Recently in Local landmarks Category

In this York (Pa.) Daily Record file photo, demolition is under way on the houses across from Round the Clock diner in Manchester Township. The old York Silk plant, background, stands guard at this site, one of the points of the four created at the intersection of Route 30 and Interstate 83. The houses are now down, and earth is being moved to make way for a Sheetz convenience store. This is only one of the very visible sites that have changed in York County. Also of interest: York's Shady Dell for sale: 'People don't like to see their past vanish' and Memories about 'The Oaks' pile up - Part II and About Avalong Dairy and Melvin's Drive-In: 'I am some what familiar with the history of the area'

Someone away from York County for many years might be interested in some of the landmarks that are long gone or more recently so.

So, here's a quick roundup of some of the changes:

This image of York (Pa.) High School appeared in the 1921 school yearbook "Orange and Blue." A half dozen years later, William Penn Senior High School was built nearby and this building became Hannah Penn Junior High School. Hannah Penn Middle School later went up in southeast York and this turn-of-the-20th-century building came down. Also of interest: Who was Hannah Penn of York City middle school fame? and York community leader: 'We didn't have equal opportunity to achieve' and People mag features York native as a 'Hero Among Us' and 1967 William Penn senior class scored firsts.

"Rather than dispose of this yearbook," Delanco, N.C.'s, Joan Hinkle wrote, "I thought someone would find it interesting."

I certainly found the 1921 York High yearbook interesting and thought it would make a great back to school tie-in.

That was the class that opened school at the very beginning of the Roaring 20s.

World War I and its devastating partner, the Spanish flu, was now behind. The senior class had begun their high school careers in 1917, the first year of America's involvement in the Great War.

The class had every reason to be optimistic, as evidenced by the class motto: "Onward to Success."

Here are some bits and pieces from the yearbook:

This interesting sign shows the World War II honor roll in Mount Wolf, missing for some time but now on display at the borough's VFW. Charles Stambaugh, who e-mailed this photograph, pointed out that darker, larger writing can be seen behind the white lettering. The number of names just kept growing. See other artifacts of the 100-year-old borough's past at a temporary museum open this weekend and next. Also of interest: The Last Picture Show: Future mayors soaked in 'E.T.' at Mount Wolf, Pa., theater and War memorials stand proudly in towns throughout York County and York County on knees as its men storm Normandy beaches.

Two unrelated e-mails underscored misplaced rolls of honor, war memorials common in towns across York County.

Charles Stambaugh noted Mount Wolf's roll of military men, first displayed at the firehouse.

It was taken down during a remolding project and then lost for many years. Then it was found... .

This view to the north from Chickies Rock toward Marietta on the Lancaster County side of the Susquehanna shows iron furnaces in the distance and other late 19th-century industrial buildings. The waterway is the former mainline canal, with the Pennsylvania Railroad to its right. This photo, and a close look at the furnaces below, come from Frederic H. Abendschein's "Columbia, Marietta, and Wrightsville." Also of interest: York County's Wildcat Falls former peaceful Susquehanna River picnic venue and York County: It's shaped like a horse's .... and Chickies Rock braced for rush of Susquehanna's waters
.

Everyone knows about Big Pittsburgh where those three rivers meet in western Pennsylvania.

But what about Little Pittsburgh in southeastern Pennsylvania - in Marietta, across the Susquehanna River from the York County's Accomac Inn area.

Little Pittsburgh in Lancaster County?

"In the second half of the 19th and early 20th century there existed in the vicinity of Columbia, Marietta and Wrightsville an industrial complex which included eleven anthracite iron furnaces and canal and railroad facilities which served them and other furnace related structures."

So says an informative website put up by Rivertownes PA USA.

The site is deep with information and packed with photos.

Here's a summary from this neat site:

This Lancaster County (Pa.) Solid Waste Management Authority story shows two superimposed wind turbines at Turkey Point, as viewed from York County. Specifically, this scene comes from the Long Level area on the Susquehanna River's west bank - the Long Level area of York County. Foundations for the turbine units are in place, and turbine parts will arrive soon. Also of interest: Chickies Rock braced for rush of Susquehanna's waters York County: It's shaped like a horse's ...., and Scenic Yellow Breeches snakes along York County's northern boundary and Site filled with wealth of York County geological info.

York County has linked up with windpower since the 1870s.

First, it was Dempwolf's windmill on the banks of the Codorus. Then came S. Morgan Smith's entry into windpower in the World War II era.

Now the county's connection with a soon-to-be highly visible windpower project comes from afar - from across the Susquehanna River.

The Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority says two wind turbines are planned for construction on Turkey Point... .

This undated poster tells about activities at Penn Grove Campground in Heidelberg Township. That camp meeting moved from a site between Mount Wolf and Emigsville in the late 1880s, and continues to operated as a day camp today. Thousands of families camped at the Smith Station site over the decades, including many years under the watch of the York Gospel Center. Background posts: Billy Graham: 'I do remember him being here and what a thrill it was', Retiring pastor: 'I'll miss the people' and Tomb of unknown soldier in York, too.

The Lancaster County megachurch LCBC plans to renovate the old Saturn dealership in Springettsbury Township.

When up and running, the 9,000-member church will extend the growth of huge, independent suburban churches in York County.

The York Gospel Center was the first in that line. It was so big that it operated its own camp for years - Penn Grove Camp in Heidelberg Township... .

A rainbow spreads above York, Pa.'s, Sovereign Bank Stadium during the introduction of the 2010 York Revolution team in April 2010. Perhaps it's a indication that pro baseball will never again leave York County. Also of interest: Grass vs. artificial: National turf wars escalated in York and York Revs could help teach about American Revs and York Revolution most recent addition to lengthy local professional baseball timeline.

My recent blog post Baseball is a game of myths, so here's a poke at a growing York County legend raises questions about who, in fact, brought baseball back to York and how did it happen.

Well, here's an explanation from the files of the York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News:

About every other year, York County has a terrible church fire. Fawn Grove's United Methodist Church, above) burned in 2005. Then came Shenberger's Chapel, another United Methodist congregation in 2009. And now, just a few weeks ago, Christ Lutheran Church (Filey's) went up in flames in Monaghan Township. Fawn Grove's 100 year old church fell to the hands of an arsonist. That fire claimed the original chapel and sanctuary, the former started by a Civil War-era circuit rider. (See additional York Daily Record/Sunday News photo below.) Also of interest: Church's landmark: 'A man named Beech carving a beech tree, it seemed too perfect' and People of varying religious groups founded York County and York's worst blaze struck 150 years ago.

Neat stuff from all over ... .

Yorkblogger Pat Abdalla has linked York County with the man who hit "The Shot Heard Round The World," the late Bobby Thomson.

According to Pat's "The Southpaw:" ...

This aerial view from 2009 shows the Codorus Creek dividing York City's two major sports venues - Sovereign Bank Stadium, left, and Small Field. As a point of history, a renovated Small Field, where William Penn Senior High School teams play, was one of the sites studied for the sports stadium that would become home to minor league baseball in York. Background posts: Revs will easily pass 1969's full-season attendance stats and Baseball's Methuselah played for White Roses and 'That's a stupid question;' Brooksie played second base.

The 1,000,000th fan to attend a York Revolution baseball game passed through the turnstiles at Sovereign Bank Stadium this week.

That moment provides an opportunity to poke at a growing myth, put forth by some, about former Mayor Charlie Robertson's standing as the father of baseball in York, or at least the papa of its rebirth.

Rather, we'll let an excerpted York Daily Record/Sunday News editorial (7/13/10) (which I had a hand in) explode this legend:

Thousands of people see this sign each day, and thousands probably don't know what it is touting. Here, painters work on a mural at Stillmeadow Lane and Church Road in Manchester Township in York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday file shot from 2004. (See related photo below.) Background posts: 'Chaplains: The Calm in the Chaos', Often forgotten: Achievements of people named on building facades
and Colorful paintings highlighted York's square in 1927 celebration

A newspaper caption with photos of a barn mural compared it to Mail Pouch Tobacco signage of old.

Except that the mural of an oval eagle on the side of a barn in Manchester Township does not bear any words, in accord with township regs.

So here's the skinny about this silent sign:

Richard Bentzel is seen in this piece of paradise on the edge of York City - an area of Veterans Memorial Park that has been designated a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Also of interest: Memorial Stadium, now Bob Hoffman Stadium, built to keep professional baseball in York and Brooks Robinson - and stories about his York, Pa., pro debut - enduring and Great Balls of Fire, York's Memorial Park to spin back to 50s and Opportunities in York County to feed your sense of discovery.

"It is an urban oasis.

"Would you expect to find a clear-running stream, muskrats and foxes in York city?

"This sliver of Eden is near Veterans' Memorial Park, at the edge of York."

That's Yorkblogger and York Sunday News columnist Gordon Freireich's description of Richard Bentzel's wildlife refuge.

Actually, it's a public wildlife habitat that Bentzel has curated for years... .

Do alligators breed in York, Pa.'s, Poorhouse Run? Actually, no. But this specimen was captured a few years back in this small stream running alongside the old York County Poorhouse site, between the abandoned Chestnut Street Prison and Alexander D. Goode School. That was the site of the early 1800s York County Poorhouse site. The alligator was someone's pet that got away. Also of interest: All pets and animal posts from the start and Could York County's old Chestnut Street prison be used for fundraising tours? and Often forgotten: Achievements of people named on building facades.

Neat stuff from all over ...

York countian Carol Woodbury responded to my recent York Sunday News column about varying opinions about the the pronounciation of 19th-century folk artist Lewis MIller's name. One school of thought has it as "Louie" and another as "Lewis." ...

Christ Lutheran Church (Filey's) in Monaghan Township, in York County's northwestern tip, is engulfed in flames on Thursday, Aug. 12. It takes its name from Jacob Filey, who donated land for the church. The building was dedicated in 1894. Background posts: Church's landmark: 'A man named Beech carving a beech tree, it seemed too perfect' and People of varying religious groups founded York County and York's worst blaze struck 150 years ago.

The devastating fire at Christ Lutheran Church in the Dillsburg area raises an interesting question about York County churches.

Why do so many venerable York County congregations add a family name in or near their official name?

The short answer, according to church historian Charles H. Glatfelter, is that the name of the person or family who donated land for new buildings stuck with the church.

Glatfelter writes in his authoritative "York County Lutherans" about some 18th-century examples:

"York in the 1800s" is one of 18 large-scale paintings that are part of the Murals of York. The West Market Street panel is also one of murals most impacted by weather and time. Also of interest: The Murals of York, Pa., revisited and Murals of York celebrate their 10th anniversary and Murals of York compared to century-old historical artifact.

The oldest of the Murals of York, "York Manufacturing Company," is celebrating its 15th birthday and others are nearing that milestone.

But some are already looking a little long in the tooth, even as teenagers.

Time and weather have caused paint to fade, water damage and a host of other woes.

One mural, the colorful "York in the 1800s," appears to have lost - or is losing - some of its substrate, the underlying surface upon which its artist worked.

Community leaders behind the murals program - a program that was handed over to the York County Heritage Trust sometime after the last mural was painted in 2002 - say that the colorful paintings never were meant to be permanent... .

Paul Nevin wets a serpent petroglyph on Little Indian Rock in the Susquehanna River south of Safe Harbor Dam. Notice the paddlers on their way to learn about the Native American carvings. (See additional York Daily Record/Sunday News file photo below.) Background posts: 400 years ago, John Smith explored Chesapeake Bay and For years, York countians have eyed amazing, destructive Susquehanna River ice jams and On York County parks, Susquehannocks and carved river rocks.

A recent Pennlive.com story about the petroglyphs in the Susquehanna River carried a website that will interest fans of these American Indian rock carvings.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has several web pages devoted to the carvings, including a neat graphic that allows users to highlight carvings of bird tracks, bear tracks, deer tracks, elk tracks and human tracks.... .

An Amish farmer makes his way through a Lower Chanceford township field while plowing with a team of horses along Rt. 24 in a York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News file photo). The Amish population in York County's southeastern sector has been growing in recent years. (See related photo below.) Also of interest: Amishman: 'We are making a commitment to forgive' and 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'

Amish are spreading out from Pennsylvania across the United States, according to a recent Associated Press story.

York County, traditionally not a hearth for this Pennsylvania Dutch group, is the recipient of some of the Amish dispersion.

The best estimates for Amish population in York County have been between 300 and 500 people, mainly located in the area around the Norman Wood Bridge... .

Flames shoot from a grill atop a pier from the bridge that the Union Army burned in 1863 to stop the Confederate advance. Two subsequent bridges used those same now-empty piers. In recent years, re-enactors have simulated the burning of the bridge as an observance of this milestone in local history. Scott Mingus has penned a history, 'Flames Beyond Gettysburg' that tells about that moment when Confederate Gen. John B. Gordon's raid reached the west bank of the Susquehanna. Background posts: New Lincoln blog category introduced to honor Abe's 200th birthday and History-making evening on rebel occupation of York could turn into daylong symposium and Mayor of York, Pa.: 'We are no longer unprotected'.

"One old negro to whom was entrusted the duty of igniting the fuse sat very coolly on the edge of the pier, smoking a cigar."

So wrote Yorkblogger Scott Mingus in his book "Flames Beyond Gettysburg," in giving a Union cavalryman's account of the scene.

Now, some old bank records have revealed the name of the black man whose was among the last four civilians working to stop the Confederate advance eastward in the days before the Battle of Gettysburg.

Jacob Miller was the man behind the cigar... .

These newspaper advertisements from the late 1980s showed what was playing at the Lincoln Drive In and other York-area theaters. The Lincoln closed in 1987, reopened in 1989 and closed again soon thereafter. Interesting, all the theaters in these advertisements no longer stand. Background posts: York County ... 'A smorgasbord of architectural styles' and Just try to resist studying this memory-tugging photograph and Coca-Cola out in Springetts... self-storage space is real thing and Change flattens Stony Brook's drive-in, humpback bridge.

York County Heritage Trust's "Then and Now" exhibit shows captivating before-and-after photographs of West Manchester Township's Lincoln Drive In Theater.

That theater was to York's west end what the Stonybrook Drive In was to the east side.

Both closed in the late 1990s when the large tracts they covered became more valuable for commercial purposes, a trend for such theaters in that time.

Some info on the Lincoln from "Then and Now":

Mount Wolf/Manchester-area residents enjoy an old photograph of Cold Springs Park taken in the days when the old trolley park operated in that area of York County in the 1920s. Cold Springs was one of three trolley parks that operated in the York area. (See additional York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News photo of one of the old trolley cars that carried park-goers to Cold Springs below.) Also of interest: Trolley ran both ways between Manchester and Mount Wolf and 'Teapot Dome' back in York's Continental Square: 'It's the historical significance of it' and Trolleys helped make York's Avenues sought-after locale.

A nationally distributed list of trolley parks still operating left off Dover Township's Brookside Park.

Actually, the AP report looked at still-operating amusement parks with their assortment of merry-go-rounds and roller coaster.

The carousel building stands at Brookside as a reminder of its trolley park days, but it otherwise operates today as a quiet township park, sans rides.

Still, it's the last remaining York-area trolley, or electric park, constructed by trolley companies in the first 30 years of the 20th century to boast ridership on weekends and other non-peak times. Cold Springs near Manchester and Highland Park in West Manchester Township were two others.

