January 2008 Archives

Katharine Beecher Candies has moved its decades-old manufacturing plant from Manchester to Cumberland County. The owner and namesake was one of the top businesswomen in York County in the 20th century, and her accomplishments will be part of an upcoming course of county history. Background posts: Katharine Beecher: 'Legacies,' Part I and York author's works adapted to the big screen: 'Legacies,' Part Last.

Question 1: This York countian's sculpture brought $23.6 million at auction in New York.

Question 2: This woman was so sweet her candy circulated to all parts of the world.

Question 3: This York countian met a friend 3 different times on 3 different beaches in the South Pacific in World War II. Who was the York countian and who was the friend?

I used these three questions (answers below) to introduce a course I will be teaching on famous people from York County [...]

A Gettysburg tour guide acts out part of a ghost story in the summer of 2006. National Park Service and Gettysburg officials are addressing the growth of the ghost tour industry on or near hallowed ground. Background posts: If you want to see the Murals of York up close ... and Could York bus drivers also point out historic sites? and '... A shadowy figure of a hoop-skirted woman...'

Those capitalizing on the Gettysburg paranormal trade are running into tough embargoes.

Real history isn't enough for some in Gettysburg. They invent ghost stories and then sell it on and around one of the nation's most honored places ... .

The library in noted architect J.A. Dempwolf's former South George Street residence is filled with detail. Wooden shutters for the inside of the windows retract out of sight
when not in use, hiding the craftsmanship in the body of the window itself, just as one example. Background posts: Market House No. 4 - Central Market, York's most popular
and City directory first step in finding history of a house.

Brothers John A. and Reinhardt Dempwolf's architectural work included York's Central Market House, Penn Park Victory Monument, Fluhrer Building and the former Bon-Ton Department Store.

They have different looks but came from the same design benches at the Dempwolf firm in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Simply put, the two brothers singlehandedly gave York's skyline a varied look.

Which makes one wonder what about the touches John Dempwolf gave to his own residence at 701 S. George Street in York... .

The Rev. Leslie Lawson, friend of Dr. Martin Luther King, retired after 23 years of service at York's Small Memorial AME Zion Church in 1992. Background posts: Mildred and Russell Chapman, Part I, Roy Borom, Part II, Gladys Rawlins, Part III.

The Rev. Leslie Lawson was jailed with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1962.

When reaching York in 1969, he immediately acted as a peacemaker during the race riots that summer.

"He invested his talents in the marketplace of human needs," a bishop said in eulogizing Lawson at the pastor's funeral in 1998... .

Gladys Rawlins demonstrates the Green Circle Program. It is used in some York County schools. She is buried in Lebanon Cemetery in North York. Background posts: Mildred and Russell Chapman, Part I and Roy Borom, Part II

Gladys Rawlins is internationally known as the founder of Green Circle, the educational program that promotes racial understanding.

But it's not as widely known that she stayed in York County for extensive periods and is buried here... .

Skiiers pass the boarded-up-tight Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center during the blizzard of 1996. This blizzard dropped up to a yard of snow in York County. The blizzard of 1993 was just about as severe. Background posts: York County's top 10 news stories in 2006 and One-room schools evoke multiple memories.

Memories of the York County blizzards of 1993 and 1996 are posted at http://ydr.inyork.com/ydr/remember as part of a audio/video/newspaper series on poignant moments in personal, local and national history.

The York Daily Record/Sunday News and its Web site will collect oral histories from Vietnam and World War II vets, among other memories... .

Roy Borom became executive director of Crispus Attucks Association in 1968 during a transition moment for the organization. Background posts: Mildred and Russell, "Black History Profiles, Part I and Mattie Chapman, "Legacies" Part IIII.

About a dozen people attended Roy O. Borom's swearing on York's City Council in 1974.

Borom is believed to be York's first black city councilman. He had come to York as head of CA six years before... .

Dover native and internationally known artist Jeff Koons presented a lecture of his work at York College in 2002. That talk accompanied a display of some of his famed work. Background posts: Jeff Koons' sculpture brings record for a living artist's work and Dover's/Packers' John Kuhn: 'He is able to grasp things very quickly'.

