July 2008 Archives

Camp Ganoga athletic director Don Roehm leads Boy Scouts in exercises in 1921. Scouts trooped about three miles into the isolated camp on the bank of the Big Conewago Creek near Strinestown after disembarking from the trolley in Manchester. This York County Heritage Trust photo was published in the book "On My Honor, 70 Years of Scouting in York & Adams Counties." The Big Conewago is the symbolic divide between northern York County and the other two-thirds of the county. Background posts: Monica Goodling proves that all roads lead to York, Part of Elm Beech still visible and Northern York area strawberry part of Neapolitan county.

Monica Goodling, in the news recently for her practices in hiring federal prosecutors, lived in a region where northern York County met southern York County.

In a forthcoming York Sunday News column, I tell about the Conewago Creek region where she lived and how at least intra-county cultures met on its banks.

The column follows:

This moment in June 2005 marked two milestones. It was the 10th anniversary of the Susan P. Byrnes Health Education Center. And Ellen Dye, right, was the 500,000th student to pass through its doors. Susan Byrnes, left, founded the center, located in the former D.E. Stetler Dodge dealership on South George Street, York. They stand in the dealership's showroom. For State Rep. Steve Stetler, appointed state revenue secretary to replace Tom Wolf on Nov. 12, 2008, is a descendant of D.E. Stetler. Background posts: Often forgotten: Achievements of those whose names appear on facades, Horn Farm: 'A very special living history memorial to those hardy ancestors' and Susan Byrnes: Putting a health passion into action.

The story of Stetler Dodge provides a quick lesson of change in the York area.

D. E. Stetler founded the company in 1914 as a charter dealership for Dodge Brothers automobiles.

The butcher from the Newberrytown area of York County later moved his dealership to York. In 1923, he built the South George Street dealership that operated downtown until 1990. His three grandsons then moved the business to the outskirts of the city near Route 30. Downtown car dealerships just could no longer make it in York - or most anywhere.

Just this week, Stetler Dodge officials said they have sold the dealership, one of about five charter Dodge dealers still operating, to Jack Giambalvo... .

John Stine sits inside a hand-constructed late 1800s jail cell. Bunks in the cell come from the old York County Prison on Chestnut Street. These are some of the artifacts displayed in the Police Heritage Museum. Stine has been a driving force behind the 3,400-square-foot museum. Background posts: Longtime district justice: 'You can wait for the book', Witman among York County's most notorious crimes and For the Hoses, law enforcement is all in the family.

Curtis D. Sowers was a motorcycle officer in North York Borough.

But he was on foot on a detail to nab a suspect, Jacob Troup, in May 1929.

As part of the detail knocked at the front door of Troup's Newberry Township home, Troup readied himself near the rear door.

Here's an account of what happened next: ... .

The York County Heritage Trust archives' genealogy section offers resources for families to search out their ancestors. Background posts: Genealogists find mother lode in York County, Unsung "York County history in print" touted and Peeking into Pennsylvania's attic .

Mabel Lou Brown's request for family members is among scores that flood York County in a month.

She's looking for a family members of a relative named Miller who died in 1879 and is buried in York County.

At least she has a year of death and location of his burial.

This one seems solvable, although any researcher will tell you that a common name like Miller complicates things... .

Concert organizer Chris Huber attributes the success of the 1960s northside teen hangout White Oak Park to The Del-Chords. The first night the band played at The Oaks the line never ended. The Del-Chords are associated with southside hangout Shady Dell as well, playing on the jukebox there, according to a new Web site specializing in The Dell. Background posts: Shady Dell was home away from home , Shady Dell: 'It was like family' and The Oaks: 'I would often look up there ...'

Tom Anderson is a native of York County and an avowed Shady Dell enthusiast.

The mention of that teen hangout in Violet Hill, located just south of York Hospital before it closed in the early 1990s, stokes memories, and Anderson has captured those years on his new Web site Shady Dell Music & Memories.

Tom views the site as part personal diary and part tribute, honoring the memory of its owners, the late John and Helen Ettline... .

