About this blog
I've been editor of the York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News for 8 years and managing editor of the newspaper for 15 years before that. So, York Town Square explores the rapidly changing world of journalism. And I studied York/Adams' history in graduate school, have written six books about these fascinating southcentral Pennsylvania counties and serve on the York County (Pa.) Heritage Trust board. So, this blog deals with regional history. Often, journalism and history meet here. They're part of a continuum anyway. My hope is that this site intrigues readers on both accounts in giving a daily dose of journalism/history. Or history/journalism. Contact me at jem@ydr.com or become friends on Facebook or follower on Twitter, @JamesMcClure.
Monthly Archives: September 2008
PS Harrisburg grad school: ‘Set my feet even more firmly on the path into the world of Fraktur’
June Lloyd’s “Faith and Famiy,” informed readers about a type of Fraktur known as Taufscheine, ornately drawn Pennsylvania Dutch certificates of birth and baptism. The York County Heritage Trust converted her master’s thesis at Penn State Harrisburg into this colorful … Continue reading
Yet another Bury’s hamburger recipe drops into the cooker
She looked skeptically at the best, publicly known recipe for Bury’s hamburger sauce – a recipe that reportedly passed muster with Joe Bury himself. I’ll get the real recipe, she said, one that appeared in your newspaper… .
York newspaperman’s bio: ‘Superb in every respect and difficult to put down’
Mary Allienne Hamilton spent many hours in J.W. Gitt’s library, pictured here, in researching her Gitt biography “Rising from the Wilderness,” published by the York County Heritage Trust (see additional photo below). Background posts: Cuban expert Jim Higgins: ‘He was … Continue reading
Gettysburg Cyclorama critics: Reviews ranged from ‘huge dinosaur’ to ‘I was captivated’
Tourists visited the rehabbed Cyclorama on the weekend of its grand opening. Background posts: Half dozen groups probe acquisition of Gettysburg’s retired Electric Map, York newspaper about Gettysburg Address: ‘Mr. Lincoln made a joke or two …’ and New visitors … Continue reading
How Sam Lewis State Park sightseers view Highpoint’s dome
That’s local conservationist Michael Helfrich arriving at the top of the hill at Samuel S. Lewis State Park in 2006. The dome-like elevation in the background is Highpoint, now a York County Park. At that time, its fate as a … Continue reading
No Vietnam War monument exists, but York County vets group is fixing that
Rickey Cox shows a model of a planned memorial to honor Vietnam War veterans at a York Revolution game in 2007. Dallastown sculptor Lorann Jacobs designed the model and is shaping the monument. Background posts: Of local Jewish WW II … Continue reading
York County native Jeff Koons’ work raises question: But is it art? Part II
Former York countian and now world-famous artist Jeff Koons created this artwork. Anne Lampe, director of the Demuth Museum in Lancaster, might have broken the code with her explanation: ‘The Hoovers are such a social commentary piece. Here are these … Continue reading
How many Amish have crossed the Norman Wood Bridge from Lancaster to York County?
An Amish farmer works in his Lower Chanceford Township field in June 2008. In recent years, Amish from Lancaster and elsewhere have moved to this remote part of York County. Background posts: Who was Norman Wood (of bridge fame)?, Horse, … Continue reading
Solo teachers in York County one-room schools assigned lots of assistants
This shows a typical class schedule for a teacher covering multi-grades in a one-room building. Background posts: Reader identifies mystery school building, Hidden Loucks School reflects past way of York County life and Web site packed with life indicators. One-room … Continue reading