Check out the list of remaining electric parks plus excerpts from The Associated Press story (7/25/10):

Workers construct the frame of York, Pa.'s,Sovereign Bank Stadium's 38-foot left-field wall earlier in June 2007. The wall was designed to be the tallest left-field wall in Major League Baseball, rising higher than the Green Monster at Boston's Fenway Park by a few inches. (See additional photo from York Daily Record/Sunday News archives below.) Also of interest: Before the York Revs came the Hanover Raiders and Big league baseball fans from everywhere remember Gene Crumling and York County sports a miniature Cooperstown.

Here are five more York County records, and record breakers, to go with this list of five, tied into the upcoming Great American Wine Toast... .

Continental Congress visit to York, Pa., in 1777-78 produced at least one record breaker - the adoption of first framework of government for the United States of America. Here, is a page from special publication York Daily Record/Sunday News publication detailing a number of congressional delegates who took place in the record breaking. Also of interest: Declaration signer James Smith gains moment of fame and John Adams: 'Yesterday the greatest question was decided' and Events in 1777 helped tip Revolution toward patriots.

Wineries across Pennsylvania will open their doors for the Great Pennsylvania Wine Toast later this month.

The toast, set for 3:30 p.m., Aug. 14, is a stab at a world record for the largest wine tasting ever conducted, according to sponsors.

That prompted York Daily Record/Sunday News reporter Erin McCracken to ask what records and record breakers that York County has put on the board.

So, I resisted in replying with those mythical or hard-to-prove claims - York, first capital of the United States; the York Fair, the nation's oldest; and York, the Detroit of the East.

I came up with 5 records today, some fun, some serious and most just plain interesting:....

At one time, York, Pa.'s, Farquhar Park had two pavilions or gazebos or bandstands. The structure at right has been demolished, but the one at left is refurbished and used for concerts today. (See photo of Boy and Girl Fountain below.) Also of interest: About York's Farquhar pool's water: 'He would demonstrate the safeness by drinking a cup' and U.S. Army Field Band: Live at Farquhar Park and The 'Little Courthouse,' longtime Farquhar Park resident, still stands tall.

York Town Square reader Joel Boogher put forth a simple question under the post: Farquhar Park pool: 'Good grief, how long has that pool been here?'

What was in Farquhar Park when the White Rose Amusement Park was here in 1920-1930?

I responded with info about the two gazebos or pavillions or bandstands (one of which stands today), and wide sidewalks and open space... .

More than two decades ago, York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News photographer Bil Bowden captured this scene when the old power plant smokestack on East Philadelphia Street in York was being refitted into a communications tower. The worker seems unconcerned about his precarious walk. But consider this. What steps did Bowden take to get this photograph? Answer below, but meanwhile, here's a hint: Bil didn't use an airplane or helicopter. Also of interest: Photographer tramps to far reaches of York County and A far different view of York County and Simple photograph helps frame York, Pa.'s, future.

Neat stuff from all over:

On baseball-reference.com and Yorkblogger Pat Abdalla's Southpaw blog about former Hanover Raider Bill Sherdel:

1930: Bill Sherdel is called out of the Cardinals bullpen to pitch to pinch hitter Johnny Mokan of the Phillies. There are no outs in the eighth with runners on first and second base. Sherdel throws one ball, and Mokan bunts it in the air to Jim Bottomley coming in from first. He throws to SS Jimmy Cooney, who doubles the runner at 2B and throws to Rogers Hornsby who goes covering first base. A triple play on one pitch... .

This rare photograph shows teens dancing at the Shady Dell in the early 1960s. The photo comes from the two-year-old website: Shady Dell Music & Memories. (See another dance photo below, plus a current shot of the Dell undergoing renovation.) Also of interest: Part I: Memories mounting about old York-area teen hangout Shady Dell and York's Shady Dell for sale: 'People don't like to see their past vanish' and Memories about 'The Oaks' pile up - Part II and About Avalong Dairy and Melvin's Drive-In: 'I am some what familiar with the history of the area'

Former Shady Dell rats continue to come forward and use Shady Dell Music & Memories as a forum to reminisce about their Dell experiences.

Tom Anderson, who runs the two-year-old blogsite dedicated to the longtime Spring Garden Township teen hangout, e-mailed:

"One of them, Lynn B., recently shocked me and my readers with one of the most significant finds in Dell history. Lynn made available a pair of photographs that might be the only ones of their kind in existence. The pictures, taken in 1961, show Lynn and her friends mixing, mingling and dancing in the Dell's barn dance hall!"

This photo is featured on the website "Shady Dell Music & Memories" operated by Shady Dell Knight Tom Anderson. The site is celebrating its second anniversary this month. The privately owned property that formerly housed the southside teen hangout is along Starcross Road in Spring Garden Township. Also of interest: York's Shady Dell for sale: 'People don't like to see their past vanish' and York-area full of memory-spawning landmarks and Interstate lined out Melvin's swan song.

Tom Anderson, who operates a website bearing deep memories of the former hangout the Shady Dell, e-mailed with an update.

Here are excerpts:

This window transom stained glass window at York, Pa.'s, First Moravian Church is one of 31 designed by noted York County artist J. Horace Rudy. This is another in a series on those windows. Also of interest: All Rudy stained-glass window posts from the start and York native Steve Zirnkilton's 'Law & Order' voice known to the world and York County enthusiasts could find historical event, site to visit every day.

Charles Fishel, a member of an early First Moravian family, was honored with the dedication of this stained-glass window about 100 years ago.

"The inscription at the window's base note: In Memoriam - Charles Fishel," Terrence Downs wrote.

Here is the rest of Terry's explanation of the window and the family name on the window's inscription:

Mose's Gulf Service Station in West Manchester Township, seen in this 2004 York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News photo, recently celebrated its 50 anniversary. Mose's is a rarity in the York area, an independently owned full service gas station. (See additional photo below.) Also of interest: Independent York gas pumper celebrates 50th in 2007 and Lincoln Highway Garageman returned to old York site: 'I have to take care of my old customers' and E-mail query: Was the Valley Inn Garage part of Springettsbury Township's old York Valley Inn?.

Mose's Gulf Service is a throwback to the days when the Lincoln Highway supported full service gas stations by the dozens. And the days before convenience stores catered to the appeal of one-stop shopping.

But the West York gas station is still there, servicing customers and operating in its 50 year.

Kurt Baker, brother of the current operator of Mose's, Karl Baker, and various York Daily Record/Sunday News stories provide the following snapshot:

The 19th-century homestead of John Emig of York County's Emigsville fame is shown in this drawing. The Emig name was attached to Acme Wagon Works, predecessor of American Acme Company, for decades. Also of interest: 50-year Emigsville construction company's closure: 'It was a bittersweet day for all of us' and In 1997, Emigsville's mighty oak fell and Emigsville's Web site tells tales of community's past.

Pat Martin in St. Louis has some documents that might have value to some folks linked with American Acme, former maker of sleds and other wood products, in York County, Pa.

She wrote:

Mel Miller, a student of York County history, believes this photograph from Earl Shaffer's glass plate negative collection shows the York Carriage Works fire in 1904. "The street on the right would be West North Street. I think the bridge in the foreground is the North Beaver Street bridge and the one beyond is the North George Street bridge. Only the abutment stands out on the north bank," he wrote. That blaze, which broke out on April 6, 1904, claimed the lives of three Vigilant firefighters - Harry Saltzgiver, Lewis Strubinger, Horace F. Strine. The negatives are part of the West Manchester Historical Society collection. Also of interest: Deadly York fire: 'There never was a more horrible one' and York's biggest blaze struck 150 years ago and A list of traumatic, painful incidents that rocked York County .

That Zion View vs. Zions View vs. Zion's View debate?

Well, York attorney and artifact collector Byron LeCates has found an sign that points to "Zion's View," as an early spelling.

The sign, framed in wood, touts: John A. Bahn, Undertaker and Furniture Dealer, Zion's View... .

The old Gettysburg Cyclorama building, slated for demolition, has gained new life - possibly. Also of interest: 'Ruh-row, Raggy': Gettysburg ghost hunters find no trespassing signs and York newspaper about Gettysburg Address: 'Mr. Lincoln made a joke or two ...' and Q&A on new Gettysburg visitor center, old Electric Map

A grassy field has grown up where the old visitors center at Gettysburg National Military Park came down.

A newcomer would not know that a long narrow building visited by millions each year sat there for decades.

But its longtime sister, the old Cyclorama building stands nearby, as courts and the federal government decide its fate... .

West Manchester Township Historical Society's Mel Miller e-mailed this image from a glass plate in the society's collection. "We both know the location," he wrote. The turn-of-the-20th-century photographer captured the fourth bridge - the fourth of six - across the Susquehanna River at Wrightsville. Background posts: Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge celebrates quiet birthday and Susquehanna bridge makeover flowing along and A 7th bridge? Pedestrian walkway may span Susquehanna River some day.

Local student of history Mel Miller is going through Earl Shaffer's collection of glass photographic plates.

This is the Earl Shaffer of Appalachian Trail fame, a longtime resident of West Manchester Township.

Mel is reviewing the the Shaffer collection, courtesy of the West Manchester Township Historical Society.

He found a image of the baseball stadium at Penn Park, the York area's first.

And images of a bad fire in York in the early 1900s and photos of statues in Penn Park.

In the image above, the photographer traveled to Wrightsville on the Susquehanna River, where he captured the sole bridge going across circa 1904... .

York Township's Dianne Bowders submitted this photograph, and a closer view below, of 'Wrightsville's hidden lime kilns.' "Most people see the kilns on Front Street, but miss seeing the kilns on Waterworks Lane," she wrote. The Front Street kilns recently were certified as a heritage site. Also of interest: Dritt Mansion, 4 other York County historic places tagged as authentic heritage sites and Wrightsville's overlooked attractions and Native Americans help clean up Dritt family cemetery in new York County park.

Neat stuff from all over...

Terrence Downs, who York Town Square readers know is writing a series about J. Horace Rudy's stained-glass windows at First Moravian Church, has a sense of loss after learning of water damage to the William C. Goodridge House.

That residence of the former slaver was damaged after its partial restoration as it's being transformed into an Underground Railroad museum.

That sense of loss comes first hand... .

Henry Boulding Jr. became owner of his father's mortuary business, seen in this photograph in 2002, on West Boundary Avenue in York, Pa., in 1995. His father started in the mortuary business in York, holding two funeral services in W. Russell Chapman's longtime funeral home. Fifteen years later after Henry Boulding Jr. assumed ownership, his funeral business is operating in a Georgia Revival-style mansion in the Avenues neighborhood of York and playing host to an upcoming art and history exhibition. Also of interest: About pioneer W. Russell Chapman: 'He was the swing vote ... but he couldn't be swayed' and S. Morgan Smith and P.H. Glatfelter head list of York County industrial movers and shakers and Since its earliest years, Farquhar Park has represented a hilltop prize in York, Pa..

The Boulding Mortuary, located in a 1905 Georgian Revival mansion, will serve as the focal point for the annual "Diversity II, A Showcase of Artists, Authors and Historians" at 1-6 p.m., Sunday, July 25.

Last year, more than 350 visitors from inside and outside of The Avenues district of York City attended the free public event at the funeral home's 471 Madison Avenue site... .

This view of Lauxmont, originally developed as York County, Pa., industrialist S. Forry Laucks' summer estate, came from the camera of Ted Taylor, as part of York County Camera Club competition in 2009. Also of interestmo: With hot controversy cooled, Highpoint offers Susquehanna River view for the ages and Bad economy turned York Safe & Lock toward lucrative defense work and Century-old Laux family member from York County had expensive first date .

A relative of S. Forry Laucks seems to have settled a discussion on the variations in pronouncing of S. Forry Laucks-built Lauxmont in Lower Windsor Township.

That variation usually runs along the lines of Loucks-mont, after the family name, or Low-mont, with a decided French feel.

Karl Katz met Forry Laucks before the captain of York Safe & Lock died in 1942.

So he heard the pronounciation first hand from the guy who built Lauxmont... .

The lion, positioned on spouting, is guarding the former former William C. Goodridge house on York, Pa.'s, East Philadelphia Street. But it missed the encroachment of groundwater that destroyed some of the renovated work on the building, which will become an Underground Railroad museum. Renowned architect Reinhardt Dempwolf also lived in the house. Also of interest: Facelift saves Noss House from its spot atop York's most-endangered list and The Four YorkBloggers write and Author: 'York's streetscape features almost every style and era of American architecture'.

Yorkblogger Scott D. Butcher is more than an architectural historian. He's also deft with the camera, capturing architectural features in the York area.

For more photos, check out his Windows into York blog post: Lions and Gargoyles and Bears, Oh My!... .

The 1719 Herr House is the oldest building in Lancaster County, and the oldest Mennonite meeting house in North America. It is part of a large celebration in that county this year, the 300th anniversary of permanent European settlement by Swiss-German Mennonites in the Willow Street area of Lancaster County. The Hans Herr House was built in that era. In the early 1700s, Lancaster County's history was York County's history. York County withdrew from its older sister in 1749. Also of interest: What is the Pennsylvania German (Pennsylfaanisch Deitsch) dialect all about? and Classes offer rare op to learn Pennsylvania Dutch and All Pennsylvania Dutch posts from the start.

The note attached to a news release from the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society seemed routine enough.

"This release is about an additional event being held at the 1719 Herr House on the same day as the Herr Family Homecoming ... ," LMHS marketing assistant Lowell Brown wrote.

"Besides being a fun event for families and youth groups, it is, to my knowledge, the first time an organization affiliated with Lancaster Mennonite Conference has sponsored a dance."

A square dance, that is.

"Traditionally, many North American Mennonite groups have frowned on dancing as a "worldly" distraction from faith. However, outside of a religious context, many young Mennonites enjoy dancing," the release states... .

Moisture seeping into the Goodridge House, a budding Underground Railroad museum, damaged restorative horse-hair plaster -- recently finished as part of a renovation. Also of interest: Freed slaves living north of Mason-Dixon Line often faced return to bondage and Research needed to unearth Underground Railroad in York County - Part I and Research needed to unearth Underground Railroad in York County, Part II.

The cash-strapped Goodridge Freedom House & Underground Railroad has sustained a setback.

Moisture has undone some of the restorative work on the East Philadelphia house, former home of the 19th-century ex-slave-turned-businessman William C. Goodridge... .

This mother and daughter from Taneytown, Md., have been coming to Hanover's East Chestnut Street farmers market for more than 30 years. The market appears on a list of designated heritage resources in York County. This Hanover (Pa.) Evening Sun photograph was taken in 2008. (See additional photograph below.) Also of interest: Click on the National Register of Historic Places link and enjoy a tour of York County historic sites and Stewartstown Railroad's old iron bridge on National Register and Find out how many York County sites are approved Underground Railroad stations.

One hundreds years ago, five covered market houses - Farmers, Central, City, Eastern and Carlisle Street - operated in the York area.

Often overlooked among such county structures is Hanover's Farmers Market.

But the York County Planning Commission did not forget it.

It appears in good company of heritage places on a planning commission approved list - the York County Network of Historic Sites.

Five additional heritage places recently were added to that list.

How many of these designated heritage sites have you visited? (Search on this blog by keyword for posts explaining most of these sites.)

Previously recognized:

The John and Kathryn Zimmerman Center for Heritage at Historic Pleasant Garden has been placed on York County Network of Heritage Sites.The National Register of Historic Places property is located about 3.5 miles south of Wrightsville at Long Level and is now owned by the Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area. York County resident Dianne Bowders posted this photograph on the Your Photos section of ydr.com. Also of interest: Where exactly is the York/Lancaster border? and Native Americans help clean up Dritt family cemetery in new York County park and Gettysburg-area National Register homestead gives snapshot of pressures facing farms.

