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: October 2011
Will it end? York Halloween Parade dates to 1897. Linked in with neat York County history stuff, Oct. 31, 2011
Bad weather prompted the cancellation of the York Halloween Parade on Sunday, and its future is in doubt. The York parade can be dated to 1897 when York Manufacturing, now Johnson Controls, started an annual Halloween procession. It later became … Continue reading
If onion snow comes in late spring, is it pumpkin snow in York, Pa.’s October?
This photo tells the storm of Saturday, Oct. 29′s snowstorm. The York Daily Record/Sunday News’ Jason Plotkin captures Steve Smith walking down North George Street in York, Pa., Saturday. Also of interest: Check out all bad weather posts from the … Continue reading
Downed airman Shorty Burhans’ story fascinates World War II researcher
A researcher is looking to add to the story of a York County World War II veteran William ‘Shorty’ Burhans, whose plane was downed in fighting. He and other crew members floated in the China Sea for 4 1/2 days … Continue reading
Researcher looking for U.S. Supreme Court Prigg v. Pa. info, for York County historical marker
Owners of fugitives who sought freedom north of the Mason-Dixon Line in York County, Pa., and beyond advertised for their runaway slaves in the York Gazette and other weekly newspapers in the 50 years before the war began. In fact, … Continue reading
Vandalized Gettysburg statue gets a new noggin: Linked in with neat York County history stuff, Oct. 28, 2011
Vandalism of statues and monuments at Gettysburg National Military Park has been a problem for years. One such casualty, this 600-pound 4th New York Artillery statue, lost its head when vandals chained and toppled it in 2006. They carried off … Continue reading
Posted in Archives, all posts, Books & reading, Civil War, Events, For photo fans, Genealogy/research, Linked in/neat stuff, Local journalism & Web, Local landmarks, Mail bag, People, Uncategorized, War
Tagged Battle of Gettysburg, Gettysburg National Military Park, York County Heritage Trust
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Two award-winning Iraq War correspondents come from York County
Philadelphia Inquirer photographer and embedded war correspondent David Swanson, a former York countian, won an award in the 2005 World Press Photo contest for this picture of a young fighting man trying to start a Humvee after an ambush in … Continue reading
York County Courthouse, now Administrative Center. What do you call it?
Bill Schmeer, a veteran observer of the York County scene found this post card of the old York County Courthouse. He sent it along with this note: “This is very clever. What did your town look like according to Penny … Continue reading
Part II: Availability of York County-based microfilm an oft-asked question
This is a 2004 rendering of York, Pa.’s, Martin Library’s grand atrium with stairway leading up to its reference desk and stacks. And guess what, this scene is well reflected the resulting renovations, complete with the many patrons moving through … Continue reading
Don’t forget Rhodes Scholar and humanitarian Spurgeon Keeny on list of York County’s best and brightest
This marker in Shrewsbury, found in Bob Ketenheim’s “Around Shrewsbury,” fetes humanitarian Spurgeon Keeny, one of four Rhodes Scholars with York County links. Keeny was born in the smallest of towns, Tolna, a stop on the Stewartstown Railroad, and grew … Continue reading
Of York County’s pesky black walnut trees and motorcycles
A heavy snowfall hit southern York County, Pa., circa 1905. This scene looks north on south Main Street in Shrewsbury. That’s the Reformed Church, right, and Christ Lutheran Church’s steeple in the background in this photo appearing in Bob Ketenheim’s … Continue reading
