About this blog
I've been editor of the York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News for 8 years and managing editor of the newspaper for 15 years before that. So, York Town Square explores the rapidly changing world of journalism. And I studied York/Adams' history in graduate school, have written six books about these fascinating southcentral Pennsylvania counties and serve on the York County (Pa.) Heritage Trust board. So, this blog deals with regional history. Often, journalism and history meet here. They're part of a continuum anyway. My hope is that this site intrigues readers on both accounts in giving a daily dose of journalism/history. Or history/journalism. Contact me at jem@ydr.com or become friends on Facebook or follower on Twitter, @JamesMcClure.
Monthly Archives: August 2006
Historians, journalists draw on work of forebears
Carl E. Hatch, the York County history professor, profiled in the last post (“York County historical community will miss Carl Hatch”), provided wonderful primary source material that researchers and writers will use for generations. It has been said that students … Continue reading
York historical community will miss Carl Hatch
The York County historical community lost a major contributor with the death this week of Carl Hatch. http://www.legacy.com/york/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=19051493 The former York College professor, who produced books of a national scope, also made several contributions to York County history. For example, … Continue reading
Civil War authors run York bookstore, too
Jim Lewin and Pam Farrow’s York Emporium touts 250,000 books. But they’ve added two new books for customers to read, the Civil War books: “Witness to the Civil War, First-Hand Accounts from Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper” and “How to Feed … Continue reading
York Safe & Lock faltered after founder’s death
This is the view of the wide stretch of the Susquehanna River from Highpoint, part of York Safe & Lock owner Forry Laucks’ Lauxmont estate. Easy access to the river from both the York and Lancaster county sides made the … Continue reading
York safes durable, beautiful
S. Forry Laucks’ name has appeared in several York Town Square posts, in part, because he was such a player in early 20th century York County. His legacy includes: – Harley-Davidson uses part of his York Safe & Lock plant … Continue reading
York turned its eyes to Joe DiMaggio
During the week, James DeBord directs YorkCounts. At home, he goes to baseball games with his son and joins with his 8-year-old in collecting baseball cards. Anyway, in pursuit of that hobby, he found out that Joe DiMaggio was a … Continue reading
The unsolved York County mystery of locomotive No. 1689
The Heritage Rail Trail County Park has taken over part of the old Northern Central Railroad right of way through the heart of York County. At one time, trains ran on still-existing tracks alongside trail users. (The only vehicles regularly … Continue reading
York County’s rail trail spawns intriguing tales
The linkup of the county rail trail with York is only about seven years old, but already there’s a lot to talk about concerning the 20-plus-mile-long path through the heart of York County. http://ycwebserver.york-county.org/Parks/RailTrail.htm Here’s some miscellaneous meanderings that might … Continue reading
Jubal Early heard booming of Battle of Hanover’s guns
There’s good evidence that ear-witnesses could hear Battle of Gettysburg fighting in Delta, 60 miles away. Another moment in which Civil War fighting could be heard in York County involved the Battle of Hanover on June 30, 1863. Confederate Gen. … Continue reading
Gettysburg fighting heard about 60 miles away
It was one of those wonderful gold nuggets that make reading so wonderful. Jack J. Jones was writing about the Welsh slate miners who settled in York County’s southeast corner in the Harford Historical Bulletin (Summer 2001). He included an … Continue reading
