Recently in Nostalgia & memories Category

Allen J. Smith, seen here inside his restoration, shows the caboose he worked on for years so that, 'It's better than new.' The rail car wil be moved from New Freedom to Wellsboro and Corning Railroad in Tioga County. (See York Daily Record/Sunday News' photographer Paul Kuehnel's video of the caboose below.) Also of interest: What it was like aboard the Stewartstown Railroad and Mason-Dixon Line hugging New Freedom playing host to a new museum and Is mystery railroad the old Shrewsbury narrow gauge?

Yorkblogger Scott Mingus fielded a query from a reader about the origin of the name Pickett Road in Washington Township.

Scott explained that it likely didn't come from the presence of Gen. George Pickett's men in the Gettsburg Campaign in the Civil War summer of 1863... .

The Stewartstown Historical Society is looking for photos of side streets in the southeastern York County, Pa., borough. This is a rare shot of such street, showing the intersection of present-day Route 851 and West Pennsylvania Avenue in Stewartstown. This photo came from the estate of John Denney of Columbia. Also of interest: 'Yesteryears' Stewartstown-area York County sites - Part I, 'Yesteryears' - Part II and German POWs: 'They worked cheaper than We did'.

The Stewartstown Historical Society is working on a new photo book, similar to the the 'Yesteryears' books it published a few years back.

The group is getting lots of photos but not many showing Stewartstown's side streets.

Early photographer Oram Bell took many shots of Main Street, but if he moved with his camera off the main drag, none of his work is known to exist.

Society member Doug Winemiller provided this information and photograph and went on to explain a rare photo of one side street, pictured above... .

Milkweed pods are opening about now around York County, Pa. They're largely ignored nowadays, but in World War II they were coveted. Also of interest: All World War II posts from the start and World War II torpedo, bomb loader, made in York, Pa., turns up in Tennessee museum and Explosions heard around York County after World War II-era 'experts' give canning advice.

For years - decades - York Daily Record/Sunday News photographer Bil Bowden has captured visual moments in and around York County.

In the last post, his work is displayed after he visited remote Wildcat Falls along the river road, north of Wrightsville.

Now he has grabbed a milkweed pod opening.

Of course, there is a story from history - World War II, to be specific - surrounding this little-noticed plant, and my "In the Thick of the Fight," gives a summary:

The Wildcat Falls Hotel is marked as such in this undated photo. The falls (see photo below) was a popular picnic destination. Its water rushed down a York County, Pa., hillside across the Susquehanna River from Marietta in Lancaster County. The river road is at left. Also of interest: The things you learn from reading local history and Opportunities in York County to feed your sense of discovery and Absorbing photo and overlay shows locations of six Susquehanna bridges.

York Daily Record photographer Bil Bowden was doing some sleuthing recently, looking up the once-popular-but-now-little-known Wilcat Falls area, north of Wrightsville.

A picnic area and hotel once operated there, and among other tourists, people crossed the river from Marietta to enjoy the destination... .

This nameplate is affixed to a York, Pa.-made World War II vintage bomb/torpedo loader acquired by the Tennessee Museum of Aviation. To see a photo of this American Chain and Cable-made truck, visit: Torpedo loader turns up in Tennessee museum. Also of interest: Jeep prototype has York County WWII roots and York-made vehicle welcome to retirement home in York, Pa. and All Made in York posts from the start.

The Codorus Valley Chronicles, the newsletter of the Codorus Valley Area Historical Society, always contains neat stuff.

In the November edition, Bob Shaub, editor of the newsletter for this Jefferson-based group, wrote about the value of artifacts made of tin, tied to a program on collecting old tin advertising:

"Little thought was given, let's say from the 1940s back, that tin cans, tin advertising signs would some day be collectible.The containers and signs were thrown away the same as we throw away the plastic containers and cardboard signs today... .

George F. Kennan helped set U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War and won a Pulitzer Prize. He also purchased a farm in eastern Adams County and was known to many folks in the East Berlin, Pa., area. Also of interest: Hanover's Cold Warrior J.W. Gitt's mansion: 'You can look down and see the town laid down before you' and York still twinning with France, Germany after 50-plus years and Cuban expert and York editor Jim Higgins: 'He was just another journalist ... with opinions'.

The late "Green Acres" actor and World War II war hero Eddie Albert wasn't the only celebrity with East Berlin ties.

Historian George F. Kennan served the Allied cause in World War II as a diplomat in European capitals.

He was winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Twice.

He promoted the policy of containment to prevent the spread of communism via the "domino effect." Some believe that policy led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War in 1989.

He's the topic of a popular book "The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War".

And he also owned a farm in the East Berlin area of Adams County... .

A York (Pa.) Daily Record photographer captured the late actor Eddie Albert - Oliver Wendell Douglas in the 1960s sitcom 'Green Acres' - in East Berlin, Pa., in 1997. Albert received a Bronze Star in that eastern Adams County town for his heroics in the Pacific Theater in World War II. Also of interest: Nazis murdered downed WWII airman from York and York County sacrificed on homefront and war front to aid Allies in World War II and War memorials stand proudly in towns throughout York County.

York Daily Record/Sunday News writer Jeff Frantz has told a touching story about York's Robert Kressler, who was killed in France in combat in World War II.

For years, his sister, Jeanne Stefanowicz, 82, of York, did not know how he was killed.

He wrote how the Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New York answered that question. (Please read this excellent story The death of Pfc. Kressler: A call, and an answer to find out the details.)

This post, looking ahead to Veterans Day, is about another hero - a high-profile hero - who fought in the Pacific Theater. He held a local link in East Berlin.

That hero was the late Eddie Albert, aka Oliver Wendell Douglas, TV husband of Eva Gabor and foil of Arnold the Pig... .

Participants in the York County, Pa. Teachers' Institute in the 1928-1929 school year received this notebook to write down insights gained in these city and county training sessions. (See additional photo below.) Also of interest: One-room school reunions preserve educational culture of thousands of York countians and Former Temple head product of York County schools and All school days category posts from the start..

The annual Teachers' Institute for York County city and county teachers was a longtime rite of fall.

With this multi-day in-service program for teachers came a booklet, courtesy of Dan Meckley's collection. The black-and-white notebook raises several interesting items of historical note.

First, the institute has separate dates for York City teachers and county teachers.

Part of the reason for this might have been relevant instruction for grade-level classrooms in the city versus country one or two-room schools in which all grades were grouped.

Advertisers were eager to get their messages to the recipients of the notebooks, teachers from the three-corners of York County... .

Dianne Bowders submitted this view of the York House or Billmeyer House, part of York, Pa.'s, First Presbyterian Church campus. In the post "Some of York County's famous buildings", Yorkblogger Joan Concilio tells about a new user-submitted gallery available at http://ydr.inyork.com/ydr/gallery. "I was really excited to see some people who I don't even know starting to submit ... ., Concilio wrote in her increasingly popular Only in York County blog. 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.

People are talking about the possible demise of Phineas Davis school.

The York City School District is examining the future of 1930s-era building.

"I went to Phineas Davis when it was a junior high from 1964-1966 where I made lifelong friends. These were the best years of my city education. The sports, cheerleading, the teachers & the competition between Smith & Hannah Penn - these were the best times," Sandy (Shorter) Fake wrote in commenting on a York Town Square post that told a little about 19th century inventor and school namesake Phineas Davis... .

This image was used to promote Weaver Organ and Piano products made in York, Pa. This card appears to be 1920s vintage. (See sales pitch set to verse on the card's back below.) 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.

Dan Meckley III's father was an exec at Weaver Organ & Piano Co. for years before its closing in the 1950s.

So history-minded Dan III has made sure the York community has a musical legacy of that venerable's company's products at the York County Heritage Trust's Historical Society and Agricultural and Industrial museums.

Recently, Dan put forth advertising cards - actually, miniature handbills - touting the company's organ and pianos, made at its four-story factory on North Broad Street.

Some of the cards are targeted to families, who kids would make prospective users. Others were targeted to upscale market. Those in his collection addressed women suggesting that they were decision-makers on the purchase of pianos and organs... .

Spring Grove, Pa.'s, Ford dealership - then owned by Pierce Stambaugh - was a mainstay in its downtown in this 1934 photograph. Marley Gross Ford, which occupied that site for decades, just recently closed its doors. Also of interest: 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?.

There goes another small-town or old-time automobile dealership.

This time, it's Marley Gross Ford in Spring Grove.

The passing of these dealerships is corresponding with the growth of businesses that handle numerous brands in several towns or even across state lines. Apple Automotive Group is an example of that.

This change is not necessarily bad. It's just different... .

Amy Staub submitted this photograph for publication in the new book Capture York. It shows her grandfather, Franklin Armold, and his wife, Lillian while out for a motorcycle ride in the 1920s. Also of interest: All presidential visits from the start and Washington Township, Jefferson Borough, Madison Avenue. How about an Obama Street in York County? and Yo, Yoe never was Yohe.

Years ago, Sam Snyder, Yoe borough council president, garnered a box of letters at a York County auction.

The writer?

Chester Alan Arthur.

That turned out to be Chester A. Arthur, future president of the United States... .

The New York Giants' Willie Mays makes what has become known as "The Catch" of York County native and Cleveland Indians Vic Wertz's long fly ball in the 1954 World Series. Mays amazing play overshadowed Wertz's stellar performance in that series. Background posts: Who were most prominent 20th-century sports heroes in York and Adams counties? and York County sports a miniature Cooperstown and Story answers much about great athlete Hinkey Haines, including origin of his nickname.

I've written before about York native and major league baseball player Vic Wertz.

All he did was hit .500 in the 1954 World Series in which his Cleveland Indians lost to the New York Giants.

He returned from a bout with polio to hit 32 home runs.

Late in his career, he broke his ankle and came back to play on.

But it was that World Series and Willie Mays' over-the-shoulder grab of Wertz's long fly ball that relegated Vic Wertz to baseball's "almost-great" list.

But this post really isn't about baseball.

In a York Sunday News column (11/1/09), I compare Vic Wertz to his native York County, Pa., a kind of human metaphor for this south central Pennsylvania county ... .

Visitors pose at York County, Pa.'s Wildcat Falls, an unsung landmark on the west bank of the Susquehanna River. Frederic H. Abendschein, in the recently published "Columbia, Marietta, and Wrightsville," wrote: "A popular summertime destination, both local and out-of-town tourists would take a ferry from Marietta to cross the Susquehanna River over to the York County side to reach the falls and the nearby hotel." This photo came from that work, from the presses of Arcadia Publishing. (See additional photos below.) Also of interest: The things you learn from reading local history and Opportunities in York County to feed your sense of discovery and Absorbing photo and overlay shows locations of six Susquehanna bridges.

For years, York County's Wildcat Falls, north of Wrightsville, was a getaway for people on both sides of the Susquehanna River.

People would arrive at the falls via ferry, crossing the river from Marietta. They would cross over the stream near the falls on a narrow wooden bridge and use stairs and handrails going up the hillside parallel to the falls.

They would dine on a nearby deck and enjoy the cool breezes... .

When this Evening Sun in Hanover, Pa., photo was produced in 2008, about 16,000 pounds of potato chips per hour rolled off the lines at Utz Quality Foods' High Street plant in Hanover. Pending approval by the Federal Trade Commission, Snyder's of Hanover will acquire cross-town snack food producer Utz Quality Foods. Also of interest: Chipmaking of the potato kind has deep roots in York County and Who makes the best potato chips in York County, Martin's or Utz? Or someone else? and York Barbell's tall, heavyweight lifter has long helped put York County on the map.

I've written previously that York County manufacturers have historically made BIG, HEAVY THINGS.

York Barbell, of course, is Exhibit A, almost by definition.

Some lines of the old Pfaltzgraff pottery were known as stoneware and plates are rock-like in weight - wonderful rocks, I might add.

York Safe & Lock made vaults and other such equipment whose bulk kept their contents safe... .

The York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News and MediaOnePa has released a new York County area picture book, "Capture York." The book is packed with user-submitted photographs. Melanie Wallace took this cover photograph. For details, visit www.captureyork.com. (See additional photo below.) Also of interest: Horse, buggy, one-room school make York County comeback. and The Four YorkBloggers write and Postcards tell story of York County community .

Here's a chance to see an Amish school up close.

The GFWC New Holland Area Woman's Club is hosting its 11th Annual 'HOLIDAY TOUR OF HOMES' Nov. 14,10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Lancaster County tour includes 8 homes and an Amish School. Tickets are $10 in advance; $12 on tour day.

Proceeds benefit community and charitable organizations including ELANCO Library, Liberty Fire Co., New Holland Recreation Center, New Holland Park Summer Arts Program and the park playground, New Holland Rescue Squad, Garden Spot Soccer League, and Garden Spot Little League. For tickets and further information, call 717-351-9995.

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Joseph N. Gallagher of York, Pa., found this Gazette Almanac in his grandfather's belongings. His grandfather was the late Rev. Norman Ort, founder and minister of West York's Four Square Gospel Church. Also of interest: York County newspaper gets new wardrobe, some nips and tucks and 1874 York Daily: Is it worth anything? and Newspaper's founding date hard to pin down.

Joe Gallagher found a prize among the stuff his late grandfather Norman Ort left behind: a Handy Almanac Encyclopedia and Year Book, dated 1916.

The guts of the 142-page softcover book contained national information for those relatively quiet moment before the deadly years of American involvement in World War I and the Spanish influenza epidemic.

The cover, inside title page and back cover were custom printed to tout The Gazette of York, Pa., then operating out of its 35-37 E. King St. plant.

There's a story there... .

Ophelia Chambliss' art has been widely exhibited at York, Pa.'s, Crispus Attucks Community Center, the York County (Pa.) Heritage Trust and elsewhere around York County. Here, her art is available for all to see in Murals of York-fashion outside York County borders - in Harrisburg. The mural, titled "Mending Hearts, Minds and Communities" is part of neighborhood revitalization and community projects. The wall space was donated by Christina and Bluett Jones on the side of their gallery (Gallery Blu) at 1633 North Third St. This is the debut mural for the Susquicentennial Commission's "Painting the Town" project, as part of Harrisburg's 150th anniversary celebration in 2010. Also of interest: Civil rights heroes stand out at Bradley exhibit and Linked in with neat York County history stuff - Oct. 15, 2009 and If you want to see the Murals of York up close ... .

From the mailbag and Web: A mixed bag of links to a bit of everything around York County:

A tiny group of Episcopalians converged on a tiny chapel in the tiny Adams County town of York Springs.

"They prayed and meditated on Scripture in a one-room brick chapel on Main Street -- the parent church for Episcopalians west of the Susquehanna," York Daily Record/Sunday News reporter Melissa Nann Burke, wrote. "A rotting sign out front reads: 'Christ Church Episcopal, Colonial English Parish founded 1746.'"

The congregation dates back to the 1740s, and the structure standing today in York Springs dates to the 1830s. Read more at Episcopalians take pilgrimage to past.

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Lee Schwan's Web site includes a bunch of compelling photos from northwest York, Pa.'s Yorktowne Homes, built as housing for defense workers in World War II. Schwan wrote in an e-mail, published in a previous post, that he hopes someone writes about living in Yorktowne in the 1940s and 1950s. Background posts: Just try to resist this memory-tugging photograph of northwest York, Pa. and World War II-era Yorkers welcomed nondescript housing and Linked in with neat York County history stuff - Oct. 10, 2009.

From the mailbag: A mixed bag of links to a bit of everything around York County:

- York County history enthusiasts should keep their eye on e-Bay for bits of history. An e-mailer pointed out that copies of The Morning Journal are available on there. The York Dispatch published this short-lived newspaper during a short-lived strike by workers of competitor The Gazette and Daily in 1970. The Gazette came back after that strike as the York Daily Record, owned by District Attorney Harold Fitzkee and partners who had purchased it from J.W. Gitt. That comeback spelled the demise of The Morning Journal... .

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Hanover High School's Al Bemiller became known nationally as Jack Kemp's center during the Buffalo Bill's glory years in the mid-1960s. (To learn about a Bemiller hobby during his days in York County, see the back side of his player card below.) Also of interest: Wikipedia profiles Al Bemiller and seven others with national status bearing Hanover roots and Academy Award-winning costume designer Ann Roth's sketches exhibited in Hanover and How Hanover's Eichelberger school morphed into 'The Eich'.

