May 2008 Archives

William C. Goodridge, a former slave who became a respected York businessman, was an influential 19th-century figure in York County. He is on a short list of top newsmakers in York County in the past 250 years. Background posts: List of luminaries from Dover lengthens, How come so few in York know about S. Morgan Smith?, Samuel Small tops community contributor list.

On Sunday, we'll post a sampling of 25 of York County's most influential residents. Actually, there are 26.

The suggestions came from members of the public, York Daily Record/Sunday New staff and the newspaper's editorial board.

As a warm up, we post here a list from "Never to be Forgotten" of a group of 30 influential residents from York County's past... .

Youth group members and others from Jewish Family Services helped veteran Jerry Cohen plant flags on vets' graves at the Jewish cemetery, south of York, before Memorial Day this week. The passing of time has left Cohen as the lone member of the local Jewish war veterans post. Background posts: 'Chaplains: The Calm in the Chaos', People of varying religious groups founded York County and Holocaust sculpture a York County must-see.

An AP report before Memorial Day reminded the world that World War II vets are dying at a rate of more than 1,000 a day.

About 2.5 million WW II vets are alive today, down from 16 million at war's end, the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates.

"I think that's low now," said Martin Morgan, historian for the World War II Museum in New Orleans of the number of vets dying each day. "But judging by the passing of the World War I veterans, we're predicting they will all be gone by 2020."

In York County, just one example of the passing of the Greatest Generation comes from the local post of Jewish WWII vets ... .

The Red Lion (Pa.) Grange Hall, background, stood at Cape Horn Road and Lombard Street for years, but lost its battle to surrounding sprawl about five years ago. It still serves as a bell weather of change in York County. Background posts: Mother Goose teaches York County, Pa., lessons, Property rights foundational factor in Lauxmont dispute - 19/20 iconic photos and Horn Farm: 'A very special living history memorial to those hardy ancestors'.

The now-demolished Red Lion Grange Hall has fascinated me for years as a symbol of change in York County.

It was a case of the county's long-held agrarianism battling unchecked development. Its demise five years ago signaled which side is winning... .

The York Daily Record/Sunday News has produced several special Web and print publications, including a York County Women's History section. (Allow extra time for it to load.) See below for links to other projects. Background posts: A short test of your women's history knowledge, A short test of your black history knowledge and 20 questions and answers to prove your York County smarts, Part III.

Check out some of these new Web sites from the York Daily Record/Sunday News and inyork.com guaranteed to appeal to history and news junkies:

Notice the stained glass window in this photo of what is believed to be a one-room school. Perhaps that will aid in the identity of this unknown school. Background posts: No church/school conflict here: Manchester church to shore up deteriorating school, Reader identifies mystery building, Two tales of four schools teach about change in York County education.

Tammy Naylor of Yoe submitted this photo for publication in the soon-to-be-released York Daily Record/Sunday News' book on one-room schools.

Trouble is, she found it in a book she acquired at a yard sale, and she can't identify the school... .

The sparkling, renovated war memorial in Hallam reflects George Eyler, past commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 390, dedication services on Monday. Such monuments dot small towns across York County. Background posts: York County Vietnam marker funding at half-way mark; looking for more, Lorann Jacobs sculpts York County legacy and York on its knees as men hit the beach.

A favorite pastime of mine when I drive through York County towns is to search for the war memorial.

Most towns have them. Some have more than one.

Here are some leads on several such memorials and monuments:

Twenty members of YorkArts visited visit the studio of Dover native and internationally known artist Jeff Koons in early 2007. Koons, sometimes called the "Bad Boy of Art," center, lead the group on a two-hour tour. Background posts: Jeff Koons' sculpture brings record for a living artist's work and Jeff Koons, Part II and Othmar Carli: 'Restoration is much better than selling shoes to make a living'.

One piece of Jeff Koons' art brought more than $23 million at auction.

But the Dover native's New York studio produces scores of art pieces, big and small.

Koons is one of the most prominent achievers with York County roots playing on the international stage today... .

Renowned artisan Othmar Carli, a York, Pa. resident, talks with a student about holiday cards she is seeking to design in this 2005 photo. Background posts: Women's Club of York, Pa.: 'No one knew it really looked like this' , York Safe restoration 'once in lifetime' project> and Artist Jeff Koons came back to York for a show .

Austrian-born Othmar Carli is an internationally known artist, art restorer, teacher and sculptor.

And this Renaissance man calls York home... .

