Two score years ago, a historical marker was firmly planted along the Susquehanna Trail near Grace United Methodist Church in Shrewsbury.

The 9-square-foot marker observed the site where Samuel Berry’s family secreted slaves to freedom before the Civil War.

That act was illegal in those days and identification as an Underground Railroad operator could have meant imprisonment.

So station masters posted no billboards, and the record on those sites is sketchy today.

But Samuel Berry’s daughter, Amanda, was skilled with the pen.

She left a record about her father’s prowess as a station master.

“Our house was one of the mains stations of the Under Ground Railroad,” she wrote years later. “Sometimes the excitement was so high we had to be very discreet in order not to attract suspicion. My father was watched closely.”

The large Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission marker designates Grace Church, her church, for posterity.

But it’s time that this locale is designated an National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

York County has only two such sites: the William C. Goodridge House and the Willis House, both in York.

It’s time for a third. The area where Amanda Berry Smith’s spent her childhood has one advantage.

Written evidence that it was an Underground Railroad site.

Also of interest:

PMHC historical marker
Dedicated: Saturday, October 02, 1993
Location: 108 S. Main St., Grace U.M. Church, Shrewsbury

Marker Text: “A renowned evangelist and singer, born a slave in Maryland. Her father bought the family’s freedom, and they moved to a farm near here. While still a child she was converted at this church. She committed her life to missionary work and traveled in the U.S. and to Britain, India, and Africa. Published a monthly paper, ‘The Helper.’ Founder and superintendent, Industrial Home for Colored Children in Illinois.”

Also:

Check out these stories and photo about the Underground Railroad in York County.

*Drawing courtesy, Millersville University.

“Ophelia Chambliss is trying to piece together the history of black Americans one family photograph at a time.”

So began Ashley May’s ydr.com story – Photographs tell stories of black history – about the well-known York County artist’s project.

“What most people hear about are the big things, Emancipation, the Civil Rights Movement, the Harlem Renaissance, but they don’t see images of everyday lives,” Chambliss told Ashley.

This is a project worthy of support.

Email photos and information to opheliachambliss@comcast.net or mail photos to 880 Edmund Avenue, York, Pa. 17404.

And if you respond, please include information about the people in the images.

Also of interest

And here’s such a family portrait to add to project: The patriarch and matriarch of York’s Kirkland family: Walter and Minnie Kirkland. And another: Ancestors of York countians with Bamberg, S.C., roots: Nimmons and Graysons.

Also
Check out nearly 300 stories and photos about York County’ African-American history from this blog’s black history category.

Ophelia Chambliss’ artwork is known around York County and beyond. Here, a painting awaits visitors at Logos Academy in York.

Route 30, the old Lincoln Highway, runs through Bedford, Pa. As it emerges from its west side, the old run produces sites and sights of interest, as old roads often do. Here is the famed roadside attraction, the Coffee Pot. Such oversized attractions often went up along old highways to woo motorists their way. York County has such an attraction in the Shoe House. To learn about the Brigadoon reference, check out: York countians are discovering Brigadoon-like Bedford, Pa., Part II.

Head west on the old Lincoln Highway, Route 462 in the York area, and you come to a series of interesting towns. Gettysburg, of course, then Chambersburg, McConnellsburg and then Bedford.

The Lincoln Highway features architecturally and historically significant sites from the grand past of this coast-to-coast highway, America’s first.

Here are couple more, from a stretch of roadway just west of Bedford:

This art deco gas station still operates. Such old road filling stations that still pump gasoline are rare. Long-closed stations are frequent sites along the Lincoln Highway. York County’s counterpart to this station was the now-demolished Lincoln Highway Garage.

Jean Bonnet’s Tavern, Mann’s Choice, greet motorists with food and lodging. It’s operated by Brandon Jacobs, who has York County roots.York County has such an old inn – the York Valley Inn – relocated from its longtime site in Springettsbury Township several decades ago.

Lincoln Cabin Court, Mann’s Choice, is reportedly the last such lodging place in Pennsylvania. As I’ve written before in a piece about a long-gone cabin court in York County – Besser’s - this reminds one of the scene from the film ‘It Happened One Night.’

Also of interest
Web site filled with nostalgic Lincoln Highway photos, postcards.

The Bedford Springs Hotel is a must-visit if you’re in Bedford, Pa. The Omni resort takes you back 150 years when President James Buchanan visited there. You don’t have to stay there to enjoy the resort. Walk-ins can eat at its restaurants, enjoy its spa and visit its shops. Or just sit in its library and soak in the history. Also of interest: All roads lead to York, Pa.: Whiskey Rebellion linked Bedford and York counties.