The Buffalo Bills - yes, the Buffalo Bills - made the news twice this week in York County.

An 18-year-old New Freedom resident is leading the charge to purchase billboard space near Buffalo to show concern about this NFL's team inability to win.

Susquehannock High School grad Ryan Abshagen is fed up with the Bills' losing ways.

Then, Red Lion High School's quarterback has been dismissed from the team. Chad Kelly is the nephew of former Bills quarterback and football hall of famer Jim Kelly.

But actually York County has enjoyed a connection with the Bills for years.

Hanover High School's Al Bemiller played center on the Bills' championship teams in the 1960s... .

Lee Schwan has some neat photos on his Web site about York, Pa., in the 1960s. Here, he shows Bear's Department Store, on the northwest corner of Continental Square. (See additional downtown York photo below) Also of interest: York columnist Jim Hubley's 'Off the Record' again on the market and 03/downtown-thrived-in-postww-ii.html">Downtown thrived in post-WW II York and Columnist: 'I still have my memories ... of the bustling downtown York business district' .

From the mailbag: A mixed bag of links to a bit of everything around York County:

- York Sunday News columnist Gordon Freireich is now a Yorkblogger, part of the York Daily Record/Sunday News stable of community bloggers. See his York at Heart blog where he adds to his 30-year newspaper habit of observing, commenting and remembering York. He writes York at Heart continues those observations on life and family in York - then and now. Gordon has made many appearances on York Town Square via his many York Sunday News columns I've linked to and excerpted.

And also ... .

Five-year-old Sarah Eline gets ready to feel her first raw oyster slither down her throat at the 2008 Oyster Festival in York, Pa.. The York County Heritage Trust's 35th Annual Oyster Festival runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, in York. "Oysters aren't afraid of water, and neither is the York County Heritage Trust," a news release stated. So the festival has been moved this year to the trust's Agricultural & Industrial Museum, 217 W. Princess St. because of inclement weather forecasts. Also of interest: Mix 'You know you're a Yorker, if' with oysters. You get... and 'The oysters have been very, very popular' and Oysters: 'Economical ... not bones or waste ...'.

How many oysters does it take to fill hundreds of stomachs at York County Heritage Trust's annual oyster festival?

That question was asked and answered by some folks at the trust:

An article in the Fall 2009 edition of Albright Today profiles York County, Pa.'s, George Spangler. Spangler resides in the Albright Care Services' Normandie Ridge Senior Living Community in West Manchester Township. Also of interest: No church/school conflict here: Manchester church to shore up deteriorating school and 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 A West Manchester village center that up and moved.

George Spangler remembers growing up on a farm that straddled the then-dirt
Bull Road in Manchester and West Manchester townships.

His family farm was pretty typical of those in York County in the 1920s. Turkeys, chickens, corn, wheat and hay were the staple products.

An old barn, built with pegged and hand-hewn logs, came with the farm. But one feature made this farm and barn different from most. The barn's "soul box," a small door in one of its sides, became a tourist draw... .

Matt Baum is campaigning to save Chimney Rock in Hellam Township, Pa.. His Web site is packed with appeals to save this geological formation. Also of interest: Chickies Rock braced for rush of Susquehanna's waters and Web site filled with wealth of York County geological info and Iron-mine-turned-into-party-spot turned into York County park and Gurgling all the way from Texas to New Jersey.

Matt Baum is owner and lists himself as steward of Chimney Rock in eastern York County.

He dates the Hellam Township rock formation at 550 million years in age.

He has written a letter to the editor urging action against a proposed Texas Eastern natural gas line that my damage the formation... .

A photo of Eddie Plank holding a baseball on the wall of Gettysburg Eddies, an eatery in Adams County, Pa., tied to native son and baseball Hall of Famer Eddie Plank. Also of interest: Remembering York/Adams major leaguers and Vancouver, B.C., has beauty, but York, Pa., has a life-sized Brooks Robinson statue and York County sports a miniature Cooperstown.

Fellow blogger Pat Abdalla has profiled baseball players from York and Adams counties who performed in the Major League post-season.

The most prominent is Vic Wertz and his long fly ball out hauled in by Willie Mays.

In his Southpaw blog, Pat also explores the post-season work of: ... .

Springettsbury Township's (Pa.) Avalong Dairy house, aka Meadowbrook mansion, aka Christmas Tree Hill has long captured the imagination of motorists traveling on Whiteford Road. At one time, it served as the office of the dairy. Also of interest: Before Geno's made news in Philly, Gino's headlined in York and Druck Valley, Glades area offers beautiful scenery for Sunday afternoon drive and York-area full of memory-spawning landmarks

As a kid, York, Pa.'s, R. Stephen Bancroft would ride his bike up to Avalong Dairy Farm from his home in East York and help with the cows and play in the barn.

As a teen, he delivered office supplies - for his father's business, H.G. Bancroft, Inc. - to the back door of the house.

"So I am some what familiar with the history of the area," he wrote to York Town Square in an e-mail.

He provided insight into that popular Whiteford Road/Mount Zion Road corner plus some information on Melvin's Drive-In, another nostalgia-inducing landmark for many York countians: ... .

One of York, Pa.'s, Dempwolf architectural firm's lasting designs is the Schmidt House, at Springettsbury Avenue and South George Street. The large, architecturally significant structure, is being converted into three condominiums. (See additional photo below.) Also of interest: Dempwolf windmill graced north bank of York's Codorus Creek in 1870s and Fawn Township's magnificent Centre Presbyterian Church worthy of a looksee and Dempwolf architects built York's skyline, history.

Fellow blogger Scott Butcher is also president of Historic York Inc., promoter of this weekend's three-day tribute to York, Pa.'s, Victorian-era Dempwolf architectural firm.

He sent out a long e-mail detailing this 'Discovering Dempwolf' weekend. Even if you're not able to make it to any of the York-area tours of Dempwolf designed houses and other buildings, you'll enjoy the insights Butcher puts forth about this famous firm.

His excerpted e-mail follows:

The fields around York, Pa.'s, Veterans Memorial Park were used for farming in this mid-20th-century photograph. (Below, see photo of that area today.) Also of interest: 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.

In its earliest days, the York White Roses played at Memorial Stadium in Spring Garden Memorial Park. That's where Brooks Robinson made his professional debut.

Today, the sports complex is known as Bob Hoffman Stadium at Veterans Memorial Park.

But whatever its name, the local chamber of commerce accepted credit, in the booklet "The Record of the York Chamber of Commerce in the First Half of the Twentieth Century," with helping to keep organized baseball in York... .

This photograph shows the administration building of the original York (Pa.) Airport along Haines Road. It is now a private residence, although it looks vastly different. Background posts: Where was York County's earliest documented airstrip? and York Airport memories spawn even more recollections about old York-area airfields and It's a bird. It's a plane. It's cigars with wings dropped by York-based promoters.

Recent York Town Square posts have examined the Roosevelt Avenue airport in west York and the Valley Airways field in east York.

We've even looked at what the local student of aviation John F.M. Wolfe views as the earliest documented airstrip.

But what about the original York Airport, the one that many remember operating on the Kindig Farm along Haines Road? ...

Philip Given of The Susquehanna Photographic blog captured this image from the men's restroom under York, Pa.'s Continental Square on the recent Harley-Davidson Bike Night. Also of interest: Researcher leaves detailed files on more than 300 York and Adams mills and York County photo collection adds to historical record and Noted photo archive captures York County treasures.

"For the non-biker, perhaps one of the most exciting parts about Bike Night was the bathrooms. That's right. The bathrooms."

So says a caption on Philip Given's compelling blog, The Susquehanna Photographic.

His blog provides several scenes of the old restrooms, under Continental Square's southeast corner, as part of his photographic coverage of Harley-Davidson's annual Bike Night ... .

The seats in The Majestic in Gettysburg, Pa., are the original design, found off a style number from the original seats. This photo and those below come from an upcoming edition of Spaces magazine. Also of interest: In last issue of Spaces - York artist Horace Bonham's house: 'There are paintings of his children throughout the building' and Hanover's old State Theater: 'Don't lose hope, it's not dead' and Dallas Theatre perking along, but Stewartstown's Ramsay Theatre: 'It is really in bad shape'.

The Majestic Theater in Gettysburg opened in the mid-1920s, a large vaudeville and silent move theater.

That was the heyday of such theaters. York had a half dozen in operation at one time or another.

Every small town seemed to have one.

Few were as grand as the Majestic.

Spaces magazine, a York Daily Record/Sunday News-produced, publication that profiles high-interest public and private buildings and houses will feature the Majestic in an upcoming issue.

Here are excerpts from the Majestic story in that magazine:

Starting after World War II until the mid-1950s, York (Pa.) Airport operated along Roosevelt Avenue. It then moved back to its previous - and current site - near Thomasville. For part of that era, a second York-area airstrip bookended this west York landing area in east York, near the current location of Wal-Mart in the old York Mall. Also of interest: Ho, ho, ho - uh, Santa, hold on, The Grumbachers: 'Builders and Heroes,' Part III and For 15 years, old Kelsey Airstrip atop York Township hilltop flat spot for local pilots.

The booklet "The Record of the York Chamber of Commerce in the First Half of the Twentieth Century" is filled with wonderful photographs of the York area at mid-century.

Its emphasis on airports tied to the York chamber's role as an advocate for the business community.

The booklet explains that the proximity to Harrisburg Airport was then shorter than the commute time of most major cities to their fields, particularly when the "new express highway," Interstate 83, was finished.

Indeed, that's true today... .

The Rathton Road/South George Street intersection on York, Pa., south side is well-known for the water that collects there. And it's known George is named after British royalty in the 1700s. But where does Rathton come from? Also of interest: Where did Camp Betty Washington Road get its name? and What do York radio station WSBA's call letters stand for? Book bears neat stuff about early radio and Often forgotten: Achievements of people named on building facades.

A group of York County history enthusiasts were stumped on a question someone had raised.

Who was the "Rathton" in Rathton Road, that divider between York and Spring Garden Township? ... .

This photograph from a mid-20th-century York (Pa.) Chamber of Commerce publication shows popular landmarks of that day. In the lower right part of the photo, that's what is known today as the Playland pool beside the roller skating rink. Both are gone. That's York Valley Inn, long since dismantled and moved to Susquehanna Memorial Gardens, across the Lincoln Highway from the pool. And surrounding the inn is the 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 Wal-Mart. 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'.

Gerald A. Young, 76, considers the time he spent around the York Whitehull Airport as a youth as a fun but important time for him.

George Whiteley III - of the Dentsply Whiteley's - flew out of the East Market Street airport.

"George was a great influence on me," he said in a recent phone conversation... .

York, Pa.'s, Martin's Potato Chips are randomly sampled salt and moisture content, as seen in this York Daily Record/Sunday News file photo from 2004. Also of interest: York County, Pa. made big, heavy things - and was immensely proud of it and Chipmaking of the potato kind has deep roots in York County and York's Central Market sells steak ... and sizzle.

Universal York blogger June Lloyd keeps chipping away, er, profiling potato chipmakers around York County, Pa.

She just did the El-Ge/Eagle/Frito-Lay plant, west of York.

But here's the thing.

The topic of potato chips often sparks a fun debate that diverts attention from the
weightier issues facing York County and the world.

The discussion about who makes the best chips usually is framed this way:

A Martin's Potato Chips employee fills a seasoning hopper at the company's Thomasville-area plant in this York Daily Record/Sunday News file photo from 2004. Martin's makes one of York County's iconic products. (See additional photo below.) Also of interest: York's Central Market sells steak ... and sizzle and Richard Nixon's visits seared into York countians' minds and 20 questions and answers to prove your York County smarts

Over at Universal York, blogger June Lloyd has a mini-series going on potato chip making in York County.

For example, she links Hanover Foods Bickel's and Bon-Ton potato chips: Potato Chips Go Back a Long Way in York County... .

The Meadowbrook Mansion looms in the background as folks and their mounts mug for the camera. That area of Springettsbury Township, Pa., has seen farms and businesses come and go for decades. Also of interest: From top dog and hot dogs to dogfight and dog days in York County, Pa., Before Geno's made news in Philly, Gino's headlined in York and Mother Goose teaches York County history lessons.

The Whiteford (Arsenal) Road/Springettsbury Township intersection has been a site for change over the years.

In a recent e-mail, longtime area resident JoAnne Everhart traced some of those changes.

She started with memories from recent York Town Square posts on local miniature golf courses, specifically "Little Duffer" in York Township.

Then she told of another course on the northwest corner near the memorable Avalong Restaurant. A stop at the drive-in inevitably followed the putt-putt game.

Here are excerpts from her e-mail:

This mural in the Lafayette Club shows York, Pa., soon after the Marquis de Lafayette visited the town in 1825. Lafayette returned to York about 50 years after his first visit, when he publicly supported George Washington during trying military and political times for the commander of the Continental Army in the American Revolution. This photo, capturing a scene adapted from engraver/artist William Wagner's work, is part of a story about the club in an upcoming edition of 'Spaces' magazine. 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.

For a club that has long been private and mysterious, York's Lafayette Club - and particularly the townhouse where it operates - has seen much history.

P.A. Small, York's leading businessman of the 19th century, lived here.

Gen. John B. Gordon stopped there to give a speech touting the gallantry of the Confederates then invading York in June 1863.

The deed for the townhouse was lost on the Titanic... .

A Pennsylvania National Guard helicopter takes off from a field near the then-York Township, Pa., municipal building and York Area Regional Police Department in 2004. Helicopters flown by the Guard's Counter Drug Program help police spot marijuana plants. This is not the first time that aircraft flew from land in that vicinity. Other posts 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'.

Gwen Ferree Wise was curious about Spry's old Kelsey Airstrip, located at the present site of the York Area Regional Police Department and township park.

She could not immediately remember an airport operating from that site.

This photograph ran in the York Sunday News right after New Year's Day in 2000, and its caption noted that the last of the Bury's 11 York-area restaurants closed in 1986. In a sense, Joe Bury's popular hamburger stands out-McDonalded McDonald's for years. Background post: New McStore going up in highly trafficked spot and York countians are proud of the York Fair, and there's a lot to be proud about and York-area full of memory-spawning landmarks.

Let's just say the contest between York Fair's two known Bury hamburger vendors was settled by the strength of an onion slice.

It's the annual York Fair faceoff pitting the Bury's burger from Johnny Eagle's stand versus the offering from the Bury's Famous Hamburger booth.

Many people have York Fair traditions, and mine has become sampling the burgers from the two stands and deciding which is better that particular day ... .

The 1901 book 'York and York County' included this photo of the vaulted basement of Cresap's Fort or Dritt Mansion. The restored Long Level structure perched along the Susquehanna River south of Wrightsville, Pa., today is headquarters for Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area, the former Lancaster-York Heritage Region. It's a National Register of Historic Places site. 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.

The Leinhardt Brothers Furniture Warehouse in West York was formerly home of the Ashley and Bailey Company Silk Mill and was also known as the Franklin Silk Mill.

And noted York architect John A. Dempwolf did, indeed, design the York Silk Manufacturing Co. in East York.

Recent posts on those two landmark York-area buildings have raised such questions.

People in York County like their old buildings.

So, here's a resource to find out more about them and other historic structures in York County and beyond... .

Matthew Garrett Collins served as general manager of York Silk Manufacturing Co.'s two factories in York's east end at the turn of the 20th century. The fortress-like Hay Street building that stands today has made a mark on the memories of York countians and catches the eyes of thousands of motorists a day. Also of interest: About York Silk's boss: 'Mr. Collins was regarded as one of the big men in this community' and 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.

There's something about that York Silk Manufacturing Co. building that sparks memories.

Several folks have written after posts and my York Sunday News column explored the building now known as Hudson Park Towers.

The silkmaking factory's product lines changes through the years from Moneybak black silk popular 100 years ago to boys pajamas and other nighwear in the 1950s... .

As usual, JoAnne Everhart has the most concise memories.

Excerpts from here comments follow:

Mary Anne Bacas, of the Avenues Neighborhood Association, is seen at the Farquhar Park gazebo in 2006. The gazebo, or bandstand, has been the scene of vandalism since its restoration in the past decade. (See another view from the gazebo below.) But park vandalism has been a problem for more than 100 years. 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.

