York, Pa., native and four-star General Jacob L. Devers’ boyhood home is for rent. The home, highlighted by a historical marker, stands along Roosevelt Avenue. (See photos of that marker and another below.) Also of interest: Book gives positive view about forgotten general and York native Jake Devers and York native Jacob L. Devers’ name still in service at Fort Knox, Ky. and Air Force Drum & Bugle Corps: ‘York area has always been known for their musicians’
Yorkblogger and York Sunday News columnist Gordon Freireich has called attention to the fact that Jacob Loucks Devers’ family home is available for rent.
Gordon wrote in his Jan. 30 column, Renting a piece of York’s history: …
This historical marker was dedicated about a decade ago outside the Devers family home, 200 block of Roosevelt Avenue.
York is rightly proud of its native son. That’s why there is a York City school named for him.
So, why is his birthplace important enough to have a state marker? It was in this home — this environment — that young Jake would develop into the man who would be responsible for thousands of soldiers.
And yet, the home in which he grew up is now an apartment building — with a “For Rent” sign on it.
It is a shame the home is almost as overlooked and forgotten in York as the general is in the history books.
He credits York resident Terrence Downs with flagging him about the fact the house was for rent.
Fearing that the home would lose its character, Downs wrote in an e-mail to me that it’s “a travesty to York’s military heritage.”
He suggested that an appropriate non-profit purchase the home and lease it appropriately.
Terry also put forth the suggestion that a member of the widespread and successful Loucks family purchase the home.
That family met in York last summer for its 300th anniversary in America and plans to meet here again.
Jacob Loucks Devers was a member of that family, highlighted also by S. Forry Laucks of York Safe & Lock fame.
Meanwhile, never let a trip down Roosevelt Avenue pass without a nod to the home of this great Yorker, commander of two armies in Europe that helped rid the world of the Nazi curse.
This marble marker is affixed to the front of Devers’ boyhood home.
Also of interest:
About York, Pa.,’s Gen. Jacob Devers: ‘He would have been thrilled to meet the lt. of the first POW camp he had freed’.
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This does not surprise me. I live a few blocks from Dever’s house, and this whole area of the city is forgotten. The only publicity we get is negative, except for the Farmers’ Market, and everybody thinks the neighborhood is terrible. It’s a very unfair representation which needs to change.