A worker takes time out from preparing the Norman Wood Bridge, connecting southern Lancaster and York counties, to lead a horse pulling an Amish buggy. The horse, spooked by a generator, stopped in the middle of the bridge. Background posts: Amish: 'We are making a commitment to forgive,' and Holtwood Dam thrust into the news again.

Eagles nesting on the Norman Wood bridge, slowing painting work on the one-third-long structure spanning the Susquehanna River, have captured the interest of readers.

But all this has raised a question in the mind of this reader.

Who was Norman Wood?

The Springdale historic district in York was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. The former Hahn Home, now Kuhner Associates funeral home, is the star among the district's 199 buildings. Architecturally, mansion is a mixture of late Gothic, early classical and Tudor styles known as Jacobethan. This view, not easily observable from the road, is the building's rear, with its water garden. Background posts: Dempwolf architects built York's skyline, Exploring ornate Springdale, sunken ballroom and all and What was famed architect J.A. Dempwolf's own house like?.

Who doesn't wonder about what it would be like to own the former Hahn Home? Even its 2,700-square-foot carriage house would do.

Funeral director Al Kuhner explained recently that he drove by the former Emerton mansion for years thinking it would make a perfect funeral home.

After a fire badly damaged the J.A. Dempwolf-designed home, he got his opportunity, as the following story to appear in an upcoming issue of Spaces magazine suggests:

Perched above the Susquehanna River bed on the Norman Wood Bridge, High over the Susquehanna River under the Norman Wood Bridge, a worker constructs a platform for painters. York Daily Record/Sunday News photogapher (and blogger) Bil Bowden capture this photo and the one below. Background posts: Pennsylvania: Rivers run through it (see neat picture of an Eagle), Photographer tramps to far reaches of York County and York County still home to unvarnished beauty.

Many people are familiar with the two bridges that cross the Susquehana River between Wrightsville and Columbia.

Many people know that the Conowingo Dam carries U.S. Route 1 over the river in Maryland.

But the remote Norman Wood Bridge, the third bridge over the river between Harrisburg and the Chesapeake Bay gets less respect.

The eagles that nest below its deck have even deserted it. ...

This panel, part of the Murals of York series, shows the Central Market, one of at least three murals that celebrates York County's agricultural prowess. The murals can be used as an effective tool to teach county history. Free walking tours of the murals, courtesy of the York County Heritage Trust, are scheduled at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Tuesday through Saturday until Aug. 30. The tours start at the gift shop behind the Colonial Courthouse, West Market Street, York. Background posts: Don't know much about York County history? Part I, Part II, and Civil rights heros stand out at Bradley exhibit.

The Murals of York can served as a classroom teaching tool.

That's what I told teachers recently in a continuing education course on York County history, offered through Millersville University.

I then provided an overview of county history using the murals, as described in the following York Sunday News column, to be published on July 25: ...

The Murals of York can be used as artifacts to tell a story about the York area. Pictured here is the York Fair mural on the side of the East Market Street parking garage across from the Yorktowne Hotel. There's a certain irony of this particular mural as a celebration of agriculture being located on the side of the garage, overlooking a parking lot. For the last 25 years, York County farmland has been gobbled up to provide housing for commuters from Maryland and elsewhere. Background posts: 20 questions and answers to prove your York County WWII smarts, Resources for York/Adams history junkies increasingly posted on Web, 20 questions and answers to prove your York County smarts, Part III.

When about 20 York County teachers became my students in a recent Millersville University summer continuing education class, I cast about for tools make local history come alive.

I put together a true/false quiz designed to summarize some of the themes of my two-hour primer. (I used it more as a mental execise than a test.)

See how you do, and don't be surprised if my answers resemble sound bytes. Follow the links to go deeper:

This 1917 Pullman light delivery truck, owned by the Laugerman family and restored by Paul Vaughn, won Best in Class among York-built cars in a past Concours D'Elegance, an annual vintage car show that serves as a York County Heritage Trust fundraiser. Background posts: Mechanical museum intrigues newcomers, Where do you go for one-stop shopping on York County history? and When a Pullman automobile became a seesaw.

Was York the "Detroit of the East" or did it just miss becoming "Detroit of America"?