I compare the getaway town of Bedford to the mythical town of Brigadoon, made famous by Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse in the movie so named.

It’s almost too good to be true.

It’s a town with a resort, Bedford Springs, whose beauty on a sunny day is almost beyond description.

But it’s more than a resort town.

It’s a place with its own two-screen movie theater. “We’ve been in business since 1939,” The Pitt’s website states, “and, call us old fashioned, but we still
believe that going to the movies is a special event.”

The theater, which limits its previews to three, adds a flourish. Between the previews and the opening of the main features, it shuts its curtain and then opens it. The main show is thus unveiled.

It’s a town with a family-owned motel, Judy’s, in which the owner will walk you to your room to ensure it’s clean and ready.

Bedford is a town with a coffee shop, HeBrews Coffee Company, where you can sit unrushed all day, if you choose.

Those little touches add up.

And the dining in Bedford is varied, which keeps it interesting. One of its finest restaurants, Jean Bonnet’s Tavern, is operated by a former York countian, Shannon Jacobs of Dover. (This proves that all roads lead to and from York.)

And of course, Bedford has its history, particularly as the town where President George Washington set up his headquarters to quell the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794. (He passed through York on that visit.)

Bedford’s charms are known to York countians. About every other time you go there, you see someone from York or you run into someone who knows someone from York.

After a visit to Bedford, you want to be like Gene Kelly, and his Brigadoon character, Tommy. His last visit to Brigadoon ended with the village – and Tommy – happily fading back into the Scottish mist, not to return for 100 years.

 Also of interest:

Bedford County joins York County is boasting of a Gravity Hill, where you appear to coast uphill.

The top picture is taken from the walkway leading to one of the springs that gives the Bedford Springs hotel its name. Turn around and you see one of the springs, above, showcased with a columned structure. Hiking trails wind along the hills behind the spring. Bedford is about two hours west of York on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. If you go via the Lincoln Highway, Route 30, leave at least three hours. Also of interest: Visit with former president James Buchanan: Talk did not touch on matters of state.

The West York High School baseball team won its second straight state championship this week. Which brings to mind a photograph Gary ‘Pappy’ Heiland sent in recently. He dated it 1953 or 1954, and that’s, from left, Robert Haller, Joseph Newhouse, Gary, and Jack Daniel standing in front of Bob’s 1949 Olds 88 convertible. In the background, that’s the west of of the old West York High School. The old building stands in West York today, not far from the sprawling high school campus. What do you think? Was life simpler then? Another post with a Heiland photo suggests: Simple life in York County not that simple. And here’s another neat photograph courtesy of Gary E. Heiland.

It’s remarkable the number of old high school buildings standing today. Some are close to the new schools – Dallastown and Red Lion are two examples of that.

Others are a fair piece away. The old Glen Rock High School sits on a hill above the borough, several miles from Susquehannock.

Often, the old school is converted into apartments.

In Dallastown, they remain in use for educational purposes – an elementary school in that case.

They built those old buildings well.

Neat stuff from all over … .

Writing from the homefront: Book Buzz blog is presenting this Q & A with Ron Hershner about his new Civil War book: Ron Hershner’s ‘Letters From Home’ focuses on Civil War family.

Best of blogs: Buffy’s World features the week’s best, including a link to coverage of another York County championship team – Northeastern High School boys volleyball. This isn’t the first time that team has scored the top spot either.

World War II’s famed Tuskegee Airmen are featured in a film in this tractor-trailer as part of the ‘Rise Above’ Traveling Exhibit. Today, it will be parked as part of  Aviation Days at the York Airport. Details:  Rise Above exhibit brings story of Tuskegee Airmen to York. A black airman from York County flew in World War II, one of six from the John Carter family to serve:

The concert took place on the street outside Seitz’s longtime house (brick house in background, which is marked by a plaque), where the composer wrote  his marches. The Glen Rock Historic Preservation Society sponsored the event that brought together Seitz, his family, his place in his hometown and the world and a band typical of those who the composer had in mind in writing his marches. Background: Parade Music Prince Roland Seitz: From Glen Rock to Friday Night Lights.