Some celebs with York County roots leave and never return to perform or display the fruits of their talents in their hometown.

So, it's refreshing to see Sam Freed and David Masenheimer agreeing to perform here as part of the York Little Theatre and York Symphony Orchestra's rendition of Stephen Sondheim's "Follies" on March 8.

Dover's Jeff Koons came back, too... .

This 1927 Wurlitzer theater organ, upper left, can rise from a lower level to of the Capitol Theatre to stage level, just as in the old days. It is still used to provide music and dramatic sounds for silent movies. Movie theaters like the Captol operated in many towns in York County in the 20th century including Hanover, Stewartstown, New Freedom. Small theaters in Glen Rock and Dallastown still operate. Related posts: Black soldiers from York County served in 'Glory' unit - Part II, Little-known facts about Hex murder trial emerge and Miss Saigon's York County connection.

The Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its most recent renovation this year.

That $17.3 million rehab project included a remake of both theaters that make up the complex, an addition of a balcony in the Strand and installation of a chandelier from a Hanover theater at the cost of $30,000.

This anniversary brings back memories of event marking the previous grand renovation of the complex - in April 1980... .

This central hallway in the Sheppard Mansion is the first thing visitors see in entering this downtown Hanover landmark. Notice the Oriental rugs and mahogany stairway. Background posts: Why is Hanover Country Club in Abbottstown? and Wiki profiles eight with national status bearing Hanover roots.

Hanover Shoe Co., the venerable maker of footware since 1899, actually opened their first retail store in York.

H.D. Sheppard and C.N. Myers started Hanover Shoe Co. with the notion that they would make footwear and then market it through their own retail stores... .

Crispus Attucks Community Center's Mildred Chapman told girls that they should care about the way they looked. 'You can be poor,' she said, 'but you don't have to look bad, or smell bad.' She and her husband, Russell W., (see photo below) were among the top leaders in York's black community in the middle of the 20th century. Background posts: Thackston Park area connects to York's past and Civil rights heroes stand out at Bradley exhibit.

Everyone in York's black community - heck, everyone in York - knew Mildred and Russell W. Chapman... .

Lewis Burns is seen with some of his birds in one coup among 12 filled with racing pigeons on property in the east end of York. Background posts: Birds gone, rehabbed steeple stands and Marine and his military dog meet 60 years later

Pigeons have long flown across the pages of York County's history books.

Passenger pigeons formerly populated what are called the Pigeon Hills - or is it Pigeon or Pidgeon Hills?

York County homing pigeons aided the Allies during World War II... .

A plaque now tells the story of Marine Sgt. Pal, cannonized in this statue on West King Street near the rail trail in York. Background posts: Marine and his dog meet after 60 years and Rail trail ribbons criss crossing York County.

A plaque installed last year near the statue of Pal, a member of World War II's Dogs for Defense, answers a key question: Did the local German shepherd survive the war?

Katharine Haviland-Taylor wrote more than 20 books of light fiction, and actors such as Marion Davies, Lionel Barrymore and May Robson performed her work. She was one of 50 women achievers in York County honored by AAUW in 1984. (See complete list of other achievers below). Histories attempt to fill blanks in women's, black history and York County Civil War hero grandmom of Gore Vidal.

For the past 5 years, the Daily Record/Sunday News has been updating the bios of women profiled in AAUW's "Legacies: Remembrances of York County Women."

We're at it again this year, choosing a handful of the 50 women on the roster of the 1984 booklet and making their bios current and available to the public.

So far, we've published five of their bios here, in addition to today's look at Katharine Haviland-Taylor: ...

With a dramatic leap over a small stream, Jeb Stuart escapes a Union patrol during the Battle of Hanover. His cavalrymen later rode through the heart of York County in an attempt to link up with Gen. Robert E. Lee before the Battle of Gettysburg. Scott Mingus has written a detailed account of Stuart's raid through York County in the current issue of Gettysburg Magazine. E-mailer queries about Confederate invasion and Jubal Early heard the booming of the Battle of Hanover's guns.