York County boasts of countless historic places, but not all are "authentic."

The York County Planning Commission recently certified the authenticity of five heritage sites, making them part of a longer list called the "York County Network of Heritage Sites."

According to a planning commission brochure, York County Heritage, is a county-wide network of heritage resources - natural, cultural and historic - that are officially
designated by that county agency.

The program focuses on Heritage Sites - historic places museums, learning centers, nature centers, natural areas - places that focus on educating residents and visitors about local heritage.

The 85th anniversary booklet for the then-exclusive men's club, the Lafayette Club, carries this photo with an explanation of how the murals painter worked. That is, he often had an audience of diners overseeing his work in the former P.A. Small Mansion that serves as club headquarters. Carlson responded by painting replies into the numerous colorful murals. For example, in one mural, an Indian brave is seen among the Susquehanna River rocks at Accomac, stalking settlers in a flatboat. A closer look shows him sneaking up on a glass tumbler on a stone ledge. "Historically, this is the origin of a martini on the rocks with a twist," the writer of the booklet quips. The booklet traces the club's origin: The York Club: 1858-1899, York Bicycle Club,1888-1891; York Cycle Club, 1891-1898; Bachelor's Club, 1898-1908; and Lafayette Club, 1898. Also of interest:10 years ago, York's exclusive Lafayette Club became less exclusive, Part I, Part II and Marquis de Lafayette captivates folks even today.

Neat stuff from all over ....

Buffy Andrews of Buffy's Write Zone blog has posted more entries from her mother-in-law Ethel P. Hershey Gross's autograph book at Wellsville High School, year 1933-34.

The entries supply an engaging snapshot of teenage thoughts in those years... .

York artist Cliff Satterthwaite captures the raising of the cupola atop the Colonial Courthouse replica on West Market Street in 1976. The replica of the original 1750s York County Court House was built as part of 200th anniversary festivities of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. (See Satterthwaite's unveiling drawing below.) Also of interest: About long-time York County, Pa., documentary artist: 'Cliff was quite a character' and Linked in with neat York County, Pa., history stuff and Walt Partymiller's cartoons and catalogues.

For years, York countians enjoyed York artist Cliff Satterthwaite's work.

He would just show up at an event and capture the scene. And his documentary works were often mass printed in The Gazette and Daily for years.

His legacy artwork still appears around town, including in Helen Miller Gotwalt's "Crucible of a New Nation."

Diana Palladino is moving ahead with a biography about Satterthwaite and his work... .

This drawing from a mid-20th century York (Pa.) Chamber of Commerce publication shows the scene in York, then York Town, upon the arrival of the Declaration of Independence. York attorney and Continental Congress delegate James Smith was part of a delegation carrying the document to York, where it was read to a crowd on July 6. A re-enactment of this reading of the Declaration is set for Sunday, July 4, in York. Also of interest: Declaration signer James Smith gains moment of fame and John Adams: 'Yesterday the greatest question was decided' and Events in 1777 helped tip Revolution toward patriots

James Smith, who later signed the Declaration of Independence, headed a delegation that brought with them the document from Philadelphia to his hometown of York in July 1776.

The "later" signing part is right. He carried the Dunlap Broadside, a printed declaration, signed by John Hancock and Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress.

The familiar, beautifully handwritten Declaration would be ready for signatures in early August, about a month after Smith's July 6 arrival in York Town.

Four militia companies and 300 to 400 old men, women and boys joined Smith for a public reading... .

This is the guide cover for a walking tour highlighting the various eras of York, Pa., Jewish history. York Sunday News columnist and fellow Yorkblogger Gordon Freireich conducted the tour on Sunday. Freireich has explained that "chai," pronounced "high," is the Hebrew word for "life." Also of interest: JCC rooftop playground: 'Neatest place in town' and Holocaust sculpture a York County must-see and Of local Jewish WW II group: 'It's a skeleton post. I'm it.'.

About 100 hundred people braved the heat and humidity Sunday, participating in "Taking the Chai Road, A Walking Tour of Jewish Downtown York."

Tour leader Gordon Freireich blogged on this event, conducted as part of York Jewish Community Center's 100th anniversary: A hot time on Downtown York walking tour... .

Visitors to the Gettysburg Cyclorama take in the 360-degree artist's rendition of fighting on the battle's third day, specifically Pickett's Charge. This scene came in the early days of the rehabbed painting at the Gettysburg National Military Park's new visitor center in 2008. Also of interest: 'Ruh-row, Raggy': Gettysburg ghost hunters find no trespassing signs and York newspaper about Gettysburg Address: 'Mr. Lincoln made a joke or two ...' and Q&A on new Gettysburg visitor center, old Electric Map

This isn't the first time we've raised issues about out-of-control huckstering of ghost tours in and around the battlefield in Gettysburg. (See: What do you think about those ghost stories linked to historic sites in York and Adams counties?

But a recent visitor over there brought back how that industry has over run that town, which has the asset of a well-done visitors center.

Now, we have the prospect of gambling.

All this came out in my York Sunday News column (6/27/10): ... .

An antique stereoscope is put to use at a recent Hanover History Camp at the Warehime-Myers Mansion run by the Hanover Area Historical Society. The camp took kids from indoors to the field. "It's three-dimensional history," Ken Weiler, of the historical society, said. "We're taking them out of the classroom." Society member Colleen Reese saw the camp as an investment in history: 'They learn about Hanover history and get excited. When they become parents, we're set.' The York County Heritage Trust also offers summer camps. Also of interest: Hanover's Old State Theater and George Armstrong Custer - and his horse - left legacy in York County and Hanover native Ann Roth explains how she designs costumes for Hollywood .

Neat stuff from all over... .

I asked Stewartstown-area history aficionado Doug Winemiller whether the Dempwolf-designed Wilson House in southeastern York County's Gatchelville still stands. The house was profiled in a recent York Town Square post.

It does, he wrote back.

And there might be another Dempwolf-designed house in the area... .

A memorial with fresh flags at South Hills Hebrew Cemetery honors a Jewish war veteran in this 2008 York Daily Record/Sunday News file photo. Youth group members and others from Jewish Family Services helped veteran Jerry Cohen place the flags. War service is just part of the Jewish community's long history of service in York County. Also of interest: JCC rooftop playground: 'Neatest place in town' and Holocaust sculpture a York County must-see and Of local Jewish WW II group: 'It's a skeleton post. I'm it.'.

Yorkblogger and York Sunday News columnist Gordon Freireich will lead a walking tour of downtown York highlighting the various eras of York Jewish history.

Here are some details Gordon included with a column - Walk through York's Jewish history - about the tour, an intriguing opportunity open to the public:

This photo is the ballfield or stadium at York, Pa.'s Penn Park, the first in a series of baseball parks to serve as the homefield for York-area professional baseball teams. West Manchester Township Historical Society's Mel Miller scanned this image from a glass plate. He also has determined its exact location. (See second photo below.) Also of interest: Remembering York/Adams major leaguers and A historic York walking tour of the Sovereign Bank stadium area and Plaques offer historic insight into 'The Swamp,' before Sovereign Bank Stadium drained it.

I guess you could say it's a glass plate shot of home plate.

Mel Miller supplied the photo from a glass negative above and a second photo (below, from a publication) of Penn Park's stadium to York Town Square earlier this year. He was not then sure of its location.

Now, thanks to Roe's early 20th century map, he has it placed... .

Here's his description:

This iron bridge on the Stewartstown Railroad, located along Route 851 just outside Stewartstown in Hopewell township, is a second-hand bridge. Stewartstown's Doug Winemiller wrote that it was built in 1870 and originally located in Baltimore over the Jones Falls waterway. The railroad moved it to its present location in the 1890s. But even second-hand bridges have first-rate historical value. The bridge, built in the transitional period between wood and steel spans, is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Also of interest: Historic Stewartstown Railroad heading to the auction block? and All Stewartstown-related posts from the start and Stewartstown Railroad: 'Truly a unique entity in the state, and possibly, the nation'.

A mixed bag of neat stuff ...

I like it when a reader agrees with me.

Who doesn't like to find a kindred spirit?

But York countian Bill Schmeer added insight to his kudos. The topic was my writing about the tendency of visiting journalists/historians to mischaracterize York County, admittedly as tough place to describe.

Here are Bill's thoughtful observations, relating to a moment when York County opened its arms to victims of a Chinese human smuggling ring, passengers on the ship Golden Venture:

The Barbell Man at York Barbell is back from rehab and hoisted to it normal rotating perch greeting motorists along 83. This York Daily Record/Sunday News video shows his ride to his stand atop York Barbell. Also of interest: All York Barbell posts from the start and Obscure F.O.E. building to become colorful beacon of York, Pa.'s renaissance and Who were most prominent 20th-century sports heroes in York and Adams counties?

The York Barbell Man is one of York County's most memorable landmarks.

But he's been a bit long of tooth recently.

The man was removed recently for repairs after he began coming apart at a seam around his lower torso, specifically around the seat of his pants.

He was rewired and hoisted back in place.

Here are some specifics about the statue:

York artist J. Horace Rudy's stained glass window at York's First Moravian Church features a dove, perhaps referencing the Bible verse: 'And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." ' Also of interest: All Rudy stained-glass window posts from the start and York native Steve Zirnkilton's 'Law & Order' voice known to the world and York County enthusiasts could find historical event, site to visit every day.

Some families honored with plates on the 31 J. Horace Rudy-produced windows at York's First Moravian Church are well known. The S. Morgan Smith family would be one such example.

But others so honored lived less notable, productive lives.

This was the case of the unsung Shank family whose plate is, coincidentally, obscured at First Moravian Church.

Here is the seventh window, and family, profiled in this series by First Moravian member Terrence Downs:

Metro Bank offices around York County have implemented the good idea of colorized photos detailing historical events or sites near those branches. The Mount Zion and White Road bank branch, for example, was built on the former site of the popular Avalong Restaurant. So an image of that nostalgia-evoking eatery appears on the bank wall. Other such images will appear in future York Town Square posts. Also of interest: The 1950s, '60s: 'The greatest time to grow up in York, Pa.' and About Avalong Dairy and Melvin's Drive-In: 'I am some what familiar with the history of the area' and From Meadowbrook Mansion to York County farmhouse.

Neat stuff from all over ... .

Reader Jerry Warren responded to my recent World War II column in the York Sunday News in which I wrote that the world will observe the 65th anniversary of V-J Day on Aug. 14.

He's skeptical that the historical moment, indeed, will be observed.

Here's are excerpts from his e-mail: ...

The Ladies Soldiers Aid Society met in P.A. & S. Small's buildings, right, on York, Pa.'s, Centre Square to sew and wind bandages for Union fighting men in the Civil War. That's the M.B. Spahr Company, on the northeastern corner of the square, in this circa 1890 photograph, a colorized version of a York County Heritage Trust photo, that appears in Metro Bank's Prospect Street Office. Also of interest: Isabel Small led procession of women who made wreath for Abe Lincoln's coffin and York County Civil War nurse about Confederate invaders: 'Dogs of war in our midst' and Living historians bring spotlight to York's Civil War story.

A recent York Town Square blog post detailing the end of the Young Women's Club of York's operations of the hospitality shop at York Hospital leads to the question:

When did such organized service clubs - facing shrinking memberships today - start their good work around York?

The Civil War might have brought organized women's service work into existence... .

The Young Women's Club of York were operating the hospitality shop at York Hospital as captured in this photograph in this mid-century York (Pa.) Chamber of Commerce publication. (See below for a view of the hospital in that era.) Also of interest: York Hospital's, WellSpan's beginnings: 'A man named Small acted upon a not-so-small idea' and West Side Sanitarium, later West Side Osteopathic and later Memorial Hospital born in The Avenues in York and Mount Wolf's Frances G. Wolf a 20th-century mover in the York County community.

One of those unsung moments that carry lots of meaning came recently with the report that the Young Women's Club of York would stop operating the York Hospital hospitality shop.

Starting this month, the hospital is operating the shop, which ran under the stewardship of the Young Women's Club since 1947.

In a sign of the times in which volunteer service is declining, the club could not keep up with demands of operating the shop... .

Larry Good has supplied a bit more information about the late Vic Wertz, slugger for the Cleveland Indians in the 1950s, and a former York County resident.

He pointed out that Paul Wertz, Vic's father, was store manager of Shue's Manchester borough hardware store.

The reminder was a matchbook for Shues Self Service Hardware Store on eBay.

Larry e-mailed:

A lone pier, left, center, from a long-gone trolley bridge sits in the middle of the Conewago Creek near York County's Manchester borough. This view come from York County's Assessment Data & Mapping page. This useful website offers clear aerial views of York County. This particular scene will also be part of a presentation that I will give at 7 p.m., today, June 5, at the Mount Wolf Theater, as part of borough centennial festivities, on the topic: The Mount Wolf Area: More Than Just History.. Also of interest: Susquehanna Lions fight to keep streak going in Mount Wolf and Pan-demic, rather dredge-demic, gold fever strikes York County and Conewago crossing near Manchester hot spot for years.

Neat stuff from all over... .

Judy Druck Routson has a copy of "A Rock in the Baltic by Robert Barr, copyright 1906, published by The Authors and Newspapers Association, New York.

She wrote:

Imprinted on the title page in a small, red-outlined box is this: P. WIEST'S SONS SPECIAL EDITION For sale exclusively by us in York, Pa.

Judy Druck Routson, author of a history about York County's Druck Valley, is looking for further information on this book and its connection with Wiest's department store ... .

Spring Grove, Pa., papermaker CEO George Glatfelter II talks about his decision to retire at year's end from the company his family has operated since the 1860s, in this ydr.com video. Also of interest: A leading York County name: 'Keeping it in family is the Glatfelter way' and Private, public interests built Lake Marburg for manufacturing, recreation and P.H. Glatfelter and S. Morgan Smith head list of York County industrial movers and shakers.

George Glatfelter's planned retirement from the paper manufacturing company started by his great-great-grandfather raises the question about how his family got involved in that line of work, the first place.

Yorkblogger Scott Mingus, who is an exec with Glatfelter and a tireless researcher, has dug out the story.

The Glatfelter story starts after the Battle of Gettysburg ended... .

William H. Kain poses near the York County park sign that bears his name. For a photo of John C. Rudy, also from Eleanor Boggs Shoemaker's "Parks, People, Preservation, Public Policy," see below. Also of interest: Mile-a-minute weed's York County origins questioned, Memorial honoring victims of alcohol-related crashes should be visited and Rainmaker's visit indicates much awry in York.

Their names are spoken weekly in hundreds of household around York County.

The picnic is at Rudy Park.

Or, let's go mountain biking at Kain.

But who were those guys whose names appear on park signs anyway?

.

Central York High School students are researching this farmhouse that sits on the high school grounds. They plan to dig for artifacts to better understand life on the farm. They sent along this photo of the house with the high school in the background. Also of interest: Horn Farm: 'A very special living history memorial to those hardy ancestors' and Central York educator keeps list of achievers in arts & entertainment fields and Central York High School's Laura Beveridge: 'I certainly have not forgotten her' and Archaeologist at Springettsbury's Camp Security: 'If we knew it was here, we wouldn't have to do this'.

A couple of Central York High School students queried York Town Square about the many-decades-old farmhouse that sits near their less-than-a-decade-old high school and campus in Springettsbury Township.

Tasha Stevens and Alex Greene wrote that their class is conducting a historical analysis of the home, and they'll submit their findings to the Central York school board. The results of their work will eventually appear on the district's website. And the class, joined by Millersville University students, will conduct an archeological dig at various sites on and around the property.

This is a wonderful, intriguing project to further educate in the waning days of a school year. No textbooks are needed for this one.

According to Tasha, here, in excerpted form, is what the class knows about the house:

An e-mailer sent in this illustration of York, Pa's, Christ Lutheran Church and Zion German Reformed Church steeples from the 1800s. Christ Lutheran Church's tower stands today, but Zion church was demolished in the early 1900s. One of its successors - Zion United Church of Christ, was built in the 1910s on Lafayette Street, facing Penn Park. Another successor, Trinity United Church of Christ, built in the 1860s, stands on West Market Street, a few doors down from Continental Square. For more on this illustration, originally appearing in American Architect and Building News, visit: Church Towers or www.stcroixarchitecture.com. Also of interest: York County ... 'A smorgasbord of architectural styles' and York's housing stock not that revolutionary and People of varying religious groups founded York County.

A mixed bag of neat stuff...

A reader asked about how to learn more about Nelson Rehmeyer's background.

Rehmeyer, a suspected witch, was the victim in the notorious and often-discussed Hex Murder of 1928. Three assailants, acting on the belief he had cast a spell on one of them, killed him in his rural southern York County farmhouse... .

Mari Morgan, left, who grew up in Wales, listens to Don Robinson talk about the interior of a Welsh quarrymen's cottage in Coulsontown, Peach Bottom Township in this York Daily Record/Sunday News files photo from 2007. The cottages, built around 1850 by Welsh quarry workers, have never had plumbing. Coulsontown, a street of such cottages, is featured in the expanded part of the recently released second edition of "The River and the Ridge," a book about the historic southeastern corner of York County. Also of interest: Wanted: One slate-roofed privy from Delta, Pa. and 100 years later, Delta clock keeps on ticking and Gettysburg fighting heard in Delta, about 60 miles away.

John S. Murphy, as the old story goes, lived a normal childhood, growing up in Delta, serving in the Boy Scouts and participating in sports.

When World War II came, Murphy was drafted and became a B-17 navigator, stationed in England. From there, his plane flew missions over Europe.

Less than a month before the war in Europe ended, his bomber was shot down.

The nine-member crew safely parachuted safely, but German troops captured Murph and three of his crewmates... .

York County's Dianne Bowders submitted this photo of the Kreutz Creek area in eastern York County. She noted that this Hellam Township site near the Kreutz Creek Presbyterian Church is one of the first settlements of European pioneers west of the Susquehanna. Digges Choice - the Hanover area today - is another such settlement. Also of interest: Absorbing photo and overlay shows locations of six Susquehanna bridgesand Almost ... a double deck bridge across the Susquehanna River? and Horn Farm: 'A very special living history memorial to those hardy ancestors'.

The Bahns, Spykers, Musser and Ruby families are among the pioneering families of York County.

Dianne Bowders, whose camera and pen, are contributing much to understanding York County's past, provided a photo and information about a historic area and those early families that motorists along Route 30 roll past without a thought. That's the area the four-lane Route 30 passes through a few miles east of the Galleria Mall and the Wright's Ferry Bridge over the Susquehanna.

And a good place to stop for a stroll, too.

Dianne provided this information: ...

This is the old Hoke one-room school in the Menges Mills area. Built in 1907, it is a private residence, the dominant use today of former one-room schools dotting the York County countryside. At least one other Hoke school stands today - near Woodbury in West Manchester Township. Such schools often took the names of owners of the land on which they were built, and Hoke is a common York County name. For a Web site devoted to York/Adams one-room schools, visit: All in one room. Also of interest: York County's former Teachers' Institutes: 'Head train the hand. Hand train the head' and One-room school reunions preserve educational culture of thousands of York countians and Horse, buggy, one-room school make York County comeback.

Neat stuff from all over ... .

An e-mailer asked about the availability of a Murals of York book, writing that she couldn't find images of the murals in my "Never to be Forgotten."

I told her a black-and-white newsprint version of the book that the York Daily Record/Sunday News published about a decade ago is probably available at the York County Heritage Trust.

But there's a printable and colorful guide to the 18 large-scale murals and 15 mini-murals on the history section of ydr.com... .

York County playbill

This is the program for the free "If Machines Could Talk" event at the Agricultural and Industrial Museum in York, Pa., on Saturday, May 22. For details, Sensory explosions abound at museum. Also of interest: First York Airport's administration building stands today and Motter printing presses: 'Newspapers ... around the world purchased these York-made presses' and On Second Saturdays: 'It's really cool that the Heritage Trust started this program'

"With an explosion of stimulation to one's senses, the galleries will be filled with the sounds of machines roaring to life and stories being told."

So says a York County Heritage Trust release detailing a day at the Agricultural and Industrial Museum on Saturday, May 22, in which many big pieces of industrial equipment will rev up.

For example, the Bradley Mill and York Corporation's 12-ton A-frame ammonia compressor will operate. And demonstrators will split slate in a lesson about the slate industry in the Delta-Peach Bottom region of southeastern York County.

That's the loud part... .

York, Pa., banking in the round

This round bank building on South Queen Street in York Township, Pa., is a landmark that highlights the design skills of York County-grown Buchart-Horn Inc./Basco Associates/Pace Resources. Architectural historian Scott Butcher highlights that design form in his Window into York blog post: York in the Round. Also of interest: Bright color replaced gritty gray at former Borg-Warner site and Two tales of four schools teach about change in York County education and Carriage house dome in West York: 'What's there will last for 100 years ... 200 years'.

In the buildup to World War II, York County registered architect Clair Buchart considered the business potential in military work already flowing into York.

Two weeks before Pearl Harbor, he launched a tool and machine design business.

"One by one he acquired some initial projects and spread his work out on the living room table of his home in Yoe," Georg Sheets writes in "Breaking Ground: The First Fifty Years of Excellence," a 1995 book about architectural and engineering firm Buchart-Horn. "And that, Clair reports, is where it all began."

What began in that Yoe living room is now an international company... .

In rural York County, Pa.

This image has long greeted congregants at St. Jacob's United Church of Christ in York New Salem. Those working on a church anniversary of searching for the painter of this work and sister piece (see below.) Also of interest: People of varying religious groups founded York County and York County research topic: 18th-century helicopter could have aided pastor and
100 stories about Fissel's finger: 'And any one of them could be true'.

Scott Becker is the historian at York New Salem's St. Jacob's United Church of Christ.

He's on the hunt for information on the church's building, in preparation for 150th anniversary activities this year.

Particularly, he's looking for info on two paintings in the church's sanctuary:

Here is his excerpted e-mail:

York, Pa.-area school

West Manchester Township (Pa.) Park School served as a private residence when this photograph was taken in 1998. It appears in the township's 200th anniversary book. Also of interest: York County's Pinchgut vs. The Gut and Growing off-peak trolley ridership in York County: Build a park, Highland Park and Smoketown a popular York County name a century ago.

An e-mailer wondered about the old school building in the Highland Park area, sometimes referred to as Dogtown, Smoketown or Highlandtown, in West Manchester Township.

"The shell of the building is still there," she wrote, "located at 1441
Old Salem Rd."

We immediately turned to the trustworthy and fact-filled "A History of West Manchester Township, York County, Pennsylvania, 1799-1999."

Here's the skinny:

This window, another by noted York, Pa., artist J. Horace Rudy, is dedicated to a well-known York County family - the Lanius family. Also of interest: All First Moravian stained-glass window posts from the start and York native Steve Zirnkilton's 'Law & Order' voice known to the world and Easter in York County, 1919: Sadness, joy, hope.

Terrence Downs continues his series of essays on the 31 J. Horace Rudy-designed windows at First Moravian Church.

Downs accomplishes more than a description of the colorful window. He continues to detail the families - some well-known and still achieving today - honored with the artwork. And he places the families in historical context.

Here is the writer's description of a window on the north side of the building's sanctuary:

In York County, Pa.

This image shows the convergence of two forms of transportation that put Emigsville, Manchester Township, on the map - highway and railroad. Notice that the railroad almost goes out of its way to link up with the highway, the first major stop north of York on the road to Harrisburg. Later, the trolley between York and York Haven added another major means of transportation through town. Also of interest: Roundtown in Manchester Township, York County, Pa.? Where did that come from? and Pottery put the other Foustown - the one in Manchester Township - on the map and Reader looking for info on Manchester's long-closed Rentzel's Farm Implements.

Some facts about Emigsville - mostly tied to transportation - gleaned from my recent presentation at a Emigsville Heritage Project story night:

The outside of York, Pa.'s, Quaker Meeting House hasn't change much since this photo was taken in the 1890s. The East Philadelphia Street building still invites a visit, 244 years after its eastern part was constructed. The west room dates to 1783. This photo comes from "Art Work of York," W.H. Parish Publishing Co. The view of the building's inside is equally engaging. Also of interest: Quaker horticulturalist Jonathan Jessop was 19th-century York County Renaissance man and Society of Friends Gladys Rawlins, 'Black History Profiles' and Intrepid Adams researcher: 'The buildings weren't the Underground Railroad; the people were'.

A mixed bag of neat stuff ... .

The Exchange, the York Daily Record/Sunday News bulletin board, tipped off York Town Square to a long-ago article in Time magazine about York County, Pa.'s defense industry buildup well before Pearl Harbor.

As usual from media parachuting into York, the writer came up with a descriptive term for the city.

Here's how that article began: ... .

South Central Pennsylvania parks

In her 150-page book 'Parks, People, Preservation, and Public Policy,' York County, Pa.,'s Eleanor Boggs Shoemaker traces the origin of York County parks from the department's beginning in developing Rocky Ridge in 1968 to acquisition of Native Lands County Park in 2009. Also of interest: Local county and state parks: York County's best idea? and With hot controversy cooled, Highpoint offers Susquehanna River view for the ages and About phone pole playground at Rocky Ridge: 'Children's heads got caught in between the logs'

York County commissioners, Sylvia Newcombe and other York County Department of Parks and Recreation members were looking over land near Jacobus that York Barbell's Bob Hoffman had offered as a donation.

They were canvassing an old farmhouse on the property, a reported gathering place for young people.

The group entered what appeared to be the former living room and were shocked at the graffiti, specializing in four-letter words, that covered the walls.

Mrs. Newcombe was the one to break the embarrassed silence... .

A line of packers work away at North York, Pa.,'s, Wolfgang Candy in this York Daily Record/Sunday News photo in 2008. The candymaker, one of many such confectionery businesses in York County, was founded in 1921, and family members still operate the candy maker. Also of interest: Katharine Beecher's Duets: 'Freshly ground peanut butter ... formed into delicate satin pillows and York Peppermint Patties: 'York became synonymous with dark chocolate and peppermint' and York, Pa.: 'It's a midsize city with an interesting history'.

Former Wolfgang Candy president Robert Wolfgang II will retire from that iconic York County business, known for producing candy for fundraisers.

Actually, the company has moved beyond that core business, forging into retail sales in recent years.

Wolfgang's website traces its origin to 1921, although it operated in different forms and locations before then.

Georg Sheets' "Made in York" tells about a key moment for the company soon after its founding... .

Acme Wagon Works opened in Emigsville in the late 1880s and grew into a major Manchester Township maker of wagons and parts. That business is long closed, but small businesses operate in its buildings today. Emigsville long played host to York County's major north/south road and railroad, plus the trolley system. In an interesting twist, Emigsville is a walkable town today -- its layout is such that residents can stroll to the post office, the deli and church. Also of interest: 50-year York County construction company's closure: 'It was a bittersweet day for all of us' and Yes sir, in York County, Pa., it's pronounced 'Yorkshur,' just like pudding and Cumberland County reseacher seeks info on Emigsville's American Acme-built fire engine.

My York Sunday News column (5/9/10) explores how a loose-knit group of community-minded citizens, the Emigsville Heritage Project, is working to maintain and promote community.

That's particularly important in this unincorporated Manchester Township village, which does not have a council and mayor. Visit: Emigsville shows how to build a sense of community.

Here's an additional thought. Emigsville remains a town where residents and visitors can walk to do any number of things... .

The Wilson house in York County, Pa.'s, Gatchelville is an example of a rural house built in a small town. The photograph was donated by Donald Wilson and will appear in an upcoming picture book to be published by the Stewartstown Historical Society. Also of interest: 'Yesteryears' chock-full of southern York County sites - Part I and Southeastern York County, Pa., student of history gives lessons about that region's landmarks and With Main Street in Stewartstown covered, historical group compiling photos of side streets.

Architectural historian and Yorkblogger Scott Butcher succinctly summarizes York County's Victoran-era Dempwolf design firm:

"The J.A. Dempwolf firm was the most prolific and successful architectural practice in York County history, designing over 500 buildings during the 50 years that John Augustus Dempwolf was at the helm.

"Landmark buildings like York's Central Market House and Gettysburg College's Glatfelter Hall were designed by J.A. and brother Reinhardt Dempwolf, along with a talented staff of young architects who learned the professional under Dempwolf's tutelage."

Among those 500 buildings is a house is a remote part of southeastern York County, Gatchelville in Fawn Township... .

Pennsylvania iron furnace

James Rummel holds a cannonball made in the Mary Ann Furnace, a Revolutionary War-era forge that was once on the Rummel Farm in West Manheim Township, York County. The Rummel family sold the historic farm to the adjacent Codorus State Park. in 2005, also of interest: Iron-mine-turned-into-party-spot turned into York County park and Local county and state parks: York County's best idea? and Mining a rich vein of southwestern York County's religious history.

Mary Ann Furnace was one of a half dozen or more 18th-century York County forges and ironmakers.

Not much is known about the layout and history of this old furnace, its land now part of Codorus State Park in southwestern York County... .

York, Pa., Fairgrounds

This photograph captured buildings on the York Fairgrounds, now the York Expo Center, when it was five years old. The fairgrounds had moved to its current location in West Manchester Township in 1888. Previously, its home was southeast of the King and Queen Street intersection. Fair Alley, running south off East King Street, is a vestige of that original fairgrounds. (For a view, visit: Both Yanks, Rebs camped at old York Fairgrounds. This photo comes from "Art Work of York," published by the W.H. Parish Publishing Co. in 1893. Also of interest: York countians are proud of the York Fair, and there's a lot to be proud about and Young curators produced York Fair exhibit: 'A Fair of Our Own' and Good old days at the York Fair were at least old.

The post York Railways trolley car No. 328, where are you? located on old York Railway trolley car - No. 123 at the York County Industrial and Agricultural Museum.

It launched a search for No. 328, believed to be in the East Berlin area.

Joel Salomon who launched the search for 328 knows of where the trolley car bodies are buried around York County.

He wrote:

Roundtop Mountain, York County, Pa.

This 2005 view shows the lay of the land toward Cumberland County's Mechanicsburg from atop Ski Roundtop and also captures Gold medal-winning Olympian Diane Roffe giving a ski lesson. York County, Pa.'s Ski Roundtop has a new name but offers the same view. Also of interest: Warrington Quakers begin meeting with hands folded and end with handshake and First Pinchot Road in Northern York County example of Great Depression-era stimulus project and Franklintown second cousin to neighboring Dillsburg.

