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: December 2009
Kind-spirited imitators from across the Mason-Dixon Line flatter York County’s Glen Rock Carolers
Darryl Engler, music director for the Glen Rock Carolers, appears in this York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News photograph at work on Christmas Day, 2005. The carolers strolled the streets of the southern York County borough of Glen Rock in the … Continue reading
Linked in with neat York County, Pa., history stuff – Dec. 30, 2009
Here’s a York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News video of the 8-foot shoe under construction for use in ushering in the New Year’s in eastern York County’s Hallam borough. It’s modeled after Haines Shoe House in nearby Hellam Township. For a … Continue reading
Hallam’s New Year’s shoe drop: Brings York County’s Haines Shoe House to new heights
Two York County, Pa., icons come together, as children enjoy Loganville-based Carmen’s Ice Cream outside Hellam Township’s Haines Shoe House, in this 2008 York Daily Record/Sunday News photograph. The Shoe House will figure in New Year’s festivities this year when … Continue reading
Linked in with neat York County, Pa., history stuff – Dec. 28, 2009
French writer Felix Feneon wrote in a form of brief masterpieces. So York Daily Record/Sunday News staff members tried to emulate that form in telling events about 2009 in short story form (12/27/09). The death of 9-year-old Ciara Savage is … Continue reading
Historic Stewartstown Railroad heading to the auction block?
Some of the Stewartstown (Pa.) Railroad’s rolling stock sits in the yard, background, as Don Matthews, a railroad director, is seen inside the station. Two historic preservation groups are among the groups with a stake in the now-closed, short-line railroad’s … Continue reading
Last blast? Sponsor of annual New York Wire factory steam whistle concert says it might be so
York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News photographer Jason Plotkin asked several York County folks to imitate the unimitable New York Wire factory steam whistle. And he captured them on video. But all kidding aside, was the early Christmas Day 2009 concert … Continue reading
Christmas 2009: Windsor Township family shows how good can come from bad
Cheryl Johnson, right, and her sister Vicki finish a Nativity scene on boards covering the front of Cheryl’s Windsor Township, Pa., home. A minivan crashed into the front door of the home, and the Johnson family turned that bad incident … Continue reading
Beautiful First Moravian Church in York, known for its neat features – Part II
This stained-glass window is another at York, Pa.’s, First Moravian Church from Rudy Art Studio. This window, expressing Jesus’ name, is given in memoriam of William H. Yost. Also of interest: York County enthusiasts could find historical event, site to … Continue reading
Re-printed cookbook filled with ‘tried and tested’ York County, Pa., recipes
This advertisement is among hundreds that appear in the ‘York Hospital “Benefit” Cookbook,’ circa 1916. The cookbook has been reprinted and available for sale at the York County Heritage Trust. The cookbook was subtitled “Home Formulary of ‘Tried and Tested’ … Continue reading
From squealing pigs to wireless, York, Pa., markethouses have changed
This poster appears on the Table of Contents page in the third edition of the York County, Pa., history “Never to be Forgotten.” It merges the William Wagner market drawing from 1830 featured on the book cover (see below) with … Continue reading