That prospect was raised again in the program for the annual high-end car show Concours D'Elegance held just this past weekend at York College.

The program "Ford and fins" reprinted a short item about York auto industry penned by William H. Shank, the late York resident and noted transportation writer.

"Under slightly different circumstances, York might have become 'Detroit' of America," Shank wrote... .

This ticket to the nation's Centennial celebration of 1876 is part of Robert Shaub's collection. It was recently printed in the Codorus Valley Chronicles, a monthly publication of the Codorus Valley Area Historical Society. The newsletter wraps up the society's activities each month and reports on events of other historical groups. Background posts: Good stuff found in Codorus Valley Chronicles, Who was that slain Yankee messenger at Green Ridge? and Abandoned Codorus Railroad not just any railroad.

The Codorus Valley Area Historical Society does something that other local historic groups miss.

The Jefferson-area group (Codorus is the name of Jefferson's post office) gives other historical societies an opportunity to report on their activities - Northern Maryland and West Manchester are two of those groups.

They do so in the business part of their meetings.

And in their newsletter... .

Kenneth Johnson poses in the original outhouse on an Adams County property he has remodeled. Outhouses can still be seen dotting the York/Adams countryside. For those trying to keep historical accuracy in remodeling old farmhouses, they're an integral part of the restoration. Background posts: Wanted. One slate-roofed privy from Delta, Pa., 'Bottle and Jug' enthusiasts must dig for York County gold and Two tales of four schools teach about change in education in York County

Outhouses remain ubiquitious parts of homesteads across York and Adams counties.

People around here are unabashed about the small backyard sheds being a memorable part of their growing up years.

Just mention them to a local audience, and that will start a string of stories... .

About 2,500 German POWs spent their days in orchards and canneries and their nights in Camp Stewartstown, seen here in this Stewartstown Historical Society photo, in the World War II summers of 1944 and 1945. These tents are located on the present-day ballfield at the community park occupying the site. The Germans had non-prisoner counterparts in the orchards. Jamaicans came north to pick fruit. Background posts: Story revives memories of oft-forgotten POW camp, Good stuff found in 'Codorus Valley Chronicles' and 'Yesteryears' chock-full of Southern York County sites.

The fact that Jamaican fruit workers worked orchards in southern York County in World War II came as no surprise to members of the Codorus Valley Area Historical Society.

During a recent speech to the group, I covered the Jamaican presence in York County.

Members of the historical group remembered them well, saying they worked from camps in Brodbecks and Fawn Grove... .

This was the scene at the 2005 Musclecar Madness event at the York Expo Center, an event inspired by weekend racing at the York Airport - the U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way. The dragstrip operated from the late 1950s to 1979. Background posts: U.S. Drag-O-Way, Part I, U.S. Drag-O-Way, Part II and Wheels of York.

Tim Rearich, a former York countian living out west, remembers the U.S. 30 Drag-o-Way, subject of a couple of previous posts.

He particularly remembers the radio ads that went something like this:

"Saturday, Saturday, Saturday night at the US 30 dragoway... ."

When some people think about the southwestern York County borough of Jefferson, they think Jefferson Hillclimb. Codorus Valley Area Historical Society is seeking a historical marker to tout that region's history, too. Here, a cycle tries to scale the 300-foot hill just outside Jefferson in Codorus Township. Background posts: War memorial stand proudly in towns throughout York County, Driver invades Jefferson's quiet square and Tragedy hits York County family - again

Elijah White's Comanches rode through Jefferson's square in June 1863. This mounted force was bound for the communication and rail center of Hanover Junction.

Then came Jeb Stuart's 4,500 horsemen, with a 125-wagon train in tow, in quest of their commander Robert E. Lee.

Some time after they had cleared the square, Union General David M. Gregg's blue cavalrymen came through, headed toward Gettysburg.

In November of that year, Abraham Lincoln rode via Hanover Branch Railroad train through town, just north of the square. He was on his way to and from Gettysburg where he delivered his celebrated address... .

The York Daily Record/Sunday News produced this Murals of York booklet in 2000. It's available at no cost at the York County Heritage Trust, 250 E. Market Street, York. Its contents, complete with a walking tour of the murals, is available on the newspaper's history site. Background posts: York County library site brings together links for local research, Martin Library leaves microfilm behind and Tips for genealogical research.