Proprietor Charles H. Seiker, right hand in his pocket, stands in the doorway of Young and Busser's Cigar Store, Continental Square, circa 1920. That's store mascot Punch on the ledge. This photo, with accompanying column on the popularity of the cigar store, appears in Jim Hubley's "Off the Record." The funeral for the longtime York (Pa.) Daily Record/ Sunday News columnist will be Sunday at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in York Township. Visitation will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. with the service afterward. Background posts: YDR columnist James A. Hubley: 'What I prefer is a simple, Jim', Kaltreider Library draws name from noted Red Lion cigarmaker and 'I still have my memories ... of the bustling downtown York business district'

Columnist Jim Hubley understood York County.

He knew, for example, that tobacco, cigarmaking and smoking are part of its culture. And he wrote about it.

He wrote in a 1989 column about Continental Square's Young and Busser's Cigar Store as a coming together place for York's men in the 1920s... .

The York, Pa.-based Spring Garden Band plays here at the rehabbed Farquhar Park bandstand in York. The 153-year-old group, with roots as a regimental band during the Civil War, will play at the bandstand again on Sept. 7. For a photo of the band in 1861, see below. Background posts: Long Level and Pleasureville fielded bands?, Community bands play on and Parade Music Prince Roland Seitz: From Shrewsbury to Friday Night Lights.

Members of what became the 87th Pennsylvania Regiment's band, the Spring Garden Silver Cornet Band, started playing together in a carpenter shop in Freystown, now the eastern part of York, in 1855.

In fact, the band's first cornet player was William Frey.

The band marched to war with the 87th in September 1861, and the U.S. Department of War discharged members in 1862.

A reformed band played on after the war, and plays around York County today... .

Jim Hubley's 1994 "Off the Record, York County Life Through a Newsman's Eyes" captures the longtime York (Pa.) Daily Record columnist's direct style. Hubley died Tuesday at the age of 93. The out-of-print book is available via the York County Library System, http://www.yorklibraries.org/. Background posts with Jim Hubley references or columns: I-83 lined out Melvin's swan song, 'Good grief, how long has that pool been here?', Baseball's Methuselah played for York, Pa.'s White Roses.

Since learning last week that York Daily Record columnist Jim Hubley was near death, I've been thinking about how to remember the man in a few words who had written so many in his 68-year career.

Then I remembered the introduction of his book "Off the Record" that I always felt typified his direct writing style, which typified this direct man.

So, I'll let Jim Hubley describe Jim Hubley:

Sculptor Lorann Jacobs' York County Vietnam Memorial will be constructed at the York Expo Center, with unveiling set for the fall of 2009. This is a model of the bronze figures. Background posts: York County historical war deaths top 1,000, Vietnam vets wall moves York countians and Peeking into Pa.'s attic.

Raising funds for a $300,000 York County Vietnam Memorial needs a boost from somewhere.

About half of the funds are raised for the Lorann Jacobs-designed monument set for the Carlisle Avenue side of the York Expo Center.

Similar Jacobs' monuments are in place for World War II (on Continental Square) and the Korean War (near rail trail on West Market Street).

So it's possible to build such deserved markers... .

Voni B. Grimes plays his trademark harmonica at a York Revolution game in the team's inaugural season in 2007. Background posts: Richard Nixon's visit to his namesake park sparks memories, At the blind center: 'The bees have been enjoying this garden, too.' and Articles of Confederation don't get no respect.

Borrowing from Time magazine, the York Daily Record/Sunday is compiling a list of York County's most influential people.

The names of philanthropic industrialists and businessmen no doubt will make the list.

Borrowing from Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point," I put forth in my Sunday column the names of two 'connectors' - Luther B. Sowers and Voni B. Grimes - for that list... .

Harvey Bradley studies the York, Pa., Bradley-made block that the hook will be hung from. These images, as well as other iconic photos in this series, will appear in the "Connections" section of the York Sunday News on May 25. (See the iconic farm image below.) Background posts: York, Pa. made big, heavy things - and was immensely proud of it, Bradley Lifting's boss Harvey Bradley: 'I'm 81' and Harley newsy in York: 3 strikes, 3 presidential visits, 300 jobs down .

Two more photos in York Town Square's series of iconic images - images that tell a story about York County and its history:

Harvey Bradley built his York company, Bradley Lifting, from scratch. He started with few resources, except perhaps the most important, an entrepreneurial spirit... .