Ski Roundtop, York County's only ski resort, is now known as Roundtop Mountain Resort.

Its new name is in accord with its longtime name - Roundtop mountain.

Here how the "Catechism of York County," described the terrain in Northern York County:

Pennsylvania countryside

This is the bird's-eye view from the top of Webb's Hill looking to the north, toward York, Pa. Webb's Hill was in the vicinity of what today is known as Reservoir Hill, where York Water Co.'s large covered pools reside. Notice the luxury estates - often summer homes - budding on the hills in this 1893 photograph from the "Art Work of York," published by the W.H. Parish Publishing Co. Also of interest: When James Garfield observed view from Webb's Hill and A view of Webb's Hill from North York and Where is the world is Webb's Hill?.

Yorkblogger Joan Concilio ties a neat knot between space-age Hollywood and age-old potterymaking.

Potterymaking by Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff, then a venerable York County manufacturer, no less... .

A family of York County, Pa., Civil War reenactors observed the exact moment, 145 years ago, that Abraham Lincoln's funeral train made a water stop and then proceeded up the tracks to Pennsylvania's capital, Harrisburg. Here, Becky Winand serves as one of the women from distinguished York families who visited Lincoln's funeral bier during the train stop. The present-day station, next to Sovereign Bank stadium, replaced the terminal where Lincoln's train stopped in the 1890s. Also of interest: Reworking the working list of U.S. presidential visits to York and Adams counties and Abe Lincoln stopped at Hanover station:"We want to preserve history ... so it doesn't disappear' and A Civil War Black Republican: 'He robs birds' nests ... sucks hens' eggs',

Around York County, many people are aware that Abraham Lincoln passed through Hanover Junction, 10 miles south of York, on his way to and from Gettysburg where he delivered his famous speech.

On April 21, a York County family of Civil War reenactors effectively called attention to a sometimes overlooked moment in York County's history. That was the day 145 years ago when the slain president's funeral train stopped at York's station.

A York Daily Record/Sunday New story (4/22/10) captured the reenactment spearheaded by the Winand family - Dr. Andrew Winand, Becky Winand and 17-year-old daughter Hannah.

Dr. Winand, an Abe Lincoln reenactor, attracted a memorable quote from an in-law: ... .

This is a view of the terrain that at one time accommodated Camp Security, an American Revolution British prisoner-of-war camp in Springettsbury Township, Pa. Jonathan Stayer of the Pennsylvania State Archives, who has studied the camp extensively presented on the camp at the York County Historical Society's Second Saturday program. (See aerial view of the camp site - it's actual location is unknown -below.) Also of interest: Camp Security memories tucked inside memoir and Story revives memories of oft-forgotten York County POW camp, Camp Stewartstown and German prisoners from two wars came to York County.

The Camp Security POW site near York has long fascinated Jonathan Stayer.

That interest led him to an exploration of the site, even before the head of the reference section of the Pennsylvania State Archives studied it professionally.

Thus he found himself at the site one Christmas Eve, sporting a flashlight and looking for the fabled ghosts of Camp Security. These apparitions reportedly appeared on the night before Christmas, and he had joined a group of young people there to meet up with them.

Stayer's group was there, that is, until they heard a wailing in the distance. Which set them off to their homes not far away... .

This photograph, courtesy of Mel Miller and Lester Walker of the West Manchester Township, Pa., Historical Society gives a view of Penn Park field, probably the first baseball stadium in the York area. It confirms another photograph, found by Miller and reproduced from glass negatives is, indeed, Penn Park's stadium. For a view of York's state-of-the-art stadium 100 years later - Sovereign Bank Stadium - see below. Also of interest: Remembering York/Adams major leaguers and A historic York walking tour of the Sovereign Bank stadium area and Plaques offer historic insight into 'The Swamp,' before Sovereign Bank Stadium drained it.

The photograph above shows Penn Park's stadium, an early baseball field in the York area.

How do we know that?

Penn Park is painted on the first-base dugout roof and "Visitors" atop the third base bench. This shows that even at the turn of the 20th century, the visitors were in the line of fire from right-handed batters.

Eagles Park, Martin-Parry Field, Memorial (Bob Hoffman) Stadium and Sovereign Bank Stadium followed the Penn Park field... .

A maintenance train works on the Stewartstown Railroad in southeastern York County, Pa., recently. The non-profit, Friends of the Stewartstown Railroad, is starting its capital campaign with a Web donation page. "Recent times have not been kind to the railroad, and, in fact, the railroad is in real danger of disappearing if funds to rehabilitate and restore the line are not forthcoming," the Web site states. (See additional photo below.) Also of interest: Historic Stewartstown Railroad heading to the auction block? and All Stewartstown Railroad posts from the start and Stewartstown Railroad: 'Truly a unique entity in the state, and possibly, the nation'

A mixed bag of neat stuff... .

The original Mack's Ice Cream stand in Spry is vacant for the first time in decades, but it is offering its many flavors a few doors down South Queen Street in a former Burger King.

The ice cream scoopers appear to be as busy as ever, and tables with umbrellas are available out front, a trademark part of the old Mack's... .

York, Pa.'s West Philadelphia Street F.O.E. - Fraternal Order of Eagle - Lodge, seen in this rendering, will be transformed into an art gallery under a $4 million state grant brought to York as part of the Governor's Awards for the Arts event last week. The grant will also fund renovations to the nearby Central Market. Also of interest: More than 5,000 crowded York's Central Market for revival services in 19th century and Start Your Engines: World-renowned artist Jeff Koons drives into center of York's art community and Temporary river art collection may find permanent home along Susquehanna.

The concept of converting the relatively obscure F.O.E building into a very public art gallery carries more meaning than many other projects on a long list of promising downtown improvements.

It represents a more realistic approach to promoting and providing for the arts than the costly YOMA building proposed before the Great Recession just down the street.

That's pretty obvious.

But here are some more subtle points:

York, Pa.'s, Penn Park field?

This photo is presumed to be the ballfield or stadium at York, Pa.'s Penn Park, the first in a series of baseball parks to serve as the homefield for York-area baseball teams. West Manchester Township Historical Society's Mel Miller scanned this image from a glass plate. Also of interest: Sol and Brooks lead long York County sports parade and West Manchester book contains valuable gold coins and Penn Park's American War Mothers' monument overlooked.

The opening of spring training Monday in preparation for the York Revolution's fourth season brings to mind the major home fields for York-area baseball teams.

Mel Miller helped raise the question about where the pros have played by providing a rare photo of what is believed to be the stadium at Penn Park.

Here is what admittedly may be an incomplete list of major professional ballfields. (Readers are urged to flesh out with information.)

York, Pa.'s, Smyser-Royer Variety Iron Works, under development as York Academy Regional Charter School, is shown in this 1893 photograph from "Art Work of York," W.H. Parish Publishing Co. An interesting feature of the facade of main building, now under renovation, are markings showing the high water marks for the 1884 (June 26) and 1933 (Aug. 24) floods. Also of interest: Towered Logos building west of Codorus Creek another beacon of educational progress in York and York, Pa.'s, old Smyser-Royer factory to house new York Academy charter school and Collector searching for Western Maryland Railroad memorabilia.

A mixed bag of neat stuff ... .

Hanover native Jim Withers, a physician who cares for the homeless in Pittsburgh, was featured in the November/December "Pennsylvania Magazine."

He is he son of Donald Withers, a family doctor in Hanover.

"On Monday nights, Dr. Jim Withers takes to the streets, usually with a partner or two. A slight figure in dark clothing, sling a backpack filled with medical supplies, Withers seeks out patients in unusual place - under bridges, along riverbanks, or in abandoned buildings or dark allies of downtown Pittsburgh," the story began... .

York, Pa.'s Central Market served as a type of convention center in its early days, as did other city markethouses. The spaciousness of the Central Market building - with its current enlarged food court, located where the stands at the right previous stood - might make marketing to groups seeking large assembly spaces appealing once again. Also of interest: York's western gate: One image says so much and Steps of old York City Market mark its former location and York's Penn Street Farmers Market, nearing 150 years old, seeks to replant for new customers

In the past decade, market managers have tried just about everything to revive Central Market, that iconic part of York's downtown. Their efforts appear to be paying off, as I observed in the post: Going to market a longtime York County, Pa., pastime - and will remain so longtime into future .

Here's another idea, that's admittedly not new:

The late Jeffrey Bortner, prominent York County (Pa.) attorney sketched this layout of the Elmwood farm in Spring Garden Township. His parents rented the miller's house at Elmwood and Jeffrey Bortner grew up there before entering the service in World War II. The sketch, courtesy of Ann Small Niess, is circa the 1940s. Also of interest: Many national stars first performed on YLT's stage and York's Elmwood Mansion book more than history of a house and Stand-in stole show in YLT's "Inherit the Wind".

A common question posed about the Elmwood Mansion links to its location before it was moved in 1905.

Julie Aiken, managing director of the nearby York Little Theatre, most recently asked that question after reading about the local landmark and the remarkable fete of moving a housing of that size 800 feet.

The short response about its original location:

American Acme Co.'s name has been associated with Emigsville, in Manchester Township, Pa., since 1927, including an attachment to the Emigsville Band. Also of interest: 50-year Emigsville construction company's closure: 'It was a bittersweet day for all of us' and In 1997, Emigsville's mighty oak fell and Emigsville's Web site tells tales of community's past.

A query about 19th-century fire engines made in Manchester Township's Acme Wagon Works serves as a reminder about another piece of correspondence.

That one was a letter addressed to the Emigsville company, then known as American Acme Co., and it applauded the York County-made Royal Plane sled.

Here's his letter and a York Daily Record story (12/17/99) about the Emigsville sled-maker and woodworking company, tied to a local exhibit:

This chancel window greets those entering the sanctuary at York, Pa.'s First Moravian Church. The noted York art studio of J. Horace Rudy designed 31 windows throughout the 100-year-old North Duke Street Church. Also of interest: All First Moravian stained-glass window posts from the start and York native Steve Zirnkilton's 'Law & Order' voice known to the world and Easter in York County, 1919: Sadness, joy, hope.

None of York's First Moravian's wonderful architectural features are more beautiful than its 31 stained-glass windows designed by J. Horace Rudy.

And none of the windows at York's First Moravian Church are more beautiful than the window behind the pulpit.

And none have more stories behind them, as church member Terrence Downs explains in this series on the J. Horace Rudy-designed windows at the church:

Ray Oberdick III never lived in York, Pa. But his parents are from here and his grandfather and namesake was longtime director of Camp Minqua, among many other YMCA duties. The Oklahoman has fond memories of his visits to York as a youngster: One of the highlights of my visits was going to market with my Grandma & Grandpa. Almost half a century later those images and smells are still lingering. I also remember going to visit my Grandfather at the YMCA which is where he worked. I actually learned to swim there during one of my summer visits. I also remember going to church across the street from the Y at the First United Brethren Church ( I believe it is now Otterbein United Methodist Church). He passed along a First United Brethren (West Philadelphia and North Newberry streets) 75th anniversary booklet, from which the photos, above and below, are taken. Also of interest: Going to market a longtime York County pastime and Mining a rich vein of York County's religious history and People of varying religious groups founded York County .

A mixed bag of neat stuff ... .

One story can spark so many memories.

Springettsbury Township's Turk Pierce e-mailed about stories on the Elmwood Mansion, which he knew as a youngster as "Smallwood... ."

Workers grade footers for the new Logos Academy building on West King Street in York, Pa., in Sept. 2009. The old building with the tower will be incorporated into the 42,000-square-foot schools, that will handle an enrollment of about 300 students. Also of interest: York, Pa.'s, old Smyser-Royer factory to house new York Academy charter school and About pioneer W. Russell Chapman: 'He was the swing vote ... but he couldn't be swayed' and All school days posts from the start .

A high tower west of the Codorus Creek will join that marking the Smyser-Royer Variety Iron Works complex as a tall symbol of improved education in York City.

Logos Academy - a Christian, intercultural, classical school - is set for occupancy in the fall of 2010, and York Academy Regional Charter School will open in the Smyser-Royer project a year later.

The 250 W. King St. location for Logos creates an interesting link with the 300 block of West Princess Street, a predominantly black neighborhood, recognized in February for the many achievers who grew up there in the post-World War II era... .

The Elmwood House - in York County, Pa.'s, Spring Garden Township - is shown in the 1800s, at its original site. It was moved to a new site, its current location, in 1905. Also of interest: 'Ruh-row, Raggy': Gettysburg ghost hunters find no trespassing signs and York County's powwowwing past and Spooky old York incinerator now used as crematorium.

I wrote recently that the Elmwood Mansion has long been atop a short list of York County sites associated with apparitions - ghosts.

Those encounters span decades and various owners and occupants.

How does one explain such stories at Elmwood, all of which seem to involve memorable moments in which no harm was done?

York, Pa.'s Central Market has been a source of culinary delight for marketgoers since 1888. That pastime will continue, if a recent visit there is any indication. Also of interest: From squealing pigs to wireless, York, Pa., markethouses have changed and Old York City Market: 'It was a real treat for me to walk to market with Grandma' and Going to market a longtime York County pastime, Part I.

A visitor to York's Central Market last Saturday could squint and see its future.

The vantage point was the gallery or balcony along the West Philadelphia Street side.

Below, even as late as 2 p.m., the expanded food court was nearly full.

And that is even before The Left Bank opens a restaurant there.

The sunny weather no doubt played a role in bringing people in.

But this came in contrast to some Saturday morning visits late last year and earlier this year where the food court featured only a couple of lonely tables, often sans sufficient chairs, that were often empty. That led me to wonder about the market's future... .

The old Smyser-Royer building in the York, Pa.'s, Northwest Triangle area will be converted inside and out into a new charter school. (See related York Daily Record/Sunday News photo below.) Also of interest: Collector searching for Western Maryland Railroad memorabilia and Map explains York, Pa.'s $50 million redevelopment area and Ohio Blenders silos in York's Northwest Triangle are not coming down easily.

York Academy, later York County Academy, produced generations of graduates from its North Beaver Street schoolhouse.

In the 20th century, that school eventually evolved, along with York Collegiate Institute, into York College.

In 2011, the doors of another York Academy are set to open... .

Ann Small Niess, with husband Dick, tosses her wedding bouquet from the stairs in the front hall of her childhood home, the Elmwood House, now the Elmwood Mansion, in 1947. Also of interest: Former Hobbit House resident: 'We loved that house and the Elmwood neighborhood' and York's Elmwood Mansion book more than history of a house and Elmwood Mansion move led to shapely dinner crowd.

The Elmwood Mansion, so visible from Interstate 83, and the busy streets of East York/Spring Garden Township has fascinated people for years.

But what of the people who lived there before its conversion into a Memorial Hospital conference center?

My York Sunday News column (to appears 3/28/10) tells about a multi-generational family living there, one of York County's most distinguished - the Smalls:

A.B. Farquhar's home

York County, Pa., industrialist A.B. Farquhar's estate, Edgecombe, in the hills south of York, is shown in 1893. A golf course, which became the Country Club of York and then the Out Door County Club, later covered the fields in this vicinity. Today, York College covers that land. Farquhar's hilltop mansion, built in 1875, was later demolished. The entrance gate to the old estate exists today joining Country Club Road. Farquhar Drive leads to, well, Farquhar Estates development. This photograph came from the "Art Work of York," W.H. Parish Publishing Co., 1893. (See additional photo from that work below.)York, Pa.: America's first capital of golf? and Bucolic Outdoor Country Club started in busy York neighborhood and All A.B. Farquhar posts from the start.

A mixed bag of neat stuff ... .

An on-again, off-again visitor to York recently availed himself of a long-savored treat - the whoopie pie.

"Say, as a historian, do you happen to know why the Whoopie Pie is essentially only found in Maine (my home state) and near Amish country in Pa.?" he wrote. "Surely, many readers are dying to know that." ...

At the Strand

Restoration contractors worked under the curved canopy at York, Pa.'s Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center as part of a 2003 renovation. (See photo below of completed renovation.) A 30th-anniversary celebration is planned in April to recognize a previous renovation of the complex. Also of interest: Ella Fitzgerald's Strand-Capitol show was 'memorable, not Memorex' and Hanover's old State Theater: 'Don't lose hope, it's not dead' and Stewartstown's Ramsay Theatre: 'It is really in bad shape'.

When businesses have been around for 75 to 100 years, they're going to have a litany of openings and closings, re-openings and re-grand openings.

Such are the cases of North George Street's Strand and Capitol theaters, now merged into the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center. And another celebration to add to the timeline will be an April 11 "Ella-bration" event.

To help in the understanding of the ups and downs of those grand buildings ups over the years, here's a 2003 chronology published in the York Daily Record/Sunday News - on the advent the last renovation and re-opening:

Littlestown, Pa., church?

E-mailer Lisanne Renner is seeking information on this church, perhaps taken sometime between 1908 and 1917 by Littlestown resident who worked throughout the region on construction jobs. So the building could be just about anywhere in this region.The church could still be standing, she said. If anyone has knowledge please contact Lisanne at gracerenner@verizon.net. (See nearly completed building photo below.) Also of interest: All God and York/Adams posts from the start and Conewago Chapel steeple worker wondered if he'd ever get up there: Now, 'Here I am' and Two York County union churches vestiges of bygone era

A mixed bag of neat stuff ... .

Yorkblogger Joan Concilio is asking an intriguing question over at Only York.

How did Cape Horn Road - best-known as it intersects with Lombard Street outside Red Lion - get it's name?

Here's a guess, and only a guess:

York, Pa., Moravian choir, pastor room windows

Rudy Art Studio, a turn-of-the-20th-century York, Pa., icon, made this stained-glass window and a sister window (photo below) at York's First Moravian Church, one of many made for the North Duke Street building. Also of interest: Beautiful York, Pa., church known for neat features, as in 31 stained glass windows, Part I and Beautiful First Moravian Church in York, Part II and Beautiful First Moravian Church in York, Part III and York County enthusiasts could find historical event, site to visit every day

Terrence Downs' series on J. Horace Rudy's colorful stained-glass creations for York, Pa.'s, First Moravian Church includes two obscure windows.

They're largely out of the congregation's sight, gracing - and lighting - the preparation area for the pastor and choir before the start of services:

At the Strand-Capitol

The theaters making up York, Pa.'s, North George Street's Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center have enjoyed many renovations and grand anniversaries in the past century. An "Ella-bration" is planned for April 11, marking the 30th anniversary of Ella Fitzgerald's grand performance upon a major renovation in 1980. Also of interest: Ella Fitzgerald's 1980 show was 'memorable, not Memorex' and John Luther Long: Miss Saigon's York County connection and 'Glory' showing at The Strand dazzled the audience.

"York lights up skies for stellar evening," the York Daily Record's headline stated on Monday, April 14, 1980.

Those words referred to the two rotating spotlights at the northeast corner of George and Philadelphia that summoned the capacity Saturday night audience to hear singer Ella Fitzgerald christen the newly renovated Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center.

According to newspaper accounts, the spotlights also attracted the notice of several residents from Spry, seven miles away in York Township, who called 911 about UFO sightings... .

York County, Pa., Underground Railroad site

The William C. Goodridge House on York, Pa.'s, East Philadelphia Street is one of York County's sites appearing a national Underground Railroad list. (See additional photograph below.) Also of interest: Freed slaves living north of Mason-Dixon Line often faced return to bondage and Research needed to unearth Underground Railroad in York County - Part I and Research needed to unearth Underground Railroad in York County, Part II.

A recent sinkhole under a West Philadelphia Street home in York caused some commenters on those news reports to say that an exposed basement was part of the Underground Railroad.

Indeed, find a house built before the Civil War in York County, and there will be Underground Railroad lore attached to it.

So, how many houses in York County are certified as Underground Railroad sites? ...

Deb McCauslin, writer, historian

Deb McCauslin visits grave markers at Yellow Hill in Butler Township, Adams County, in 2005. McCauslin regularly talks about the history of this site - an 1800s black cemetery and church. She also regularly presents on Adams County's vital link to the Underground Railroad. McCauslin addressed a gathering at York's Crispus Attucks Community Center earlier this week. Also of interest: Underground Railroad expert: 'We cannot alter past ignorance, but we can resolve not to repeat it' and York/Adams' interest in Underground Railroad grows and 'An Evening With William Goodridge' in York, Pa.

Deb McCauslin is a literally digging up important Adams County history.

The researcher is also an effective communicator about the 1800s black community that lived alongside Quakers on Yellow Hill in the Biglerville area of northern Adams County. And that research has linked up with that area's Underground Railroad past, focusing in and around Menallan Quaker Meeting, which aided fugitives before the Civil War.

Her hands-on work has included identifying and restoring a black cemetery at long-gone Yellow Hill, a community last mentioned in newspaper accounts in the early 1920s, according to McCauslin's findings.

Interesting - and important stuff. And engaging.

A forgotten community. The Underground Railroad. Brave Quakers who defied the law in harboring fugitives to freedom... .

This photograph shows the inside of Centre Presbyterian Church in the late 1800s. Observers say the Dempwolf-designed, Fawn Township (Pa.) church looks much the same today. Also of interest: York countian ordained in country church: 'Very larger-than-life character for educated Iranians' and Hello, York, Stewartstown, Pa., no longer calling and 'Yesteryears' southern York County sites - Part II.

Some things change slowly in York County, and other things change scarcely at all.

Take the interior of the beautiful and stately Centre Presbyterian Church in southeastern York County, standing for 125 years just north of the Mason-Dixon Line.

The Stewartstown Historical Society's Doug Winemiller e-mailed a photograph of the church's interior that was provided to the historical group by Kathryn Jordan . The photo shows the church circa late 1880s.

Here are edited excerpts from Doug's note:

According to authorities, an al-Qaida terrorist worked as a contractor at southeastern York County, Pa.'s, Peach Bottom Atomic Power Plant (seen here), Three Mile Island and three other American nuclear plants. That is one of many international incidents that have linked up with York County in recent weeks. Also of interest: In the shadow of disaster: York County and its newspaper tested 30 years ago and York County human trafficking: 'Three years of ... long hours, often seven days a week, for no pay' and Rebel entry into York before Battle of Gettysburg was gut wrenching, community shaping.

York County has brushed against - or collided with - more than its share of national and international events in recent weeks.

The number of York countians who were in Haiti and Chile before, during or after the natural disasters in those nations is surprisingly large.

A York County nail salon owner was charged - along with two others - with trafficking for forcing two Vietnamese women to work at local nail salons for fear that they would be turned over to immigration officials. Those were the third human trafficking or human smuggling cases to publicly touch York County in the past 15 years.

Just recently, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review a Spring Garden Township man's case against so-called church members who protested his son's military funeral... .

This list, found in a York County (Pa.) USO's newsletter on file at the York County Heritage Trust, provides a tongue-in-cheek account of services provided by hostesses at the Serviceman's Club and Canteen at the old York County Academy during World War II. Also of interest: Old gym bears signs of USO past and USO column attracts WW II-era memories and Just try to resist this memory-tugging photograph of northwest York, Pa. and All World War II posts from the start..

Another in a short series ( Part I and Part II) about York County's United Services Organization during World War II... .

In the fall of 1945, the USO in York welcomed the 100,000th man or woman in uniform to use its services.

Cletus Ruby of East Prospect picked up a certificate in recognition of this milestone.

The war was now over - V-J Day on Aug. 14 was the celebratory end - and the USO had adopted the new role in aiding the military in demobilization, redeployment and training of returning vets.

According to "In the Thick of the Fight:"

Servicemen, spouses and volunteers pose at York County's Pennsylvania Dutch Canteen in June 1945. Notice that on the wall at right a drawing is posted of the placement of the flag on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima in February 1945, suggesting the famous photograph was already an American icon. George Bixler, a Marine sergeant observed the flag after it was raised after the important World War II fighting. '(I)t was like a ballgame, everyone hollering all over the place. I could just see that baby waving," Bixler, a Hanover resident, said years later. The canteen was located in the still-standing York County Academy gymnasium. The academy building on North Beaver Street, which no longer stands, served as USO headquarters. The canteen was located to the rear of the academy building. Some of the Pennsylvania Dutch drawings on the wall are visible today in the privately owned building. Also of interest: Old gym bears signs of USO past and USO column attracts WW II-era memories and Just try to resist this memory-tugging photograph of northwest York, Pa.

The USO in York County attracted young women by the thousands.

These were volunteers, no doubt lonely themselves with many eligible men off fighting in World War II. But they provided comfort to many a guy in uniform at the North Beaver Street USO buildings, nonetheless... .

The USO, United Services Organization, in the York (Pa.) area was headquartered in the now-demolished York County Academy building. The USO's dance hall and eatery, the Pennsylvania Dutch canteen, operated out of its gymnasium during World War II. The old gym still stands in the northeast corner of its former lot, now a North Beaver Street parking lot. This photograph came from the "Art Work of York," W.H. Parish Publishing Co., 1893. Also of interest: Old gym bears signs of USO past and USO column attracts WW II-era memories and Yorkblog.com leads to reverse publishing.

A photograph of the old York County Academy, part of a rare "Art Work of York" collection, reminded me of the World War II-vintage USO that operated out of there.

I adapted a section from my "In the Thick of the Fight" to tell about how things worked in those days when York swarmed with men in uniform, defense contractors, women in coveralls and other war related activity:

An air raid siren found atop of the Yorktowne Hotel is shown on display at the Agricultural and Industrial Museum in York. The museum is housed in the George F. Motter & Sons complex. (See additional photo below.) Also of interest: When a Pullman automobile became a seesaw and On Second Saturdays: 'It's really cool that the Heritage Trust started this program' and World War II-era air raid siren discovered atop Yorktowne Hotel.

An informed member of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute class that I'm teaching passionately told others about York industrialist's John C. Motter's insistence on precision in the printing press equipment he made.

Other machining companies talked about allowable tolerances, but Motter insisted on being right on the mark.

That discussion reminded me that I've never sorted out the various Motters so clearly linked with printing press manufacturing in York County.

Fortunately, the York County Heritage Trust's Spring 2010 newsletter laid it out:

The Springdale mansion was another casualty of the 1960s era in which many wonderful York County, Pa., architecture sites came down. Springdale, actually, was one of the first, demolished the 1950s. Today, its carriage house stands, and its footprint is covered by the Universalist Unitarian congregation. This photograph came from a rare 12-part collection: "Art Work of York," W.H. Parish Publishing Co., 1893. Also of interest: About Davy Crockett at Springdale in York: 'He is the biggest fool I ever saw' and Exploring ornate Springdale, sunken ballroom and all and Bucolic Outdoor Country Club started in busy York neighborhood.

A mixed bag of neat stuff ... .

The recent discovery of a capsule filled with 100-year-old mementos in a Codo property under renovation in York drew a memory from a York resident.

She remembers the burial of a time capsule in her time at Smith Middle School in the nation's bicentennial year, 1976... .

'The Waterfront,' along the Susquehanna River, at York County's (Pa.) Camp Minqua in 1940. Dan Meckley published this scene in his 2008 memoir. "The waterfront was the major attraction of the camp," he wrote. "Each year the walkway sections were stored at the end of the camp to save them from ice. The next spring the staff cut trees for pilings with crosscut saws, and drive them in place with 10# sledgehammers." The YMCA camp operated in southeastern York County from the 1920s through the 1960s. Meckley's memoir and a recently printed sequel are available for reference use in the York County Heritage Trust archives. Also of interest: About York's Farquhar pool's water: 'He would demonstrate the safeness by drinking a cup' and Rambo run: One small stream ... so much stress and What is the probability of another flood in York?.

Mention Camp Minqua around former campers at the YMCA summer retreat, and you'll get a portfolio of rapid-fire memories.

And no one has fonder memories than Dan Meckley, who grew up to be a community leader in York.

He devoted a large, photograph-filled section of his 2008 memoir to the long-closed southeastern York County camp.

And in his recently printed sequel, "Our Pictorial Journey," the camp again is profiled.

Here is Dan's description of the camp, as found in the first volume of his memoir:

This photograph from a mid-20th-century York (Pa.) Chamber of Commerce publication shows York Valley Airways, later York Whitehull Airport. The old Valley Canvas building, then part of the airport, stands today. The airport land is now occupied by the old York Mall, now Walmart. Also of interest: First York Airport's administration building stands today and Just try to resist studying this memory-tugging photograph and U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way, Part III: 'We would watch the dragsters on trailers head for Thomasville'.

In the same way that horse-drawn wagons and sleighs and those newfangled automobiles shared York County's bad roads in the 1910s, people around York County had to adjust to the introduction of airplanes and airports a quarter of a century later.

York countian Dorcas LaMotte Townsley mailed in a news article about one particularly heated airport controversy.

That came over the building of a landing strip in the Yorkshire area of Springettsbury Township, around the York Valley Inn, in the months before Pearl Harbor.

Ben LaMotte, a Red Lion businessman and Dorcas Townsley's uncle, made the proposal to build on Henry Frank's farm and started work on the land later covered by the York Mall, now Walmart.

His opposition came from the formidable "Shoe Wizard" Mahlon Haines... .

Dianne Bowders responded to a recent post about York-made Weaver organs and pianos with a photo (above) and some interesting information. "My great grandfather, Henry Nelson Zumbrun (1845-1909) bought a Weaver organ for his three daughters amusement. As a stone cutter for the railroad, his salary was paltry but sufficient to purchase the organ circa 1902. He paid the equivalent of one month's salary. My grandmother, Mabel Z. Rishel (1900-1989) remembers the day the organ arrived at the Emigsville house. It was delivered by a flat bed wagon pulled by several horses. Today, it works well, and reminds me of my grandmother playing from an old shaped note hymnal." Dianne then asked, "Are there many other Weaver organs in York?" She probably meant in private hands because several North Broad Street-made instruments are on display at the York County Heritage Trust's Agricultural and Industrial Museum. Blog readers who would like to share information about their Weaver organ or piano can comment below. Also of interest: York, Pa.'s Weaver Organ and Piano Co.: 'Guaranteed to give permanent satisfaction' and Emigsville's Web site tells tales of community's past and The organ: 'It is a whole orchestra in itself'.

A mixed bag of neat stuff ... .

An e-mailer noticed the short bios I wrote on the "Civil Rights Heroes" mural and wondered why Roy Borom wasn't there. He wondered whether the selection process covered a different era than when Roy Borom was here.

I suspect the reason Roy Borom, York's first black city councilman, wasn't there was just a matter of space. He was elected to city council in 1974, after coming to York in 1968 as Crispus Attucks Community Center's exec.

One can name many other worthy achievers who could have been added... .