Every year, 20 more more teachers participating in Millersville University's York County history course stop by the York Daily Record/Sunday News for a primer.

I was proud to share with them this year an updated Internet presentation on York County history, developed by the York Daily Record/Sunday News Web guru Joan Concilio.

She particularly overhauled the site Local history that serves as one-stop shopping for information about York County's past. The site also updates with news about York County's historical community.

You can view below the same information as the Millersville class received, and you didn't even have to sit through my two-hour presentation:

Camp Security, in present-day Springettsbury Township, probably resembled this British prisoner-of-war encampment in Charlottesville, Va. Some prisoners from this camp moved to Camp Security in 1781 when Cornwallis' redcoats moved northward into Virginia. Later, other prisoners from Cornwallis' surrendered command at Yorktown, Va., were detained there. Background posts: York County has done its share in playing host to POWs, Camp Security offers beauty, history and First history trail stop: Camp Security.

Even as a jury awarded Peter Alecxih $17.25 million for Highpoint, another prime piece on the preservationists' list made the news.

That's the Springettsbury Township acreage that was site of Camp Security, a British prisoner of war camp in the American Revolution. It's been placed on another high-level list of most-endangered historic sites... .

This World War II air raid siren sat atop the Yorktowne Hotel in York for years. York County Heritage Trust preservationists will soon begin work to restore it to working order. Background posts: Air raid siren discovered atop Yorktowne Hotel, York County stood firmly behind Allies on all fronts in World War II and Unusual valve gave steam whistle prominence in World War II.

Preservationists eyeing the rusty air raid siren that sat atop the Yorktowne Hotel for 65 years believe the air raid siren was never fired up for the real deal.

Indeed, no account exist of enemy flyovers above York County... .

Volunteer Tom Sadler repoints the walls of Welsh quarry worker cottages in Peach Bottom Township. 'It's good for them to be preserving this history for the future generation,' he said. By them, he means two-year owner Old Line Museum in Delta. (See additional photos below.) Background posts: Digging Coulsontown: 'This is not Indiana Jones', Time almost forgotten Coulsontown and Wanted: One slate-roofed privy from Delta.

Those old Welsh miners' cottages in the southeastern tip of York County, in Peach Bottom Township?

It's hard to get too much of their story. And those photos capture the eye.

Spokesmen at the Old Line Museum in Delta, which bought the cottages two years ago, believe the structures serve as the only examples of Welsh construction in the country... .

Bill Stiles and Jere Stahl of York ran their 1966 Plymouth Belvedere in National Hot Rod Association competition and won every national event in '66. The photo was taken in 1966 at Stiles Performance. Jere Stahl received drag racing's Legion of Honor award at Musclecar Madness several years ago. The seventh annual racing event concluded over the weekend. Background posts: U.S. Drag-O-Way, Part I, The night the furnace 'blew' and Wheels of York.

The news stories say that the U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way's 20-year run ended in 1979.

The York Airport's wide, long runway had served area piston-heads well.

As far back as 1972, the dragway had been struggling. It had even resorted to a promotion in which a dozen topless women would make an appearance.

The lure of demeaning promotions had been used in York County before in an attempt to bolster desperate situations... .

Don 'Big Daddy' Garlits, right, was the big star at Musclecar Madness in 2006 at the York Expo Center. He also was the star driver at the old U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way when it operated from in the 1960s and 1970s at York Airport. Background posts: First York Airport's administration building stands today, Vehicle crash ends life of former Indy driver, Museum exhibit brings back early days of high fliers and U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way, Part II: 'The traction at York U.S. 30 has never been better' and U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way, Part III: 'We would watch the dragsters on trailers head for Thomasville'.

The seventh Musclecar Madness, a nod to the old Route 30 Drag-O-Way, concluded this weekend.

That dragway operated for about 20 years - from the late 1950s to 1979 - at the York Airport.

When the dragway was operating, the airport was shut down to air traffic and the dragsters took over. The events often drew crowds of 10,000 spectators or more.