Cannonball blogger Scott Mingus has again revealed York County's Civil War history to a national audience.

In the recently published issue (No. 38) of "The Gettysburg Magazine," his "J.E.B. Stuart Rides Through Dover, Pennsylvania" explores the Confederate cavalry chief's raid through York County's heartland before the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.

Mingus is at the top of the pack in explaining York County's rich Civil War involvement to the rest of the world, an effort that's long overdue.

See if Mingus' lead, beginning with the Battle of Hanover, doesn't pull you into the drama of a miles-long column of thundering horsemen riding through the county in the middle of the night:

The York Little Theatre and York Symphony Orchestra trace their roots to the Depression era. Here, Charles Budesheim's Symphonic Orchestra plays at the Valencia in 1931. According to the York Symphony Orchestra's "75 Years" book, many members went on to play in the York Symphony. Background posts: Many national stars first performed on YLT's stage, Musicians hawked tickets for first YSO concert and Stand-in stole the show in YLT's "Inherit the Wind." .

A joint York Little Theatre/York Symphony Orchestra production of Stephen Sondheim's "Follies" brings together several historical connections.

In an e-mail, YLT's Bob Hildebrand ticked off several historical links to the March 8 performance at Penn State York's Pullo Family Performing Arts Center:

Finding relics around Gettysburg was common in the post-Civil War years? But finding artifacts of the the Battle of Hanover, site of 300 casualties? Blogger June Lloyd tells about one such find in: Civil War Confederate Sword Plowed Up in Hanover. Background posts: The four bloggers write, Skinny dipping for web readers and Best of yorktownsquare.com, 2007 .

York County's other three local history bloggers regularly come up with surprising findings about the county's past.

Here are some examples of some topics from June Lloyd's Universal York, Scott Mingus' Cannonball and Scott Butcher's Windows into York that may enlighten and intrigue local history enthusiasts:

P. Joseph Raab presents a fruit basket to Richard Nixon during the former president's visit to his namesake park. Voni B. Grimes is seen next to Raab, and John Hope Anderson is pictured at left in background. York County parks seeking mementos and President Buchanan's fall reflected his presidency.

Voni B. Grimes remembers Richard Nixon's late-1980s visit to the Jacobus county park that bears his name.

He recalls seeing strange men among the trees of the park's trails - Secret Service agents - during the former president's 45-minute stay... .

Someone mentioned to Nixon that Grimes' own name appears on a building - the Voni B. Grimes Gym in York... .

Paul Schenck, right, takes on a protester on this July 10, 1992, Life cover. The nationally known York County resident heads the National Pro-Life Action Center (NPLAC), an advocacy group in Washington, D.C. Background post: York County 1st Amendment case list grows.

Since 2005, York County has been the home of well-known pro-life advocate Paul Schenck.

Schenck moved his family from Washington, D.C., to less congested, less expensive Manchester Township.

He now lives in a county in which the primary pro-life organization, Human Life Services, has its headquarters in a former abortion clinic... .

John Adams was in York in that crucial winter of 1777-78. But where was Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and George Washington? Background posts: John Adams changed mind about York, Who were those congressional visitors to York, anyway? and Declaration signer's marker mounted in obscurity.

A Philadelphia Inquirer story on the fact that only half of Thomas Jefferson's 20,000 letters have been published prompted a good question.

A York Daily Record/Sunday News staff member wondered: Did Thomas Jefferson write any letters from York as part of Continental Congress in the winter of 1777-78?

The short answer is: Thomas Jefferson wasn't one of the 64 members of congress meeting in York from Sept. 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778... .

This artwork was the header for a York Corporation poster detailing employees serving in the military in World War II - and those who died. This was distributed in "Shop News," a newsletter for employees at home and in the military. The right part of the header stats that 991 men and women had served to date. The six stars indicated that six employees had died in uniform. Background posts: Zercher, I, Zercher II , Zercher III and 'Little Johnny' called for Allies in World War II.

York's factories kept employees up to date about those who were serving in uniform in World War II and those who had died.

No one did it better than York Corporation, previously known as York Ice Machinery and later as Borg-Warner, York International and Johnson Controls York.