In 1899, York city officials were concerned about vandalism at Farquhar Park.

Not much has changed.

But that wasn't their biggest issue with the beautiful hilltop park named after industrialist A.B. Farquhar... .

The Women's Club of York exhibits a style in architecture and interior fixtures common in the Victorian Age. Here, an angel-shaped sconce is on display at the organization's East Market Street building. (See additional photos of Victorian-era buildings in York, Pa., below). Also of interest: Women's Club of York: 'No one knew it really looked like this' and York County civic, service groups fighting for lives and Author: 'York's streetscape features almost every style and era of American architecture'.

For all of its assets, York County - particularly the York area - has a branding problem.

Its historic and cultural resources, though considerable, are not as high-profile as Lancaster County's Amish and Adams County's Gettysburg Battlefield and Dauphin County's Capitol.

The York area's two most significant historic moments - adoption of the American Revolution's Articles of Confederation and World War II's York Plan - are significant, indeed. But they're not likely to capture the imagination of tourists, much less local residents... .

York (Pa.) Silk Manufacturing Co. operated two factories in York's east end at the turn-of-the-20th-century. This drawing, from York County Heritage Trust files, shows the silkmaker's factory at Vine (State) Street and Wallace Street. The factory no longer stands. Background posts: How one spot in York County, Pa., tells much about what's going on around there and The York/Adams day that birthed memories of falling stars and silkworms and All Made in York posts from the start.

Was the old Leinhardt Brothers Furniture company in West York ever a silkmaking factory, specifically York Silk Manufacturing Co.?

Reader Bob Lookingbill posed that question after reading posts about the York Silk factory that forms part of the York skyline today.

I wrote back that York Silk, at least in the early 1900s, operated only two factories - both in York's East End.

One was Hay Street's Diamond Branch, with its two towers and smokestack... .

In the final days of Gettysburg's Electric Map's showing in 2007, Mitchell Keiper visited the map while on a field trip from Wisconsin. A photo caption aptly summed up the recent story of the map. Some students said they thought the narrator's voice was boring. Mitchell said he thought the program was interesting. Gettysburg National Military Park is seeking a solution to address both views. Also of interest: Q&A on new Gettysburg visitor center, old Electric Map, Restored Gettysburg Cyclorama arriving in new home and Gettysburg's Electric Map blinking in finale season.

The Gettysburg National Military Park's Museum and Visitors Center is drawing high marks from patrons, The Evening Sun in Hanover has reported.

But many give a brief critique: "I really wish that you still had the map."

Before demolition of the old visitors center, the map was taken apart and is now in storage.

Park officials are considering bringing back the map in video format, as this excerpted Evening Sun (9/13/09) story reports:

The Dempwolf-designed York County (Pa.) Courthouse, one of York County's most architecturally significant buildings is photographed soon after its turn-of-the-20th-century construction. York County is known for its diverse architecture. (See video link below demonstrating this diversity.) Also of interest: Coca-Cola out in Springetts... self-storage space is real thing and York's housing stock not that revolutionary and Virtual York offers colorful tour of York's past.

The greater York area has long boasted of its Colonial heritage, which might suggest it's filled with Colonial-era building and houses.

Not so.

Much of its architecture comes from the Victorian era - from Dempwolf-designed Market Street structures to working-class rowhouses... .

York, Pa.'s, arch-laden Centre Square was lit up as it never had been before in this photograph of York County's 150th birthday celebration in 1899. This scene was captured in the York Daily-published book, "York and York County." Also of interest: York's Bradford pear trees: 'Beautiful arch of blooms ... followed by the snowstorm of petals' and York-area picture book not your typical coffee table publication and Author: 'York's streetscape features almost every style and era of American architecture'.

The descriptions sounds like a review for a 21st century sci-fi movie:

"The result was a scene which might well have led an alarmed burgher of 1749, had he unexpectedly witnessed it, to rub his bewildered eyes in astonished inquiry as to whether it was the upper or nether world to which he had suddenly been transported."

Those words described York's well-lit Centre Square in 1899.

Folks in those turn-of-the-century days when electric lighting was in its infancy just never had experienced such a moment, much less York's first settlers 150 years before... .

These patriotic pre-World War II York (Pa.) Fair days were hopeful after a rough summer of battling a polio outbreak. Fairgoers needed this respite. Just two months later, Pearl Harbor changed everything. Also of interest: This York Fair mural is fading from sight and Good old days at the York Fair were at least old and JFK received grand applause at York Fair visit.

An e-mailer, an exec with a local firm and proud of the York Fair, asked the York Daily Record/Sunday News to ask for special York Fair memories.

I wrote back saying we have done just that, and they're available with audio clips by clicking here.

And we've created a thread on the York Daily Record/Sunday News' bulletin board, The Exchange, for you to share your memories.

And the posts on the blog All's Fair includes many historical memories of the fair.

That's all past stuff... .

This image from a turn-of-the-20th-century York city directory shows a stand of row homes that has gone up along West Princess Street. Rowhouses often accommodated workers at the many factories operating in or near city neighborhoods in the late-Victorian era. Also of interest: Colonial York, Pa.? No, try Victorian York, Pa. and York's rowhouses becoming an endangered species and How one spot in York County, Pa., tells much about what's going on around there.

A York Sunday News reader resided in one of the homes pictured above, the first one at 624 W. Princess Street.

He was not the first owner of the turn-of-the-century home, moving there in 1951.

"We raised five children at that residence," he wrote. "It was quite different in 1903 than in 1951." ... .

Hundreds viewed this item recently at the Dover (Pa.) Firemen's Fair on Canal Road in Dover borough. But no one could identify its purpose. (See additional photo below.) Background posts: Is this a York County farm truck or is it just a wagon with a motor? and The Acme Tongue Carrier of Hanover, Pa.: Are there any around today? and York County group preserving Pennsylvania Dutch language, heritage.

There's a mystery machine in Dover, and folks at the Great Dover Historical Society are looking for someone who can crack the case... .

This view from the penthouse of the Glen Rock Mill Inn shows the heart of Glen Rock. It's quiet here, but the borough has played host to many newsworthy events. The borough is celebrating its 150 anniversary next year. Background posts: AMP's and AMF's alphabet soup spilled in Glen Rock and Google Images bring life and times of Glen Rock's Cliff Heathcote, a trick shot artist, other York County, Pa., memories and Parade Music Prince Roland Seitz: From Shrewsbury to Friday Night Lights.

Glen Rock is going down in history as a town with the most histories written about it.

In recent years, the Glen Rock Carolers have updated their already thorough history, which is also a history of the town.

Earlier this year, Bob Ketenheim published a postcard history book covering Glen Rock's plentiful hills and dales.

Next June, the borough will celebrate its 150th birthday, and yes, the committee heading that effort is publishing a book... .

This scene comes from one of York County, Pa.'s, best-known miniature golf courses, Putter's Paradise in Manchester Township. Putt-Putt golf courses have been around York County for decades and not all of them have been outdoors. Also of interest: Bucolic Outdoor Country Club started in busy York neighborhood and On Eisenhower's York County golf round: He turned in a 'commendable score' and Why is Hanover Country Club in Abbottstown?.

Reader Walter B. Ziegler has identified a miniature golf course that was here prior to the 1940s when York Township's Lil Duffer is known to have been operating.

But the putt-putt course that Walter Ziegler pointed out had a roof... .

Thousand of worshippers have heard sermons in this outdoor pavilion, the tabernacle, at Penn Grove Campground in southwestern York County. The camp meeting was a rite of summer for thousands of York countians. Also of interest: Mining a rich vein of southwestern York County's religious history, Part I, Part II and Abe Lincoln, Gwyneth Paltrow passed through Porters Sideling and Billy Graham: 'I do remember him being here and what a thrill it was'.

Roy Flinchbaugh is one of a host of York countians who attended Penn Grove Campgrounds in Smith Station, Heidelberg Township.

Fond memories of those days prompted him to reflect on the camp in the 1930s, after reading my recent York Sunday News column on that topic:

" When I was growing up my parents took me up to Penn Grove Camp almost every Sunday evening in the summer... .

The village of Spry in York Township, Pa., is the home of Goodwill Fire Company, which supplied the ladder truck so that Almar the Professional Idiot could demonstrate his escape from a straight jacket. Almar kicked off the Dallastown Halloween Parade about a decade ago and was captured in this York Daily Record file photo. (See additional photos below.) Background posts: 19th-century mines gave Ore Valley its name and York County one-room schools: 'That's when things were good' and Forgotten York Valley Inn may be rediscovered.

Bonnie Stiles has provided family information that confirms details in a previous York Town Square post about the toll gate that operated at Leader Heights Road and South Queen Street in Spry.

The gate pivoted up and down on the west side of Queen Street, across the street from present-day Tollgate Village.

"When my paternal great-grandmother (Estella Mae Markey Sechrist) was alive she told me she used to run the 'toll gate' on S. Queen Street," Bonnie Stiles wrote.

"Apparently her husband, my great-grandfather (Norman Sechrist) ran a wagon from Red Lion to York every day. They claim he had something to do with tobacco."

Those were the days, less than 100 years ago, when toll roads still radiated from York... .

The First National Bank of Glen Rock's building has long been an anchor in the borough's downtown. It was constructed in 1912, and this photograph was taken two years later. Bob Ketenheim nicely captures Glen Rock, Pa.'s, past in his recently published "Around Glen Rock," part of Arcadia Publishing's "Images of America" series. Background posts: Google Images bring life and times of Glen Rock's Cliff Heathcote, other York County, Pa., memories and Mystery of Glen Rock-area's Narrow Gauge Road deepens and Glen Rock hilltop farm: 'You cannot stay stressed here for long'.

Bob Ketenheim's "Around Glen Rock" contains numerous interesting photos that individually tell the story of this southern York County's borough history.

And sometimes photos in this book, working in tandem, tell perhaps unintended but rich and revealing stories.

One photo, for example, shows a proud Wesley C. Koller driving his brand new Stanhope make of automobile into Glen Rock on Manchester Street in 1900... .

About 50 airports or airstrips have operated in and around York County, Pa., since the 1920s. Kampel Airport in Warrington Township is one of the grass airstrips still in operation. In this York Daily Record/Sunday News file photo from 2006, Bill Luther has just received a ride in a Boeing Stearman PT-17 for his 85th birthday. Luther trained during World War II to fly Boeing Stearman PT-17s. Other posts 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'.

Aircraft still land and take off from many of the 50-something airports that have operated in and around York County.

The York Airport is the best known example.

Some of the airports are now plowed under... .

The Spring Grove (Pa.) Public School, left, was dedicated in 1898 and enlarged in 1921, right, as seen in this photo from "The Spring Grove Years." Who are the two luminaries in those round fixtures, photo at right, on this Dempwolf building's side, on either side of the arched entryway? Background posts: John Luther Long: Miss Saigon's York County connection and Each month, three free history presentations offered to York countians and York countians major makers of Kentucky, make that Pennsylvania, long rifles.

Recent posts have reviewed various sung and unsung sites in the Spring Grove-Hanover- McSherrytown area. (See Mining a rich vein of southwestern York County's religious history, Part 1 and Part 2.)

But the tour of southwestern York County that spawned those posts touched on non-religious questions as well.

Here are three: ... .

Pennsylvania Furniture Co.'s William Henry Hubley is shown in this newspaper clipping from a York County Heritage Trust file preparing a dresser for a coat of varnish. The West York-based fine furniture manufacturer operated for about 70 years after its founding in the 1890s. By 1949, the company had manufactured more than 100,000 bedroom suites. Background posts: These antiques bear the York, Pa.-made Pennsylvania Furniture Co. label and Red Lion's Ebert Furniture: From bedroom suites to gunstocks and Bethlehem Furniture Co. woodworker carved JFK statue.

Pennsylvania Furniture Co.'s fine woodworking continues to intrigue local folks and those with the long-defunct company's bedroom suites around the world.

Who made this wonderful furniture?

I found a 1949 newspaper clipping about a Renaissance man, William Henry Hubley, who then typified York County craftsmen.

Here's what the article said about the wordworker:

The Hippodrome, one of downtown York's many theaters in their early 20th-century heyday, is example of stories told in a Junior Curators' exhibit unveiled this week at the York County (Pa.) Heritage Trust. Background posts: You maybe didn't know it but ... they're from York County - Part II and TV show box set 'Terry & the Pirates' to be part of a museum exhibit someday? and Young curators produce York Fair exhibit: 'A Fair of Our Own'.

Maybe it was meant to be.

Big league pitcher James "Lefty" York lived his later years in York, Pa.

He was in the majors for a cup of coffee with the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago Cubs covering parts of two seasons, 1919 and 1921. He compiled a 5-11 record in 42 games.

The Arkansan would be forgotten to history, except that Junior Curator Alex Daugherty has resurrected him as part of "From Artists to Athletes: a History of Entertainment in York County" exhibit at the York County Heritage Trust... .

St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Hanover, Pa. also serves as a mini-museum. One exhibit is this beautiful 19th-century altar. Other posts of interest: Abe Lincoln, Gwyneth Paltrow passed through Porters Sideling and Dutch vs. English? York County debate still perking in 1920s and People of varying religious groups founded York County.

"The 10-mile line between York County's Spring Grove and Adams County's Edgegrove bears a rich vein of history."

That's how my last York Town Square post about a long tour of southwestern York County sites began.

Here are some specifics about that visit in question-and-answer format, which showed great diversity in the religious sites visited: ... .

After various moves over the years, York Airport landed in Thomasville and so have thousands of planes. This one landed near the field in 2002, and the pilot and passenger walked away from the crash. Background posts: 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'.

Post a blog item on York-area airports - operating and defunct - and people e-mail with fond memories.

There just seems to be pent-up interest in those old airstrips, perhaps because one has to squint to see where they once operated. And it's fun to try to figure buildings standing today that were used for airport operations at one time.

If you want a full dose of all things about airports in York County, consult John F. M. Wolfe's spiral-bound booklet "Profile of Aviation, York County, Pennsylvania," first published in 1998... .

Baseball great Brooks Robinson is seen in his York (Pa.) White Roses uniform in 1955. His statue can be seen everyday in Brooks Robinson Plaza at York's Sovereign Bank Stadium. Background posts: Brooks Robinson - and stories about his York, Pa., pro debut - enduring and York Town Square reader: 'I thought Vic Wertz had some connection to York?' and Baseball's Methuselah played for White Roses.

True or false?

Brooks Robinson broke into professional baseball in York and went to the majors and greatness after a short gig here, never to return to minor league baseball?

The answer is .... .

The United Brethren Church built two-story cabins when it opened the Heidelberg Township (Pa.) campground in 1896 for churchgoers to stay overnight or weekly. Penn Grove Campground later operated as Camp Pamaveda and is known today at Penn Grove Retreat. All but one of the wooden structures, sometimes called tents, have been torn down, and campers to this southwestern York County facility now sleep in newer cinderblock cabins. The corner of the tabernacle, an open air pavilion for worship services, is seen at right. The campground was a stop on a recent tour of religious sites in York and Adams counties. Other posts of interest: Abe Lincoln, Gwyneth Paltrow passed through Porters Sideling and Conewago Chapel steeple worker wondered if he'd ever get up there: Now, 'Here I am' and Pamadeva. Get it? Pennsylvania. Maryland. Delaware. Virginia..

The 10-mile line between York County's Spring Grove and Adams County's Edgegrove bears a rich vein of history.

Spend five hours mining that vein with three knowledgeable students of history, and you come away with a clarity about how much you don't know about this fascinating region.

Actually, those students are longtime teachers about York County's history: Jim Rudisill, Luther Sowers and June Lloyd.

On a recent Saturday, Rudisill served as tour guide, equipped with his 14-stop itinerary neatly handwritten on lined notebook paper... .

A teen tries to guide her putt past the horse statue at Putter's Paradise in Manchester (Pa.) Township. An e-mailer to York Town Square wondered when miniature golf arrived in York County. (See additional York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News file photo below.) Other posts of interest: York-area full of memory-spawning landmarks and Playland plays nostalgic note for York countians and Western York County home owner seeks info on old toll house.