Riders on York County's rail trail glide past the venerable Glen Rock Mill Inn. The mill greeted numerous luminaries passing through the southern York County town when the Northern Central Railroad operated. That included Abraham Lincoln on his way to and from Gettysburg and Lincoln's funeral train. Background posts: Parade Music Prince Roland Seitz: From Shrewsbury Township to Friday Night Lights, Is mystery railroad the old Shrewsbury narrow gauge?, 'Rocks in the Glen' turns into town where things happen

Glen Rock was a mill town from its earliest days and later diversified into furniture making, cigarmaking and a host of other manufacturing pursuits. AMP, the electronic connector manufacturer, opened its first Pennsylvania plant there.

But still, Glen Rock was a mill town... .

The noted artist Othmar Carli restored this fire-damaged painting in the Women's Club of York. The historic building will be featured in an upcoming issue of Spaces magazine, published by the York Daily Record/Sunday News. York County, Pa., civic, service groups fighting for lives, A short test of your York County women's history knowledge, York's Wonder Women: The stories of four more movers and shakers.

The last York Town Square visit to the Women's Club of York building told about its owners' plans to renovate the fire-damaged structure.

The owners have nicely tackled some of the main public areas, as the following story from "Spaces" indicates:

Built in 1929, Box Hill Mansion is one of York County's most noteworthy nods to the era of Georgian style. It was featured on the cover of the soon-to-be-published Spaces magazine, published by the York Daily Record/Sunday News. The mansion serves as the focal point for the exclusive Regents' Glen Country Club in Spring Garden Township. (See additional photo below.) Background posts: Glen Rock farm: 'You can not stay stressed here for long', How to accurately restore an old home, A virtual photo tour - and an actual tour - of York County's vintage Schultz House.

A story in an upcoming Spaces magazine gives a little-known fact about the Box Hill Mansion, now on the eve of its 80th birthday.

The brick mansion's walls are solid concrete, designed to control fire, according to the magazine... .

The Meadowbrook Mansion is pictured after renovations in the 1980s. Christmas Tree Hill now operates out of the former home of cigarmaker Edwin Myers and, later, the family of Clair Long. Background posts: From top dog and hot dogs to dogfight and dog days in York County, Pa., Before Geno's made news in Philly, Gino's headlined in York and Property rights foundational factor in Lauxmont dispute.

Clair Long remembers when his parents, Alva R. and Mary Long, lived in Springettsbury Township's Meadowbrook Mansion.

And he and his wife Jorene resided in another house on the farm. Borders Books stands today in the vicinity of Long's former living room.

He shared memories of his former 180-acre farm after reading about the Meadowbrook and its former grounds in the news. The saga of Mother Goose and her goslings made it to the front page. It was a story of a Canada goose trying to subsist among sprawl... .

Prospect Hill Cemetery display flags honoring members of the U.S. military killed in Iraq. The York County Heritage Trust has information on that Manchester Township cemetery and a host of other burial sites throughout York County. Background posts: Two York County, Pa., union churches vestiges of bygone era, Not all rebel wounded suffered at Gettysburg and Footballer Lenny Moore has strong roots in York and White Roses mark interstate's entry into York.

Someone posting on York Town Square's sister site The Exchange asked about a cemetery in the Shrewsbury area.

Speaking off the top of her head, Lila Fourhman-Shaull, the area's foremost cemetery sleuth and archivist at the York County Heritage Trust, believed the cemetery might be the Keeney burial ground.

But on the larger question of how you go about identifying such cemeteries, here's Lila's assessment: ...

Kaltreider-Benfer Memorial Library is known for a lot of quality public services, including its used book sales. The next Book Nook is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 17, at the Red Lion Country Club, formerly Copper Beech. But where does the Kaltreider come from in its name? This is part of a continuing blog series about the sources of names on the sides of York County's buildings.Grange Hall represented past way of York County life, Red Lion's Ebert Furniture: From bedroom suites to gunstocks and Red Lion's towering Fairmont Park off the beaten track.

Historian George Prowell considered cigarmaker D. Frank Kaltreider as the epitomy of a self-made man, starting at the bottom and achieving "sound" financial condition by the age of 29... .

Springettsbury Township's Meadowbrook Mansion looms in the background as riders and horses strike a pose. At the turn of the 20th century, cigarmaker Edwin Myers brough this George revival look to the mansion. Many stories are attached to the site. Tradition has it that invading, horse-hungry Confederates visited the spread in 1863, perhaps in search of the ancestors of the mounts pictured here. This photograph came from a Meadowbrook Village brochure filed at the York County Heritage Trust. Background posts: Property rights foundational in Lauxmont debate, York County cigars: 'They contained a vast amount of nicotine.' and Picturesque steel bridges going way of covered bridge ancestors.

