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: September 2006
York’s worst blaze struck 150 years ago
Fear of fires has been with York County residents since buildup in small towns brought houses close enough together for a minor blaze to turn major. Fire officials particularly cautioned against chimney fires from the build up of soot and … Continue reading
Presidents visit York, alive and via funeral trains
York’s use of a superstition — the hiring of a rainmaker — to combat a drought is just one of many notable anniversaries from York’s past in 2006. (See “Rainmaker’s visit indicated much awry in York” post. A few others … Continue reading
Posted in Abe Lincoln was here, All presidential stops, American Revolution, Archives, all posts, Civil War, Cops & courts, Events, Explanations/controversy, Famous York visitors, Fires & firefighters, Local journalism & Web, Local landmarks, Pain & trauma, People, Small-town life, War, York celebrities
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Plaid facade linked to Springetts cleaner’s roots
Ever wonder why the commercial building on East Market Street in Springettsbury Township has a long plaid strip along its façade? I’ve wondered about that for years and finally posed the question to the right person. Make that people. …
Old York newspaper won’t die or fade away
Not surprisingly, The Gazette and Daily in York shows up, albeit briefly, in Myra MacPherson’s “All Governments Lie! The Life and Times of Rebel Journalist I. F. Stone.” http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=1&pid=520115&agid=2 Stone, the famed independent journalist, and J.W. Gitt, the noted Gazette … Continue reading
York County lawmaker fought to aid the blind
Karen Emenheiser, visiting our newsroom this week, discussed the fact that she was visually impaired, classified as legally blind. It is unusual to talk with a candidate for public office — she’s on the GOP ticket for 95th legislative district … Continue reading
Rutter’s store offers snapshot of change in York County
A provocative mark of change in York County surrounds the Rutter’s convenience store on Lightner Road in Manchester Township. That Rutter’s spread is on company land, originally settled by Jacob Rutter and Nathaniel Lightner in 1747. On the hill behind … Continue reading
Milkman’s relic humming around York County today
Paul Kuehnel of the York Daily Record/Sunday News has produced a video showing an operational old-time gas/electric Rutter’s Daily milk truck. That truck, seen nowadays at the York Fair, aided in milk delivery years ago. More recently, the last-known milkman … Continue reading
Roy Rogers took York County stage, but not alone
Shorty Fincher’s Valley View Park played host to the likes of Hank Williams Jr. and Sr., Porter Waggoner, the Osmond Brothers, Kitty Wells and the Harmonica Cats. Some performers who traveled to the eastern York County venue were in their … Continue reading
Declaration of Independence signer James Smith gains moment of fame
James Smith, York County’s Declaration of Independence signer, is scarcely known in his home county, let alone in other states. So it’s intriguing that the University of Delaware named a residence hall after the man who spent most of his … Continue reading
It’s no Ripplet, but Spring Grove area gets weekly
History is repeating itself in Spring Grove this week. From 1897 to 1922, the Ripplet, a newspaper published each Friday, circulated in the Spring Grove area. Starting Friday, the York Daily Record/Sunday News’ will include news from Spring Grove in … Continue reading