But Yorkco could not keep up with a fast-moving war... .

Kendra McChalicher of Windsor Township's Commerce Bank answers calls in front of the mural at the bank branch. The mural is a colorized photo of the Red Lion Ma & Pa train station taken in 1917. It shows people saying goodbye to men leaving to fight in World War I. (See additional mural below). Background posts: Civil rights heroes stand out at Bradley exhibit and Murals of York, revisited.

Commerce Bank's murals of meaningful York County scenes are well-known to customers.

And now others know about the colorized photographs on the walls of the banks that are tied to the part of the county where each branch is located... .

Robert W. Zercher's name appears in this prestigious honor roll of Americans who died in World War II while stationed on British soil. The names of other York countians might be in there, too.
Nazis murdered ... Part I and Nazis murdered ... Part II .

For years, St. Paul's Cathedral in London has displayed a roll of honor bearing the names of Americans serving with the Canadian, British and United States Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice while enroute to or while stationed in the United Kingdom.

It also includes those members of units permanently based in the United Kingdom who made the supreme sacrifice between D-Day and VE-Day.

The name of Robert W. Zercher, the downed airman from York County who was executed by the Germans, is inscribed. Perhaps the names of other York County fighting men are on the honor roll, too... .

Dorothy Kaspar listens as Butch Reigart of Columbia reads from 'Der Haahne Greht,' a book of Pennsylvania Dutch poems, during a Pennsylvania Dutch language class at Dover Township's Providence Place in 2006. Reigart will be teaching a similar class at the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. Dutch vs. English? York County debate still perking in 1920s and German or English? Churches disputed language

"Recapture a piece of your Pennsylvania German family history. Learn to speak with your Amish and Mennonite neighbors."

So says a release from the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society about an upcoming class on the Pennsylvania German language.

"Learning the 'Dutch' language you will better understand and appreciate the warm and colorful Pennsylvania German culture that is a hallmark of Lancaster County, in general, and of its Plain People, in particular."

The release could have said York County, too... .

Blaw-Knox Special Ordnance Division employees mug for the camera in 1944 in a rally to raise morale - and production - during World War II. The Navy sold the plant to American Machine and Foundry in 1963. Today, Harley-Davidson occupies the plant. 'Hog' label linked to Harley for 80-something years and 'Harley's Journey a Good Ride'.

AMF - the forerunner of Harley-Davidson in York - is back in the news.

The Brunswick Corp. bowling pin manufacturing plant in Antigo Wis., is closing.

That leaves QubicaAMF in Lowville, N.Y., as the last manufacturer of bowling pins in the United States... .

York Mayor John Brenner mans a machine that is knocking down part of Weaver's Auto Body on North Beaver Street. The building was partially demolished as part of groundbreaking ceremonies for the Northwest Triangle project this week. Background posts: Map explains York's $50 million redevelopment area and Skinny dipping in the Codorus?

Now that groundbreaking for the $50 million Northwest Triangle Project is out of the way, contractors will spend months cleaning up the soil contaminated in the largely industrial section of town.

In his "Skinny Dipping in the Codorus," Raymond Sechrist gives a glimpse of one contaminating industry in that region at the turn-of-the-20th century.

It centered around William Gerber's coal yard on both sides of North Water (Pershing Street) and touched on a long-passed way of life: ...

John Burke Jovich meets former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey in 1972. Background posts: President Buchanan's fall reflected his presidency, LBJ: In small towns, girls are fonder; dinner pails fuller and Presidential visit No. 1: Mr. Reagan goes to Harley.

John Burke Jovich has met eight American presidents so far.

And that's not all.

Here is another feat listed by this student of the presidency who lectures, writes and consults on the presidency and who calls York home: ...

York County's Sgt. Robert W. Zercher, a gunner for a B-17 Flying Fortress in World War II, survived a crash landing but could not escape the cruelty of his German captors. For a full account about this downed airman, with appropriate kudos to researchers Jim Marsteller and Annette Tyson, helping to locate it, see below. Background posts: World War II in York County, by the numbers, York County historical war deaths top 1,000 and York County's World War II sacrifices .... part last.

