What will be the Fate of the Cow Weathervane?

“Pfaltzgraff Outlet” Barn along Whiteford Road in Springettsburg Township, York Co., PA (2013 Photo by S. H. Smith)

There are three large roof ventilators on the former “Pfaltzgraff Outlet” Barn along Whiteford Road in Springettsburg Township.  The center roof ventilator is topped by a cow weathervane.  With the impending demolition of the barn, what will be the fate of the cow weathervane?

When Pfaltzgraff remodeled a former Avalong Farms Barn for use as a pottery outlet, did they re-use the original cow weathervane?  If so, how old is that weathervane?  This weathervane is on the smaller of the two barns originally on the Avalong Farms site.  This post takes a look at these two barns.  Related posts include:

• Meadowbrook Estate in Springettsbury Township, Part 1; Edwin B. Myers, his Family and his Businesses
• Meadowbrook Estate in Springettsbury Township, Part 2; Edwin Myers’ 458-Acre Estate nearly stretched to Tilden

The following 1971 aerial photo at the intersection of Whiteford Road and Mt. Zion Road in Springettsbury Township shows several of the prominent structures on Avalong Farms.  Most people know that the Meadowbrook Mansion, part of Avalong Farms in 1971, is now Christmas Tree Hill.

1971 Aerial Photo at the Intersection of Whiteford Road and Mt. Zion Road in Springettsbury Township, York Co., PA (From Penn Pilot web site of Historic Aerial Photos of Pennsylvania; Annotated by S. H. Smith 2013)

Some people will remember there were two big barns east of the mansion.  The front barn, closest to Whiteford Road, was struck by lightning and burnt down.  This was the larger of the two barns; it was where one purchased Avalong dairy products prior to the opening the Avalong Farms Dairy Bar at the corner of Whiteford Road and Mt. Zion Road in the mid-1950s.

Close-Up of Cow Weathervane on the top of “Pfaltzgraff Outlet” Barn along Whiteford Road in Springettsburg Township, York Co., PA (2013 Photo by S. H. Smith)

The smaller of the two Avalong barns, although still of substantial size, was located behind the main barn; this is the barn Pfaltzgraff remodeled for use as a pottery outlet.  This is a close-up of the cow weathervane presently on the top of that barn.  This smaller barn is in existence at least back to 1937, per a Penn Pilot Historic Aerial Photo taken November 25th 1937.

Does the “Pfaltzgraff Outlet” Barn go back even further to the ownership of Edwin Myers?  In the early 1900s, Mr. Myers was the owner responsible for the expansion of Meadowbook Mansion to its present stately appearance.  Within my weekly count down of the 50 top factories in York County at the end of 19th Century, in future posts you will see that businessman Edwin Myers owned two of these factories.

In the Friday March 1st issue of the York Daily Record, it was reported that approval has been granted by the Springettsburg Township Board to construct a new Susquehanna Bank at the site.  The aging, former “Pfaltzgraff Outlet” barn will be torn down before the construction of the bank.

1937 Aerial Photo at the Intersection of Whiteford Road and Mt. Zion Road in Springettsbury Township, York Co., PA (From Penn Pilot web site of Historic Aerial Photos of Pennsylvania; Annotated by S. H. Smith 2013)

In the Sunday March 3rd issue of the York Sunday News, it was reported that Susquehanna Bank determined the barn was constructed in the 1950s.  I’ve added the Penn Pilot Historic Aerial Photo taken November 25th 1937 to this post, to prove the “Pfaltzgraff Outlet” Barn was definitely constructed prior to 1937.  This barn may have been built in the early 1900s, when Edwin Myers was assembling large acreage in the vicinity of his Meadowbook Mansion.

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