That same weekend, Glen Rock welcomed the return of steam locomotive No. 17 in its first Steam into History run from New Freedom to Hanover Junction. Glen Rock was built around and along the railroad – the Northern Central Railway in the 1800s – but its tracks have been empty for about a decade since a dinner train went out of business. Also of interest: Part II: Rocks in the Glen turns into town where things happen.

The YDR captured Steam into History’s first run on video. Abraham Lincoln passed through Glen Rock on his way to and from Gettysburg where he delivered his famous speech. His funeral train passed through the town two years later.Background: Working on Steam into History’s railroad.

Also of interest about Glen Rock:
- Museum goer: ‘I really like these old pictures of Glen Rock’.
- Mystery of Glen Rock-area’s Narrow Gauge Road deepens.
- This time, entrepreneur in York County’s Glen Rock bet on the wrong horse.
- Glen Rock hilltop farm: ‘You cannot stay stressed here for long’.
- Add obscure marker to list of things to see in Glen Rock
- Glen Rock marked site of AMP/Tyco’s first Pa. plant

Wrightsville, Pa., observes Gettysburg 100 in 1963 with a parade down its main street, old Route 30 or the Lincoln Highway. This was the same path that Union defenders took in an orderly retreat to the covered bridge spanning the Susquehanna in late-June 1863. And Confederate invaders followed that path in racing to the bridgehead, only to find the bridge aflame. The defenders had torched the bridge to stop the Confederate advance to the east.  The first prize winners in the parade wee the York VFW Kiltie Band (top photo from The Gazette and Daily) and the Rangers of York Forest 30, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, bottom. Also of interest:  Battle of Wrightsville – Rare photograph of the battlefield.

Neat stuff from all over … .

Viewers over at the YDR’s Facebook page love history mystery photos, mostly photos from this blog.

Here’s one about Smoketown that received good response:

FB post: These horseshoe pitchers come from Smoketown, one of several towns with that name in York County. Lake waters have snuffed out this particular Smoketown. Can you name the lake? (Answer is here.)
Allyson Samantha responded: “Lake Redman?”
My response: “You’re right. Lake Redman. Those pitchers would have their feet wet, if there today. Redman dam went up after drought of 1966. That was the drought in which York city officials brought in a rainmaker. Really. Check out: http://www.yorkblog.com/yorktownsquare/2006/09/19/rainmakers-visit-indicated-muc/.

Hy Peskin made this famous photograph of Ben Hogan’s 1-iron shot to the 18th green during the final round of the 1950 United State Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore. York countian Charlie Strack witnessed the shot:  A local’s iconic connection to the U.S. Open at Merion.

Charlie Strack, today, pointing to his image in 1950.

That was a Civil War-savvy crowd last week at the Stewartstown Historical Society’s Civil War night.

Co-author Scott Mingus and I fielded questions and comments before, during and after our presentation at Stewartstown Presbyterian Church. Not just any questions and comments. Thoughtful questions and observations.

For example, in loose paraphrase with my quick summary in response:

- Did the Union Army have an advantage because its officers had better knowledge of Pennsylvania and its terrain? (Response: They had some advantage, but some Confederate generals also visited Pennsylvania in their military careers. Confederate Gen. Richard Ewell, in fact, had kinsmen in York.)

- How did the Civil War foster change in York County and America? (Response: The war advanced technology in warfare. For example, the Gatling Gun, a primitive machine gun, was introduced. That’s one example. Here’s another: The war’s bloodshed and overall disruption of family life was such that, in York County, an orphanage was necessary. It’s known today as the Children’s Home of York.)

- It was impressive that the Confederates when in York County were so gentlemanly and courteous. (Response: Commanding Gen. Robert E. Lee knew that to maintain integrity of his invading Army, he would need to order against ransacking and looting. This was also a politically savvy move. This masks the fact that fighting men died, women and children were put in the line of fire, York County’s black population had to evacuate or risk enslavement and the county’s population was generally terrorized by his soldiers.)

- The Rebels stole more than 1,000 horses in York County. Why, if those were converted to their counterparts today – cars or tractors – it would fill up a town like Stewartstown. (Response: Yes, the impact of 11,000 hungry and tired Confederates crossing York County in a short amount was immense. In short, the Rebels were skilled horse thieves, and their deftness was not offset a bit by the worthless money they often left behind.)

- What choice did the undefended town of York have but to surrender to the Confederates? (Response: Among many options, York’s fathers had the choice of passively waiting as the Confederates entered town, rather than actively approaching the enemy to surrender the town. As one example, Hanover’s fathers simply stood in Center Square as Elijah White’s Rebel cavalry invaded the town.)