More information has surfaced on Robert W. Kercher, the downed airman from York County executed by the Nazis in October 1944.

A bare-bones story of how the Nazis then posted a sign saying "Terrorist" on Kerchner's body was related in a previous York Town Square post... .

Bob Reineberg is servicing customers of the now-closed Rapid Shoe Repair of York. Reineberg, whose family is synonymous with shoes in York, is doing this as a favor to the former owner of the South George Street store. Background posts: 'It's something you can't experience at a store in the mall' and Landmark Futer Bros. building in new hands.

The close of Rapid Shoe Repair at 201 S. George Street represents more than just another closed downtown retail business.

Times are changing.

At one time, people would have had their shoes repaired. Today, they just throw them away or park them on a shelf... .

Members of the Jewish Community Center participate in the lighting of the first candle to recognize the beginning of Hanukkah in December 2006. "The Six Million" sculpture can be seen at rear. Background posts: Holocaust sculpture a York County must-see and Images capture hope for racial harmony.

Did you know? ...

- That before its move to Hollywood Drive, the Jewish Community Center met in the former YWCA building at 120 E. Market Street York.

- That building had a rooftop playground. ("You can tell you're a long-time member of the Jewish community if you thought the East Market Street rooftop playground area was the neatest place in town," Gordon Freireich, 2000.)

Founder A.B. Farquhar (in portrait) appears to be overseeing the sale of his 95-year-old company in 1951. William J. Fisher, seated, Farquhar president, and his son, Edward H. Fisher, sold the company to Oliver Corporation. Farquhar executives cited the difficulty of independent medium-sized companies trying to do business through depressions, wars and war threats. Other York County companies also started selling to large, out-of-town interests in those years. Interestingly, the trend today is not only to sell to larger, out-of-town companies but then some of that work is moved not only out of town but out of the country. Background posts: York County agrarianism vs. industrialization, Part I and York's western gate: One image says so much.

Around York, community service organizations are concerned about where leadership - and funding - will come from after a group of aging philanthropists who have made things happen for years pass on.

In a York Sunday News column, I explored options and even named names, taking a long historical detour along the way... .

The Menges Mills Market is a throwback to old York County. There, customers can still buy fresh, custom-cut meat. The market has also played host to a famous customer - Richard Nixon. York County parks seeking mementos (see a picture of Nixon at the park) and What did Richard M. Nixon and Tiny Tim have in common?.

York countians long remember Richard M. Nixon's visits here... .

York City Firefighters work to save the art deco facade of the AAA building on East Market Street in York. Fire was confined to the overhang of the structure in this 2000 fire. The bright neon facade and rotating sign is a York landmark. Most recently, Peoples Bank occupied this now vacant architecturally significant building. (See view of full facade below.) Background posts: Coca-Cola out in Springetts... self-storage space is real thing and York's housing stock not that revolutionary.

York Sunday News columnist Gordon Freireich provided a reminder in a recent piece about the many art deco buildings dot York-area streetscapes.

He pegged his column on the announced renovation of the Coca-Cola building along East Market Street. The uncovered entrance area gives away its art deco design under its siding... .

The caption for this newspaper photograph tells the story. Penn Grove Camp at Smith Station in southwestern York County attracted Billy Sunday and other popular evangelists to audiences numbering in the thousands. (See photograph below of the road, now abandoned, as it appears today.) Since 1999, the restored campground has played host to day campers and retreats for church and community groups. Background posts: Billy Graham: 'I do remember him being here and what a thrill it was', Retiring pastor: 'I'll miss the people' and Tomb of unknown soldier in York, too.

Penn Grove Camp, host of hordes of campers in its heyday, sits somewhat forgotten in southwestern York County.

Parts of the camp have been restored (see story below), and it still operates as a day camp... .

This AP photo shows Eric Volz, right, riding in an ambulance after being released from prison in Managua in December. A Nicaraguan court overturned Volz's 30-year sentence and freed him. Volz had been sentenced for his role in the death of Doris Ivania Jimenez, 25. A Diplomatic Security agent with York County roots saved Volz from a mob after unrest followed word that he had been freed. Other York County heroes: Nazis murdered downed WWII airman from York, York County Civil War hero grandmom of Gore Vidal and 'Chaplains: The Calm in the Chaos'.

