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: October 2007
Skinny dipping in the Codorus?
This photograph shows the Codorus Creek near Richland Avenue before flood-control efforts changed its look. A favorite swimming hole located downstream offered birthday-suit-clad bathers – and passengers on passing trains – a summertime thrill. Background post: What is the probability … Continue reading
Map explains York, Pa.’s $50 million Northwest Triangle redevelopment area
The Smyser-Royer building on York’s North Street will be restored under the Northwest Triangle plan. Other historic buildings slated for restoration include: the old post office building on Philadelphia and North Beaver streets and the Keystone Color Works building, Gas … Continue reading
Perrydale’s bovine: ‘She’s a wonderful, laid-back cow’
A cow at York Township’s Perrydell farm recently had triplets, a rare feat. But the fertile cow was outdone by a goat with quints some years ago. Background posts: Other cow stories: Boys, she’s a Confederate cow and The steer … Continue reading
York landmark Futer Bros. building in new hands
This building in York scraped the sky higher than any other in the mid-1800s. Bottom, John Hartman built a six-story building on the square’s southeast corner in 1850. Today, the Hartman Building stands, although three stories shorter. It’s known as … Continue reading
The Four YorkBloggers write
A fun part about blogging is reader reaction generated by the posts. A series of posts on this blog about White Oak Park, The Shady Dell and other hangouts attracted numerous comments on the blog and helped sponsors of a … Continue reading
Valencia Ballroom became cool place during Depression
The Lions state convention took place at York’s Valencia Ballroom in June 1938. This was typical of the scope of the gatherings taking place at the ballroom in those days. In addition to the dancing, the Valencia played host to … Continue reading
This Bury’s burger sauce comes from a can
This photograph ran in the York Sunday News right after New Year’s Day in 2000, and its caption noted that the last of the Bury’s 11 York-area restaurants closed in 1986. By that time, McDonald’s had sprinkled its restaurants around … Continue reading
Rebel Gen. John B. Gordon’s assault at Wrightsville: ‘One of the shells found its mark’
Lewis Miller captures Pennsylvania Gov. Andrew Curtin, left, standing in a carriage reviewing troops at York’s Camp Scott early in the Civil War. The camp, located at the old York Fairgrounds, South Queen and East King streets, served as a … Continue reading
Well-known doctor, York, Pa.’s Edmund Meisenhelder, beat back Spanish flu
An underground passage connected buildings at the old West Side Sanitarium, an antecedent of Memorial Hospital. Food and patients were shuttled through this passageway. Ruth Kammer wrote in “Inside West Side” that the tunnel occasionally served as home to an … Continue reading
Posted in Archives, all posts, Books & reading, Events, Local landmarks, People, Small-town life, War
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Mix ‘You know you’re a Yorker, if’ with oysters. You get…
Carolyn Miller, right, and Eleanor Lawyer coat oysters with cracker meal Thursday night in preparation for a November 2006, hogmaw and oyster supper at Dover Township’s Mount Royal United Methodist Church in Dover Township. Background post and hogmaw recipe: How … Continue reading