The legendary "Big Daddy" Garlits and other drivers liked it... .

The Shady Dell was a south side hangout for decades before closing the early 1990s. The building is now privately owned on Starcross Road, south of York. Background posts: The Oaks: 'I often look up there ... and think about how nice it was', Stadium will be site of Oaks music reunion, The Four bloggers write.

The Shady Dell was Tom Anderson's home away from home when growing up in the York area in the 1960s.

The 1967 Dallastown Area High School grad now living in Lakeland, Fla., e-mailed some memories of that hangout.

Here are some excerpts from Tom's e-mail (shadell6667@msn.com):

Joe Florenenski of Columbus, Ohio, centersquare@paullyndestory.com, is looking for information on the Kenley Players - "America's most exciting summer theatre."

The group performed in summer stock theater in York in the 1950s.

"Mae West, Angela Lansbury, and a very young Alan Alda were some of the notables who traveled to York to work for John Kenley," Florenenski wrote in an e-mail... .

This Hanover Raiders team in 1921 is one of 300 photographs in the recently released book "Hanover Raiders: Minor League Baseball in Hanover, Pennsylvania." Background posts: Adding to baseball timeline: Revs ready for 'second helping', Little school house in Hanover: A Story of Circus and Coal Room, and A journey from Delone Catholic to the Super Bowl.

John Coulson's new book on professional baseball in Hanover in the first part of the 20th century caused some Web commenters to call for the organization of such a minor league team.

"It would be cool to start up this team again in the same league as York (Revolution) and Lancaster (Barnstormers)," one person commented.

The Hanover area wouldn't appear to have the population base to support such a team, and it would take years and years to build a stadium.

But the comment shows that some in town yearn for those days when the Hanover Raiders ruled.

Coulson points the community's memory to those days, as the following Hanover Evening Sun story (7/07/2008) indicates:

PennDOT has installed 73 of these "wayfinding" signs in York, Adams and four other counties. Twenty-four of the signs are in York and Adams counties pointing motorists to Civil War sites. Background posts: The horrors of the Civil War struck York County right after Sumter, Resources for York/Adams history increasingly posted on Web and Return Camp Security sign: 'No questions will be asked'.

Motorists around here might be noticing a bunch of new signs - Civil War Trail markers - along the road.

They're designed to point people to Gettysburg campaign sites - including the curiously named 'York: Prize of the Confederacy' - that are part of this region's Civil War Trail program.

These sites will become part of tourism efforts already in place in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina... .

A Miata is submerged a Stewartstown swimming pool after rolling down a hill. (See three more photos below.) The image and accompanying story has attracted widespread Web attention. Background post:
'Yesteryears' Stewartstown-area York County sites - Part I, 'Yesteryears' - Part II and German POWs: 'They worked cheaper than We did'.

A story headlined "Convertible belly-flops into pool" drew the heaviest Web traffic in memory to www.inyork.com/ydr this week.

The elements of the story - an unoccupied sportscar rolling down a hill into a large backyard pool - are patently compelling in themselves.

But the presence of sports cars and pools instead of tractors and swimming holes suggests the changes that are taking place in and around this southeastern York County town of 1,752... .

The York Museum of Art is a key part of the Brenner Administration's renaissance plan for downtown York. Here, an architectural rendering places the spotlight on a sculpture by internationally known Dover native Jeff Koons. Background posts: York Art Museum touted as triple gateway, Jeff Koons' work raises question: But is it art? and Declaration of Independence signer James Smith tops York County's patriot list.

In 2002, a group proposed a production honoring the 225th anniversary of the adoption of the Articles of Confederation in York.

The working title?

"The Birth of a Nation."

Some on the "Nine Months in York Town" committee pointed out that the title was problematic in two ways. First, a patently racist film had taken that name in the first quarter of the 20th century.

Secondly, it is doubtful whether York County is the birthplace of the nation.

A new Civil War monument in Hunterstown, Adams County, includes a bust of Gen. George Armstrong Custer and a description of Hunterstown's contributions to history. It is located on the Harding farm, corner of Shrivers Corner and Hunterstown Road. Background posts: History-making evening on rebel occupation could turn into daylong symposium, Public gets Buford's-eye look at Gettysburg battlefield and Is Civil-War-era cash buried around Hanover?.