All trails do, indeed, lead to York County.

Even from Nicaragua.

There, the Eric Volz case has evoked mob violence. Volz has been released from prison after being charged in the murder and rape his ex-girlfriend.

Volz was at risk of his life until Michael Poehlitz, special agent with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Susquehannock High School grad, stepped in.... .

Calvin Weary, drama teacher at York's William Penn High School, portrays William Johnson in an upcoming Discovery Channel documentary about the Gettysburg Address. Background posts: York County has its own Lincoln photo debate., Goodwin cites York countian's story to tell about Gettysburg Address and Abe's smallpox story has been told before.

Calvin Weary is making York proud by landing the part of William Johnson, a black man who travels with Abraham Lincoln, in a Discovery Channel documentary.

And that's just not because he's another local person starring nationally on the big or little screen... .

The York Gospel Center, which brought Billy Graham to York in 1940, operated Penn Grove Camp for years. There, evangelists preached in the open air, and families took an annual vacation. In this photo, campers talk outside a cabin in the early 1900s. Background posts: Retiring pastor: 'I'll miss the people' and German vs. English ... York churches disputed language.

The York Gospel Center was the York-area's best known non-denominational church from about 1940 to the early 1990s.

Non-denominational meant that it was not affiliated with the predominant Protestant churches mostly with German backgrounds so apparent for decades in towns throughout York County - Methodists, Lutherans and United Churches of Christ.

As such, the Gospel Center drew attention and developed a large congregation... .

Larry Katz, pastor of Grace Fellowship church in North Codorus Township, is pastor of one of York County's largest churches. He plans to retire but has yet to determine a date. His church is an indicator of the suburbanization of the county. Background posts: Christ Lutheran is oldest York church - but how old? and Sandpaper Sisters rubs readers right way.

Larry Katz, retiring pastor of Grace Fellowship and one of York's best known ministers, has led two historic York County churches.

He was pastor the the Gospel Center in the late 1980s. That Leader Heights church was one of the first - perhaps the first large suburban non-denominational church - in the York area... .

Workers face a detailed job of shingling the Colonial Courthouse replica on West Market Street. The roof has been there for 31 years, since the courthouse was built. Background posts: From York, Pa. to inside the beltway, politicos got no friend, The first capital of the United States and Display marks how York County courthouses evolved.

It's a debate that captivated local history afficionados in 1975.

Was the orginal York County Court House, that revered place where Continental Congress met in 1777-78, square or rectangular? ...

Dave Bupp, right, and Buddy King, members of the homegrown soul band The Magnificent Men, are shown at their induction into the William Penn High School Hall of Fame in 2006. Bupp graduated in 1960, and King, in 1965. A trailer for a documentary on the group can be viewed below. Background posts: Memories about 'The Oaks' pile up and Del-Chords continue to jar memories.

Last post, we focused on the fact that anything about one-room schools causes local folks to want to know more.

An equally fascinating topic - perhaps for a different generation - are the lives and times of the York rock group The Magnicent Men... .

Readers love to talk - and write - about one room schools. Here, Pat (Grove) Goodling of Dover sent this photo of her class in Chanceford Township's Clearview School in 1951. She attended the school for seven years. Her teachers through the years were Evelyn Johnson, Lowella McLaughlin and Pauline Trout. 'I have a lot of good memories of my school years at Clearview,' she said. Pictured are, front row from left, Joyce Walker, Judy Runkle, Joan Waltemyer, Elaine Miller, Robert Miller, John Tallarico, David Miller, David Markle, Perry Enfield and John Walker; and back row, Goodling with Carolyn Walker, William Runkle, Frank Tallarico, Robert McDermott, Earl Miller, Max Enfield, Florence Markle and Betty Tallarico. The teacher, Lowella McLaughlin, is also pictured. Background posts: One-room memories flow from readers fingertips, West Manchester book contains valuable gold coins and York County's, Wellsville's one-room schools, by the numbers.