"A crazy question popped into my head today dealing with entertainment in York County," an e-mailer wrote.

"When did miniature golf come to York and what were some of the early popular venues?"

Dates like that are tough to track down.

So I asked history enthusiasts at the York Daily Record/Sunday News Exchange bulletin board.

I received two responses:

In this York Sunday News photo from 1958, York (Pa.) Little Theatre's Jean Farlow makes noted screen actor Cameron Mitchell appear 40 years older for his part as the William Jennings Bryan character in "Inherit the Wind." A photo of the production was part of a York County Heritage Trust exhibit opening this week. Other posts of interest: Former York countian-turned-screen-writer Laurice Elehwany: How to make it as a writer and Young Alan Alda performed along the Codorus? Researcher checking that out and Many national stars first performed on YLT's stage.

Paper covers the exhibit cases that are part of the York County Heritage Trust's "From Artists to Athletes: A History of Entertainment in York County."

The Trust's Junior Curators, a group of budding exhibit overseers, will unveil their handiwork starting on Friday, with the exhibit running through Oct. 30.

But a label near one of the covered cases serves as a reminder about one of York County's leaders in the entertainment field - probably the most honored actor ever from the county... .

Jann Rentzel Lehman is looking for information - particularly pictures - about her great-grandfather's York County, Pa., business.

Here's her query:

I was wondering if you could locate any information on my great grandfather, Jacob Rentzel's Farm Implements and Phosphate Feed Business at 15 South Main St. in Manchester.

AMF York produced the Ski-Daddler, a power sled, which the company indicated was popular at that time. "Ski-Daddler is used for racing, exploring, carries skis and is a great asset to all 'round winter sports fun," the York (Pa.) Chamber of Commerce's "Greater York in Action" reported. Other posts of interest: York, Pa. made big, heavy things - and was immensely proud of it and AMF-Harley in York, by the numbers and AMP's and AMF's alphabet soup spilled in same York County town .

Harley-Davidson is examing four locations as possible relocation sites for its motorcycle production lines from York.

Those sites will provide an option for the company to consider alongside keeping the plant in York, a decision expected before year's end.

Nervous York community leaders are wise in talking about a Plan B. What if Harley moves? ... .

That would be devastating, of course.

This story, from an unspecified paper as found in Jere Carl's scrapbook at the York County (Pa.) Heritage Trust, spins together a strange tale about the night when the sky over York and Adams counties seemed to be falling. Background posts: Iron-mine-turned-into-party-spot turned into York County park and Site filled with wealth of York County geological info and Quarrying in Delta-Peachbottom.

A July fireball has sent searchers looking for pieces of the meteorite in York and Lancaster County.

But that single falling star was nothing like the 1833 Perseid Meteor Shower that made York/Adams residents think that the world might be ending.

A 1902 newspaper clipping tells the impact of the meteor bursts. And it gives a glimpse of a local industry - silkmaking - then at its height:

The Murals of York program was well under way at the time of the 250th anniversary of York County (Pa.) in 1999. So the Murals of York committee commissioned its painting as a summary of the main events that made up the celebration. Background posts: York vs. Lancaster, Pa: The American War of the Roses still rages and The day west bankers looked forward to tax time and York, Cumberland counties longtime companions.

"The 10th anniversary of York County's 250th anniversary"? Isn't that like saying the 48th anniversary of my 1st birthday?"

So wrote a commenter on a recent York Daily Record/Sunday News story on the 260th anniversary of York County - and the 10th anniversary of the mammoth 250th celebration in 1999.

The commenter is right that it's a bit like a celebration about a celebration.

But the 1999 celebration is still remembered by many. Even if the 10th anniversary isn't significant, the 250th was, indeed... .

An York County (Pa.) Agricultural and Industrial Museum exhibit features a model of York's first airport in Fayfield, along Haines Road. Museum-goers can see the exhibit and other information about early aviation in the county at this York County Heritage Trust museum. Background posts: Beacon helped spot whereabouts of York County town and Just try to resist studying this memory-tugging photograph and It's a bird. It's a plane. It's cigars with wings..

Recent York Town Square posts, which resulted in a York Sunday News column about past York County airports have prompted readers to share their memories, intriguing information - and questions.

For example, Betty Hirschfield wrote:

"I remember an airport on Haines Road many years ago...Am I right?"

Ball Mason jars, around for 125 years, can be used for many things. In this Kansas City Star photo, tea lights flicker in the jars. In fruit- and vegetable-rich York County, Pa., the jars remain staples for canning, their use for decades. Background posts: 21st-century Victory Gardens might morph into Stimulus Gardens and 20 questions and answers to prove your York County WWII smarts and Pennsylvania Dutch-speaking York County residents often conversed with German POWs and Jamaican fruit pickers worked York County orchards in World War II .

Five brothers named Ball started production of fruit jars in 1884, with John Mason's 1858 invention in mind.

Three years later, they moved their plant to Muncie, Ind., and their Ball Mason jars became a standard part of American homes.

This 125th anniversary of the jar brings to mind time of a government snafu when canning was most needed - the days of World War II... .

Philip K. Eberly's "Susquehanna Radio, The First 50 Years" tells about the early years of radio in York County, Pa., and southcentral Pennsylvania. The 1992 book is available at York County libraries. Background posts: 101 Ranch Boys play on in York County memories and Old WSBA station: 'Another part of history has gone' and Carly Simon at WSBA: 'What do you want to hear?'.

In his book on the nationwide Susquehanna Radio Corp., the late Philip Eberly answers questions and provides insight locally into the 1940s and 1950s when radio was the hot media.

For example, what does WSBA stand for?

Actually, Eberly's "Susquehanna Radio, The First 50 Years" isn't clear on that point:

Natanael Santiago of York flips for the rings at Rocky Ridge County Park in this 2006 York Daily Record/Sunday News file shot. At one time, a pile of telephone poles at this Springettsbury (Pa.) Township park served as a place for fun. Background posts: Richard Nixon's visit to his namesake park sparks memories and Wildflowers at Shenk's Ferry glen sprouting despite centuries of encroaching civilization and Native Americans help clean up Dritt family cemetery in new York County park.

York Town Square postings about York Township's Springwood Park brings Loganville's Alan Nelson back to his childhood.

Specifically, he remembers forts at Rocky Ridge County Park constructed from telephone poles.

Kids climbed on them and within the mazes the piles created, he wrote in an e-mail.

He was seeking information on this low-tech playground.

Enter York County Parks' Jeri Jones, who knows a lot about a lot of things... .

Leonard Zinn, Hall-of-Fame steel guitarist, sets to work. Zinn played for the 101 Ranch Boys, a group that helped launch WSBA Radio in York County. Philip Eberly tells about the Boys and other radio personalities in "Susquehanna Radio: The First 50 years." Background posts: 101 Ranch Boys play on in York County memories and Old WSBA station: 'Another part of history has gone' and Carly Simon at WSBA: 'What do you want to hear?'.

Philip Eberly, who died recently, left a legacy on the early days of York County radio as a WSBA and Susquehanna Broadcasting salesman, sales manager, station manager, vice president and general manager.

So says a recent York Daily Record/Sunday News article (8/07/09).

But his most lasting contribution might be his 1992 book "Susquehanna Radio: The First 50 years." (Available via the York County Library System.)

That work tells about WSBA and Susquehanna Broadcasting's early years up to 1992. That empire grew into a media group that grew into stations in San Francisco, Houston and Dallas before it was sold in recent years to Cumulus Media.

For example, an interesting book section tells about the company's venture into TV... .

This undated postcard shows Farquhar Park Pool, replaced in recent years by the Graham Aquatic, early in its years of operation. The pool opened in 1922. (See additional photos below.) Background posts:Cartoonist made York newspaper owner's views an art form and York Town Square reader: 'I never knew about the White Rose Amusement Park' and Reader searching for Boys Club Pool photo.

Dan Meckley, like many York Town Square readers, is interested in the old Farquhar Park Pool and the White Rose Amusement Park. (See comments, for example, under: Farquhar Park pool: 'Good grief, how long has that pool been here?')

"Here is my contribution to the genre," he wrote.

Before going on active duty in the Navy, he served as head lifeguard at the old pool in 1943.

He said it was one of the largest in Pennsylvania, the last vestige of the White Rose Amusement Park. The park closed a decade earlier.

This early 20th century view of York, Pa.'s market street shows that trees were part of the scene then, albeit not designed in to the streetscape. But they were there much earlier than that, too. Background posts: Escaped bovine makes York newspaper headline and York-area picture book not your typical coffee table publication and Author: 'York's streetscape features almost every style and era of American architecture'.

In a previous post, a York Town Square reader opined that trees lining York's market street add much to the downtown.

But they also obscure wonderful architectural features on building facades.

When were the trees added?

For some, the Woodstock album brings back clear memories about the vaunted festival and its famous mud. Others have no recollection about those days in August 1969, when an estimated 400,000 people attended the rock festival on a dairy farm in Bethel, N.Y. Background posts from 1969: Timeline of 1969 race riots, court cases and 'Remember' series recalls moon landing and rocket scientist who helped make it so and 40 years ago, men walked on moon and race riot victims wheeled into York emergency room.

The Daily Record/Sunday News is looking for area residents who remember Woodstock, soon to observe its 40th anniversary.

And did anyone with York/Adams links attend?

These memories will be part of the newspaper's "Remember" oral history series, a growing collection of memories accessible by clicking here. If you want to share your memories, call 771-2008 and follow the instructions.

Incidentally, the rock festival did not resonate locally, at least not with the local paper... .

In this York Daily Record/Sunday News file photo, Spring Garden (Pa.) Township's Stephen Sechrist sits near his 51st Strathmeyer Christmas tree. Strathmeyer has been selling trees to customers in York County - and beyond - for more than 75 years. Background posts: York-area full of memory-spawning landmarks and Interstate lined out Melvin's swan song and York artist Lewis Miller's depiction of a Christmas tree part of the York County Heritage Trust's collection.

In the recent post E-mailer links Roosevelt Avenue Airport, Downtown York's Bon-Ton - and Santa, JoAnne Everhart wrote about an annual rite of York County's past.

She and her father would welcome Santa at the Roosevelt Avenue Airport, watch as he was shuttled into York's downtown to climb a ladder into the Bon Ton, then pick up a Christmas Tree from a side yard of a home in The Avenues.

She believed that the yard was the home of the Strathmeyer family, operator today of the massive Dover-area-based Christmas Tree farm.

She compared notes with a friend and confirmed that The Avenues home was indeed that of the Strathmeyers.

She wrote: ... .

In 1931, York Cone Co. made, well, cones, as this invoice from York County Heritage Trust files indicates. But it later became widely known as maker of the York Peppermint Pattie. Background posts: 20 questions and answers to prove your York County smarts, Part II and Katharine Beecher of Beecher Candies fame: 'Legacies,' Part I and York, Pa.: 'It's a midsize city with an interesting history'.

E-mailer Allison W. Bitzer threw me for second.

She wondered about the location of the York Cone Company factories in York.

York Cone Company. York Cone Company.

Oh yes, the original makers of York Peppermint Pattie... .

Pennsylvania Furniture Co.'s Sumner Street factory in York, actually West York, was erected in the early 1900s and became the home for long-lasting bedroom and dining room suites. Background posts: Red Lion's Ebert Furniture: From bedroom suites to gunstocks and York-area woodcarver, furniture maker made life-size JFK statue. But where is it now? and Springetts collector attracts 'Antiques Roadshow's' Kenos and Of York antiquarian Joe Kindig III: 'He is generous with his knowledge'.

E-mailer David Degroot is looking for a few good facts about York, Pa.'s venerable Pennsylvania Furniture Co.

"My wife and I bought an antique bedroom set," he wrote. "One of the pieces has a small sticker on the back indicating that the furniture was manufactured by the Pennsylvania Furniture Co. in York, PA. My guess is that furniture was manufactured in the early 1900s."

Furniture-making was a big business in York County in those days, and Pennsylvania Furniture was one of the most successful. The county was home to plentiful hardwood trees, and its location on transportation routes spawned wagonmakers, riflemakers and manufacturers of other hand-made wood products.

The York County Heritage Trust's file on Pennsylvania Furniture contains several documents. (One bore the photo above.)

Here are some salient facts gleaned from those documents:

In a March 10, 1995, story, The York Daily Record tells about the then-upcoming "The Brady Bunch Movie," written by former York countian Laurice Elehwany. Background posts: Cameron Mitchell, Craig Sheffer, Dixie Chick born here and Artist Jeff Koons came back to York for a show and Add another to list of entertainers with York links.

"Until she was 13, Laurice Elehwany lived a few miles outside Spring Grove. She swam in Lake Pahagaco. She ate cotton candy at the York Fair. She directed her neighborhood friends in skits she devised. And she watched 'The Brady Bunch' on TV. Today 30-year-old Elehwany lives in Hollywood and writes screenplays. She achieved her first success three years ago with 'My Girl.' Now she can also lay claim to the current hit 'The Brady Bunch Movie.' "

That's how a York Daily Record story in 1995 introduced local-girl-made-good Laurice Elehwany.

The recent Jefferson Carnival reminded me of Elehwany, successful in Hollywood but almost forgotten around York County.

She small-town setting in "My Girl" was based on her memories of Jefferson borough in southwestern York County, according to the Daily Record... .

Santa's annual visit to the Bon-Ton and downtown York, Pa., came after he landed first in the York Airport along Roosevelt Avenue and later its Thomasville location. Background posts: Ho, ho, ho - uh, Santa, hold on, The Grumbachers: 'Builders and Heroes,' Part III and What was famed architect John Dempwolf's own house like?

JoAnne Everhart, that astute observer of the York area with a keen memory, noticed recent York Town Square posts on the old Roosevelt Avenue Airport and tied that to another recollection - Santa's trip from the airport to the Bon-Ton to kick off the Christmas shopping season.

I include her e-mail here because it touches on so many parts of the York-area's past:

The first article reminded me of stories my late father, Hamilton B. Everhart Jr., told me of going to the airport as a young boy in the 1930's to see the airplanes, which were housed there... .

The York Airport can be seen running along Roosevelt Avenue in this 1957 photograph. The track at center is the York Fairgrounds. From that reference point, find Roosevelt Avenue and follow it out. Find where it bends. You'll see a runway at top center. (See additional links to aerial views of York County sites below.) Background posts: Museum exhibit brings back early days of high fliers and Map aficionados will love bird's-eye view of York County and Absorbing photo and overlay shows locations of six Susquehanna bridges

After seeing views of the old York airport in a previous post, eagle-eye Joe Stein found an aerial view of the York Airport in 1957, still there along Roosevelt Avenue a year after it closed.

I've always placed the sprawling airport near the Sylvania Plant along Roosevelt, which appears to be a relatively close landmark designating its northern part.

John F.M. Wolfe, in "Profile of Aviation," gives the following facts about the airport, which sported two grass runways, including one 3,000-foot strip:

A World War II B-17 bomber sits at the York Airport in Thomasville in October 2001. Andy Rusnack, seen here, a World War II veteran, flew in a B-17 exactly like this one shortly before he was sent overseas in 1942. "It sure takes you back," Rusnack said. Background posts: 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'.

A former York countian e-mailed after looking into a query from someone about an aircraft that wrecked near Winterstown or Red Lion some years ago.

"Didn't find that, but ran across this link about the old York Airport," he wrote. "I never knew we had an airport on Roosevelt Ave."

I had written in a past York Town Square post - Museum exhibit brings back early days of high fliers:

A fun thread under way on The Exchange, a York Daily Record/Sunday News community bulletin board, is exploring topics relating to Springwood Park and Pool and Camp Betty Washington.

The conversation is exploring the old Springwood pool, which operated along Springwood Road between Chapel Church Road, and Yoe and the old Camp Betty Washington Pool. That complex was operated along the road of the same name, about a half mile south of the Mount Rose intersection in Spring Garden Township.

The camp was started and used by York's St. John the Baptist Episcopal congregation from the 1920s to 1940, which generally overlapped with the heyday of the Springwood Park... .

Walter Cronkite, who died last week speaks on April 21, 1998, in York. He appeared at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center as part of the Junior League's "In The Spotlight" series. Background posts: Hedy Lamarr's visit to York long remembered and Presidential visits to York listed and All famous visitors to York from the start.