The Canada goose that sought to hatch her goslings near Borders on Whiteford Road provided an opportunity to draw lessons from the former Meadowbrook estate.

I devoted my York Sunday News column (5/11/08) to the topic, which touched on the Dempwolf architects, cigarmaking, the lives of the rich and covered bridges - and the story of Mother Goose:

Georgjean Fells, known in her performing days with the Quintones as Jeannie Crist, died recently. Her death comes two years after fellow York, Pa., group member, Phyllis A. Carr, passed away. Background posts: The Oaks in York: 'I often look up there ... and think about how nice it was', York Soul group Magnificent Men come to age on big screen and York's Sovereign Stadium will be site of The Oaks music reunion.

Doo-Woppers The Quintones, from William Penn High School and York, Pa., drew national attention in the late 1950s with their "Down the Aisle of Love."

Their hit reached No. 18 on Billboard and sold almost a million copies.

They played on American Bandstand.

They performed at the Apollo Theater.

Their hit became a well-known song at weddings... .

The Confederate raid on Chambersburg on July 30, 1864, resulted in the fiery destruction of more than 500 buildings. It was a retaliation, the Confederates argued, for similar Union action on Virginia soil. To celebrate its Civil War heritage, Chambersburg sponsors an annual series of Civil War lectures, including an annual Lincoln Symposium May 16-17. Background posts: Mayor of York, Pa.: 'We are no longer unprotected' , Was York's surrender justified? and Rebel invaders put off by earthy Pennsylvania women.

People sometimes think the Confederate burning of Chambersburg and the rebels' occupation of York happened in the summer of 1863.

The rebels actually torched Chambersburg in the summer of 1864, something they threatened to do in York during their Gettysburg campaign the previous summer.

The same general extorted threatened to burn York and consummated the act in Chambersburg... .

This aerial map, courtesy of Penn Pilot, shows York in 1938. Notice the horse track at the York Fairgrounds at left. York's Continental Square can be located by tracing the major north/south route (George Street) to where it intersects with the major east/west route, now 462, in the right, center part of the photograph. Background posts: Absorbing photo and overlay shows locations of six Susquehanna bridges, Genealogical society speaker to provide tips for 'Finding Lydia's Bottom' and Map explains York's $50 million redevelopment area.

A reader provided a heads up on the site Penn Pilot that provides interesting aerial views of Pennsylvania for several years in the 20th century.

Map enthusiasts, prepare to become enthralled as the maps are presented in a format that allows you to zoom in, zoom out and pan... .

Joe Kindig III, noted York, Pa., antique dealer, will receive the 2008 award of merit from the Antiques Association of American on April 12 in Philadelphia. He was featured with multiple photos and a long story in the April 4 edition of "Antiques and The Arts Weekly." Background posts: Bottle & jug enthusiasts must dig for their York County gold, Springetts collector attracts 'Antiques Roadshow's' Kenos and Flag expert: 'I was interested in my nation's heritage'.

Ask anyone in York County's historical community about Joe Kindig III, and they speak in respectful tones about his vast knowledge of antiquing and history surrounding his artifacts.

A story in "Antiques and the Arts Weekly," tells how the Kindig family got its start in the antique world:

Fred Rosenmiller is donating this 1917 Bell Motor Car, made in the 200 block of North George Street in York, Pa., to the York County Heritage Trust. He declined, with a smile, to place a value on the car other than to say it's worth more than it originally cost. The Heritage Trust regularly receives donations from the community. Background posts: Digging Coulsontown: 'This is not Indiana Jones', Did you know this about York/Adams history?, How to start researching York/Adams history, artifacts.

Fred Rosenmiller's generous donation of scores of vintage bottles made the headlines recently.

Rosenmiller is obviously an accomplished and savvy collector.

But not everyone is so in the know.

What are some suggestions about donating historical artifacts of value?

Roland F. Seitz (1867-1946) was a York County, Pa., native and composer of marches who is remembered today. One of the pieces he wrote and arranged, 'Grandioso March,' appears on the 'Friday Night Lights' soundtrack. Background posts: Long Level and Pleasureville fielded bands?, York County (Pa.) community bands played on and The night the furnace 'blew'.

Roland F. Seitz is internationally known as the "Parade Music Prince".

His "Grandioso," "Salutation" and "Brooke's Chicago Marine Band" are well-known pieces.

He's an achiever may be better known nationally than in his native York County, where he grew up on a Shrewsbury Township farm.

That said, local community bands continue to play his pieces... .

