Ten died in an Aug. 10 industrial accident 100 years ago. The York Rolling Mills explosion appears to be the worst industrial accident in York County's history. Background posts: 1908: 'Boiler Explosion At York Rolling MIlls Kills 9 Men; 20 injured' , Freight locomotive 'telescoped' runaway Stewartstown Railroad car and York County lawmaker fought to aid the blind.

When Jumbo crosses paths with York County history, horrific things happen.

One example came when Jumbo, a traveling circus elephant, fell ill. A account of that memorable night is found in the York Town Square post: The day Jumbo screamed in North York - Elephant story Part II

The other recorded episode involving Jumbo came 100 years ago, when a boiler so named exploded at an industrial site, York Rolling Mill, near the Codorus Creek.

We pick up Teresa Boeckel's account in a York Daily Record/Sunday News story (9/7/08) here:

Posted in Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Made in York Pets & animals York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

This image reflects themes from the upcoming documentary "Home," a documentary on York,Pa., and its new baseball stadium, Sovereign Bank Stadium. The film will premier in York at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25 at York College, followed by a question-and-answer session with producer Brian Plow. Background posts: York had Brooks Robinson statue. Where's Baltimore's, Season 2 of York's long comeback campaign and New baseball diamond serves as York cornerstone.

Filmmaker Brian Plow is bringing together the wide-ranging topics of baseball, economic development and those displaced by York's new stadium in an upcoming documentary.

The producer, a Towson University film professor, spent hours in York researching these themes.

York College's Humanities Film Series will be the vehicle to introduce the documentary called "Home." ...

Posted in Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local landmarks York Town Square York sports

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

President Lyndon B. Johnson visit to Dallastown in 1966 was a high point in Dallastown's history. Here, Lady Bird Johnson greets some of those who turned out for the Dallastown centennial. A museum honoring the borough's past is set to open Monday. Details: 244-8217. Background posts: LBJ: In small towns, girls are fonder; dinner pails fuller, Bomb group seeks Cameron Mitchell's WWII info and Speeding trolley cars drew criticism.

Dallastown is known for Lyndon B. Johnson's visit in 1966. It was boyhood home of famed actor Cameron Mitchell.

That's where noted sculptor Lorann Jacobs has her studio.

And it was a stop along road from York to Peach Bottom, accommodated rumbling trolley cars and received a spur of the Ma & Pa Railroad.

And it was founded, in part, on the strong hands of basket weavers. But more on that in a second... .

Posted in Events Explanations/controversy Famous York visitors For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Nostalgia & memories Presidential stops Small-town life York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Carroll Swam of New Park is helping disassemble an old log house in the southern York County borough of Shrewsbury, one historic piece at a time. Background posts: York County's landscape, buildings, landmarks can serve as a classroom, How to accurately restore a historic home and Facts don't support wide house door to admit coffins.

A landmark Shrewsbury log house is slowly coming down.

That is the third option involving such a historic log home, disassembler Carroll Swam says. Carefully dismantle it and recycle the parts.

The first and preferred option, the York countian says, is to restore a home. The second is to move it.

This particular 200-plus-year-old structure could not be saved... .

Posted in Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Nostalgia & memories People Small-town life York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

The origin of the narrow gauge that lays behind this sign is up in the air. The term narrow gauge often refers to railroads - often branch lines - whose tracks were closer together, thus supporting smaller locomotives and reducing construction costs. Background posts: Ma & Pa rabbit trains: 'I hope they thoroughly hosed out the cars.', York County railroading: 'Something that gets into your blood' and Northern York area strawberry part of Neapolitan county.

Bob Burns (burns@nfdc.net) is 59 years old and has lived on Narrow Gauge Road in southern York County all his life. And he's not aware of a railroad ever running in that area.

An e-mailer - a railroad enthusiast - raised the prospect that the road took its name from an old railroad as described in the York Town Square post: : Is mystery railroad the old Shrewsbury narrow gauge?... .

