May 2008 Archives

On May 15, 2008, Historic York, Inc. held its annual meeting and preservation awards at the historic Schultz House in Springettsbury Township. Six county projects were recognized for preservation efforts that accurately rehabilitated and preserved their historic appearances.

Preservation award winners for 2008 include:

Christ Lutheran Church, which received an award for their steeple restoration project in downtown York.

Tom and Anne Brown, who were honored for restoring the 18th century Peter Wolf House at 4415 West Market Street in West Manchester Township.

Dorgan & Zuck, contractors who were recognized for their efforts toward the Renaissance Redevelopment project on the 300 block of East Princess Street in York.

Dover Area Historical Society, which received an award for relocation and reconstruction of a collapsed blacksmith shop to Alda Ketterman Park in Dover.

First Presbyterian Church, which was recognized for restoring the belvedere on top of the Billmeyer House on East Market Street in York.

John and Jean Leaman, who were honored for restoring the beautiful Victorian home at 505 Linden Avenue, now known as the Lady Linden.

Though the efforts of these individuals, institutions, and companies, York County continues to enjoy the unique sense of place only possible through preserving our historic architectural fabric.

For information on Historic York, please visit www.historicyork.org.

Two press releases from Historic York, Inc.:

YORK CELEBRATES ‘THIS PLACE MATTERS!’
Citizens in York, Pennsylvania will join thousands of individuals around the country as part of a nationwide celebration of 2008 National Preservation Month in May 2008. “This Place Matters" is the theme of the month-long celebration, which is sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Since the National Trust created Preservation Week in 1971 to spotlight grassroots preservation efforts in America, it has grown into an annual celebration observed by small towns and big cities with events ranging from architectural and historic tours and award ceremonies, to fundraising events, educational programs and heritage travel opportunities. Due to its overwhelming popularity, the National Trust has extended the celebration to the entire month of May and declared it Preservation Month to provide an even longer opportunity to celebrate the diverse and unique heritage of our country’s cities and states and enable more Americans to become involved in the growing preservation movement.

Here in York, Preservation Month 2008 will be observed with a series of community events and workshops. Historic York, Inc.’s Annual Meeting will include a special Keynote Address by Scott Butcher of NuTec Design. Mr. Butcher, who is also an author of local history books, will speak about how historic buildings fit within the Green Building Movement. The meeting will be held on May 15, 2008 at the historic Johannes and Cristina Schultz House in Springettsbury Township. This historic complex will also be open for tours.

Historic York, Inc. will also present the Annual Preservation Awards to six very worthy preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration projects throughout the county. These awards represent some of the best, well-respected work in the area.

To RSVP to this special event, call Historic York Inc. 717-843-0320 or visit their website at www.historicyork.org.

I recently returned from a visit to the southwestern United States. Tucson, Arizona is a booming area with a modern, open downtown. Much like York – and many other places – Tucson is experiencing major sprawl. Where only four years ago barren desert and saguaro cacti stood, today they have been replaced by Home Depot and Circuit City and countless other retailers. Unlike York, however, the city limits of Tucson expand far beyond the city, so the tax base continues to grow.

Whenever I travel, I’m always attracted to the architecture. In Arizona, it was no different. Every place we went, I keenly observed the buildings around me. The architecture in the southwest is wonderful – cream adobe walls, red tile roofs, courtyards and plazas, etc. While you have to look hard to find a Spanish Colonial Revival home in York County (Elmwood has a few), you pretty much can look in any direction in Arizona and find the style. Add Mission Revival and Pueblo Revival, and you’ve just described about 90% of the buildings I observed. Certainly, there were a few modern, glass structures. But for the most part, the buildings were all the same. Don’t get me wrong – this added to the area’s charm.

But in York, we have such a diversity of architectural styles. Within a few blocks of Continental Square you can find everything from German Colonial and Georgian to high Victorian styles to modern and post-modern buildings. That is what makes York so unique. I’ve often referred to downtown York as an “open air gallery of architectural achievement,” and I think this diversity is not lost on visitors.