Many prominent Civil War generals passed through York County.

Jubal Early, John B. Gordon, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Jeb Stuart, William B. Franklin, head the list.

And George Armstrong Custer, a brand new brigadier general, is one of the best remembered, perhaps because he - or his horse - made a lasting mark... .

This map showing the early stages of the Confederate invasion in June 1863 also shows the roughly triangular shape of York County. In the next five days, the Confederates crossing all of York County except for the southeastern angle - the Delta-Peach Bottom area. (See additional image below.) Background posts: Rebs' short visit creates long memories, A square courthouse in the middle of York's Centre Square, 20 questions and answers prove your York smarts.

The Yellow Breeches Creek carves a ragged northwest border for York County. And Beaver Creek forms part of its western border. The Susquehanna River creates the eastern border and the legendary Mason-Dixon Line its southern.

So, what shape is York County as a result of these geographical influences?

My shorthand version is to call it triangular. In times when its decision-makers have been less than astute, I've also called it triangular with the northern part, its head, sleepily nodding off... .

A member of the Red Lion-Felton Band shows a Roland Seitz composition, part of the group's playlist, in 2006. Background posts: Parade Music Prince Roland Seitz: From Shrewsbury to Friday Night Lights, Spring Garden Band: 'It's like being in a room with history', Glen Rock Mill Inn: 'They are happy to see it open again'.

The small community museum is just inside the building housing the library in Glen Rock.

But an easily overlooked treasure stands outside as well... .

York County trolley car No. 163 served as a summer home along the Conewago Creek near Strinestown from 1939 until the 1972 flood. It was acquired by the Rockhill Trolley Museum and restored during a 17-year period. It's in operation today. Farther east from Strinestown on the Conewago Creek, trolley cars crossed the bridge near Manchester. Background posts: Conewago Crossing near Manchester busy spot for years, Part I, Part II, and
Hanover trolley bed work seen as 'springboard to accelerate future phases of the trail'

Ed Beck of the Manchester area is helping us explore the the area on both sides of the Conewago Creek where the trolleys crossed on their way to and from the line terminus in York Haven.

He conjectured last time that the concrete slab that represented Elm Beach on the York Haven side might still be there. That was a major swimming locale for trolley riders coming to Cold Springs Park, on the Manchester side.

Here's an edited version of Ed's report:... .

Ron Gross won a Carnegie Medal winner for intervening during an assault in York in 2003. He's one of a handful of York countians ever awarded the medal. Background posts: York County educator recalls machete attack on 'I survived', War memorials stand proudly in towns through York County and Hollywood discovers heroics of Four Chaplains.

When Hanover's Craig Gouker received a post-humous Carnegie Medal recently, his name was placed on an honored list occupied by only 15 other York countians in the past 100 years.

York criminal defense attorney Ron Gross was the last county resident to be so honored for coming to the aid of a court stenographer under attack on a York street in 2003.

Another Hanoverian, Oliver L. Schmuck was the first. He also died trying to save a fellow student from a Cornell University fire in 1906... .

York County libraries are used for more than securing books and videos. Here, Elizabeth Snelbaker, of Warrington township, works with her quilting group in the back room of the Red Land Community Library in this 2003 photos. The group met every Tuesday to do some quilting - an age-old York County pastime - and visit. When finished the quilts are raffled off to raise money for the library. Background posts: Summer reading stack includes local history and From Augustine to Manchester.

Someone who would know told me the Red Land Community Library has a richer-than-usual supply of books on tape.

That's because truckers stop by the modern-looking library in view of Interstate 83 near the Newberry Commons Shopping Center.

The library's parking lot, adjoining a Maple Donuts, is large enough to accommodate trucks.

My informant was correct... .

Voni Grimes greets a small crowd standing in a pouring rain at a diversity and peace rally in April 2006 in York. During the event, York Mayor John Brenner praised Grimes for his efforts to unite the community. Background posts: Two 'connectors' would make York County's list of most influential, A short test of your York black history knowledge and 10 tips to write a book-length project.