Cases filled with Civil War artifacts line the wall of the Chester, Va., home of Sam White, a Civil War relics collector. White was killed earlier this year when a Civil War-era cannonball exploded. His widow, Brenda (pictured in this AP photo), says the collection will go to their son. Background posts: Rebel trooper: 'Broken down & in no condition to fight', 'One of the shells found its mark' and Pro/Con: Should York's leaders have surrendered to the rebels?

Samuel Wehring, former chief of York's police, made the trip to Gettysburg soon after the battle in 1863.

He joined scores of others from York County who traveled west to help clear the field still littered with items discarded or lost in battle or to aid the wounded in makeshift hospitals... .

Fred Rosenmiller was publisher of the undated (probably late 1990s book) "Bottles & Jugs, With a York, Pennsylvania Pespective." Rosenmiller recently said he would donate scores of bottles from his collection to the York County Heritage Trust. (See photo below.) Background posts: Good stuff found in 'Codorus Valley Chronicles', Where do you go for one-stop shopping on York County history, Hart-Krafts: 'Most of the trucks were used and abused'.

Fred Rosenmiller, whose massive and valuable bottle collection will go to the York County Heritage Trust, gave away some of his collecting secrets in his book "Bottles and Jugs."

One route is to dig... .

Students are silhouetted against pictures of Civil War-era residents at the York County Heritage Trust as Justine Landis, right, describes the people of York from that period. People looking to understand their community to serve it better often avail themselves of programs and exhibits at the Trust and numerous other local historical groups dotting York/Adams. (See separate educational iconic photo below.) Background posts: Mayor of York, Pa.: 'We are no longer unprotected' - 15/31 iconic photos, Interesting Web site dedicated to American country schools and Looking for a local history research topic?

Two more photos in York Town Square's series of iconic images - images that tell a story about York County and its history:

Children enjoy the playground equipment at Campus Park in York. Campus Park is one of 23 city parks. It takes its name from York Collegiate Institute, a forerunner of York College, that occupied the South Duke Street and College Avenue site until 1962. That's Voni B. Grimes Gym to the left, formerly the school's gymnasium. College Avenue takes its name from the collegiate institute. Background posts: Richard Nixon's visit to his namesake park sparks memories, Growing off-peak trolley ridership: Build a park and Great Balls of Fire, Memorial Park to spin back to 50s.

The York Daily Record/Sunday News has published a neat Web map with informational windows showing York's 23 parks.

It even includes the city's newest park - Renaissance Park - at the corner of East Princess and Prospect streets in the Old Towne East neighbhorhood.

The following is a story accompanying the map telling about the new park:

The FBI checked in on York (Pa.) Gazette and Daily editor James Higgins for years after his work showed sympathy for Cuba and Fidel Castro. Background posts: York cartoonist's work helps celebrate peace activism, J.W. Gitt: 'Just say it ... straight out' and Old York newspaper won't die or fade away.

For decades, people tried to tie J.W. Gitt's Gazette and Daily to the Communist Party or some revolutionary cause... .

Dallastown artist Lorann Jacobs' newest sculpture in York shows Brooks Robinson signing autographs on the plaza outside York, Pa.'s, Sovereign Bank Stadium. York is ahead of Baltimore in honoring Brooks. Background posts: Sculptor molds York, Pa.'s past for posterity, Old York, Pa., lefty remembers young Brooks Robinson, and York County sports museum a miniature Cooperstown.

About 8,000 fans have walked across Brooks Robinson Plaza and passed the statue of the O's legend on their way to the two York Revs games this season.

The statue, sculpted by the prolific Lorann Jacobs, reminds fans that Brooks started his professional career in York.

But no such reminder stands in Baltimore, where Brooks spent his entire major league career... .

This is one of two dormers that remained in place after renovation of the old Dempwolf-designed York County Courthouse into a York County administrative center. The dormer is an example of the design touches the York, Pa.-based Dempwolf family of architects gave to their buildings. Background posts: Downtown thrived in post-World War II York, Pa., What was famed architect John Dempwolf's own house like and How to accurately restore a historic home.

Some students in a recent session of my OLLI class at Penn State York were unfamiliar with the Dempwolf brothers and their family successors who designed so many significant buildings in York.

The Dempwolfs' work was so pervasive around York that it's easy to overlook it in plain sight.

J.A. and Reinhardt Dempwolf headed the Victorian-era firm whose shaping of York's skyline lasted well into the 20th century.

The following story, taken from York County's 250th anniversary publication "Builders and Heroes," tells more about the Dempwolfs: