York County libraries are used for more than securing books and videos. Here, Elizabeth Snelbaker, of Warrington township, works with her quilting group in the back room of the Red Land Community Library in this 2003 photos. The group met every Tuesday to do some quilting - an age-old York County pastime - and visit. When finished the quilts are raffled off to raise money for the library. Background posts: Summer reading stack includes local history and From Augustine to Manchester.

Someone who would know told me the Red Land Community Library has a richer-than-usual supply of books on tape.

That's because truckers stop by the modern-looking library in view of Interstate 83 near the Newberry Commons Shopping Center.

The library's parking lot, adjoining a Maple Donuts, is large enough to accommodate trucks.

My informant was correct... .

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The South Central Pennsylvania Genealogical Society regularly schedules interesting programs. Here, J. Ross McGinnis, author of 'Trials of Hex,' talked with members of the society in November as they stand over the spot where three men murdered powwow doctor Nelson Rehmeyer. Jonathan Stayer, at right, holds a copy of a photo of the crime scene. It's now Stayer's turn to present at the April 6 meeting of the Society. Background posts: The Hessians of York County, Pa., more than mercenaries and Genealogists find mother lode in York County, Pa.

Jonathan Stayer, head of the reference section at the Pennsylvania State Archives, has developed a program about state land records with a colorful title: “Finding ‘Lydia’s Bottom’ "

This comes in the aftermath of another Stayer presentation about the wealth of resources offered by the State Archives: "Peeking into Pa.'s attic" ... .

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Powwow practitioner and murder victim Nelson Rehmeyer is seen here in this photograph from Ross McGinnis' 'Trials of Hex.' See photograph of his wife and daughters below. Background posts: 'We would 'hex' them if they ignored us' and How powwow doctors plied their craft.

Why is it that invaders of Nelson Rehmeyer's house come in threes?

At Thanksgiving time in 1928, Rehmeyer was murdered by two young men and a boy who were trying to break a spell they believe the victim, a suspected witch, had cast on them.

Now, Rick Ebaugh, descendant of the victim of the famous Hex murder, reports two men and a woman broke into the Rehmeyer house and wandered around... .

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This 1927 Wurlitzer theater organ, upper left, can rise from a lower level to of the Capitol Theatre to stage level, just as in the old days. It is still used to provide music and dramatic sounds for silent movies. Movie theaters like the Captol operated in many towns in York County in the 20th century including Hanover, Stewartstown, New Freedom. Small theaters in Glen Rock and Dallastown still operate. Related posts: Black soldiers from York County served in 'Glory' unit - Part II, Little-known facts about Hex murder trial emerge and Miss Saigon’s York County connection.

The Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its most recent renovation this year.

That $17.3 million rehab project included a remake of both theaters that make up the complex, an addition of a balcony in the Strand and installation of a chandelier from a Hanover theater at the cost of $30,000.

This anniversary brings back memories of event marking the previous grand renovation of the complex - in April 1980... .

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This was the first graphic or photograph to appear with a York Town Square post, accompanying York Market House No. 5 – Carlisle Avenue Market, revisited in April 2006. Incidentally, that the present-day Dreamwrights building was built as a farmers market still surprises folks. Background posts: There were 5, count 'em, 5 York markets and Don't know much about (York market) history?.

The year 2007 saw visitors to this blog increase exponentially over the previous two years we've been posting.

We hope you are enjoying each day's history lesson. The numbers, increased commenting and e-mails suggest you are.

A list of best, first and most popular posts at this blog follows:

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Plantiffs' attorney Eric Rothschild addresses the media following closing statements in the Dover intelligent design trial in November 2005. The civil trial was one of the nationally prominent cases involving York County in decades. Background posts: County First Amendment list grows and Dover intelligent design trial not over yet.

Last post, Witman murder among York County's most notorious crimes cited a sampling of major criminal cases that hit York County Court in recent years.

The following is a short list of other civil and criminal actions of note involving York County or York County people: ...

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Brothers Zachary and Gregory Witman are seen in this 1990s family photo. Zachary, serving a life imprisonment after a conviction in the murder of his younger brother in their New Freedom home, was granted a new trial this week. Background posts: 100th anniversary of drunken Pleasureville brawl, Relative: Evil in Hex murder came from outside and Ray Krone hopes book will open eyes about capital punishment .

The case of Zachary P. Witman, granted a new trial this week, is one of the most-watched criminal actions in more than four-score years in York County Court.

Zachary Witman was convicted in 2003 and later sentenced to life imprisonment for first degree murder in the death of his brother five years earlier.

Gregory Witman was 13 when he died. Zachary Witman was 15... .

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The Civil War-era U.S. Army General Hospital became a major site for treatment because of its proximity to Virginia and Maryland, where many battles took place, and its location on a major rail line. Here, convalescents pose in one of the hospital wards at the Penn Park complex. The military hospital is an example of a York County history topic awaiting study. Background posts: Civil War nurse: 'Dogs of War in our midst' and Not all rebel wounded suffered after Gettysburg.

Many people use New Year's to kick off historical research projects.

My York Sunday News column Looking for a local history research project? probed several topics ripe for research focusing on York's Civil War-era military hospital.

The following is a sampling of topics from York County history awaiting further exploration or publication of existing research:

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J. Ross McGinnis portrays Harvey A. Gross in the York County Bar Association's presentation "A Spell to Remember," based on the Hex Trial Background post: 'Powwowing was done for good'..

Jim Hubley, York Daily Record columnist, recently mused about the famous Hex Murder of Nelson Rehmeyer and the subsequent trial of his three assailants.

Hubley called for a repeat of the York County Bar Association's "A Spell to Remember," a 1999 re-enactment of the murder trial. The Daily Record will pick up his call in an upcoming editorial.

Almost in passing, Hubley revealed an interesting moment from that time: ...

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Members of the South Central Pennsylvania Genealogical Society look on as J. Ross McGinnis gives a tour of the Nelson Rehmeyer house, where the famous Hex murder occurred in 1828. The group is standing over the spot where Rehmeyer was killed. McGinnis is referencing a copy of a photograph of the kitchen depicted after the murder. Background post: Hex book: How powwow doctors plied their craft. For a video on the society's visit, view: Hex house.

It was a perfect story.

The plot brought J. Ross McGinnis, the foremost authority on the Hex murder of 1928, to the site where it occurred, the Nelson Rehmeyer house in North Hopewell Township.

Not only did McGinnis write an authoritative and readable book on the murder, but he's a master story teller to boot.

"I feel like I'm walking here on hallowed ground," McGinnis told members of the South Central Pennsylvania Genealogical Society.

A wonderful fund-raiser for some group would bring McGinnis to the Strand-Capitol in York to tell a similar story before a showing of "Apprentice to Kill," the 1988 film inspired by the Hex murder.

On second thought, given McGinnis' storytelling ability, forget the film. The Strand would be filled.

The York Daily Record reported on McGinnis' visit to the house in a story headlined: "The scene of the crime:"

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Arthur Lewis' "Hex," the first book on the famous York County Hex Murder of 1928 and subsequent trail is said to be out of print. But Ross McGinnis' "Trials of Hex" are still available at York County booksellers. Both paint an intriguing picture of the practice of powwowing in York County. Background post: 'Powwowing was done for good'

The casting of spells and witchcraft are themes behind the story of York County's famous Hex murder of 1928.

The murder of witch Nelson Rehmeyer by three young assailants is a case where the related practice of powwowing - the use of witchcraft for healing purposes - went amok.

But how did the widespread practice of powwowing really work?

It seems like a story from the Middle Ages, but here's how powwow doctors worked in 20th-century York County, as described by Arthur Lewis in his 1969 book "Hex":

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The southern York County hex murder house is shown as investigators were on site collecting evidence in the murder of Nelson Rehmeyer. That led to a trial of the attackers that gained international attention in 1929. For more photographs of the house, see Sparking interest in site.

I took a tour of Rehmeyer's Hollow and its famous Hex house, where three assailants killed witch Nelson Rehmeyer in 1928 in their quest to break a spell cast on one of them.

This was the first time I've seen the house since a member of the Rehmeyer family declared plans to turn it into a museum - a plan that has drawn the wrath of township officials.

As usual, the top of the tall house was visible first as you drove out of a dip after leaving Line Road. It hits you almost by surprise. Why would such an odd-looking structure stand in this bucolic area? ...

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The Hex murder case in 1928 was strange to begin with, involving witchcraft and faith healing and a world-wide audience and teenage defendants and so on.

So it shouldn't be surprising that government's denial of the murder site in spooky Rehmeyer's Hollow as a museum would be strangely disappointing.

Although one could wonder whether the museum site would have been presented with historical integrity, explaining powwowing and this famous case would have heightened interest in York County history. It was a project with merit.

Perhaps something could be salvaged - an exhibit at the York County Heritage Trust or Historic York's Architectural Warehouse, as two examples.

Or perhaps the historical society in Stewartstown could become involved at the Rehmeyer Hollow site.

Two others reacting to the North Hopewell Township action are worth repeating here.

First, Ross McGinnis, author of the "Trial of Hex":

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