Dianne Bowders responded to a recent post about York-made Weaver organs and pianos with a photo (above) and some interesting information. "My great grandfather, Henry Nelson Zumbrun (1845-1909) bought a Weaver organ for his three daughters amusement. As a stone cutter for the railroad, his salary was paltry but sufficient to purchase the organ circa 1902. He paid the equivalent of one month's salary. My grandmother, Mabel Z. Rishel (1900-1989) remembers the day the organ arrived at the Emigsville house. It was delivered by a flat bed wagon pulled by several horses. Today, it works well, and reminds me of my grandmother playing from an old shaped note hymnal." Dianne then asked, "Are there many other Weaver organs in York?" She probably meant in private hands because several North Broad Street-made instruments are on display at the York County Heritage Trust's Agricultural and Industrial Museum. Blog readers who would like to share information about their Weaver organ or piano can comment below. Also of interest: York, Pa.'s Weaver Organ and Piano Co.: 'Guaranteed to give permanent satisfaction' and Emigsville's Web site tells tales of community's past and The organ: 'It is a whole orchestra in itself'.
A mixed bag of neat stuff ... .
An e-mailer noticed the short bios I wrote on the "Civil Rights Heroes" mural and wondered why Roy Borom wasn't there. He wondered whether the selection process covered a different era than when Roy Borom was here.
I suspect the reason Roy Borom, York's first black city councilman, wasn't there was just a matter of space. He was elected to city council in 1974, after coming to York in 1968 as Crispus Attucks Community Center's exec.
One can name many other worthy achievers who could have been added... .
For example, W. Russell Chapman made it, but his wife Mildred Chapman was also well-known as head of girls' and women's programs at Crispus Attucks.
And another person missing from the mural? York's second black city councilman Wm. Lee Smallwood.
If one tried to get all worthy achievers included in such a project, the work would never get done.
The mural contains a wonderful sampling of heroes, and the community is blessed to have it. It will be on display at the York County Heritage Trust through March 13.
- A review of Yorkblogger Scott Mingus' book on the famed Confederate unit Lousiana Tigers appeared on the blog Southern Bookman. "Some more free national publicity for York County's rich Civil War heritage!" Scott wrote in an e-mail.
- Several Yorktownsquare posts have focused on a cookbook from just before World War I published by the York Hospital Auxiliary. WellSpan's Web site tells about its availability at the hospital.
- Check out this site, rich in York County historical information.
Forum of the day: A reader of The Exchange asks the question: What's with all the Confederate Flags I see around York County lately?
To view other posts in this Linked In/Neat stuff series, click here.
To see all York Town posts from the start, click here.
Thanks for posting the photo, Jim. I was hoping the gentleman who was trying to rid his church of the organ would see a beautiful Weaver organ and be inspired to keep it. They are quite lovely to hear.
I wasn't aware that several are on display at the Agricultural & Industrial Museum.
The organ is in my home as a legacy from my Grandmother, Mabel Zumbrun Rishel (1890-1989).