Sure enough, he was, courtesy of the Junior League of York's "In the Spotlight" speaker's series.

That series drew Cronkite and a host of other luminaries here.

That list includes:

York Daily Record/Sunday News journalist Melissa Nann Burke captured former rocket scientist and now Hanover resident George Hubbard in writing - and on video. He worked on Apollo 11. Posts on other topics in the 'Remember' series: Tropical Storm Agnes savaged York County with more than 15 inches of rain and Great Depression work: 'It was the largest thesis in the history of the history department' and York County's cigarmaking days: 'I remember that people stripped tobacco in their pantries'.

The York Daily Record/Sunday News has profiled Hanover's George Hubbard who worked on the Apollo 11 project that landed men on the moon 40 years ago today.

In 1969, Hubbard, 24, was an aerospace engineer at the Houston's Johnson Space Center... .

York Township's Springwood Park and pool complex is seen in this undated York County Heritage Trust photo. Background: York Township's Springwood Park dance hall: 'We would pack the place' and York Town Square commenter asks about much-remembered Springwood Pool's ownership and Springwood Pool and its sloping sides: 'I remember so well how cold it was'.

A couple of callers have contributed information about the long-closed Springwood Park and pool that operated along Springwood Road in York Township.

John Fishel noticed on an 1876 atlas that the park was listed as the Ma & Pa Railroad's Springwood Picnic Station.

A York Township history indicates that the park operated from the 1920s to 1954, but that might have been the park when it was built out for large crowds... .

Springettsbury Township's Harley-Davidson plant is seen during shift change in January 2009. (See additional photos below.) Background posts: All Harley posts from the start and All York Safe & Lock posts from the start and All Made in York posts from the start.

It began during wartime and the old plant in Springettsbury Township has never really been at peace.

It's had a long series of owners since York Safe & Lock built it. Harley-Davidson occupies it now, but for how long?

It's had labor strikes. Celebrity visits. Presidential praise.

Just three years ago, George W. Bush was there, touting its great American qualities... .

This aerial view from 1937 gives a view of York Township's Ore Valley. Springwood Park is seen in the left, center part of the photograph. See description below to locate it. Background: York Township's Springwood Park dance hall: 'We would pack the place' and York Town Square commenter asks about much-remembered Springwood Pool's ownership and Springwood Pool and its sloping sides: 'I remember so well how cold it was'.

This is a post designed to be fun.

You can't see much of Springwood Park, an old recreational site off Springwood Road in York Township. But it's fun to look try to locate it:

- Locate that cluster of houses at 6 o'clock, just at the edge of the photo. That's Yoe.

- Follow the road, Springwood Road, running to about 9 o'clock out of Yoe until you come to an angled intersection. That's Chapel Church Road connecting Springwood and Cape Horn. (Still does.)

- Now backtrack just a short distance along Springwood toward Yoe until you see a bulge in the road. That's Springwood Park with the pool on one side and the dance hall on the other... .

This mansion at Lauxmont Farms was built by the farm's founder and York Safe & Lock's owner S. Forry Laucks (see photo below), one of the most prominent of the Laucks family that will celebrate its 300th anniversary in America next year. Today, the mansion is owned by the Kohr family. Background posts: With hot controversy cooled, Highpoint offers Susquehanna River view for the ages and Bad economy turned York Safe & Lock toward lucrative defense work and And now starring actor ... Jakie Devers?.

Descendents of the Casper Glattfelter family have much to brag about as a successful York County family.

They meet every year at Glatfelter Station to renew acquaintances.

Now comes another prominent local family - the Laux family with a planned reunion next June in York. That reunion will celebrate the family's 300 years in America.

The family has set up a Web site, which bears interesting information. It addresses the Laux family and all variations of that name.

Did you know Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer has Loux blood? ... .

This is one of only two photographs of old Springwood Park in York County Heritage Trust image files. (See second photo below). A York Township history places the park on the railroad bend north of Relay and Yoe. But see the existing house along Springwood Road, with the distinctive windows, in the post Springwood Pool and its sloping sides: 'I remember so well how cold it was' to gets its exact location. (But drive carefully because that stretch of road is wicked.) Background posts: 19th-century mines gave Ore Valley its name and Yo! More support for Yoe vs. Yohe and So, you want learn about your house's history?.

The post "York Town Square commenter asks about much-remembered Springwood Pool's ownership " brings forth more information about York Township's Springwood Park.

But there's not a lot on the official record about that now-abandoned spot.

The book "York Township celebrates 250 years of history" is the best resource.

It at least tells about the dance hall in the photo above:

Betty Bury Harmon, here at the York Fair, looks at herself in front of her family's hamburger stand in an old fair book. "They just developed it," Harmon said about her father and his brothers. "They came up with the sauce, and it hit." Each year, York Fair offers Bury's burgers at a stand where Harmon's recipe - still secret - is served as well as at a second unrelated stand. But versions of the secret Bury's recipe are available in homes across York County and will be deployed on scores of grills today. Background posts: Lighthouse marks site of landmark Dover Township soft pretzel stand and Interstate lined out Melvin's swan song and Just try to resist this memory-tugging photo of North York's White Oak Park .

Hits on York Town Square posts for Bury's Famous Hamburger recipes escalate this time of year.

People probably around the world are looking to see whether to try out their own Bury's recipe this holiday or experiment with one of the many variations in the public domain - some documented on this blog.

Joe Bury operated a chain of hamburger stands touting a secret recipe for the red sauce that covered his delicious burgers, firmly sealed into the memories of local residents.

So, to avoid all that searching, here are some leads to recipes which purport to be Bury's:

James Hayney, portraying President Abraham Lincoln, gives a speech at the Hanover Junction Train Station in 2008 as part of the remembrance of Lincoln's passing through on his way to and from Gettysburg. The station, located about 10 miles south of York, is open from 1-5 p.m. today - the Fourth of July. A complete schedule is available at York County parks site. Background posts: Jefferson borough's Center Square in the middle of history and Abe Lincoln stopped at Hanover station:"We want to preserve history ... so it doesn't disappear' and John Adams: 'Yesterday the greatest question was decided'.

I've labeled the post: "This working list details presidential visits to York and Adams counties" and you can get to it by clicking here.

Working list is right.

I keep finding times when U.S. presidents or candidates stopped or passed through York County. (And many of their visits were, well, eventful in a quirky way.)

So I've reworked the working list... .

York Township's Springwood Pool sustained considerable damage in the flood of 1933. The pool, reachable via the Ma & Pa Railroad, was located along Springwood Road, between Yoe and Chapel Church Road. Background posts: Old Ma & Pa Railroad trestle may again carry passengers - on bicyles - some day and 19th-century mines gave Ore Valley its name and One-room schools: 'That's when things were good'.

The post - Springwood Pool and its sloping sides: 'I remember so well how cold it was' - raised questions in reader Lynda Stoddard's mind about the old pool's ownership.

"... (W)e were told our grandparents at one time owned the park, 1920 or 1930 and there was a story passed around about a shooting, which we have never been able to find anything out about, could have been a rumor ...," she commented.

She has pictures of the park, along Springwood Road, provided by her grandparents.

A York Township history says this about the ownership:

This photo from Jim Hubley's "Off the Record" points out an unusual cellar door in the sidewalk outside Bear's Department Store between Market and George streets. "Frequently," Hubley wrote, "pedestrians would be started by the slowly opening cellar doors and the surprising emergence of the freight elevator." Hubley's book particularly focused on downtown life in York City. Background posts: Escaped bovine makes York newspaper headline and York's first mayor Daniel K. Noell named one of his sons and Longtime York sportswriter Jacque Tracy: 'He enjoyed writing features about athletes and coaches'.

When longtime York Daily Record/Sunday News columnist Jim Hubley died a little more than a year ago, people were asking around about how to get his book "Off The Record."

The book, available at local libraries, was out of print.

You couldn't buy a copy around town.

But now you can... .

York's Martin Library CEO Bill Schell dates Martin Library's old doors to 1935, the year the library first opened. Here, they rest on the floor inside Martin. Background posts: York County libraries offer serendipity - and have done so for decades and Colonial York, Pa.? No, try Victorian York, Pa and York County library site brings together links for local research.

For years, some people struggled to open those weighty mahogany doors leading into Martin Library.

Their replacement with lighter doors leads to the question of what to do with the older ones.

Library officials have put that out to community.

The best answer is: Keep them. Or at least make sure they're publicly displayed somewhere.

Those are not just any doors... .

York's Continental Square is shown in this undated photo from Jim Hubley's "Off the Record." This was the site that a World War II era cow toured early in World War II. Background posts: Perrydale's bovine: 'She's a wonderful, laid-back cow' and 'Boys, she's a Confederate cow' and When did York's square change from Centre to Continental?.

I've written about York's headline-grabbing cow before.

But the meat of the story is worth repeating.

Early in World War II, a runaway cow - termed a steer by a newspaper - rumbled around York's Continental Square, two men in a truck in tow.

"The steer," Police Chief C. P. Gerber told The York Dispatch, "obeyed the traffic rules."

It circled the square in the proper traffic lanes.

In that post, I drew this short conclusion to this short story: "That was post-Depression York County. Its people did their work simply, ably and followed the rules."

But there's more to the story. Where did the cow come from? ... .

Red Lion's new year is traditionally ushered in with the raising of a huge cigar, reminding folks of the area's past might as a cigar manufacturer. The fiberglass cigar, held by a lion character, weighs 100 pounds and is 8 feet, 3 inches long. The borough's cigarmaking history is certain to be a topic of discussion in a tour of its streets on Tuesday, June 30. (See photos below of Red Lion's cigarmaking culture of the past.) Background posts: It couldn't happen in York County? Women were trampled in Depression-era labor unrest and York County cigars: 'They contained a vast amount of nicotine' and Red Lion's Ebert Furniture: From bedroom suites to gunstocks.

A guided walking tour through Red Lion, sponsored by the Kaltreider-Benfer Library, is set for 6:30 p.m. June 30... .

A reader has noticed changes in Downtown York's look over the years. (See photo of same scene, with floodwaters, below.) Background posts: Reader searching for Tropical Storm Agnes photos to use in children's tour and Author: 'York's streetscape features almost every style and era of American architecture' and At one time, York's five-and-dimes lived up to their names York County ... 'A smorgasbord of architectural styles'.

Joe Stein (jstein3@comcast.net) has a wonderful curiosity about his hometown of York.

He noticed changes in York's streetscapes over the years, specifically the addition of trees.

Here's a recent e-mail from Joe:

Hal Colston, a York native who has become a leader in the anti-poverty movement in Vermont judges greens in a February 2008 cookoff. The event took place at Hannah Penn Middle School, where he attended before matriculating to William Penn Senior High School. Background posts: All celebrities posts from the start and All York County people posts and William Penn: People mag features York native Hal Colston as a 'Hero Among Us.'

The recent high school graduation season provided an impetus to gather links to national achievers who received their sheepskins from York County secondary schools.

These are just a few of hundreds and hundreds.

Just consider this a history lesson from the blogs:

Elmer Ferlow recalls watching a man drown during the fury of Tropical Storm Agnes. Memories of the storm and its deadly aftermath are recorded as part of the York Daily Record/Sunday News "Remember" oral history series, where this video first appeared. (See flood photos below.) Background posts: 'Picture Memories' booklet: York County Flood of 1933 worst of record up to that point and Reader searching for Tropical Storm Agnes photos to use in children's tour and In late June, things happen in York County and What is the probability of another flood in York?.

The list of events from York County's past explored in an oral history series printed in the York Daily Record/Sunday News and then posted in a Web archive continues to grow.

Actually, they're not real oral histories, as academics define them, with a rigorous Q & A format.

But you'll find a rich repository of audio, video and written memories at the Remember site.

So far in 2009, local residents have given their memories of the 2008 election, Golden Venture, Invasion of Iraq, cigar factories and high school dances.

Today, the series covered Tropical Storm Agnes, the 1972 storm that dropped more than 15 inches of rain on York County.

We'll tell the story here in a series of submitted photos that were published in the newspaper (6/22/09):

A copy of the York (Pa.) Daily Record front page from almost 37 years ago tells about Tropical Storm Agnes' fury. The newspapers look, or design, has changed dramatically since then. (To get a look at the new look to be unveiled Thursday, see photo below.) Background posts: This all appeared in The (York, Pa.) Gazette and Daily on June 1, 1949 and In the shadow of disaster: York County and its newspaper tested 30 years ago and Suicide story: York hotel proprietor 'found a package that had contained about a quarter of a pound of Paris green'.

A newspaper's appearance can go out of style, just like clothes.

So about once a decade, as it turns out, the York Daily Record has made style changes, called a redesign.

The newspaper will make such a change in Thursday's edition, as I explain in a York Daily Record/Sunday News column today. That column begins: ... .

Earl Shaffer chat with fellow Appalachian Trail hikers north of Harpers Ferry during his last through hike in July 1998. Other hikers recognized the celebrity Shaffer during this hike, which came on the 50th anniversary of his first through hike - the first such on the Appalachian Trail. West Manchester book contains valuable gold coins' and Who were most prominent 20th-century sports heroes in York and Adams counties? and Highpoint offers Susquehanna River view for the ages.

West Manchester resident Earl Shaffer was out of the service after Army Signal Corps duty in World War II.

And he was ready to "walk the Army out of my system" on the Appalachian Trail.

"Late in 1947 I had seen an article in an outdoor magazine entitled 'The Long Trail's Challenge,' " he wrote in in his book "Walking with Spring." "It said that no one was known to have hiked the entire Trail in a continuous journey, though many had tried, and such a trip might actually be impossible."

Shaffer proved it was possible with the first through hike in 1948, a second hike the other way in 1965 and a 50th anniversary hike in 1998. He was then almost 80 years old.

This information comes from a Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History news release, telling about the opening of an Earl Shaffer exhibit next month... .

Downtown York, as it looked during the heyday of the southside Shady Dell - and counterpart White Oak Park on the northside - in the 1960s. (See photo from site below.) 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, aka Shady Del Knight, e-mailed to note that his Web site "Shady Dell Music & Memories" is packed with stories and information about the southside York teen hangout.

And it will celebrate its first birthday next month.

This site lead-in summarizes how Anderson, who grew up in York County, is populating the site:

Nancy Bivens, a former York countian, is looking for a county locale that created many childhood memories.

She e-mailed:

"The place was owned by Tom and Roxanne Johnson (Johnston) not sure which spelling is correct. It was named Tow Bow Motel (again not sure of the spelling)... .

This roadside giant went up at Shatzer's Fruit Market in Franklin County's Hamilton Township this week. It's an example of roadside architecture, evident for years along the Lincoln Highway and Route 30, to attract attention to stops for motorists. Background posts: Mahlon Haines got in trouble at Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge and Old Lincoln Highway pulled 'Americans out of the mud' and Landmark Modernaire Motel built in Lincoln Highway's heyday.

A modern-day Roadside Giant has been birthed along Route 30 near Chambersburg.

Students at the Franklin County Career and Technology Center assembled an super-sized replica of a 1921 Selden apple truck, complete with crates of produce on the bed, according to the Chambersburg Public Opinion.

It's dimensions?

Eleven feet tall and 26 feet long.

Such oversized structures have been part of old-road architecture for years.

York County's Shoe House, near both Route 30 and the old Lincoln Highway, is a York/Adams example.

This tourist attractions are fighting to stay standing... .

This York (Pa.) Gazette story from Aug. 29, 1901, tells about the first night baseball game played in York - and probably York County. Special rules were put in for this game. Background posts: Sons of Union vets seeking relatives of Civil War soldier from U.S. Colored Troops, 32nd Regiment and York's American War Mothers monument captures interest and Adding to York baseball timeline: Revs ready for 'second helping'

Officials are looking for ways to give York's Penn Park new life.

The relatively light use of the city park today can shroud its heavy use throughout history.

For example, it was the place where freedman from the South headed upon reaching York, north of the Mason-Dixon Line.

It housed a large Civil War military hospital.

And, on a lighter note, a ballpark, complete with grandstand, home of a Penn Park team, operated there. It was there that York's first night baseball game was played in late August 1901... .

York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News photographer Paul Kuehnel captures fellow photographer Bill Schintz as he assesses the prospect of two-way traffic outside his East Market Street photo studio. Background posts: East Market Street's New York Wire factory whistle concert: 'We'd stand out on our driveway to hear it' and Camp Security memories tucked inside memoir and Web site filled with nostalgic Lincoln Highway photos, postcards.

Heavy traffic in post-World War II downtown York prompted the pattern of one-way streets in effect today.

That's the one-way pattern, specifically on East Market Street, that soon will be studied to see if another plan might work.

It was another day when the current traffic patterns were put in place in 1950.

The city's population was at its zenith - about 60,000 people... .

York, Pa., attorney Jeffrey C. Bortner is the author of the newly released "Commentaries For Lawyers and Ilk." The book is available at York County libraries. Background post: Essayist profiles champion for the blind and At the blind center: 'The bees have been enjoying this garden, too.' and York County census hike spawns more lawyers.

As the title "Commentaries For Lawyers and Ilk" suggests, longtime York County attorney Jeffrey C. Bortner's new book is filled with lively views and news about the local legal community.

For example, in commenting on how the quadrupling of the number of judges has outstripped population growth since 1950, Bortner opines:

"This grossly disparate growth reflects the unfortunate need for more arbiters to resolve the disputes, enforce the Statutes and clarify the regulations which increasingly characterize, if not paralyze, today's America."

In reviewing books, I like to look for information that an author brings forth that may not be widely known.

Such was the case in Bortner's presentation about Judge Ray P. Sherwood, who served on the local bench from 1928 to 1958... .

The former Hudson building on York's South George Street is now home to Junior Achievement's Exchange City, a program that teaches students about American enterprise and entrepreneurism. The former car dealership housed many things, including a farmers market, before it was restored to its original appearance earlier this decade. Background posts: York's Crispus Attucks Center had intriguing start and Stetler Dodge transition indicative of other York-area changes and Dempwolf's Old Man Winter in York: 'It should last another hundred years'.

Take your pick of the memories linked to the old Hudson car dealership in the 600 block of York's South George Street.

It has been used for so many things, including a replacement for the demolished York City Market in the 1960s.

We'll provide two views in this post.

E-mailer JoAnne Everhart (jeverhart1@comcast.net), a sharp observer of the city, brings us back to the building in the decade following the late 1950s. And then York Daily Record account tells about events surrounding its re-opening as Junior Achievement's Exchange City.

First from JoAnne: ... .

Earlier this decade, work on the old Hudson building at 610 S. George St. had progressed so that the newly stained brick on the building's right, or north side, stood out compared to its yet-to-be-completed front. At one time, the former car dealership also served as a farm market, specifically a replacement for the old York City Market after it was demolished. Background posts: 'I still have my memories ... of the bustling downtown York business district' and Often forgotten: Achievements of people named on building facades and Susan Byrnes: Putting a health passion into action.

E-mailer JoAnne Everhart (jeverhart1@comcast.net) was in elementary school when the York City Market house was demolished in the 1960s.

But she remembers it well to this day.

Here is her excerpted story about the grand market building with its enormous tower: ... .

This photograph shows bridge supports running alongside Veterans Memorial Bridge, sometimes called the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge. An urban legend persists concerning the 1930 Veterans Bridge. Background posts: A rehabbed, lit up Columbia-Wrightsville bridge: 'It'll really be a dramatic view' and A 7th bridge? Pedestrian walkway may span Susquehanna River some day and Almost ... a double deck bridge across the Susquehanna River.

A worker constructing the new bridge connecting Wrightsville with Columbia fell into freshly set concrete. His body was never retrieved, and he is entombed in a bridge support to this day.

Jim Fahringer has raised this on-again, off-again claim in a comment to the recent post: Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge celebrates quiet birthday... .

When you see something with June Grove's name on it, you know the research is sound.

So, her latest work is certain to move York County historical enterprise ahead.

Columnist Lori Badders wrote about Grove's latest work in the Weekly Record, circulating in the southern part of York County.

Grove's research is concentrated in that area.

Badders wrote:

Some things never change. Here's the Gazette and Daily's Walt Partymiller's take on June 1, 1949, about adventures and challenges facing high school and college grads. Background posts: Cartoonist made York newspaper owner's views an art form and Newspaper's founding date hard to pin down and Further education plans, YorkCounts quality-of-life indicator: Post-high-school prospects rising.

That happened recently when I was looking for what happened 60 years ago, on June 1, 1949.

History has a beginning and will have an ending and has meaning. None of this circular stuff. But sometimes recurring themes just keep popping up, as I was reminded on my scroll.

Some summaries from The Gazette and Daily for that date that might interest you:

The Little Courthouse, seen in York's Centre Square during World War I, served as a center for war bond sales and promoted the bonds in a way that today might be considered politically incorrect. An effigy of Kaiser Wilhelm II is seen in the left foreground. For a small sum, donors could drive nails into the German leader's head. For decades, York's underground comfort stations spelled relief and York's 221 E. Princess St. home to telling ironies and Pastors denounce first Sunday newspaper publication.

York's mayors have dealt with many serious matters of state since the Borough of York became the City of York in 1887.

E.S. Hugentugler, for one, suspended civil liberties to shore up suspicions about German-American York when America was "over there" battling the Germans in World War I... .

The City Market loomed large over the southeastern part of York. One reader believes its location is often misidentified. Background posts: York's Penn Street Farmers Market, nearing 150 years old, seeks to replant for new customers and York-area picture book not your typical coffee table publication and York County ... 'A smorgasbord of architectural styles'.

"All the time I read about the location of the City Market it is always at a different spot," a York reader wrote in an e-mail.

I wrote back to say that my recent identification of the now-demolished York covered market's location having been to the rear of the Voni B. Grimes Gym was accurate. I was trying to locate the former site of the Dempwolf-designed market relative to an existing landmark.

The e-mailer said he would send photos showing where the market was located.

This he did... .

Spring Garden's Hess School is seen after it was renovated into a private residence in the 1950s. The family of Col. William Beckner, prominent local Civil Defense coordinator during World War II, occupied the former Rathton Road schoolhouse at that time. (See additional photo below.) Background posts: Plaques offer historic insight into 'The Swamp,' before Sovereign Bank Stadium drained it and How one York County school district emerged from 1950s merger and One-room school reunions preserve educational culture of thousands of York countians.

York Town Square reader JoAnne Everhart appears to have answered the question of why the former Hess School in the 400 block of Rathton Road ceased to operate as a school.

Martin Beckner, who lived in the school after it became a private residence, had wondered what happened to the school between 1926 and 1936, the year it was renovated.

The short answer, according to Joanne Everhart: When the Springdale area was consolidated into York City, Hess School students started attending Jackson Elementary.

Here's Joanne's excerpted response, which includes wonderful insight about the lives of students in those days:

The Hess School on Rathton Road in Spring Garden Township is pictured here in 1926. (See two "after renovation" photos below.) Background posts: How one York County school district emerged from 1950s merger and Northeastern York County's Paddletown: Children paddled back and forth to visit grandma and All YT Square posts on one-room schools.

It's a simple equation.

Old schoolhouse + sweat equity = Lovely private residence.

Col. William H. Beckner of York purchased the old Hess School in 1936, and renovated it into a home in 1937.

The Beckner family sold the 416 Rathton Road building in the late 1960s

William Beckner's son, Martin, regrets that he did not talk to his father about the old school when the colonel was still alive.

Martin Beckner is looking for one piece of information, in particular... .

This map from York County Heritage Trust archives shows a branch of the main trolley line between York and York Haven ran from Manchester to Mount Wolf. Bradley Rentzel writes in his "History of Mount Wolf" that the trolley line ran from 1903 to 1937. The Mount Wolf depot sat next to the Market Street bridge near the Northern Central Railway-Pennsylvania Railroad crossing. Background posts: Wolf Man. Wolfchester. No, the Village of Mount Wolf and Caeserville, named after ex-slave, flourished as lumber center and When York County undertakers served as woodworkers ... and vice versa.

For years, newspapers were delivered to York County's hinterlands via trolley car.

In particular, I remember reading Bradley Rentzel's account about their delivery to Mount Wolf.

"The first trolley car arrives at 5:30 a.m. from York with one or two workmen who head for the Wire Cloth plant," Rentzel wrote in "History of Mount Wolf." "A paper carrier picks up a bundle of papers, The York Gazette, which he immediately starts distributing. The first stop is at the Henry B. Hoff home."

What I never connected, until recently, was how the trolley got to Mount Wolf. The main line ran through Manchester, some distance away.

Then I noticed a map of the trolley system in York County, and a brief perusal showed a trolley spur exiting the main line at Manchester and terminating in Mount Wolf... .

This photo combines the beauty and the grit of the Susquehanna Trail. This ice is colored gray with road grime along the Trail in William Kain County Park. Background posts: Hames made in Shrewsbury Township's Hametown fueled early American horsepower and Once popular Ganoga Bridge now lightly used York County landmark and Whatever happened to York County's Hungerford?.

The Susquehanna Trail enters York County in Fairview Township in its northern tip and exits in Shrewsbury Township at the Mason-Dixon Line.

It's beauty is well-known, and it still serves a pleasant Sunday afternoon drive.

But last Sunday, later in the day, its dangers emerged.

A boy was killed after he was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle in Springfield Township.

The hilly, curvy, still heavily traveled road has long been a source of accidents.

What is the Susquehanna Trail - often called the "Trail" - and where does it run?... .

This photo from John Wright restaurant in Wrightsville, Pa., is undated but it must come from the late 1920s because the Veterans Memorial Bridge opened in 1930. Notice the now-dismantled older bridge to the left and the temporary, construction bridge on the downstream side. Background posts: Wrightsville's overlooked attractions and When did Wrightsville ferry service end? and Nature had its way with short-lived York Furnace Bridge in southeastern York County.

A recent York Daily Record/Sunday News story on the restoration of lighting on the old Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge, known as the Veterans Memorial Bridge, brought applause from a commenter.

|"To me, the decision to restore the bridge is a no brainer," he wrote. "Let's do it!"

He also raised the question about when tolls were lifted from the Depression-era structure which carried the Lincoln Highway across the Susquehanna River:

The face of 'Old Man Winter' on the side of famed York, Pa., architect John Augustus Dempwolf's own house was so deteriorated that it could not be saved. So, Mark Derrig, sculptor, and Ken Oatman, mason, created a replica. Background posts: Dempwolf windmill graced north bank of York's Codorus Creek in 1870s and Fawn Township's magnificent Centre Presbyterian Church worthy of a looksee and Dempwolf architects built York's skyline, history.

John Augustus Dempwolf designed his own home on South George Street in York in 1886.

Historian and fellow blogger Scott Butcher wrote in "York, America's Historic Crossroads" the he also designed several other homes occupied by neighbors.

"Designed in the Queen Anne Style, one of the most notable features of the building is the ornamental facade featuring 'Old Man Winter,' he wrote.

Well, "Old Man Winter" has suffered frostbite on many occasion since, and he was very long of tooth... .

This renovated trolley kiosk gained an official unveiling on a recent rainy day, appropriate because of the shelter it has provided against the elements for years in York's (Pa.) Continental Square. (See photo of the kiosk during its trolley-era days below.) Interestingly, the red RabbitTransit bus in the background is the successor to a bus system that helped put the countywide trolley system out of business. Background posts:The 'Little Courthouse,' like longtime York square neighbor 'Teapot Dome,' still stands tall and Copper top of York Square's 'Teapot Dome' needs to be recharged and Great Depression not only pinched in York County, it punched.

The trolley kiosk, so familiar to York countians in York's Continental Square, is back after months of rehab.

"Teapot Dome," as it's been called for years, will have no particular function. City officials say it perhaps will give police officers shelter from the rain... .

Mindi's Place at Market & Penn Street Farmers Market is the primary eatery in York, Pa.'s, west end markethouse. The market is the oldest of five covered markethouses that operated in York. Background posts: There were 5, count 'em, 5 York markets and The ornate, but now-demolished York City Market House in living color and Don't know much about York County history? Part III

They had a growing population and no market to service those folks plus farmers in that end of York, west of the Codorus Creek.

So they created what is today called the Market and Penn Street Farmers Market.

And today, the market is again trying to solve a problem... .

The whereabouts of this York County, Pa.-made statue has been unknown locally for years. But it recently became public, on eBay of all places. (See photo of the artist and statue below.) Background posts: Wago Club prez: 'You've gotta respect the (snapping) turtles' and Church's landmark: 'A man named Beech carving a beech tree, it seemed too perfect' and Why did JFK lose to Nixon in York County?.

The Craigslist ad read like this:

"Life-size basswood statue of John F. Kennedy, carved by local woodcarver Walter S. Langhine. Included with the statue are letters to and from Jacqueline Kennedy. Email to above address or phone calls accepted at 717-793-0650 or 717-235-2543. Best offer."

Langhine's hand-carved statue of JFK had been missing in plain view for years.

Most recently, it has been in the JFK memorabilia collector Clyde Smith's New Freedom basement, York Daily Record /Sunday News columnist Mike Argento discovered.

Smith is moving to smaller quarters, Argento wrote, so JFK has to go.

And hence the ad... .

Brooks Robinson's statue is the key part of his namesake plaza at Sovereign Bank Stadium. The Hall-of-Fame third-basemen, who started his career at second base for the York White Roses, has fought back from a bout with cancer. Background posts: York has Brooks Robinson statue. Where's Baltimore's? and Revs will easily pass 1969's full-season attendance stats and Batter up, pass the hot dog: York relishes the Revolution.

Brooks Robinson's revelation this week that he had been diagnosed - and now cleared - of prostate cancer brings to mind two stories about when Brooksie played with the York White Roses.

Brooks, of course, started his professional career in York in 1955.

And the story has often been told about how public address announcer George Trout introduced him as "Bob" Robinson.

Although Trout soon was informed of his mistake, the two local newspapers kept up the "Bob" Robinson routine for a good two weeks... .

Locating information on the old Rosedale Mill near Railroad borough was relatively easy.

But a request from Linda Mier (linda.mier@patni.com) for information on a farm called "Rosedale" in York is more elusive to hunt down.

Linda e-mailed that the Freeland family owned the farm in the 1930s-1940s through the early 1950s.

Vincent (Vinny) Freeland, who used to live at Rosedale and is currently ill, is a good friend of Linda's sister.

"My sister is trying to find a picture of the farm, his family, or both to give to him as a surprise," Linda wrote.

Linda, who works in New Jersey, provided more information on Vinny and Rosedale: ...

Mayflower descendant Joan Miller is dressed as a Mayflower pilgrim during a 2006 conference. Susquehanna Trail Genealogy Club and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sponsored the event. The genealogy club is holding an upcoming event on blogging and genealogy. Background posts: The Four Bloggers write and York County library site brings together links for local research and Genealogical society speaker to provide tips for 'Finding Lydia's Bottom'

Genealogists flock here because early German immigrants trekked through here or stayed "a while" after their cross-Atlantic trip to America.

Many people are coming here via the Web, too... .

June Lloyd wrote the book on a form of fraktur used to illustrate York County, Pa., birth and baptismal certificates in the 1700s and 1800s. A sample is found on the her book's cover. "Faith and Family" is available at the York County Heritage Trust. Background posts: PS Harrisburg grad school: 'Set my feet even more firmly on the path into the world of Fraktur' and The Four YorkBloggers write and Nature had its way with short-lived York Furnace Bridge in southeastern York County

Former York County Heritage Trust Archivist June Lloyd is looking for folks who have early American birth and baptismal certificates.

She compiling a database of these works of fraktur, known as taufscheine.

June told an audience at the Heritage Trust's Second Saturday program over the weekend that she has records of 1,500 such certificates and regularly adds to that total as she learns of them.

The following is a sampling of the points she made on this Pennsylvania Dutch (German) practice of commissioning such art to mark these important passages:

The York Daily Record tells about native son and major league slugger Vic Wertz's life and career upon his death in 1983. Here, Wertz holds a photo sequence of his most-noted mark in baseball history. He smashed the 450-foot fly ball that Willie Mays turned into "The Catch" in the 1954 World Series. Background posts: Babe Ruth, indeed, played in York in 1928 and York turned its eyes to Joe DiMaggio and Before the York Revs came the Hanover Raiders.

