This painting, owned by the York County Heritage Trust, was one of 16 that became part of the 1927 celebration marking the 150th anniversary of the adoption of the Articles of Confederation in York County. Given the war conditions, scarce food and high costs might have meant that the woman and toddler were not as nourished as they appear in the painting. An upcoming York College class will study food, disease and their impact on early York County. Background posts: "York's Central Market sells steak ... and sizzle,", Demolished Red Lion Grange Hall still tells tale of changing York County, Lighthouse marks site of landmark Dover Township soft pretzel stand.

York College is offering a course on how food, health, disease and accidents affected the life span of York countians.

The course, titled "Voices from the Past: A History of York County, 1730 - 1930," picks up pioneers as they first legally settled west of the Susquehanna River and follows their ancestors until just before the Great Depression... .

Posted in American Revolution Events Explanations/controversy Farms & fields Genealogy/research Mail bag Small-town life War Women's history York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

That's local conservationist Michael Helfrich arriving at the top of the hill at Samuel S. Lewis State Park in 2006. The dome-like elevation in the background is Highpoint, now a York County Park. At that time, its fate as a development site was up in the air. Sam Lewis park was named after the former Pennsylvania lieutenant governor from York County. Background posts: Where exactly is the York/Lancaster border?, Absorbing photo and overlay shows locations of six Susquehanna bridges and Lauxmont breeds queries of great import - or little.

A recent York Town Square post showed the view from Highpoint now that the controverted piece of land has become a York County park.

Now, we see the view of Highpoint from Samuel S. Lewis State Park.

But wait... .

Posted in Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (1)

An Amish farmer works in his Lower Chanceford Township field in June 2008. In recent years, Amish from Lancaster and elsewhere have moved to this remote part of York County. Background posts: Who was Norman Wood (of bridge fame)?, Horse, buggy, one-room school make county comeback, Amish: 'We are making a commitment to forgive'

With Amish moving to less crowded quarters west of the Susquehanna in recent decades, it raises the question about how many of these newcomers now call York County home.

York Daily Record/Sunday News religion writer Melissa Nann Burke has come as close as can be determined without actually counting heads... .

Posted in Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Genealogy/research God & York County Local journalism & Web People Small-town life York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

This closeup of a cake is part of a York Fair panel, one of 18 that make up the Murals of York. This photo from 2005 shows that this 120-foot by 24-foot mural on the East Market Street Parking Garage is thin up close. (See additional photos below.) Background posts: Don't know much about York County history? Part I, Don't know much? Part II, Don't know much? Part III and If you want to see the Murals of York up close ...

I've blogged that York's East Market Street Parking Garage is an artifact of history because it represented the downtown's futile efforts to stave loss of its retail base to the suburbs in the late 1960s.

I've also blogged that the wide, skinny York Fair mural on the parking garage's side represents a curious juxtaposition because the vehicles parking there are part of the reason that agriculture, celebrated by the fair, is declining.

Further, that mural appears to be in the process of being subsumed by the parking garage's white side... .

Posted in Black history Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Nostalgia & memories Small-town life Wheels of York York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

The demolition of buildings in 'the Swamp' part of York in August 2006 to make way for the stadium opened a view of Small Field, right, background, across the Codorus Creek. At one time, Small Field was a stadium site option. Background posts: 10 years ago, York's exclusive Lafayette Club became less exclusive, Part I, Old P.A. and S. Small building fit better than successors, Samuel Small tops list of community contributors and 1967 William Penn senior class scored firsts.

Why isn't it Small's Field? he wondered.

Discussion on that point (Reader doesn't understand some things about York County) led to an observation from another reader.

Luther B. Sowers, former assistant city schools superintendent, came across school board minutes showing the moment the field left the family of P.A. and S. Small and landed in the custody of the community... .

Posted in Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Mail bag Nostalgia & memories School days Small-town life York Town Square York sports

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

That's a display of a two-headed calf under inspection, part of a York Fair exhibit junior curators put together at the York County Heritage Trust, 250 E. Market St., York. Background posts: One image illustrates two long-neglected subjects in York area, All's Fair blog gives all kinds of insight about York Fair and Common genealogical query: 'Is there still anyone living ... related to this David Miller?'.

The York Fair is over for 2008, but it lives on in an exhibit at the York County Heritage Trust.

"A Fair of Our Own" will run through Oct. 24.

A squad of junior curators assembled the display from scratch, using whatever artifacts met their standards and could fit into a small area.

A York Daily Record/Sunday New story (8/30/08) tells about the exhibit:

Posted in Events Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Nostalgia & memories School days Small-town life York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

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

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

The origin of the narrow gauge that lays behind this sign is up in the air. The term narrow gauge often refers to railroads - often branch lines - whose tracks were closer together, thus supporting smaller locomotives and reducing construction costs. Background posts: Ma & Pa rabbit trains: 'I hope they thoroughly hosed out the cars.', York County railroading: 'Something that gets into your blood' and Northern York area strawberry part of Neapolitan county.

