This Newberry Township home, seen in a 2004 photo, was once a one-room school. A sampling of those gathering at a Newberry Township one-room school reunion over the weekend could not identify the building. Can you? The stonework suggests the red sandstone of that region. This photograph appeared in the York Daily Record/Sunday News book "All in One Room." Background posts: Solo teachers in York County one-room schools assigned lots of assistants, 18th-century mines gave Ore Valley its name and Can you identify this mystery school, believed to be in York County?.

"You kind of feel sorry for those who didn't attend," a seasoned citizen commented at Newberry Township one-room school reunion on Sunday.

The sentiment that nothing can really better the education received in the 300 one-room schools in York County is part of the discourse at such reunions.

I spoke at the reunion of those attending Cly, River, Hay Run and Pleasant Grove schools in the Newberrytown region north of the Conewago Creek on Sunday. The afternoon brought forth revealing information about this educational culture that fell to jointures in the post-World War II years: ...

-

Posted in Books & reading Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local landmarks Nostalgia & memories Quizzes & (fun) tests School days Small-town life York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

This is a clear shot of one of the four remaining original Welsh cottages just north of the Mason-Dixon Line in the Delta/Peach Bottom Township area. The Old Line Museum has begun to restore two of these cottages, built for workers of the slate quarries in the 1850s. Background posts: Coulsontown's Welsh miners' cottages: 'Once they're gone, there's nothing else like them', Digging Coulsontown: 'This is not Indiana Jones' and Time almost forgot Welsh miner's hamlet of Coulsontown.

Ruth Ann Robinson, Old Line Museum, has given a heads up about public tours of Welsh cottages in the Delta area in southeastern York County Saturday.

The tours are set for 2-4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 11.

The day before, a class of anthropology students from Harford Community College will gain training on the ins and outs of professional digs... .

Posted in Books & reading Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local landmarks Made in York Mail bag Nostalgia & memories Small-town life Unsung/obscure sites York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

June Lloyd's "Faith and Famiy," informed readers about a type of Fraktur known as Taufscheine, ornately drawn Pennsylvania Dutch certificates of birth and baptism. The York County Heritage Trust converted her master's thesis at Penn State Harrisburg into this colorful 132-page book. Background posts: The four York County bloggers write; Noted Pennsylvania art historian dies and Want to know more about York County history?

For years, York countians have made the 45-minute trip to Penn State Harrisburg's campus to take American Studies master's courses.

June Lloyd, fellow blogger and former head of York County Heritage Trust's archives, did so. She turned her master's work into "Faith and Famiy," a book on a particular type of Fraktur.

Tom Schaefer, a local historical consultant, made the trip and later wrote "Patterns of Our Past," in connection with York County's 250th anniversary in 1999.

I earned a master's there and turned my work into "Never to be Forgotten," which also was released as part of 250th anniversary festivities.

Ted Sickler, former York Daily Record/Sunday News assistant managing editor, earned his master's and is an ABD student in history at the University of Delaware.

And there have been many more traveling the American studies road.

Now, graduate students can continue graduate work toward their doctorate in American Studies at Penn State Harrisburg. An American Studies doctoral program information night is set for 6 p.m., Oct. 6, in the Morrison Gallery of the college library.

Posted in Books & reading Events Explanations/controversy Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Mail bag Nostalgia & memories School days York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Mary Allienne Hamilton spent many hours in J.W. Gitt's library, pictured here, in researching her Gitt biography "Rising from the Wilderness," published by the York County Heritage Trust (see additional photo below). Background posts: Cuban expert Jim Higgins: 'He was just another journalist ... with opinions', York newspaperman J.W. Gitt rejected Barry Goldwater's ad money and McCarthy probe could not corral York County's Gitt.

Mary Hamilton's "J.W. Gitt and His Legendary Newspaper: 'The Gazette and Daily' of York, Pa." has captured a major national award.

Her biography of this maverick newspaper owner won "Best Book in Media History" in

American Journalism Historians Association judging.

It was up against Harry Reasoner's biography, the press and the early abolition movement and the origins of mass culture, among other entries.

Judges comments follow:

Posted in Books & reading Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Mail bag People Unsung/obscure sites York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

This shows a typical class schedule for a teacher covering multi-grades in a one-room building. Background posts: Reader identifies mystery school building, Hidden Loucks School reflects past way of York County life and Web site packed with life indicators.

One-room schoolhouse enthusiast Bob Weaver shared a class schedule for an unspecified one-room school. (See his previous submission involving rules for teachers: One-room school teachers of yore given limited time to court)

The confusing intersection of the various grades leads to the question: How did the teachers ever teach anything?

Pose that question to anyone who went to a one-room school, and you'll receive a ready answer.

