve football, tailgating, leaves, or pumpkins. The tradition? Leading the new class of Leadership York’s Leadership Training Program (LTP) on a walking tour … Continue reading
Posted in City architecture
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Preservation is Everyone’s Business
This Sunday Historic York, Inc. will be holding its annual Historic House Tour, minus the houses. Instead, the organization adopted the theme of “Preservation is Everyone’s Business” to promote the importance of historic preservation within a business context. The downtown … Continue reading
Posted in Events
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