Bob Burns (burns@nfdc.net) is 59 years old and has lived on Narrow Gauge Road in southern York County all his life. And he's not aware of a railroad ever running in that area.

An e-mailer - a railroad enthusiast - raised the prospect that the road took its name from an old railroad as described in the York Town Square post: : Is mystery railroad the old Shrewsbury narrow gauge?... .

Posted in Explanations/controversy Farms & fields Genealogy/research Local landmarks Mail bag Nostalgia & memories Small-town life Wheels of York York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

The Mason-Dixon Trail passes over Highpoint, in this view to the south. It extends to Havre de Grace, Md., and Chadds Ford, Pa. Background posts: Private, public interests built Lake Marburg for manufacturing, recreation, York Safe & Lock faltered after owner's death and Lauxmont breeds queries of great import - or little .

With all the controversy over Lauxmont Farms, it's easy to overlook the offerings of the county park that's emerged - Highpoint.

Highpoint Scenic Vista and Recreation Area is the official name of the 79-acre park.

Here are a few of its features, other than that view of the Susquehanna River, according to the York County Parks newsletter: ...

Posted in Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Local journalism & Web Local landmarks York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (1)

This view, courtesy York County Heritage Trust, shows York looking south toward Webb's or Shenk's Hill in 1852. The Harrisburg road, now North George Street crosses the Codorus Creek Bridge on its way into Centre Square. Small Field lays to the left of the bridge bordering the creek. Hikers and bikers will get a better view of Small Field in the next few years when the 5.5-mile rail trail extension is completed between Manchester Township's Rudy Park and York's downtown.Background posts: When the bridge over the Codorus moved, WWII rocked towns across York County and There's oil in those New Salem hills.

Bob Riese of Spring Garden Township doesn't understand some things about York County.

So he wrote a letter to the editor published recently with the title "Things I don't understand."

Maybe others don't understand either. So I'll take a stab at his questions:

Posted in Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Mail bag Nostalgia & memories Quizzes & (fun) tests Small-town life York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

This well-known image of Hellam Township tree house has greeted many postcard hunters over the years. Background postcard posts: Striking architecture lined York's South Duke Street, Can anyone locate this ballpark? and Postcards tell story of York County community.

Fellow blogger June Lloyd tells the story of Brook Leaf Tree House in her post: Hellam Tree House Makes the Movie News Reels.

The tree house has been gone for years, but is the tree still standing?... .

Posted in Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Nostalgia & memories Small-town life York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

This area view, courtesy of J. David Allen & Son Photography and from Buchart-Horn Inc./BASCO Associates' files, shows the York County Shopping Center in the late 1950s. Background posts: Before Geno's made news in Philly, Gino's headlined in York, Bury's memories far from buried and Sears, York County Shopping Center in the middle of things.

Last post, we showed off a piece of J. David Allen and Son's photographic handiwork from the air - a shot of White Oak Park.

Last time we posted an aerial shot from those photographers - and a photo of the York County Shopping Center - it drew several comments.

For example, Bill Landes wrote:

What a great photo, lots of memories. Across the street from the Shopping Center entrance(I think) was the first Gino's 15cent Hamburger Joint. I remember Gino Marchetti and Alan Ameche signing autographs there at the grand opening...1960 or 61??

Gene Schenk from Buchart-Horn Inc./BASCO Associates, who supplied the original Allen photo of the shopping center, e-mailed another photo with landmarks marked by numbers, which will aid locating landmarks.

Here's the key:.. .

Posted in Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Genealogy/research Local landmarks Mail bag Nostalgia & memories Small-town life Wheels of York York Town Square

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (1)

Codorus Church of the Brethren in Dunkard Valley is the mother church for members of that denomination in York County. Background posts: Potosi, Pa., linked to mining, Northern York strawberry part of Neapolitan county, People of varying religious groups founded York County.

The stats say that the Church of the Brethren has grown from one congregation - Springfield Township's Codorus church - planted in the fields of a quiet valley 250 years ago to 15 churches in York County today

The figures also show that the number of churches of that Protestant denomination in the county is down by three between 1990 and 2000.

That is probably the reason Codorus and other Brethren groups are trying new things - like this past weekend's Dunkard Valley Live, a Christian music festival with rap groups and such. Surely, this was the loudest moment in this agricultural valley since the introduction of the gasoline-fired combine.

But here's the question that is often asked about the Brethren and their Amish and Mennonite cousins: Why aren't there as many of those groups west of the Susquehanna as there are in Lancaster County? ...