This promotional poster shows the types of events at the top of the York Fair's promotional list in 1928. Background posts: 'The lower she sank in the chair', Old-time York bike shop: 'It's like a store that time forgot' and Can anyone locate this ballpark?.

All's Fair, a blog made up of York Daily Record/Sunday News staff postings, is an example of local blogging tied to York County and international events.

The O-Zone was another blog where staffers explored the Olympics.

York Town Square readers will find - an enjoy - a number of York Fair-history related posts, with links back to this blog: ... .

Posted in Black history Civil War Events Explanations/controversy Famous York visitors Farms & fields For photo fans Genealogy/research Iconic images Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Nostalgia & memories People Pets & animals Presidential stops Small-town life War Wheels of York World War II York Town Square

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President Lyndon B. Johnson visit to Dallastown in 1966 was a high point in Dallastown's history. Here, Lady Bird Johnson greets some of those who turned out for the Dallastown centennial. A museum honoring the borough's past is set to open Monday. Details: 244-8217. Background posts: LBJ: In small towns, girls are fonder; dinner pails fuller, Bomb group seeks Cameron Mitchell's WWII info and Speeding trolley cars drew criticism.

Dallastown is known for Lyndon B. Johnson's visit in 1966. It was boyhood home of famed actor Cameron Mitchell.

That's where noted sculptor Lorann Jacobs has her studio.

And it was a stop along road from York to Peach Bottom, accommodated rumbling trolley cars and received a spur of the Ma & Pa Railroad.

And it was founded, in part, on the strong hands of basket weavers. But more on that in a second... .

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A large crowd listens to big band music over the weekend at Dills Tavern, part of Dillsburg's175th anniversary festivities. The tavern serviced the plentiful passengers on the Harrisburg and Baltimore Turnpike, as they passed through the notch in the mountains. Background posts: Franklintown second cousin to neighboring Dillsburg, Flag expert: 'I was interested in my nation's heritage', Dillsburg's Jane Alexander pioneering county woman in state politics

The York Daily Record/Sunday News story (8/23/08) called Dillsburg York County's
"wild child."

The 175th-anniversary celebration over the weekend was, indeed, a bright moment in the northwest York County borough.

The wild child comment brings to mind the most celebrated wedding of a townsman - or townswoman.

Anne Dill, 24 years old and the beautiful widow of a descendant of the town's founder, married the distinguished clergyman and Declaration of Independence signer John Witherspoon... .

Posted in American Revolution Events Explanations/controversy Famous York visitors For photo fans Genealogy/research God & York County Local journalism & Web People Small-town life War Women's history York Town Square

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The restored cyclorama and a copy of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address will be the focus of the official grand opening of the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, Sept. 26-28. Background posts: Q&A on new Gettysburg visitor center, old Electric Map, Gettysburg National Battlefield produces steady supply of news, Part II, Gettysburg Cyclorama, with new shape, ready for September opening.

The majority of York countians in the 1860s did not like Abe Lincoln's politics.

That's evidenced by their support of his opponents in 1860 and 1864.

And most did not like his famous speech... .

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The 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg brought back vets from both sides to Adams County in 1938. Many York/Adams residents remember the event 70 years later. This Associated Press photo from an unidentified newspaper shows, from left, Cyrus Stamets, 95, a Union veteran from Richmond Ohio, John W. Turnbough, 94, a Confederate vet from Eldorado, Okla. and Confederate Gen. M.D. Vance. Background posts: Late-19th century Gettysburg photos ready for public, Red Lion doctor treated both Revolutionary War soldier and people alive today and Signs point to York, 'Prize of the Confederacy,' and other York/Adams Civil War wonders.

Sometimes, it seems that everyone in York/Adams visited Gettysburg to observe the 75th anniversary of the battle.

Memories of those grizzled Civil War vets who visited the battlefield in 1938 have firmly settled into the minds of many York/Adams residents living today. You hear about them often... .

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This mile-long covered bridge replaced the bridged burned by the Union army to stop the Confederates from crossing the Susquehanna River. A cyclone blew down this bridge in 1896, and it was replaced by an iron structure. The bridge would have been akin to the covered bridge Charles Dickens used to cross the river some 25 miles upstream. But by 1896, slits to allow light into the dark interior had been added. Background posts: Susquehanna River helped mold part of York County's southern tier, Photo collection adds to York County's historic record and When the bridge over the Codorus moved.

Charles Dickens' account of his crossing the long covered bridge from the Susquehanna's west shore into Harrisburg raises a point few would consider today.

In a bridge nearing a mile long, how would you see? ...

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Tubers take a leisurely ride recently near the covered bridge spanning the Yellow Breeches on Messiah College's campus. The beauty of the countryside is similar to that witnessed by Charles Dickens in his visit to northern York County in 1842. Dickens' coach would have crossed the Yellow Breeches downstream close to the point that it spills into the Susquehanna River. Background posts: Big Conewago serves as divider, York County: 'It's shaped like a horse's... ' and Scenic Yellow Breeches snakes along York County's northern boundary.