To promote York, Pa.'s, Weaver Organ and Piano Co., marketers turned to poetry, of a sort. The company went out of business in the late 1950s, but its organs and pianos have become collector's items. The company's big brick building stands empty on North Broad Street in York. Additional fliers can be seen here. Also of interest: Junior Curators exhibit: The name of Lefty York of York, Pa., lives on and The organ: 'It is a whole orchestra in itself' and All Made in York posts from the start.

A Towson, Md., church, Babcock Presbyterian, has a 1908 Weaver pump organ, style Favorite Oak 30, #57513, that we would like to sell.

A commenter on a recent York Town Square post about the venerable York musicmaker asked that anyone interested in purchasing the instrument should contact him via the following email: rwwaters@comcast.net.

I commented back urging him to be patient and avoid large trask pickup. Someone will want it... .

Here's another sighting of a drawing by former York County, Pa., artist Cliff Satterthwaite. Buddy and Mary Arcuri sent this one in. Satterthwaite had a penchant for drawing people at gathering spots around town. He chose the Arcuri-managed York Valley Inn in the early 1960s for this one. Also of interest: About long-time York County, Pa., documentary artist: 'Cliff was quite a character' and 18th-century York Valley Inn in Springettsbury Township: 'You can't be here forever' and Springettsbury Township corner bears witness to changing face of America

A mixed bag of neat stuff....
+++
Where was the Valley Inn Garage?

A group of veteran students of York County took on that challenging question posed by a recent e-mailer... .

Lynn Haines, York County, Pa.'s, Lincoln Highway Garage's last owner, takes care of a former customer's truck in this May 2005 York Daily Record/Sunday News file photo. Haines took part in the grand opening of the Turkey Hill on East Market Street, replacing the historic Lincoln Highway Garage that stood on that spot since 1921. (See additional photo of garage below.) Also of interest: Was the Valley Inn Garage part of Springettsbury Township's old York Valley Inn? and Just try to resist this memory-tugging aerial photograph of the old York Valley Inn and Then & Now: 'See how York County has changed...from York City to the outlying boroughs'.

The York Valley Inn, topic of several recent Yorktownsquare.com posts, ended in better shape than many other buildings in York in the 1960s era.

The York County Academy, York Collegiate Institute, Hannah Penn Middle School, York City Market and the Children's Home of York came down and never went back up in any form. (Those buildings also have been part of past posts.)

The process of replacing architecturally significant buildings, landmarks and traditions with replicas or visual reminders is better than nothing and possibly the best that can be expected, considering that heritage dollars always seem to be losing weight... .

York County (Pa.) resident Mike Spyker provided this old photo of the Valley Inn Garage and is seeking information about the now-demolished Springettsbury Township landmark. Also of interest: Just try to resist this memory-tugging aerial photograph of York Whitehull Airport and York Valley Inn and Playland and the York Valley Inn. and Check out this drawing of the newer, now demolished York Valley Inn and Check out this photograph of the rebuilt York Valley Inn at Susquehanna Memorial Gardens.

Mike Spyker read my recent York Sunday News column (based on a recent blog post) about the old York Valley Inn.

He had just posted a photograph, dated May 1928, on the Your Photo section of ydr.com showing his grandfather, George Edward Christine (1888-1973) working at the Valley Inn Garage.

"George was an employee and part owner before the onset of the Great Depression in 1929," Mike wrote in the caption... .

Rudy Art Studio produced this stained-glass window at York's First Moravian Church, one of series made by this noted turn-of-the-20th century York art studio. This window was given in memoriam of George Small, who bore a common York-area name. Who was this particular George Small? Read below. Also of interest: Beautiful York, Pa., church known for neat features, as in 31 stained glass windows and Beautiful First Moravian Church in York, Part II and York County enthusiasts could find historical event, site to visit every day

The most-prominent branch of the massive Small family of York, Pa. goes like this, according to my "East of Gettysburg":

Lorentz Schmahl came to American in 1743.

Killian, Lorentz's son, had seven sons.

George was the most prominent of Killian's seven sons, all carpenters.

George's family included sons, P.A. and Samuel, who were the most successful businessmen in 19th-century York.

P.A. had three sons - George, William Latimer and Samuel - who became prominent in the York business community.

The last George Small in this particular Small family line died in 2002... .

This Lewis Miller drawing shows flooding on Codorus Creek in York, Pa., in 1817 that broke loose bottles from a brewhouse upstream. Miller notes that a young man jumped in and brought them to shore at old George Hay's meadow at South Queen Street. Miller did not say what happened after the bottles were fetched. That flood was the most deadly on record in York County. Also of interest: A list of traumatic, painful incidents that rocked York County and Tropical Storm Agnes savaged York County with more than 15 inches of rain and What is the probability of another flood in York?

Another in a short series of past, significant meteorological events, tied to this winter's big snows.

Many York countians remember the devastating flooding in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Agnes in 1972.

Some seasoned citizens can recall that the overflow of the Codorus Creek and other streams in York County in 1933 caused such extensive damage that Depression-era channel work and Indian Rock Dam construction came as a result.

The flood of 1884 is marked in history books because of the extensive debris deposited by high waters on Small's Field, north of York.

The 1822 flood, wreaking relatively minor damage compared to others, made the history books because of the prolonged drought thereafter.

At least three other floods made the history books for different reasons... .

Bob Riese of Spring Garden Township submitted this photo, taken in 1982, to the York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News' Your Photos gallery. He wrote that this is a combined photo of the Codorus Creek area from the top of the GTE building on Pershing Avenue. He took them with regular prints and waited until a computer could combine them. He pointed to the detail of the area before it was developed. Also of interest: Another view of the Codorus Creek in York and Destructive flood of 1933 struck York County 75 years ago and Skinny dipping in the Codorus?

York countian James H. Stauch Jr. read about hog maw recipes first published on this blog and then in the York Daily Record/Sunday News.

He e-mailed that he has been eating hog maw and other Pennsylvania Dutch foods like scrapple, pudding, mush, tripe and pickled tongue and heart for more than 60 years.

He actually looks forward to eating the pig's stomach portion of hog maw.

Here are his sentiments:

Dover (Pa.) Township property owners moved their sheep from a pen near the Conewago Creek amid fears of the creek flooding, leaving only this barred rock hen, a rooster and a few other birds in the yard. These remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy in 2005 interrupted York County's dry spell by dumping 2.1 inches of rain on York County. In contrast, not far from this scene, in the drought of 1822, farmers raised turnips on the bed of the Conewago. Also of interest: York County's 'uncommon,' deadly snowfall of 1772: 'The poor animals struck through' and For years, York countians have eyed amazing, destructive Susquehanna River ice jams and Tropical Storm Agnes savaged York County with more than 15 inches of rain.

Another in a short series of meteorological events, tied to this winter's big snows... .

No weather events had stumped York County more than the water and fire of 1822.

Simply, nature did an about face in the course of six months, as the following excerpt from "Never to be Forgotten," indicates:

York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News photographer Jason Plotkins went high, atop the West King Street parking garage, to get this view of this weekend's Nor'easter. That's the old Central School and York City Hall is at right. Also of interest: The York/Adams day that birthed memories of falling stars and silkworms and Dense 'The Shrewsbury' meteorite named after York County town where it was found and In 1889, 'Bona Fide Earthquake' rattled York County.

The great snow of 1772 that caused the near extermination of York County's deer herd at the hands of greedy hunters was not the only unusual meterological event of years past.

Some of the events are well known:

The celebrated high water and ice jams of 1832 knocked out the first Columbia-Wrightsville bridge spanning the Susquehanna River. A windstorm - actually a cyclone - took out a successor bridge in 1896.

But less heralded acts of nature are found in the history books, specifically John Gibson's "History of York County," published in 1886.

Developers are eyeing the Martin-Parry Corporation complex in West York, Pa., later occupied by Keystone Weaving Mills, for revitalization projects. This photograph comes from former West York Mayor Charles A. Slenker's "Remembrances of West York Borough." (See additional photo below.) Also of interest: Did York Silk ever operate a silkmaking factory in West York? and How one spot in York County, Pa., tells much about what's going on around there and York factory's lines ranged from Moneybak black silk to boys pajamas and Is this a York County farm truck or is it just a wagon with a motor?.

The complex of brick buildings on West York's south side has shipped everything from trucks to textiles.

And now, like so many other former factory buildings in the York area, some of those buildings might be converted into apartment houses or condos.

The complex, orginally the Milton D. Martin Carriage Works along the York-Gettysburg Turnpike, made horse-drawn conveyances in the 1890s.

That name Martin might sound familiar. That's the same M.D. Martin of Martin Library fame... .

Carla Reinecker submitted this aerial view of the Cape Horn Road and East Prospect Road intersection in eastern York County. Longstown, that is, the intersection that can be located today as the crossroads between Heritage Hills Golf Resort and Wisehaven hall. She placed the photo at circa 1948. (For speculation on how Cape Horn Road gained its name, click here.) Viewers in increasing numbers are submitting historic photos to the Your Photos section of ydr.com. Other aerial photographs of interest: Just try to resist this memory-tugging photo of North York's White Oak Park and Just try to resist this memory-tugging aerial photograph of York Whitehull Airport and York Valley Inn and Playland and ... and So, can you find long-gone Springwood Park in this aerial photograph?

The York Daily Record/Sunday News' Buffy Andrews told about that special window with a special person behind it who would hand out warm candy at Manchester's Katharine Beecher Co.

It turns out Buffy wasn't the only youngster who knew about that special window.

York countian Ned Heikes sent this e-mail:

Owner Tom Deroche is seen in the cafe of the Shady Dell in 2008. The South York hangout served generations of York County (Pa.) youth. One e-mailer characterized the Dell this way: 'And I saved the best for last because it was the one place in York that all parents feared.' Also of interest: York's Shady Dell for sale: 'People don't like to see their past vanish' and Memories about 'The Oaks' pile up - Part II and About Avalong Dairy and Melvin's Drive-In: 'I am some what familiar with the history of the area'

I try to choose posts for this Yorktownsquare.com blog that are designed to teach York County's history, to provide a bit of a common language about our past.

This is designed to maintain - or create - a sense of community in York County, badly needed in this time of community fragmentation and distractions that cause people to go 10 different ways, all at the same time. If strong community exists and the language spoken is in the same neighborhood, such relationships make problems solvable and hurdles surmountable.

But sometimes I put up a post, just for fun, to feed nostalgia... .

The Avenues Neighborhood Association has re-published the 1984 "Northwest York" booklet. That publication, issued in 1984 to celebrate that York, Pa., neighborhood's 100th anniversary is packed with information on well-known York County people and instititutions that started in The Avenues, an area synonymous with Northwest York. For example, a forerunner to Memorial Hospital started there. This drawing on the cover is courtesy of historian/artist Jim Rudisill, who called that neighborhood home. It shows one of the two pavilions at Farquhar Park, part of Northwest York. This structure no longer stands. For details about the $10 booklet, contact: Mary Anne Bacas, ma@bacas.com. The Avenues Neighborhood Association snail mail address: 663 Madison Avenue, York, Pa. 17404. Also of interest: Industrialist Thomas Shipley's 'enduring monument' in York did not 'endure' and S. Morgan Smith and P.H. Glatfelter, with businesses on the edge of The Avenues, head list of York County industrial movers and shakers and Spring Garden Band: 'It's like being in the room with history' .

A mixed bag of neat stuff ... .

When the York Daily Record/Sunday News' Buffy Andrews edited my column on the availability of Katharine Beecher candy, a former York County-made delicacy, at the York Township Cracker Barrel, she related a story about her good experience with Beecher:

I wrote it up for the newspaper (1/31/09):

The factory where Katharine Beecher Co. made candy in Manchester for half of a century had a special window.

Or else special people working near that window.

For when Buffy and other youngsters knocked on the
pane, something special happened.... .

A post-World War II baby boom, the entry of Caterpillar and other industries in the early 1950s and the erection of Springettsbury Township's York County Shopping Center, seen across the middle part of this photo, in 1956 caused additional traffic on the old Lincoln Highway. That highway runs across the top of this photograph. A road-widening project in 1962 to accommodate all these new motorists spelled the end of the old York Valley Inn, seen at 11 o'clock here, across from the Playland pool. This 1700s stone building is not to be confused with a 20th-century restaurant/hotel complex farther east on the Lincoln Highway. (Photo courtesy of York Buchart Horn and J. David Allen.) Also of interest: Olde York Valley Inn confused with historic predecessor and Forgotten York Valley Inn may be rediscovered and Check out this drawing of the York Valley Inn at Susquehanna Memorial Gardens..

An upcoming road-widening project set for a stretch of the Lincoln Highway east of the Route 24 intersection in Springettsbury Township brings to mind a recent conversation with Mary Arcuri and her husband Buddy.

They remember a road construction project in that area, but workers that time plowed under the berm and close-by buildings west of that intersection.

Mary called to discuss the work artist Cliff Satterthwaite undertook for their restaurant, The Carousel Room, in the 1960s.

That was their second restaurant in that era.

Before that, she and Buddy were the last innkeepers of the old York Valley Inn, the 1700s stone building that sat along a busy Lincoln Highway... .

Jean Fix of York, Pa., sent this Cliff Satterthwaite drawing to YorkTownSquare blog. It shows an art aution conducted by well-known York County artist William Falkler. Katie Falkler is holding the painting to his left and Ted Fitzkee is behind Katie holding a painting on an easel. Satterthwaite was well-known in the York County community in the 1950s-1970s for his impromptu sketching of everyday scenes. He now lives in Virginia. Also of interest: About long-time York County, Pa., documentary artist: 'Cliff was quite a character' and Linked in with neat York County, Pa., history stuff and Walt Partymiller's cartoons and catalogues.

After researcher Diana Palladino asked for info on former York County artist Cliff Satterthwaite, several local folks contacted us with stories about the Virginia resident and examples of his work still on display around the area.

Satterthwaite had a penchant for attending events and sketching those in attendance during his local drawing days of the 1950s through 1970s.

One caller pointed to a time when he attended the Glades Auction, and Satterthwaite sat in the back of the room sketching "caricatures of the characters" there. The caller and his wife were among the artist's subjects.

But here's the most interesting story about Cliff:

The team at Spring Grove's E.C. Smith Enterprise Steam Bakery are shown at the turn the 20th century. Pictured in this photo along Main Street are, from left, R. Lloyd Senft, Edward C. Smith, Jacob Mathias, Wesley Shue and Edward Shue. (See photo of the bakery's baseball team below.) Spring Grove museum displays horse gas mask and more and A leading York County name: 'Keeping it in family is the Glatfelter way' and Is this a York County farm truck or is it just a wagon with a motor?

York's Ed Smith is seeking information on Smith's Bluebird Bakery baseball team that played in the Spring Grove area in the 1930s.

His hunt is a bit personal.

He has a photo (see below) of the team that shows five Smith brothers, all kinsmen of Ed. And one brother, Benton, wasn't there when the photograph was taken... .

When the York County Heritage Trust recently debuted its 'Then and Now' exhibit, the York, Pa., Daily Record/Sunday News, in keeping with this spirit, asked for old photos from readers to post on our 'Your Photos' section of www.ydr.com. Bob Keller of Springettsbury was among those who responded with 'Yorktowne Service Stores counter coffee dispenser.' Bob Keller's submission was relevant: That business was featured in the exhibit. (See additional image from 'Your photos' below. Also of interest: 'The Commons' plays host to wonderful vintage photos and Fed photogs captured wonderful WWII images and Bank adds murals to York County's walls

A mixed bag of neat stuff:

After reading his obituary story, I added a little more to my York Town Square post on indefatigable volunteer Bob Senft when I turned it into a recent York Sunday News column:

I had spent many hours with Bob Senft working his story into my book on York County and World War II, ("In the Thick of the Fight.")