Few topics capture the interest of local history enthusiasts more than the topic of one-room schools.

In fact, the York Daily Record/Sunday News created a Web section All in one room for readers to share their stories and photographs... .

And they're doing so in great numbers, as evidenced by the following samples:

American Machinery and Foundry, best known to York County as occupant of the former York Safe & Lock factory after Naval Ordnance Plant and before Harley-Davidson, started in Hanover and became an international company. Its first plant was located on East Middle Street in Hanover until it burned down in 1903, leaving a ruin shown here in this August 1967 AMF newsletter. Background post: From Bofors to bikes, Harley plant top hog, Where was the arsenal on Arsenal Road? and Glen Rock marked site of AMP/Tyco's first Pa. plant.

AMP, now Tyco, opened its first Pennsylvania factory in Glen Rock.

AMF started in Hanover. It became best-known as the owner of the former York Safe & Lock plant, which later became Naval Ordnance Plant. Among other products that AMF made at its new plant after 1974 were Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

And AMF had a plant in Glen Rock, too

AMF and AMP in the same town.

Imagine trying to explain to relatives a change in job from one to the other... .

York Catholic girls' basketball player Megan Stewart, facing, leaps into the arms of teammate Kelly Rhein during the postgame celebration at Gettysburg Area High School in March 2007. Catholic girls went on to win the state championship. Background posts: Who is rightful owner of area boys' basketball scoring record? and Lineup full of sports stars with York County links.

York Catholic girls' success on the basketball court has people all over Pennsylvania scouring the record books.

The state champs' target appears to be 68, and it took some digging in Philadelphia Public League vaults to arrive at that... .

Theresa Maciejewski's Capital Self Storage is building storage units in the former Coca-Cola Bottling Company building in Springettsbury Township. Background posts: Plaid facade linked to Springetts cleaner's roots and Bottle-shaped autos rolled around York County.

The landmark Coca-Cola building along East Market Street (Route 462) in Springettsbury Township will get some new fizz this summer.

Capital Self Storage is renovating the familiar structure and installing storage units.

Uses of buildings suggest changes in how industries operate and people live today...

The lobby of the Arthur Hufnagel Public Library of Glen Rock plays host to an unsung, off-the-beaten-path museum. Local collectors John 'Otts' Hufnagel, Terry McFatridge and Roger Butz and historian Don Swartz created an exhibit that displays letters, bills of sale, calendars and items from former businesses. 'I really like these old pictures of Glen Rock. I grew up in New Freedom so I don't remember a lot of these buildings, but I think it's neat to look at them and figure out where they were,' Lee Cook said. Cook, at left, and Jay Miller look at the display in 2005. Background posts: Former York County CCC camp now on map and The unsolved mystery of locomotive No. 1689.

Everyone in Glen Rock knew Willis Rohrbaugh.

The handyman at the Glen Rock post office carried bags from the train station to the post office starting in 1955.

Sometimes the train didn't even stop but slowed enough for someone to throw the mailbags in Willis' direction. And occasionally, two trains would stop at once, giving Willis double the work.

When the Sears & Roebuck catalog came in, he would haul up to 12 bags at once.

All this for $15 a week... .

Jacob Iati has signed his national letter of intent to play Division I men's basketball at North Carolina's High Point University. Background posts: 71-year-old basketball player returns to home court and Susquehannock grads make national news.

When York Catholic's Jacob Iati passed the 2,000-point mark in December, the question surfaced again about who owns the leading point total in YIAA basketball history... .

Panels of the Cyclorama painting, seen in the new Hunt Avenue visitors center in Gettysburg, await the stitching that will close the gaps. Background posts: Shrink wrapping in Electric Map's future and Restored Cyclorama heading to new home.

Imagine stitching 14 panels in a 377-foot painting that stands 42 feet high.

And further imagine that the painting would not be flat against the wall - as it's been for decades - but bowed in the middle, resembling its original hourglass shape.

That's the job facing restorationists dealing with the painting at the new Gettysburg Cyclorama location.