Charles Dickens and 11 others filled a large coach that traveled along York County's eastern edge in his visit to America in 1842.

He arrived in York via railroad. He traveled to Harrisburg via coach. And traveled to Pittsburgh from Harrisburg via canal.

Dickens noted the uncomfortable coach ride and took time to observe - and later write about - the foiables of York countians. But he also Dickens noticed the beauty of the county's northern end, as he describes in his "American Notes:"

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The White Hall Hotel, West Market and North Beaver streets, played host to Charles Dickens during the noted author's 1842 visit to America. The artist of this painting of York pulled from several eras. Bottom right, the York County Court House is seen without its neighbor, the State House, placing the drawing before 1793. But the White Hall or National House (follow Market Street west), as its known today, was not constructed until 1828. Today, the large painting, drawn in the mid- to late-1970s, serves as an unsung backdrop on a stage in Stein Hall at Trinity United Church of Christ, York. It was part of a sight-and-sound show used to orient new members and tourists. Background posts: Big Conewago serves as cultural divide, Author: York's streetscape diverse and Hillary Clinton's York site a little weird.

Several months ago, York's Roy Flinchbaugh e-mailed that a recent column on all the achievers from Dover reminded him, for some reason, of Charles Dickens' visit to York County in 1842.

The English author, a celebrity in his day, was touring America and on his way from Baltimore to Harrisburg and then via canal to Pittsburgh.

He arrived in York aboard the Baltimore-York railroad that had opened only four years before. He was forced to take a coach to Harrisburg, for the railroad ended at York.

Later, he wrote about his experiences in American Notes and he gives a glimpse into the character and color of York countians of the day:

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When some people think about the southwestern York County borough of Jefferson, they think Jefferson Hillclimb. Codorus Valley Area Historical Society is seeking a historical marker to tout that region's history, too. Here, a cycle tries to scale the 300-foot hill just outside Jefferson in Codorus Township. Background posts: War memorial stand proudly in towns throughout York County, Driver invades Jefferson's quiet square and Tragedy hits York County family - again

Elijah White's Comanches rode through Jefferson's square in June 1863. This mounted force was bound for the communication and rail center of Hanover Junction.

Then came Jeb Stuart's 4,500 horsemen, with a 125-wagon train in tow, in quest of their commander Robert E. Lee.

Some time after they had cleared the square, Union General David M. Gregg's blue cavalrymen came through, headed toward Gettysburg.

In November of that year, Abraham Lincoln rode via Hanover Branch Railroad train through town, just north of the square. He was on his way to and from Gettysburg where he delivered his celebrated address... .

Posted in A.B. Farquhar Civil War Explanations/controversy Famous York visitors For photo fans Genealogy/research Local landmarks Presidential stops Small-town life War Wheels of York York Town Square

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Camp Security, in present-day Springettsbury Township, probably resembled this British prisoner-of-war encampment in Charlottesville, Va. Some prisoners from this camp moved to Camp Security in 1781 when Cornwallis' redcoats moved northward into Virginia. Later, other prisoners from Cornwallis' surrendered command at Yorktown, Va., were detained there. Background posts: York County has done its share in playing host to POWs, Camp Security offers beauty, history and First history trail stop: Camp Security.

Even as a jury awarded Peter Alecxih $17.25 million for Highpoint, another prime piece on the preservationists' list made the news.

That's the Springettsbury Township acreage that was site of Camp Security, a British prisoner of war camp in the American Revolution. It's been placed on another high-level list of most-endangered historic sites... .

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Don 'Big Daddy' Garlits, right, was the big star at Musclecar Madness in 2006 at the York Expo Center. He also was the star driver at the old U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way when it operated from in the 1960s and 1970s at York Airport. Background posts: First York Airport's administration building stands today, Vehicle crash ends life of former Indy driver, Museum exhibit brings back early days of high fliers and U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way, Part II.

The seventh Musclecar Madness, a nod to the old Route 30 Drag-O-Way, concluded this weekend.

That dragway operated for about 20 years - from the late 1950s to 1979 - at the York Airport.

When the dragway was operating, the airport was shut down to air traffic and the dragsters took over. The events often drew crowds of 10,000 spectators or more.

The legendary "Big Daddy" Garlits and other drivers liked it... .

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Joe Florenenski of Columbus, Ohio, centersquare@paullyndestory.com, is looking for information on the Kenley Players - "America's most exciting summer theatre."

The group performed in summer stock theater in York in the 1950s.

"Mae West, Angela Lansbury, and a very young Alan Alda were some of the notables who traveled to York to work for John Kenley," Florenenski wrote in an e-mail... .

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