A recent query on the York Town Square blog asked about the location of York's first town hall, which is perhaps a mystery (though many early town meetings were held in the first Court House in Centre Square).

Most of us are familiar with the current York City Hall, which stands along West King Street and was constructed in 1941 in celebration of York's 200th anniversary.

Only the long-time Yorkers, however, can identify where the prior city hall was located. The building in this postcard no longer stands. However, it was at one time a carriage house along South Duke Street. After being converted into a city hall, it was later expanded. Below is a brief description from my book, Postcard History Series: York:

The Guardian Trust Company was incorporated in 1903 and purchased property at the southeast corner of Market and Duke Streets for use as a bank. To the rear of the property stood a large stable, which was enlarged for use as City Hall. Subsequently, Guardian Trust purchased an adjacent property and expanded City Hall.

Posted in 20th Century City architecture Government Buildings

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The Metro York project to promote regionalization and sharing of services among York City, surrounding townships and boroughs, and school districts, was born with the recognition that we need to strengthen our urban core and the realization that we’re “all in it together.” Urban expert David Rusk chronicled the problems and opportunities facing our core municipalities in the Rusk Report and Rusk Report II. But the recognition of these issues is not new.

Recently, while doing research, I stumbled upon this article from the February 5, 1925 York Dispatch:

What Are York’s Greatest Needs for 1925?

EXTEND CORPORATE LIMITS

By Donald H. Yost

“What are York’s Greatest Needs in 1925?” Generally speaking, York’s needs are doubtless similar to those of practically every other modern American city of like size; their relative importance being to a great extent, purely a matter of personal opinion.

York, however, possesses one peculiar and greatest need, and that is an extension of its corporate limits. With little land remaining unbuilt upon within its present restricted boundaries, the encroachment of business upon the former residential sections has driven many of York’s citizens to exile in the surrounding boroughs and townships. This situation has prevented York showing the substantial gain in population which other factors indicate should exist; and, unless conditions are remedied, it is not at all inconceivable that the next census may show an actual loss.

As the standing of a city is rated largely by its percentage of growth in population, it follows, under present conditions (paradoxical as it may seem), that the greater York’s industries become, the more its reputation will suffer.

No efforts should, therefore, be spared during 1925 towards the actual realization of a “Greater York;” for in the case of municipalities, as in fact all things, when growth ceases, retrogression commences.

Posted in 20th Century

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