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: November 2009
In York-area, famous Olmsted design firm left legacy in Wyndham Hills
York city and environs is seen from the air in this York Daily Record/Sunday New file photo. The dark section, upper left, is Wyndham Hills. Penn Park is at bottom left. The noted Olmsted landscape design firm laid out Wyndham … Continue reading
Linked in with neat stuff about York County, Pa. – Nov. 29, 2009
A car navigates around the rotary at an intersection in Vandergrift, Pa. Frederick Law Olmsted’s design for Vandergrift, 35 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, largely avoided. Street corners and accompanying buildings were rounded. According to the Associated Press, many communities are … Continue reading
The bad, and yes, the good of the Great Depression in York County, Pa., Part II
This photo from York (Pa.) Day Nursery’s Web site shows community support for the center in 1962. The nursery is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Also of interest: Samuel Small tops York, Pa. community contributor list and First Pinchot … Continue reading
Linked in with neat York County, Pa., history stuff – Nov. 27, 2009
A support for the dome for Roll ‘R Way East, known for years as Playland, is shown in flames as a fire destroys the longtime York roller skating rink in November 1985. Playland gained a headline this week when the … Continue reading
Mack’s is short for McDaniel’s, but in York County it means ice cream
The talk is about hunting and road maintenance at Jim Mack’s Ice Cream shop in Hellam Township in this 2004 York Daily Record/Sunday News file photo. Six shops in York County bear the Mack’s name, synonymous with ice cream and … Continue reading
York Township’s long-closed Springwood Park spawns memories, Part II
This photo, from ‘York Township, 1753-2003,’ shows the Springwood Park pool from a different angle from that shown in another post in this series. The York Township, Pa., park has been closed for more than 50 years, and little of … Continue reading
Mermaid spotted in Susquehanna in 1800s: ‘Her hair was platted behind … cut short in front’
York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News photographer Jason Plotkin captures workers as they recently put up metal poles to hold a new plywood extension atop Holtwood Dam spanning the Susquehanna River. The work is designed to increase the hydropower capacity at … Continue reading
Linked in with neat York County, Pa., history stuff – Nov. 22, 2009
A York Chamber of Commerce publication in 1950 touted its role in bringing defense contractor Bowen & McLaughlin to York. That company and others – Lyon Metal Products, Cathy Suit Company, Nelly Ann Dress Co. and Masell Manufacturing – helped … Continue reading