Posted in Explanations/controversy Farms & fields Genealogy/research Local landmarks Mail bag Nostalgia & memories Small-town life Wheels of York York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Students watch the Electric Map at the former Gettysburg National Park Visitors Center in its final months of operation. Background posts: Gettysburg's vaunted Electric Map to soon stop blinking, Gettysburg Cyclorama, with new shape, set for Sept. display and Shrink wrapping in Electric Map's future; Gettysburg tooth heads south.

The Electric Map, so familiar to visitors of the old Gettysburg National Military Park Visitors Center, is collecting dust in its familar room awaiting the carving knife and storage.

That is, unless one of several groups that have asked about this Gettyburg artifact successfully acquire it.

Seems like this is the last opportunity for someone to acquire it for public use before it is sawed into sections and mothballed... .

Posted in Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Nostalgia & memories School days Small-town life York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Publicity associated with York's East Market Street Parking Garage upon its opening in 1969 pointed to its modern amenities. An often overlooked feature of the garage is its lobby fountain. Here, Linda Oatman and Brad Smith examine the fountain after it was vandalized in 2004. Today, the fountain is dry. Background posts: Don't know much about York County history? - Part II, Stetler Dodge transition indicative of other York-area changes and For decades, York's underground comfort stations spelled relief.

Downtown York boasts of an artifact of history that points to another artifact.

A reader of my recent York Sunday News column (It's not striking, but blocky parking garage tells a story of York) added to the discussion on York's East Market Street Parking Garage.

He noted that an interesting sign is on the building located across from the parking garage on the northeast corner of Duke and Market streets... .

Posted in Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Mail bag Unsung/obscure sites Wheels of York York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

York County produced several Civil War generals, including at least one for the South. Johnson Kelly Duncan of York County finished fifth in his West Point class of 1849. Background posts: York has produced its share of high-ranking naval officers, Naval Reserve officer, a York High grad, to become admiral, York native to captain new carrier USS Bush and Gitmo second in command hails from York County.

Fellow blogger Scott Mingus has uncovered a little-known Union general with York County links - Brig. Gen. Jacob G. Lauman.

Lauman's lack of local acclaim may result from his undistinguished war record fighting in the Union Army in the West... .

Posted in Books & reading Civil War Explanations/controversy Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web People War York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

This Schultz House datestone has drawn much scrutiny in recent years, as the construction date of this Springettsbury Township German farmhouse has been questioned. The disputed date is across the top. Background posts: A virtual photo tour - and an actual tour - of York County's vintage Schultz House, Old Schultz House might be younger than its datestone, Camp Security combines history, beauty.

Some architectural sleuthing has set as clear of a date for construction of the Schultz farmhouse as York County has seen thus far.

The date was long established as 1734 or at least somewhere in the 1730s. Recent research has suggested it could have been constructed as late as the 1750s.

Fellow history blogger Scott Butcher has posted a datestone update, based on the review by a preservationist from western Pennsylvania... .

Posted in Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

The area around the former Highland Park in West Manchester Township also has been called Smoketown, one of several such locales in York County. Highland Park was an electric park, designed to attract trolley riders on weekends. Background posts:
Carrie Nation in York: 'If you keep smoking those things ...', Growing off-peak trolley ridership in York County: Build a park and Pinchgut vs. The Gut.

How many Smoketowns are there in York County?

That question came to mind in putting together the recent post: This Smoketown now rests on York County lake floor.

I didn't know about that Smoketown.

I was aware that the South Central Pennsylvania Genealogical Society's "Gazetteer of York and Adams Counties" lists two: ... .

Posted in Books & reading Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Small-town life Wheels of York York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

The Mason-Dixon Trail passes over Highpoint, in this view to the south. It extends to Havre de Grace, Md., and Chadds Ford, Pa. Background posts: Private, public interests built Lake Marburg for manufacturing, recreation, http://www.yorkblog.com/yorktownsquare/2008/04/york_safe_7_lock_1920.php and Lauxmont breeds queries of great import - or little .

With all the controversy over Lauxmont Farms, it's easy to overlook the offerings of the county park that's emerged - Highpoint.

Highpoint Scenic Vista and Recreation Area is the official name of the 79-acre park.

Here are a few of its features, other than that view of the Susquehanna River, according to the York County Parks newsletter: ...

Posted in Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Local journalism & Web Local landmarks York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (1)