When York-born major leaguer Vic Wertz did not make the top 10 list of 20th-century York County sports heroes, one fan posed a revealing question:

"How could you leave off Vic Wertz?"

Vic Wertz, indeed, was one of York County's most accomplished professional athletes.

If his long smash had eluded Willie Mays in the 1954 World Series, he would have been on that York Sunday News' list.

But Mays' execution of "The Catch" relegated Vic Wertz to a footnote in national history... .

Jacque Tracy, sports writer for The (York, Pa.) Gazette and Daily and the York Daily Record, died recently. He covered sports around York County for 51 years. Background posts: York Daily Record columnist Jim Hubley's last piece: 'Good luck weeding out tobacco' and 1874 York Daily: Is it worth anything? and York newspaperman's bio: 'Superb in every respect and difficult to put down'.

Jacque Tracy was always the go-to person for background on things, often about information on the old Gazette and Daily.

Jacque Tracy was always the go-to person for information on other people, often about information on the old Gazette and Daily.

For example, his comment when fellow sportswriter Jim Hubley passed away: "I admired him because he was a man of principle."

And when former Gazette and Daily Managing Editor Edward 'Eddie' Schaeberle died, Tracy commented, "I can't begin to say enough about him. He was like the brother I never had."

So, it's fitting that we put forth here a comment about Jacque soon after his recent death at age 88... .

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New York Giants center fielder Willie Mays hauls a 450-foot fly ball in the Polo Grounds' cavernous center field off the bat of Cleveland's - and York, Pa.'s - Vic Wertz during the first game of the 1954 World Series. The Giants won a 5-2 victory, thanks, in part, to Mays' handiwork. Background posts: Old York lefty remembered young Brooks Robinson and The Tuleyas: A love story, not baseballs and hand grenades and Adding to York baseball timeline: Revs ready for 'second helping'.

York Town Square viewer Bill Landes raised a good question in a comment about a recent post of major leaguer from York/Adams.

"I thought Vic Wertz had some connection to York?"

Yes, indeed.

The York native played outfield and first base for 17 seasons with six teams - the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins... .

John G. Coulson's "Hanover Raiders, Minor League Baseball in Hanover, Pennsylvania" tells about the life and times and players in the Blue Ridge League. His work nicely adds to the repository of the names of major league players who hailed from or played in York and Adams counties. Background posts: 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.

At the moment of the Atlantic League York Revolution's home opener for season No. 3, it's a good time to review former major leaguers with York roots as well as those who were here for a cup of coffee.

Atlanta Braves superscout Paul Snyder is from York County. So is Greg Gross. And Jim Spencer. And Gene Cumling. And Ken Raffensberger.

Robert Rohrbaugh might be the region's next major leaguer.

York Town Square just profiled Eddie Plank, the great southpaw 300-game winner.

Just when you think you exhausted the pool of York/Adams countians with Major League Baseball ties (click here for another long and impressive list) who were born here or lived here, you run across another batch... .

Bowman's Hill (New Hope, Pa.) Wildflower Preserve reps enjoy Shenk's Ferry Wildflower Preserve in Lancaster County recently. Backgrounds posts: York County still home to unvarnished beauty, On York County parks, Susquehannocks and carved river rocks and With hot controversy cooled, Highpoint offers Susquehanna River view for the ages.

Man has converged on the Shenk's Ferry glen that houses an impressive wildflower preserve for four or more centuries.

American Indians built lodges near this southern Lancaster County site, and their European successors built a plant to make charcoal, consuming trees by the thousands. They mined iron ore and built a dynamite factory, site of a blast that killed 11 men in 1906.

Today, Grubb Run flows through a culvert under railroad tracks at its west end.

A larger culvert allows the creek to run through another railroad embankment in its east end. That tunnel is known locally as "The Culvert." ...

The Orange Car's name, seller of fresh fruit, has been on the former Western Maryland railroad station, since 1938. Background posts: Collector searching for Western Maryland Railroad memorabilia and Jackson Township, Arm & Hammer's proposed new home, again in the middle of things and York County railroading: 'Something that gets into your blood'.

Dick Boyd writes in his memoir "The Bridge" about an oft-repeated experience growing up in York County.

"Christmas festivities were held at my grandparents Glen Rock farm and were always very special. One aunt was single and lived there. Each Christmas, she brough us candy, oranges, tangerines, and nuts. ... One year, I counted a hundred differents kinds of fruits, nuts and candy."

The source of such wintertime fruit and other delicacies for years and years around York County was the Orange Car on York's Roosevelt Avenue... .

Glenn Grove of Delta is a member the Welsh choir Cor Rehoboth and a tour guide of Welsh burial markers made of slate. Here, he walks through the Slateville Presbyterian Church cemetery. 'Er Cof' is Welsh for 'In Memory.' Background posts: Stone structures tell York countians how their ancestors lived and Delta-Peach Bottom slate shingles: 'Nothing works as good as this' and Old York County town jails: 'They're kind of hidden history'.

Those intrigued by the Welsh in southeastern York County will have a chance this weekend - May 2-3 - to worship and sing with these actual and spiritual sons and daughters of slateworkers.

Homecoming this weekend will be centered in and around the Rehoboth Welsh Chapel.

"Twice a year a Gymanfa Ganu, or Welsh singing festival, is held - on the first Sunday in May and the second Sunday in October," the Delta Welsh Heritage Web site states.

"Visitors come from all over North America." ...

Eddie Plank, a Gettysburg native, won more than 300 games in his Major League Baseball career, the first lefthander to do so. Plank ended his career with 327 victories. He entered the majors in 1901 and retired in 1917. He became a hall-of-famer in 1946. Background posts: Story answers much about great athlete Hinkey Haines, including origin of his nickname and Southpaw could be next York/Adams major leaguer and Baseball's Methuselah played for White Roses.

A Gettysburg restaurant recently has themed native son and baseball Hall-of-Famer Eddie Plank.

"Gettysburg is a town that lives on the dead, their legends, speeches and actions.
Most restaurants, gift shops and museums have themes that deal with the borough's famous battlefield and presidential history," blogger Pat Abdalla wrote under the headline, Finding a niche with Eddie Plank.

"Restaurant owner Bill Wills, however, has found a different niche in Gettysburg's history: Eddie Plank, a legendary baseball player who was born and lived in the town."

This attention on Plank brings to mind a review of an article in "National Pastime" on Plank.

That York Sunday News article (7/25/04) debunked some myths about Plank, the first southpaw to win more than 300 games in the majors... .

The Modernaire Motel, built in 1949 to serve Lincoln Highway motorists before the Route 30 by-pass went in, sits at a prime spot on East Market Street at Mount Zion Road. Patrons used to enter the motel, according to Lincoln Highway expert Brian Butko, on the art deco building's rounded corner. But later, the entrance was moved to the side. 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.

Richard E. Zimmerman Sr. was a war hero and banker, well known around town.

And his recent death reminded York County folks of how he was best known - as longtime owner of the Modernaire Motel on East Market Street.

York Daily Record/Sunday News writer Mike Argento noted (4/10/09) that Zimmerman's stint in banking including time as manager of the Round Bank, now M & T's Queensgate branch.

Zimmerman left banking in 1966 to take over the round-sided Modernaire.

He thought it would be interesting, Argento wrote.

Argento told about one such interesting incident:

These ornate iron pieces atop the York Elks porch are the type of fine metal work adorning the organization's 233 N. George St. building. (See related image below.) Background posts: York County ... 'A smorgasbord of architectural styles' and York County's connection to the French Quarter and Collector searching for Western Maryland Railroad memorabilia and When the bridge over the Codorus moved

My recent post - Plaques offer historic insight into 'The Swamp,' before Sovereign Bank Stadium drained it - provides a historic look at York's Arch Street area.

But for those parking at Small's Field, north of Codorus Creek, or in the downtown area, south of the creek, their stroll to the park affords many landmarks scrutinize.

My York Sunday News column for July 1, 2007, covers interesting sites as one moves into or out of The Swamp... .

This video, part of the York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Remember" oral history series captures the cigarmaking industry - a major employer in small towns throughout York County. Background posts in 'Remember' series: In the shadow of disaster: York County and its newspaper tested 30 years ago and Great Depression work: 'It was the largest thesis in the history of the history department' and Readers tell about those blizzards of 1993, 1996.

People don't think of the rival boroughs of Red Lion and Dallastown working together.

But 84-year-old Flo Neff unwittingly informed viewers of the York Daily Record/Sunday News "Remember" series about an early 20th-century form of regionalization.

It involved the ubiquitious cigarmaking business, the most recent topic in the series.

Here is her transcribed audio clip: ... .

Charlie Thomas, a York resident, and his group of 50 years, The Drifters, will perform at 8 p.m. today at Eichelberger Performing Arts Center in Hanover. For details: 637-7086 or www.theeich.org . Background posts: Cameron Mitchell, Craig Sheffer, Dixie Chick born here and Famed doo-wopper from York, Pa. walks down the aisle of heaven and Memories and Nostalgia posts from the start.

"Charlie Thomas is The Drifters," York Daily Record/Sunday News columnist Mike Argento wrote in 2007.

Indeed.

Others have grabbed that name, but Charlie Thomas' Drifters is the authentic oldies group. That's saying a lot. A look at the complex Wikipedia entry for the multi-splintered group make you want to escape from it all up on the roof.

And area residents can see the real thing tonight in Hanover when Charlie and his widely traveled band perform within the borders of York County.

Here's an excerpt from Mike's Nov. 9, 2007, piece on Charlie, a York resident:

Students at the Second Arch Street Public School are ready to celebrate May Day in 1952. The old one-room school, then used as a church, was torn down to make way for the children's play area of Sovereign Bank Stadium. Background posts: Season 2 of York's long comeback campaign, York has Brooks Robinson statue. Where's Baltimore's? and Sovereign Bank Stadium posts from the start.

This walking tour highlights some of the rail-related and other historic sites that marked the stadium area.

For example, the outer stadium fence that parallels the outfield fence tells about: ... .

The William Penn Senior High School boys ....

... and York Catholic's state title runs are detailed in forthcoming York Daily Record/Sunday News' books. For details on these books or accompanying DVDs, visit www.inyork.com/booksales. Background posts: Will Autumn Lau gain top area basketball scoring record? It's possible. and Red Lion's Scott Fitzkee ranks as York/Adams Greatest Athlete and Other YAIAA-related posts.

A York Daily Record/Sunday News editorial put the recently passed local basketball season into perspective:

"This has been one of the best YAIAA hoops seasons in recent memory. Today, the York Catholic girls are playing for another state championship, potentially the team's fourth in a row. To reach the title game, York Catholic had to beat another YAIAA team, Delone Catholic.

Saturday night, the William Penn boys will play for a state title; the city team hasn't played for a state championship since 1949.

York County could have two state championship basketball teams, a remarkable achievement.

... We can all take some pride in the accomplishments of these student-athletes. And we can learn some lessons from them... .

This view in Manchester Township is taken from a development, crosses farmland and runs into more development. Farmland preservation is taking hold, although non-farm use of land surpassed agricultural use 25 years ago. (See additional photo below.) Background posts: A York County story: Sprawl leaves problems in its wake and Demolished Red Lion Grange Hall still tells tale of changing York County and From Meadowbrook Mansion to York County farmhouse and All farm & fields posts from the start.

YorkCounts correctly believes farmland preservation is a key quality-of-life indicator in York County.

"York Countians value open space as a matter of principle and honor farmland in concert with our heritage," the coalition stated in its recent report. "Preserving farmland means protecting not only the agricultural sector of the economy, which is still vibrant in York County, but also the very look and feel of the place where we live."

Fortunately, YorkCounts' stats show a trend line of acres of York County farmland gaining protection faster than population is growing... .

The demolished building in foreground is the bath house for Springwood Park near Yoe in the aftermath of the Flood of 1933. According to the booklet 'Picture Memories, York Flood 1933,' Mill Creek's waters carried the structure 100 feet off its foundation, and it broke into two sections when it struck a telephone pole. Half of it is in the swimming pool, at left. Nothing is left of Springwood Park, but the still-standing house, right, helps locate it. The house is identifiable today by its distinctive second-story windows. Background posts: Old Ma & Pa Railroad trestle may again carry passengers - on bicyles - some day and 19th-century mines gave Ore Valley its name and One-room schools: 'That's when things were good'.

The pool's sloping sides and cold, cold water make it memorable.

That was the 125-foot by 75-foot Springwood Pool along the road by the same name in York Township, between Chapel Church Road and Yoe.

It operated from the 1920s until 1954... .

York County Academy on North Beaver Street is seen in 1922. It was the earliest forerunner of York College of Pennsylvania. The historic building, which also served as York County USO headquarters in World War II, was demolished in the 1960s. Today, a parking lot across from St. John Episcopal Church covers the site, but the academy's old gymnasium still stands in the back corner of the lot. York County Academy and York Collegiate Institute later merged and their successor became four-year York College of Pennsylvania in 1968. Background posts: Old King's Mill-Smurfit Stone site giving way to information age and Central Pennsylvania histories make smart part of summer reading stack and New York College book provides insight into school, community.

YorkCounts: The percentage of high school students planning to attend postsecondary institutions is up in most York County school districts.

Background: With people often foregoing high school degrees historically, it follows that the percentage furthering their education after high school would be low.

That helps explain why York has never been considered a college town and the fact that no full college held classes here until 1968... .

Tom Fadely of Fadely's Auto Masters on West Market Street in West Manchester Township, is seen near a mural of the former Lincoln Highway Garage in 2004. Fadely was an admirer of the landmark garage, demolished to make way for a convenience store. York County artist Gary Gladfelter painted the mural, which reflects the cross-town Springettsbury Township garage in the 1930s. (See pictures of the garage from 1939 and 1950 below.) Background posts: Photo of trolley on Lincoln Highway passing through York's Continental Square and U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way, Part III: 'We would watch the dragsters on trailers head for Thomasville' and All Lincoln Highway posts from the start.

Check out a Lincoln Highway Web site, destined to be a repository for photos and postcards of the old coast-to-coast highway that passed through the heart of York County.

The road today in York County is known as Route 462 or Market Street or Route 30 or even sometimes the Lincoln Highway.

There's some York County material in there including a nifty map of the highway between Lancaster and Gettysburg... .

One of the original rails remains on the old Stewartstown Railroad bed. Background posts: Stewartstown Railroad: 'Truly a unique entity in the state, and possibly, the nation' and 'Yesteryears' southern York County sites and All Stewartstown-related posts from the start.

Doug Winemiller is one of the leading preservationists working to get the Stewartstown Railroad operating again.

In past e-mails, he's noted that many of the original rails are still in place on the line, a shortline that hauled agricultural products between Stewartstown and points east with the Northern Central Railroad at New Freedom.

He included a photo to prove his point... .

A new book will soon run off the press highlighting the West York football's district championship season in 2008. Background posts: Is West York's Brandon Real the best local running back ever? and Red Lion's Scott Fitzkee ranks as York/Adams Greatest Athlete and York athlete series: 'Arguably the best girls' volleyball player the area has ever seen'.

"The story of the West York football program's coming of age began with a 57-13 loss back in November 2006.

"Those Bulldogs, under first-year coach Ron Miller, entered the District 3 Class AAA playoffs with a respectable 7-3 record and a formidable foe ahead of them: the Manheim Central Barons, owners of 15 District 3 titles since 1989.

"The result was not surprising. West York got whupped. Whupped good. The Barons outrushed West York 378 to 3.

"But the Bulldogs had received a great, up-close look at what they wanted to become."

That was how York Daily Record/Sunday News' sports editor Chris Otto began the introduction to the newspaper's latest book-length work "Friday Night Bulldogs."

What they would become is district champs... .

Conewago Township's Rudy's School, then a private residence, sustained damage in this 2006 fire. Education in these one-room schools ended before high school, contributing to low high school graduation rates years later. Background posts: One-room school days fascinate history fans and Little school house in Hanover: A story of the circus and coal room and 18th-century mines gave Ore Valley its name.

A YorkCounts report indicates that most York County public school districts have shown gradual improvement in graduation rates.

Still, the 2000 Census shows that one out of five York countians do not have high school degrees.

Don't blame that entirely on the York City School District, where graduation rates fall in low 60-percent range (and improving.) ...