Posted in Books & reading Explanations/controversy Genealogy/research Local landmarks Mail bag Nostalgia & memories School days Small-town life York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Voni B. Grimes graduated from York's William Penn Senior High School mid-year in 1942. This is his graduation photo. Background posts: New book gives insight into Voni B. Grimes, Who are York County's most influential people? and A short test of your black history knowledge.

Two images among many stand out after a recent walk with community leader Voni B. Grimes.

We walked from his boyhood home to the site of his segregated Smallwood school and back.

The first image came when we gazed across the College Avenue at the former all-white Noell school, now occupied by the Community Progress Council. This College Avenue-Susquehanna Avenue intersection was a dividing point between the best education York schools could offer white pupils and hand-me-down education for black students.

And then a second image... .

Posted in Black history Books & reading Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web People School days York Town Square York celebrities

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Teachers in one-room schools in the 1870s had tall orders inside and outside of their classroom. Background posts: Interesting Web site dedicated to country schools, Can you identify this mystery school, believed to be in York County? and Two tales of four schools teach about change in York County education.

Bob Weaver has done a lot of research on York/Adams one-room schools, those ubiquitous boxy buildings that dotted this region's countryside before World War II.

And somewhere the East Berlin-area history enthusiast dug up a list of teacher expectations from 1872.

The list is so demanding - and intrusive - that I've often wondered if it might be a spoof.

For example, getting shaved in a barber shop could bring frowns from school directors?... .

Posted in Books & reading Explanations/controversy Genealogy/research God & York County Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Mail bag Nostalgia & memories School days Small-town life York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Nellie Scott, far left, is seen with other nurses waiting to board a train to treat wounded military men in Italy in World War II. Background posts: A short test of your women's history knowledge,
Civil War nurse: 'Dogs of war in our midst' and 'Her words helped win the war'.

She might have been the first Army nurse from York County to enlist in World War II.

That was Nellie Scott's reputation during her lifetime and after death, which came Aug. 31... .

Posted in Books & reading Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web People Small-town life War Women's history World War II York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

York County produced several Civil War generals, including at least one for the South. Johnson Kelly Duncan of York County finished fifth in his West Point class of 1849. Background posts: York has produced its share of high-ranking naval officers, Naval Reserve officer, a York High grad, to become admiral, York native to captain new carrier USS Bush and Gitmo second in command hails from York County.

Fellow blogger Scott Mingus has uncovered a little-known Union general with York County links - Brig. Gen. Jacob G. Lauman.

Lauman's lack of local acclaim may result from his undistinguished war record fighting in the Union Army in the West... .

Posted in Books & reading Civil War Explanations/controversy Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web People War York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

The area around the former Highland Park in West Manchester Township also has been called Smoketown, one of several such locales in York County. Highland Park was an electric park, designed to attract trolley riders on weekends. Background posts:
Carrie Nation in York: 'If you keep smoking those things ...', Growing off-peak trolley ridership in York County: Build a park and Pinchgut vs. The Gut.

How many Smoketowns are there in York County?

That question came to mind in putting together the recent post: This Smoketown now rests on York County lake floor.

I didn't know about that Smoketown.

I was aware that the South Central Pennsylvania Genealogical Society's "Gazetteer of York and Adams Counties" lists two: ... .

Posted in Books & reading Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Small-town life Wheels of York York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

This mansion and its neighborhood share the name Elmwood. This area is known for its diverse architecture. Scott Butcher writes about the mansion, the Spring Garden neighborhood and the Hobbit House in his recently published "York's Historic Architecture." (See interior view of mansion below.) Background posts: '... A shadowy figure of a hoop-skirted woman...',
Elmwood Mansion book more than history of a house and When mules moved a York County mansion.

A photograph and information about Elmwood's Hobbit House in my recent York Sunday News column drew a response from a former resident. (See Hobbit House photo at Author: 'York's streetscape features almost every style and era of American architecture'.

Ohioans Kate and Damian Kotecki lived in the architectually unique house, profiled in Scott Butcher's "York's Historic Architecture," from 1974 to 1989... .

Posted in Books & reading Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local landmarks Mail bag Nostalgia & memories People Unsung/obscure sites York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

The 2,000-pound bell Conewago Chapel bell as contractor measures the church belfry. The steeple of the mother church for Roman Catholics in York and Adams counties is undergoing renovations. (See additional photo below). Background posts: People of varying religious groups founded York County, Abe, Gwyneth passed through Porters Sideling and In bucolic countryside, royal body sat in the sun.

York's Christ Lutheran is the mother church for worshippers in that Protestant denomination in York and Adams counties.

The Codorus Church of the Brethren near Loganville is the founding church of Brethren in York County.

But the hearth for York/Adams' United Churches of Christ, United Methodists and Roman Catholics Catholics came further west in present-day Adams County. Adams was part of York at the time these first churches were planted.

Here are some facts on those early, out-west churches, according to "Never to be Forgotten":

Posted in Books & reading Explanations/controversy For photo fans God & York County Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Small-town life York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using