I didn't really expect to learn everything about this everyman with an array of everyday interests.

Still, I paused in reading the York Daily Record/Sunday
News obituary story about Bob's life.

The story said he was a pool aficionado... .

York County, Pa., resident Dianne Bowders is posting delightful photographs of scenes around her home county on ydr.com's Your Photo site. And she provides detailed caption information, such as the following for this scene from York's Quaker Meeting House. "Light streams through the windows of the Society of Friend's Meetinghouse located on West Philadelphia Street. Quaker meeting begins when one is led by the Spirit, or the Light, to speak. This older, east section of the building was constructed by William Willis in 1766, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The west room was built in 1783 to accommodate the women's meeting." Also of interest: Postcards tell story of York County community and My Capture photo book available (containing additional photos by Dianne Bowders) and York County book 'All in One Room' ready for readers.

I've enjoyed Dianne Bowders' photos of York County's landscape and historic sites for many months and have further noticed the detail of her captions.

Turns out she gets her historical knowledge from her father, Elmer Q. Gleim, a retired public school history teacher and Church of the Brethren minister. The 93-year-old is noted for his historical work on his denomination and genealogy of German families.

In an e-mail, she gives some insight into her father's influence on her work: ... .

Yorktowne Service Store occupies this structure on Dallastown's main drag, Route 74. The Turkey Hill purchased the left half of the duplex to build a convenience store, but the owner of the other side didn't want to sell, according to the York County (Pa.) Heritage Trust. The convenience store, today an Italian restaurant, was built up to the house's side. That's the "then" photograph. For the "now" photo, see below. These photos are part of the Heritage Trust's "Then and Now" exhibit, opening Sunday. Also of interest: Red Lion, then and now: 'Welcome to a popular page on our web site' and On Second Saturdays: 'It's really cool that the Heritage Trust started this program' and Postcards tell story of York County community.

York Daily Record/Sunday News photographer Bil Bowden has taken thousands and thousands of photographs of York County since he came here from Ohio in 1979.

After receiving a pre-opening tour of "Then and Now: A Historical and Modern Visual Tour of York County, Pennsylvania," he commented on how much there is to see in the many photographs that make up the exhibit.

He commented particularly on the photograph above, in which a stubborn homeowner declined to sale his part of a Dallastown duplex to a convenience store chain and found himself with a new next-door neighbor... .

This image of the York Valley Inn along the Lincoln Highway, later Route 462, is found in a file of artist Cliff Satterthwaite at the York County (Pa.) Heritage Trust. It was used as placemat or advertising piece with the boast: "One of South Central Pennsylvania's Most Comfortable Resort Motels." This landmark, chockful of memories for many Yorkers, fell into disrepair in the past decades and was demolished several years ago. Also of interest: York Valley Inn: 'What a mess.' and Olde York Valley Inn confused with historic predecessor and York Valley Inn: 'a building reduced to Stonehenge-like pylons'.

A mixed bag of neat stuff ... .

I had a delightful experience addressing the Avenues Neighborhood Association last week.

Some readers here might be interested to know such a group - representing historic northwest York in the general area between the old York Fairgrounds and Farquhar Park - is meeting and effectively and enthusiastically representing that area... .

Twenty floats were entered in the York (Pa.) Recreation Commission's and Rotary Club of York's Flotilla Day Pageant at Kiwanis Lake in August 1958. Playground groups entered the floats, with each float showing a country with a United Nations theme. Prominent in this Cliff Satterthwaite drawing are windmill and Eiffel Tower floats, representing Holland and France, respectively. Also of interest: York County Heritage Trust's Web site gives virtual look at its vast holdings, activities and Cartoonist made York newspaper owner's views an art form and 'Memorable Moments' calendar features keepsake York County photos.

My York Sunday News column seeking information on former York artist Cliff Satterthwaite drew interest from Betty Stein, whose family knew the artist well.

"Cliff was quite a character," she wrote in an e-mail.

Her e-mail gives insight into Satterthwaite - and Betty Stein's well-known and respected father, Judge John Rauhauser... .

A quality control expert at York, Pa.'s Classic Caramel, now part of Camp Hill, Pa.-based Warrell Corp., checks a piece of Slo Poke candy to make sure the packaging is closed with a proper twist. Warrell also produces candy under the Katharine Beecher name - a brand that started in York County's Manchester borough. (York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News photo.) Also of interest: Katharine Beecher: 'Legacies,' Part I and York Peppermint Patties: 'York became synonymous with dark chocolate and peppermint' and OLLI's theme song: 'Don't stop thinking about learning'

An e-mailer gave this heads up:

Katharine Beecher's name appears prominently in a candy display in York Township's Cracker Barrel.

I took notice.

The Beecher name is legendary in a York County that is big on candymaking... .

Here's a neat story from Red Lion, Pa. Mark Wagman, a Penn State Harrisburg student, recently restored this home, built in the Victorian era. Its porch overlooks Red Lion square. And its for sale. Read more at Renovated Victorian attracts attention and see related photograph below. Also of interest: Ma & Pa rabbit trains passing through Red Lion: 'I hope they thoroughly hosed out the cars.' and Red Lion, then and now: 'Welcome to a popular page on our web site' and Every day, York County struts its diverse architectural stuff.

A mixed bag of neat stuff ... .

Fellow Yorkblogger Joan Concilio always has neat stuff on her site, Only in York County.

She found a booklet on the Susquehanna Trail that I had referred to in a previous post on this blog, York Town Square..

Here's an excerpt from that booklet, a bit overblown, but it captures your attention:

Steam into History Inc., a group made up of York County, Pa., investors and railroad enthusiasts, is seeking to operate an excursion line on the old Northern Central Railway, now part of the York County Heritage Rail Trail. They are looking to contract with Ilinois-based David Kloke to build an 1863-era 4-4-0 model steam engine similar to this one. Also of interest: Abe Lincoln stopped at Hanover station:"We want to preserve history ... so it doesn't disappear' and York newspaper about Gettysburg Address: 'Mr. Lincoln made a joke or two ...' and Abandoned Codorus railroad not just any abandoned railroad.

Rail enthusiasts in Muddy Creek Forks are operating excursion rides. Railroad backers at the defunct Stewartstown Railroad want to reopen such service.

Now comes a group, Steam into History Inc., that has asked York County's government for clearance to operate an excursion train between New Freedom and Hanover Junction on the old Northern Central Railway.

It will not just offer a train ride, but an oil-burning, steam-powered train ride.

And the excursion would be themed around a topic not common in the central part of York County - the Civil War... .

Artist Cliff Satterthwaite captured the sad demolition of the York Collegiate Institute, a forerunner to York College. The beautiful building, South Duke Street and East College Avenue, joined the architecturally significant York City Market, Hannah Penn Middle School, York County Academy, Children's Home of York and the Helb Mansionon the demolition list in the 1960s era, a time in which beautiful buildings were seemingly knocked down for sport. The front entrance and part of the back wall of this building - that gave College Avenue its name - came down last. Much of Cliff Satterthwaite's work for York newspapers involved documenting news events. A biographer is collecting information about the former York County artist's local work. Readers with information can e-mail Diana Palladino at antiqs4all@aol.com. The artist's Web site: www.cliffordsatterthwaite.com. Also of interest: Biographer searching for details of former York County artist Cliff Satterthwaite and Cartoonist made York newspaper owner's views an art form and Cartoons and catalogues.

A mixed bag of neat history stuff ... .

Towanda, Pa.'s Joseph Rene DuPont e-mails that York native and female aviation pioneer Aline Rhonie Hofheimer is being inducted into the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame. ... .

The York, Pa., Boys Club Pool near Farquhar Park appears in this Gazette and Daily image from artist Cliff Satterthwaite in August 1958. Seventeen years earlier, a polio epidemic closed the pool and many other gathering spots throughout York County. Also of interest: Polio survivor and York, Pa.'s own Vic Wertz: 'The man who hit the ball Mays caught' and Spanish flu of 1918 no three-day fever. Try 365-day worldwide plague and Pre-World War II Thanksgiving holds lessons for York countians today.

Polio survivors in York County serve as living reminders of that disease that caused dread with the annual onset of warm weather 60 to 70 years ago.

The York Daily Record/Sunday News recently published a piece on such survivors.

Those folks are rare, generally born before Jonas Salk developed the first vaccine against polio in 1955.

The York Daily Record report quoted a family doctor whose 2,500 patients include one survivor... .

York County (Pa.) artist/historian Jim Rudisill rendered this wonderfully accurate view of York County. The rifle barrel creates the Mason-Dixon Line, York County's southern border. The York County Heritage Trust uses this artwork as a bookplate. Also of interest: Chickies Rock braced for rush of Susquehanna's waters and Site filled with wealth of York County geological info and Scenic Yellow Breeches snakes along York County's northern boundary.

"It's shaped like a horse's ... ."

That's how some people start the description of York County's shape.

The York Daily Record/Sunday News recently asked four elected officials to give their renditions of York County's 900-square-mile face.

They did pretty well, but you be the judge (see example below)... .

'It was necessity the mother of Inventions that brought the York Hospital into existence.' So read advertisement copy accompanying this photograph of old York Hospital along College Avenue in the hospital's Women's Auxiliary's 'Benefit' Cookbook, issued circa 1916. Today, the reprinted cookbook is sold for $10 in the hospital's and York County Heritage Trust's gift shops. The ad also states that noted York architect J.A. Dempwolf designed the hospital, incorporated in 1880. Crispus Attucks Community Center occupied the hospital after it moved to its current campus in 1930. Today, the old buildings stands as an apartment complex. Also of interest: Doctor wrote about oxygen use to aid 'average country practitioners' and Spanish flu epidemic in York: 'People died one right after the other' and Civil War hospital: A master's thesis waiting to be written and West Side Sanitarium, later West Side Osteopathic and later Memorial Hospital born in The Avenues in York.

Baseball in January?

In a farmers markethouse?

The Penn Street Farmers Market is zigging while others are zagging in a "Celebrate York Baseball" event set for 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 16.

(The market is urging members of the public to come to the celebration, where people can view a display of vintage photos of York baseball, presumably showing the White Roses... .

This York County Heritage Trust photo from the 1960s shows a newly minted Interstate 83 in the background and a two-lane Route 30 in the foreground. That's the San Carlos barn, at right. This is an example of the type of photographs that will be featured in an upcoming Heritage Trust exhibit. Also of interest: Red Lion, then and now: 'Welcome to a popular page on our web site' and On Second Saturdays: 'It's really cool that the Heritage Trust started this program' and Postcards tell story of York County community.

The York County Heritage Trust received the Route 30 photograph, above, as part of recent donation of a series of pictures.

And an article in its publication "Trust Talk" gives clues pointing to the time the photograph was taken... .

Zachary Witman, accused of killing his brother, carries documentation for his defense into the York County (Pa.) Courthouse in 2003. He was convicted but legal proceedings concerning his case continue in county and appellate courts. A post that includes information on the Witman case, was the most accessed single post on Yorktownsquare.com blog in 2009. Also of interest: Major York County historical moments through the centuries and York County's top 10 news stories in 2006 and Who were most prominent 20th-century sports heroes in York and Adams counties?

Viewers of this blog, Yorktownsquare.com, have seen recent posts on the top news stories from 2009 and the past decade, 2000-2009.

But what posts have been the favorites of Yorktownsquare.com viewers in the past year?

You can view the following list and, if interested, click on the links to see those making up the top 10 (after, of course, the Yorktownsquare.com home page which received the most):

A machete-wielding madman attacked teachers and students in a Red Lion Area School District in 2001. Three years later, a student shot Red Lion Area Junior High School principal Eugene Segro. Those violent acts brought York County's schools into the series of attacks in schools across the nation. Here, a memorial sits outside the junior high school in 2004. Also of interest: Check out this list of York County top news stories in 2009 and Major York County historical moments through the centuries and York County's top 10 news stories in 2006 and Who were most prominent 20th-century sports heroes in York and Adams counties?

York Daily Record/Sunday News reporter Teresa Boeckel did a thoughtful, thorough job in her recent compilation of many of the big news events from the first decade of the 20th century.

It helped that this veteran reporter and Northeastern High School graduate covered most of these events, in full or in part.

Viewers can get the full details from Teresa's reporting at A decade in local news: The highs and lows of York County.

Here are the topics in her report of a decade that came of the heels of York County's hopeful 250th anniversary celebration in 1999 and started with the tensions of the so-called millennium bug, Y2K: ... .

The Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad station is seen in Red Lion in this 1904 photograph. This photo, with a current photo below, is part of a "Then and Now" photo feature on Red Lion's Web site.Visitors are greeted with: 'Welcome to a popular page on our web site.' Also of interest: Old Baltimore tunnel an intriguing reminder of the 'Ma' in Ma & Pa Railroad and Ma & Pa rabbit trains: 'I hope they thoroughly hosed out the cars.' and York County railroading: 'Something that gets into your blood.'

The Red Lion Area Historical Society is doing all kinds of neat historical stuff.

They're in charge of transforming an old blue caboose to a rehabbed red caboose.

They displayed how to hand roll cigars on New Year's Eve.

Members sponsor a monthly lecture on some aspect of Red Lion or county history.

The organization is renovating the old Ma & Pa Railroad Station in Red Lion.

And they're clearly participating in a then and now presentation on the borough's Web page.

Brittany Murphy, the young Hollywood actress who died recently, was a star of the movie 'Girl Interrupted,' filmed, in part, in southwestern York County, Pa.'s, Hanover. That serves as a reminder of another film 'For Richer or Poorer,' filmed, in part, in southeastern York County's Muddy Creek Forks. Both were produced in the 1990s. Here, a York Daily Record story tells about extras used in the Muddy Creek Forks' filming. The movie, featuring Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley, told about a high-flying husband and wife hiding among the Amish. At the time of the filming of the flop 'For Richer or Poorer,' real Amish people were just then moving across the Norman Wood Bridge from Lancaster County to southeastern York County and form a sizeable community today. Although York County is hardly a hotbed for Hollywood filming, a fair of York countians have gone on to stage or screen fame. 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.'

A mixed-bag of neat history stuff ...

York County has long been known for its woodworking, particularly in the form of furniture making.

So, we often receive queries about people who have a prized piece of York County-made furniture that they want to know more about.

The fine work of Ebert Furniture, formerly of Red Lion, is one such maker.

This recent comment by Guy Bair on the post Red Lion's Ebert Furniture: From bedroom suites to gunstocks is typical:

Autumn House residents can now enjoy the velvet-and-gold-trimmed chair that was part of Christmas at The Bon-Ton in York, Pa., for decades. Background posts: Ho, ho, ho - uh, Santa, hold on, The Grumbachers: 'Builders and Heroes,' Part III and What is the home of famed architect J.A. Dempwolf, Bon-Ton store designer, like?

A tip concerning the whereabouts of Santa memorabilia that graced the Bon-Ton in York for years from JoAnne Everhart, always an interested observer of the York County scene.

Her tip turned into an engaging story in the York Daily Record/Sunday News.

Here's her tip:

Readers may be interested to know that the large Santa Claus which graced the window of the former S. Beaver St. and W. Market St. Bon Ton Department Store is still a part of the Christmas scene in York City... .