York Daily Record/Sunday News photographer Bil Bowden captured this wonderful image of the soon-to-be-relocated Star Barn in Dauphin County. That star measures 14-feet across. (See additional images below.) Background posts: Gettysburg-area National Register homestead gives snapshot of pressures facing farms and Horn Farm: 'A very special living history memorial to those hardy ancestors' and 'It's so sad to see such a great piece of architecture fall down'.

Dauphin County's Star Barn, so familiar to motorists, will move to its new Lebanon County home this summer.

Which raises a question.

How do you move a barn of that size?

The barn's Web site gives the answer... .

Luther D. Summers mugs for the camera from a spot on a White Rose Amusement Park roller coaster support. He's about 90 feet up. Background posts: Great Balls of Fire, York's Memorial Park to spin back to 50s and Reader searching for Boys Club Pool photo and The 'Little Courthouse,' like longtime York square neighbor 'Teapot Dome,' still stands tall.

Gloria Miller saw the iconic photograph of the roller coaster of the former White Rose Amusement Park in the post Good grief, how long has that pool been there? and wanted to know more - or see more.

"I never knew about the White Rose Amusement Park. But would like to know more about it or pictures, anyone have pictures of it? My grandparents were farmers and we didn't move to York city till 1949. I was 6 years old by then. This is the first time I ever heard about it," she wrote in a comment on the post.

The photograph of the roller coaster, formerly located in the vicinity of Ferguson school near York's Farquhar Park, that appears in the "Good grief" post is the most common one used to give a glimpse of the memory-spawning park. It appears in the booklet "Northwest York" as well as Jim Hubley's "Off The Record."

The above photo of Luther Summers is also from "Northwest York," which gives information that Gloria might enjoy about the old amusement park: ...

Propaganda posters, as they were then called, helped sell patriotic ideas during World War II. This poster promotes Victory Gardens, but the posters ranged from loose lips sink ships to recycling themes. (See additional poster below.) Background posts: 20 questions and answers to prove your York County WWII smarts and Pennsylvania Dutch-speaking York County residents often conversed with German POWs and Jamaican fruit pickers worked York County orchards in World War II .

Victory Gardens, 21st-century style, may make a comeback as Americans cope with the recession this summer.

The gardens represented an important part of military strategy in World War II. The idea was that if homefront Americans could grow enough to feed themselves, the government could concentrate on feeding the troops.

This excerpt from my "In the Thick of the Fight" describes the World War II-era gardening boom:

This part of the York City map of 1888, from the booklet "Northwest York" gives a view of what became known as The Avenues. North Hartley Street, the address of the earliest forerunner of Memorial Hospital, can be seen at bottom, left. Background posts: Industrialist Thomas Shipley's 'enduring monument' in York did not 'endure' and Glatfelter, Morgan Smith head industrial legacy list and Spring Garden Band: 'It's like being in the room with history' .

Memorial Hospital's plans to move from the east side of York to the former Hawk Lake golf course on the north side are well known.

And many people alive today remember when Memorial moved from the west side to its current location along Interstate 83.

But before the West Side Osteopathic Hospital and Dr. Edmund Meisenhelder's West Side Sanitarium operated, where was the hospital located? ...

Workers started taking down the old Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center this week. The land eventually will be returned to its 1863 appearance. The former Cyclorama building will remain standing pending outcome of a lawsuit. Background posts: Two developers have plans for a relocated Gettysburg Cyclorama building and Gettysburg Cyclorama critics: Reviews ranged from 'huge dinosaur' to 'I was captivated' and Q&A on new Gettysburg visitor center, old Electric Map.

The former visitors center/Electric Map building at the Gettysburg Battlefield, source of so many memories, is coming down.

The Hanover Evening Sun reported on the beginning of the end of the building (3/24/09):

William Solomon, owner of Pin Oak Lane Farm in Shrewsbury Township, is seen with Deposit Ticket in 2004. Deposit Ticket's offspring earned $1.4 million during the year. Pin Oak was the birthplace of 1992 Kentucky Derby winner Lil E. Tee (see photo below). Background posts: Glen Rock hilltop farm: 'You cannot stay stressed here for long' and Wiki profiles eight with national status bearing Hanover roots and Hames made in Shrewsbury Township's Hametown fueled early American horsepower and Two ornate mansions that Hanover Shoe built.

York County ranks third in the state behind Chester and Lancaster counties for the greatest number of racehorses, a Penn State researcher said a few years back.

"You don't have a racetrack in the county," the researcher said. "It's a bedroom community for those who do."

Bedroom community, yes.

But one of those horses who lived here and left will always have a York County birthplace in its biography.

That's Lil E. Tee, 1992 Kentucky Derby winner, who was put down this week.

These excerpts from a York Daily Record/Sunday News/AP story (3/24/09) tell about this first Pennsylvania-bred horse to win the Derby:

The original Outdoor Country Club stands in The Avenues in this photo from the publication, "Northwest York, 1884-1984." Background posts: On Eisenhower's Country Club of York golf round: He turned in a 'commendable score' and Exploring ornate Springdale, sunken ballroom, golf course and all and Why is Hanover Country Club in Abbottstown? and 'Lady Linden', of York's Avenues neighborhood, gets full makeover

Many people know that the Country Club of York grew on fertile land now covered by York College of Pennsylvania.

But where did the York-area's other major country club - the Outdoor Country Club begin? Some might think its was birthed when it took over the Country Club of York's property when that group moved to its current location.

Actually, the Outdoor Country Club began in 1892 in the trolley suburbs now called The Avenues, according to the booklet "Northwest York" ... .

York County industrial leaders turned out in large numbers for a dinner at the Yorktowne Hotel in World War II. The York Plan resulting from their cooperation became a national model. Background posts: All York Corporation/Johnson Controls posts from the start and Industrialist Thomas Shipley's 'enduring monument' in York did not 'endure' and York Corporation played role in Manhattan Project.

York County's homefront and war front efforts well represented what it took across America to win the two-front World War II.

And the best York County offered on the homefront - and it was significant - was the York Plan.

But ask a York County audience about the York Plan and surprisingly few know even the vaguest details.

So, here's a quick synopsis of the plan: ... .

The colorful Valencia, seen here in this circa 1937 postcard, played host to dozens of national acts. Background posts: The bad, and yes, the good of the Great Depression in York County and Valencia Ballroom became cool place during Depression and Spring Garden Band: 'It's like being in the room with history'.

Dave Gladfelder was a regular at Big Band events at the Valencia in the heyday of the Swing era in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

It cost between a quarter and 85 cents to get into the York venue, depending on the prominence of the act. If the name was big enough, admission rose to $1.

Paying a little extra, Gladfelter acquired photos of the stars and stuck around long enough to get their autographs.

He collected about 60 photographs, many of them signed.

The collection of the late David Gladfelter will be up for silent auction during the York Book and Paper Fair on Saturday, April 4, in the York Expo Center.

Photos of the Dorsey brothers, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Woody Herman are included in the collection... .

U.S. President Harry S. Truman honors Gen. Jacob L. Devers upon his post-World War II retirement. Devers established the U.S. Army Field Band before leaving his high military post. Background posts: Field Band live from Farquhar Park and York native Jacob L. Devers' name still in service at Fort Knox, Ky. and Long Level and Pleasureville fielded bands?

The U.S. Army Field Band is the best-known military band with York links. York native and four-star general Jacob Loucks Devers started that band after World War II.

But the U.S. Air Force Drum & Bugle Corps had more York County members.

So says K.B. Oiler (kblor1@comcast.net), and the writer has contacted the York County Heritage Trust about placing some of the band's artifacts into its holdings.

Oiler provides some facts about the corps: ...

For years, a hame was displayed on a sign in Leon Saubel's front yard in the Shrewsbury Township (Pa.) village of Hametown. The display has been taken down. Background posts: Codorus collector exhibits collection of conveyances - wheels and sleighs and 'I didn't know a peach tree from an apple tree, but we learned quickly.' and Trees commemorate World War I I vets.

In putting up the recent post on a Hametown one-room school and its upcoming reunion, it occurred to me that viewers might not know how the school's host village received its name.

Hametown between Shrewsbury and Loganville on the Susquehanna Trail was a major center for the making of hames.

Hames, along with collars and traces, form the pulling part of a horse's harness. (Other parts of a harness - a bridle, for example - relate to guiding the horse.)

J. Emory Seitz, whose great grandfather founded the village's hame-making factory circa 1850 defined a hame in a 1970 letter: ...

The information booth at the former visitor center for Gettysburg National Military Park was at time a place of bustle. Now it awaits demolition with the rest of the old building, expected in the next three or four weeks. Background posts: Two developers have plans for a relocated Gettysburg Cyclorama building and Half dozen groups probe acquisition of Gettysburg's retired Electric Map and Gettysburg Cyclorama critics: Reviews ranged from 'huge dinosaur' to 'I was captivated'.

A commenter on a inyork.com/ydr story on the upcoming demolition of the old visitors center at Gettysburg National Military Park raised a good point.

Hold an auction to offset part of the $800,000 in projected demolition costs. A photo of the information desk (above), for example, shows framed pictures that people might want for a souvenir.

But perhaps the park service should go one step further... .

Phyllis Chisler's rendition of Hametown School serves as the focal point of the cover of Joseph D. Boose's book on the one-room school. The painting was entered in the York County Painter's contest of York County one room schools in 1963. Background posts: The Outhouse Rules - York County, circa 1935 and Northeastern York County's Paddletown: Children paddled back and forth to visit grandma and One-room school reunions preserve educational culture of thousands of York countians.

Gov. Rendell has called for the state's 500 districts to implode into 100.

This is not the first time a call for school consolidation has gone out.

In post-World War II York County, 32 districts merged into 15, according to the booklet "York County: An Overview."

What actually happened in the 1950s when all this consolidation took place?

Only a bridge pier remains today of the trolley line from York to York Haven, cut back to North York on June 1, 1932. The pier sits near the once bustling Cold Springs Park and Elm Beach. Background posts: Conewago crossing near Manchester hot spot for years and Conewago crossing, Part II and Big Conewago serves as physical, symbolic divider of York County culture.

Sue Shiflett of East Berlin is looking for photographs of Elm Beach, the popular swimming spot on the Conewago Creek near Manchester.

The beach - actually a concrete deck extending from the bank - operated on the north side of the Conewago across from Cold Springs Park, destination for trolley excursions.

"My great grandfather, Fred Spiese, operated a swim suit rental and restaurant at Elm Beach," she wrotes.

Today, Elm Beach is abandoned and Cold Springs Park developed. A silent pier from a long-one trolley bridge stands guard... .

York artist Lewis Miller's depiction of a Christmas tree is part of the York County Heritage Trust's collection. The Trust, largest holder of Miller drawings, has just introduced a new Web Site. The Miller art pieces are the crown jewels of the Trust's collection. Background posts: Don't know much about York County history? Part I and The Four Bloggers write and Stack of books on York County's Civil War past getting higher.

Looking to learn more about your house?

The York County Heritage Trust's newly designed Web site lists resources to check out.

The site's extensive listing of such resources starts like this: ...

Brian Brown, project supervisor of the newly opened Manchester Township's SPCA told the York Daily Record/Sunday News in 2006: 'These dogs are going to be living good.' York-area residents began organization of the SPCA in 1925. Background posts: Pets and animals in York County history and Perrydale's bovine: 'She's a wonderful, laid-back cow' and Landmark dog guards picket.

Dover's Sara Bretz is a retired teacher who wants to instruct others about the SPCA's story.

She's embarked on a project to learn the SPCA's history, spending hours in the York County Heritage Trust Archives. She hopes to compile her history into a publication.

She's found that organizing members of the group first met on March 31, 1925. Harry A. Harris brought the group together.

An annual report for 1931, issued by president Joseph H. Mosser, summarizes the SPCA's goals in those years:

The York (Pa.) Dispatch reported on a celebrity train passing through York in September 1941. Background posts: From York, Pa. to inside the beltway, politicos, celebrities got no friend and What did Tiny Tim and Richard Nixon have in common? and Sidney Poitier visits Valencia.

York's location on the Northern Central Railroad, later Pennsylvania Railroad, meant many presidents and other celebrities passed through the city.

In the age of steam locomotives, trains often stopped for water. And York's position as the largest town between Baltimore and Harrisburg increased the likelihood of visits.

In 1941, one such celebrity train did not stop.

It carried the controversial celebrities, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor... .

Fastnachts (fost-nokts) await transport to customers at the Stewartstown Senior Center today, Fastnaught Day. (See additional York Daily Record/Sunday News photos below.) Background posts: Classes offer rare op to learn Pennsylvania Dutch - Part II and PS Harrisburg grad school: 'Set my feet even more firmly on the path into the world of Fraktur' and Noted Pennsylvania German art historian will be missed.

In a York Daily Record/Sunday News story today (2/24/09), writer Barb Krebs answered two basic questions about Fastnachts:

Question 1: What is a Fastnacht, in the first place?

Answer: A Fastnacht is a yeast-raised potato pastry that is deep fried like a doughnut. The name fastnacht is German for "fast night," and the tradition of making them began with the Pennsylvania Dutch as a way to use up the lard, sugar, fat and butter that are forbidden during Lent.

Question 2: What makes a fastnacht different from a regular doughnut? ...

Northeastern's Autumn Lau (42) celebrates after scoring her 2,000th point against Dover in early January. She has since become the leading girls' scorer in York County's basketball history. Background posts: York athlete series: 'Arguably the best girls' volleyball player the area has ever seen' and Red Lion's Scott Fitzkee ranks as York/Adams Greatest Athlete and 'When people are looking back into Pa. basketball history ... it's great'.

The York Daily Record/Sunday News story told of Autumn Lau's record-breaking basket against West Perry last week in simple fashion:

"The Northeastern senior converted a bank shot in the paint from the left side to pass 2006 Fairfield graduate Lauren Beckley for the top spot on the YAIAA girls career scoring list. Lau put 20 on the board in the winning effort to increase her career total to 2,275 -- 17 points ahead of Beckley and 113 behind boys career leading scorer Jacob Iati, who set the record playing for York Catholic last season."

Will she pass Iati's mark of 2,388?

Ken Stough, left, instructor for the Pennsylvania Dutch language classes, talks with Butch Reigart during a class at Providence Place near Dover. Reigart, formerly of York County, is teaching an upcoming Lancaster-based Pennsylvania German course. Background posts: Der Belsnickel of the Pennsylvania Dutch: 'He looked scary and carried a sack of presents' and Classes offer rare op to learn Pennsylvania Dutch and York County group preserving Pennsylvania Dutch language, heritage.

People are fascinated with Pennsylvania Dutch language, a dialect of German spoken for decades - centuries - in York County and other parts of Pennsylvania.

Today, the dialect is most prevalent among the Mennonite and Amish, the latter a growing population group in southeastern York County.

According to a news release, the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society is offering 10-week classes in the Pennsylvania Dutch language and culture... .

Camp Ganoga hasn't operated since 1945, but the old Strinestown-area Boy Scout camp continues to evoke memories. Here, a group of Scouts sits on the Camp Ganoga waterfront - Conewago Creek. Background posts: Old Ganoga Bridge: 'It is a highly unusual sight in York County' and Once popular Ganoga Bridge now lightly used York County landmark and Big Conewago serves as physical, symbolic divider of York County culture.

Mixed-race gatherings weren't an everyday sight in York County in the first half of the 20th century.

In collecting photos for my black history book "Almost Forgotten" at the York County Heritage Trust, I was a bit surprised to see photos of white and black campers at old Camp Ganoga on the Conewago Creek.

I asked around about that... .

This video, part of the York Daily/Record Sunday News 'Remember" oral history series, provides memories of the Great Depression. Background posts: It couldn't happen in York County? Women were trampled in Depression-era labor unrest and Pre-World War II Thanksgiving holds lessons for York countians today and Destructive flood of 1933 struck York County 75 years ago.

Thirty-five years ago, Charles Bloomfield wrote what is still the most authoritative scholarly work on the Great Depression in York County.

Anyone who has dealt with the 1930s in any depth is familiar with Bloomfield's work, available for inspection (but not check out) at the York County Heritage Trust.

Who is Charles Bloomfield? ...