Wikipedia lists several luminaries hailed from Hanover, including Academy Award-winning costume designer Ann Roth. Background posts: Actor John Baer among achievers in York High's Class of 1941 and And now starring actor ... Jakie Devers?

About 90 people with links to York have gained a national profile as listed on Wikipedia, the Web's free encyclopedia, number about 90.

A similar search for those in the national spotlight from Hanover comes in at eight.

But many luminaries are missing... .

One way to learn about York native Rear Admiral Samuel Rhoads Franklin is to read a biography of his brother, William Buell Franklin. Mark Snell's authoritative "From First to Last," brings in Samuel at several points. Background posts: York native to captain new carrier USS Bush and F-14 TomCat navigator's name, aircraft in museum and York County holds three links to the ill-fated Titanic.

June Lloyd pointed out in a recent York Sunday News column that land-locked York County has contributed several high-ranking naval officers in its history.

She profiles the previously unrecognized Rear Admiral Richard Morgan Watt Sr. (see below) and mentions Rear Admiral Samuel Rhoads Franklin... .

Rick Hohmann, president of the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides, works on Little Round Top in 2007. Background posts: Gettysburg Cyclorama gets first full of funds and Gettysburg's Electric Map blinking in finale season.

Things are changing around the battlefield in Gettysburg.

A new visitors center is soon to open, meaning the old one will close.

The famed cyclorama is moving. The Electric Map will be crated up and put in storage.

Each proposed change has attracted fresh controversy... .

John High removes a wooden peg from a barn in Manchester Township. His Lancaster County-based company is also dismantling the best-known of area barns - Star Barn in Dauphin County. Background posts: 'It's so sad to see such a great piece of architecture fall down' and York County boasts of agricultural prowess.

It looks like the Star Barn, that Dauphin County landmark so familiar to York countians traveling to Harrisburg International Airport, won't be re-located to York County.

The York Daily Record/Sunday News even urged in an editorial that the preservationist group that owns the Star Barn move the barn to the Horn Farm, site of a future ag museum.

The Horn Farm's barn burned some years ago, taking away a key asset at the proposed museum... .

Chantel Tremitiere of the Indiana Fever moves the ball upcourt against the Sacramento Monarchs in 2000. She is listed among 90 people from York cited for their achievements on Wikipedia, the free, self-selecting, or public-selecting Web encyclopedia that readers update. Post on other York achievers: Sol and Brooks lead long York County sports parade and Dominick Argento at top of York A & E hall of fame.

Some may remember my discovery outlined in a post some months ago that star BMX rider Kevin Jones (Dorkin' in York box set features Kevin Jones) has York roots.

I discovered that on Wikipedia under the category - people from York.

I check that occasionally and either see someone newly posted or a national figure I missed before... .

Terry Cox leads other members of the Glen Rock Carol Singers in their annual Christmas stroll around the streets of Glen Rock in 2004. Background posts: Legendary Glen Rock Carolers to publish history and Glen Rock singers salute English caroling custom.

The revised edition of the history of the Glen Rock Carol Singers bears all kinds of interesting information.

And it answers a question I've long wondered.... .

The memorial at Kain Park dedicated to victims of alcohol-related accidents was rededicated in 2003, after the original memorial ran out of space to display the names of victims. This post marks a new category on York Town Square: Unsung/obscure county sites.' Posts on other memorials: Holocaust sculpture a York County must-see, Images capture hope for racial harmony and American War Mothers' gesture overlooked.

As excited visitors head to the paddleboats at Kain County Park, the memorial marking victims of alcohol-related accidents can be easily overlooked.

It shouldn't be. If all 54 names inscribed since 1980 were to die in one disaster, it would make international news. These victims mostly dying in vehicular accidents spread out over 28 years unfortunately create barely a stir... .

Reed Quickel of York Township enjoys Christmas carols played by the steam whistle at the New York Wire Co. in 2004. The songs came from the customary daytime practice session prior to the early Christmas Day factory steam whistle concert. As a point of interest, notice that the famed whistle is not located on the highest tower at the company. Background posts: A-Bomb: 'We must guard its secret wisely,' and Musical factory whistle drowns out N.Y. Wire's WWII feats.