Category Archives: Notable images

They tell a story.

POW camps: How many have operated in York County, 2 or 3 or 4?

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Jim McClure

Nineteenth-century artist Lewis Miller captures the façade of York, Pa.’s, Washington Hall, built in 1849. The building, sometimes referred to as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows or IOOF hall, housed overflow prisoners after the Battle of Gettysburg. Chief Surgeon Henry Palmer had threatened to resign, rather than treat Rebel wounded, according to letter writer Cassandra Small. The hospital and its satellites were military posts, so Washington Hall can be viewed as a prisoner of war camp site.

Posted in All politics is local, Civil War, Explanations/controversy, Famous York visitors, Genealogy/research, Local journalism & Web, Notable images, Pain & trauma, Unsung/obscure sites, War | Tagged Camp Security, Camp Stewartstown, Dan Meckley, military hospital, old Fairgrounds, Penn Park, U.S. Army General Hospital, Washington Hall, Wrightsville | Leave a comment

York County’s British POW Camp Security was not that secure, drawing shows

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Jim McClure

This scene of Springettsbury Township’s Camp Security is one of several drawn by British prisoner Roger Lamb incarcerated at this American Revolution POW camp. It will go on display at a public fundraising event to purchase land where the camp sat in 1781 to 1783. York, County, Pa.’s, Camp Security is the last remaining undeveloped POW camp from the American Revolution.

Posted in American Revolution, Archives, all posts, Explanations/controversy, Famous York visitors, For photo fans, Genealogy/research, Local journalism & Web, Local landmarks, Notable images, Uncategorized, Unsung/obscure sites, War | Tagged Battle of Saratoga, Camp Security, Friends of Camp Security, June Lloyd, POW camp, Sgt. Roger Lamb, Springettsbury Township | Leave a comment

It’s just a ditch in Hanover, Pa., but Jeb Stuart made it famous

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Jim McClure

York County, Pennsylvania, does not have the Civil War fame of neighboring Adams County. Never will. But we have the opportunity this year to mark sites such as Jeb Stuart’s ditch (the exact location is disputed) that are part of York County’s Civil War story. This site, like so many others in York County, are unmarked and almost forgotten. Gettysburg 150 gives us a chance to remember them.

Posted in Archives, all posts, Civil War, Explanations/controversy, Famous York visitors, Farms & fields, For photo fans, Local journalism & Web, Local landmarks, Notable images, Pets & animals, Uncategorized, Unsung/obscure sites, War | Tagged Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of Hanover, Custer's Maple, George Armstrong Custer, Gettysburg 150, Hanover, Jeb Stuart | Leave a comment

Betty Marshall, York mayor and citizen, zigged in a community that zagged

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Jim McClure

Pioneer and groundbreaker Elizabeth Marshall, York, Pa.’s, first elected female mayor, died this week. That’s “first elected” chief exec. Jesse M. Gross was appointed to fill out John L. Snyder’s mayorship several years before. Also of interest: Jane Alexander, Bev … Continue reading →

Posted in All politics is local, Archives, all posts, Black history, Explanations/controversy, For photo fans, Local journalism & Web, Notable images, People, Uncategorized, Women's history | Tagged Betty Marshall, Elizabeth Marshall, Jesse M. Gross | 1 Comment

Henry Laurens in the Tower of London: Casting a dragnet for this American revolutionary

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Jim McClure

Who was Henry Laurens? The York Daily Record/Sunday News’ Deb Hummel wrote this in 2001: ‘Henry Laurens. Born in 1724 in Charleston, S.C. Successful merchant and planter. A delegate from that southern colony to the Continental Congress. President of the congressional delegates for much of the group’s 1777-1778 stay in York Town, Pa. Signer of the Articles of Confederation. Captured by a British man-of-war while on a diplomatic mission to Holland in 1780. Imprisoned in the Tower of London as a traitor.’

Posted in American Revolution, Archives, all posts, Explanations/controversy, Famous York visitors, For photo fans, Genealogy/research, Local journalism & Web, Mail bag, Notable images, People, Uncategorized, War | Tagged Articles of Confederation, Battle of Yorktowne, Continental Congress, George Washington, Henry Laurens, John Laurens, Lord Cornwallis | Leave a comment

Landmark Yorktowne Paper smokestack defies odds as a standing factory stack

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Jim McClure

Yorktowne Paperboard may soon reopen. The longtime business, which closed about a year ago, is easily located because of its smokestack bearing the company’s name visible along Interstate 83.

Posted in Archives, all posts, Explanations/controversy, For photo fans, Local journalism & Web, Local landmarks, Made in York, Notable images, Uncategorized, Unsung/obscure sites | Tagged Spring Garden Township, Spring Valley Peacock Farm, Springettsbury Township, Yorktowne Paper, Yorktowne Paper Board | Leave a comment

Spring Valley Peacock Farm: A telling, troubling story about York County, Part II

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Jim McClure

When Spring Valley Peacock Farm came down, the ire of York County residents with long long memories of the old farmstead went up.

Posted in Archives, all posts, Events, Explanations/controversy, Farms & fields, For photo fans, Genealogy/research, Local journalism & Web, Local landmarks, Nostalgia & memories, Notable images, People, Uncategorized, Unsung/obscure sites | Tagged Franklin D. Roosevelt, Interstate 83, Josh Stahlman, North Sherman Street, Spring Valley Peacock Farm | Leave a comment

Artful York County workmanship in a big heavy product: Linked in to York County history, 2/27/13

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Jim McClure

Yorktownsquare.com covers Creativity Unleashed, the journalism/history blog ‘Digital Notebook,’ the draining of Meadow Grounds Lake and a new statue of Abe Lincoln in Gettysburg.