I commented on the richness of the discourse to the audience and afterwards to Scott and others.

If we can ponder and process the causes of the war – the “whys” behind the war, and what it meant then and today, and why hundreds of thousands died – then the 150th anniversary of the Civil War will be all the more memorable and meaningful.

My friend, former York city schools teacher Jim Rudisill, comes to mind here. He would famously tell his students the following:

History is really “His Story,” the story of people, and ends in a “y.” “Why” is the most important question historians can ask.

A “C” history student can answer “who and where.” A “B”student can answer “who,””where,””what”and “when.”

An “A” student can answer the first four and “why.”

The inquisitive Stewartstown audience would have scored an “A” in Jim Rudisill’s class.

Interest will climb to a 50-year high in the Civil War in York County and southcentral Pennsylvania in the next 30 days. It’s a great moment to ask why to better understand the war’s causes and contributors.

Also of interest:

Check out these stories and photos about the Civil War in York County.

Scott Roland, owner of the old Gettysburg Electric Map, stands beside the landmark in its new home – the old Wachovia Bank in Hanover. The Electric Map is expected to be displayed and described in this 150th-anniversary year, another chance to learn about the war. This photo also comes from the Media Center’s Civil War section.

More informative Gettysburg 150 links from all over … .

The Civil War was controversial in its day – and today.

Here are discussions on several of those controversies, as framed by posts on this blog and in my York Sunday News column:

- Pro/Con: Should York’s leaders have surrendered to the rebels?.
- York County can never forget this unknown, black Civil War soldier. But we have..
- Why would Yorkers applaud a Rebel who invaded their soil?

Best of books: The Hanover Evening Sun’s Marc Charisse is a journalist/historian and a lover books. So here’s his list of Civil War best bets.

More Gettysburg 150: This Gettysburg art exhibit focuses on Abraham Lincoln.
Gettysburg 150 in New York: A Gettysburg flag is on display at the Starr Library in Rhinebeck, N.Y. That’s a good reminder that as involved as this region is in the Gettysburg anniversary, so are many other communities that sent troops there. Interestingly, Civil War historian Scott Mingus has observed that relatively few York/Adams soldiers fought in Gettysburg. The New York blag was carried by Rhinebeck soldiers in the Battle of Gettysburg.
Author is everywhere: Jeff Shaara, best-known as a Civil War writer, will appear in York for a York County Heritage Trust speech and also, as you might expect, in Gettysburg.

The Distelfink restaurant would host 50 buses some Sundays in the 1950s and 40 on weekdays. But the now-closed restaurant at the corner of Old Harrisburg Road and Shrivers Corner just off of Route 15 is closed and for sale signs are in its windows. Why is it that we always cheer for these old restaurants to see a new day? Read more the Distelfink courtesy of the Hanover Evening Sun, including the fact the fact that a half dozen of by that name operated around here about 50 years ago: Fate of Gettysburg’s Distelfink drive-in in question once again.   Also of interest: Distelfink? Now we all know the meaning of this strange Pennsylvania Dutch name.

Adams County’s Distelfink restaurant in its heyday. Mamie Eisenhower, Brooks Robinson and other celebrities would stop by there.

More neat stuff from all over … .

Interesting to see your post on Logos Academy today.

Brenda Neff saw a recent yorktownsquare.com post about Logos Academy and thought about a family connection with the property of York’s classical Christian school.

“I have the deed from the first property purchased by my first relative to America, George Munchel.  Last week I also sent you information on his role as a shoemaker during the Civil War.  The deed I have may very well be the location of the Logos Academy.  From the 7/25/1862 deed – ‘For a lot or piece of ground on the south side of King Street west of the Codorus Creek in the Borough of York.’  He then built a house there and sold it in 1866.  If so, I’d like to get involved in the playground that is being planned for the grassy area next to the creek.  Perhaps donating a piece of playground equipment or a park bench in George’s name.”

More Gettysburg150: This Gettysburg art exhibit focuses on Abraham Lincoln.

All roads lead to York: Only in York County’s Joan Concilio has found a York County connection to the deadly Lassa Fever virus, topic of John G. Fuller’s “Fever: The Hunt for a New Killer Virus.” Find out more at Lassa Fever.

History mystery photo: OK, many people no doubt recognize the location of this gazebo. Are you one of them? Well, how did it get there? (Answer is here: http://www.yorkblog.com/yorktownsquare/2008/11/13/gazebo/.)