This photo did not make it into Voni B. Grimes just-published memoirs, but it typifies the man, who perhaps knows more York countians than any other person.

There's the Bamberg, S.C., born/World War II vet/retired Penn State administrator standing in the rain on a Saturday morning. Only a few turned out for this diversity rally.

A few here and a few there and pretty soon you change hearts. That's how Voni Grimes would see it.

So via his memoirs "Bridging Troubled Waters," this man, who knows so many people, can himself be known... .

In resolving one of the many issues he inherited as York's mayor, John Brenner tells Hattie Dickson, Lillie Belle Allen's sister, that 'we are sorry for your loss' during a 2005 news conference after the city settled a civil rights lawsuit with Allen's family. Allen was a victim of the 1969 race riots in York. Brenner said this week that he would not seek re-election next year for a third term. Background posts: Meeting of riot victims brought racial accord, Mayor: 'We're going to clean up this site' and York Charrette or charade?

Time needs to pass before a full assessment of John Brenner's mayorship can be undertaken.

But clearly his administration signals the importance of a committed and competent mayor of York.

Brenner's chief legacy may show that he took over the shambles of mayor Charlie Robertson's administration and ran a semblance of order through racial and financial chaos... .

The Yellow Breeches Creek is an appealing recreational waterway. But there are dangers on even the most scenic streams. Background posts: 'The Edison of the Cumberland Valley', When the bridge over the Codorus moved and Picturesque bridges going way of covered predecessors.

The scenic Yellow Breeches, scene of a drowning death this week, is an often-overlooked part of York County.

The presence of the low-head dam where the drowning occurred suggests its water power was harnessed to run a mill.

For years, covered bridges have crossed it and then their metal replacements.

For years, it has served as York County's northern boundary, giving the top angle of the triangular-shaped county a snakelike border... .

York County's borough of Windsor shortened its name from the Windsor Township village of Windsorville when it was incorporated in 1905. The sleepy town today bustled 75 years ago with trolley traffic and cigar factories. Background posts: York County cigars: 'They contained a vast amount of nicotine', That's Windsor Park, not Windsor ... and Research offers insight into York County's trolley.

A statement in Windsor borough's history book "Windsor Borough, The First One Hundred Years" caused me pause: "The town is dotted with stately old houses that may appear to be miniature castles."

Castles? In Windsor, that younger valley-dwelling brother of hillside neighor Red Lion?

After 50 years of practicing law, Jane Alexander's longtime law office is filled memorabilia and 26-year occupant Jake 'the Jerk.' The bird is known to ask: 'May I help you?' Background posts: Who are York County's most influential citizens? - Part II, List growing of high state officials hailing from York County and Strange pairings could help raise funds in York.

York County's second female state legislator has decided to call it quits in Harrisburg.

Bev MacKereth, a four-term Republican legislator, is taking a position as the executive director of the York County Human Services Department.

Interestingly, in a legislative world of long terms, York County's first female state legislator also served a relatively short time... .

An Associated Press photographer captured Whitney Metzler of Dallastown during the women's 400 Individual Medley event at the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials. Metzler went on to finish in eighth place at the Olympics. Metzler is now an attorney in York. (See photo below.) Background posts: Lineup full of stars with York County links, Olympic gold medalist Scott Strausbaugh another achiever with Dover links and Who were the most prominent York County athletes of the 20th century?.

York County has produced many star athletes, but not that many Olympians in recent years.

There were those decades that weightlifters from York Barbell were kings of that sport. About 40 lifters, coaches or trainers with ties to York Barbell went to the Olympics, and earned 11 gold medals.

And, according to the York Daily Record/Sunday News sports department, Hans Gerhard Boetzelen won a silver in 1932 in rowing (double sculls).

And Robert Sohl won a bronze in 1948 for the 200-meter breastsroke.

And Linda Myers picked up a fifth and seventh places in 1972 and 1976, respectively.

Recently, the county has produced two medalists.

Scott Strausbaugh picked up a gold in canoeing in the 1990s.

And the most recent participant, Whitney Metzler, finished eighth in swimming in 1996.

Now, Whitney Metzler is back in York... .