Gloria Miller, Gloriamm@comcast.net, is looking for information on her great-grandfather, John O. Altland.

He died at the age of 50 in 1914.

But here's a particularly clue. He worked in the city auction rooms.

What were they? Gloria wondered... .

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When builders dug the Howard Tunnel through a southern York County ridge in 1840, they left room for two tracks. The second track was added after the Civil War.This is one of many interesting facts collected by Scott Butcher and included in captions in "York's Historic Architecture." (Butcher is signing his new book at 2 p.m. Sunday, at the York Emporium.) Because of the tunnel builders' foresight, the rail trail is able to follow the path of one of the old tracks today. The other track is still there for rail use. Background posts: Thousands discover formerly unheralded York County rail trail's Howard Tunnel , No light at the end of this (abandoned) Pa.Turnpike tunnel and York County ... 'A smorgasbord of architectural styles'.

Scott Butcher's new book "York's Historic Architecture" is packed with photos.

But it's also loaded with dates, details and architectural information, including many interesting tidbits about many buildings, well known and not.

Here are five points that are certain to pique your interest:

Did you know ? ...

Posted in Books & reading Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local landmarks Nostalgia & memories Quizzes & (fun) tests Unsung/obscure sites York Town Square

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W. Scull's map of York County shows York as a busy crossroad community in 1770. But notice that Harrisburg - Harris Ferry on this map - is north of Dover, or maybe Weigelstown. Background posts: York County: It's shaped like a horse's ...., Scenic Yellow Breeches snakes along York County's northern boundary and Site filled with wealth of York County geological info.

Several observers of York County history were on their way to Chickies Rock, across the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County.

The conversation went like this.

If the Susquehanna flows north/south, then Harrisburg should be due north of the Wrightsville/Chickies rock area.

Right?

Sounds right.

Wrong... .

Posted in Books & reading Explanations/controversy Genealogy/research Iconic images Local landmarks Quizzes & (fun) tests York Town Square

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This panel, part of the Murals of York series, shows the Central Market, one of at least three murals that celebrates York County's agricultural prowess. The murals can be used as an effective tool to teach county history. Free walking tours of the murals, courtesy of the York County Heritage Trust, are scheduled at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Tuesday through Saturday until Aug. 30. The tours start at the gift shop behind the Colonial Courthouse, West Market Street, York. Background posts: Don't know much about York County history? Part I, Part II, and Civil rights heros stand out at Bradley exhibit.

The Murals of York can served as a classroom teaching tool.

That's what I told teachers recently in a continuing education course on York County history, offered through Millersville University.

I then provided an overview of county history using the murals, as described in the following York Sunday News column, to be published on July 25: ...

Posted in American Revolution Books & reading Civil War Events Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Genealogy/research Harley-Davidson Iconic images Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Made in York Nostalgia & memories Quizzes & (fun) tests War Wheels of York Women's history World War II York Barbell York Town Square Yorkco

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The Murals of York can be used as artifacts to tell a story about the York area. Pictured here is the York Fair mural on the side of the East Market Street parking garage across from the Yorktowne Hotel. There's a certain irony of this particular mural as a celebration of agriculture being located on the side of the garage, overlooking a parking lot. For the last 25 years, York County farmland has been gobbled up to provide housing for commuters from Maryland and elsewhere. Background posts: 20 questions and answers to prove your York County WWII smarts, Resources for York/Adams history junkies increasingly posted on Web, 20 questions and answers to prove your York County smarts, Part III.

When about 20 York County teachers became my students in a recent Millersville University summer continuing education class, I cast about for tools make local history come alive.

I put together a true/false quiz designed to summarize some of the themes of my two-hour primer. (I used it more as a mental execise than a test.)

See how you do, and don't be surprised if my answers resemble sound bytes. Follow the links to go deeper:

Posted in American Revolution Black history Civil War Events Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Made in York Quizzes & (fun) tests War Wheels of York Women's history York Town Square

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The York Daily Record/Sunday News produced this Murals of York booklet in 2000. It's available at no cost at the York County Heritage Trust, 250 E. Market Street, York. Its contents, complete with a walking tour of the murals, is available on the newspaper's history site. Background posts: York County library site brings together links for local research, Martin Library leaves microfilm behind and Tips for genealogical research.

Every year, 20 more more teachers participating in Millersville University's York County history course stop by the York Daily Record/Sunday News for a primer.

I was proud to share with them this year an updated Internet presentation on York County history, developed by the York Daily Record/Sunday News Web guru Joan Concilio.

She particularly overhauled the site Local history that serves as one-stop shopping for information about York County's past. The site also updates with news about York County's historical community.

You can view below the same information as the Millersville class received, and you didn't even have to sit through my two-hour presentation:

Posted in Black history Books & reading Explanations/controversy Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Nostalgia & memories Quizzes & (fun) tests War World War II York Town Square

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This map showing the early stages of the Confederate invasion in June 1863 also shows the roughly triangular shape of York County. In the next five days, the Confederates crossing all of York County except for the southeastern angle - the Delta-Peach Bottom area. (See additional image below.) Background posts: Rebs' short visit creates long memories, A square courthouse in the middle of York's Centre Square, 20 questions and answers prove your York smarts.

The Yellow Breeches Creek carves a ragged northwest border for York County. And Beaver Creek forms part of its western border. The Susquehanna River creates the eastern border and the legendary Mason-Dixon Line its southern.

So, what shape is York County as a result of these geographical influences?

My shorthand version is to call it triangular. In times when its decision-makers have been less than astute, I've also called it triangular with the northern part, its head, sleepily nodding off... .

Posted in Civil War Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local landmarks Quizzes & (fun) tests Small-town life War York Town Square

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This Civil War poster can be accessed at http://www.inyork.com/gettysburg. Readers can pan or scroll to read the presentation. Background posts: Gettysburg Visitors Center gets buzz but courts to decide about old cyclorama, Gettysburg battlefield produces steady supply of news and History making evening on rebel surrender of York.

Several things came together to inspire the York Daily Record/Sunday News to produce the poster "A soldier's life."

The opening of the new visitors center at Gettysburg is one. And it's the 145th anniversary of the battle. Interest grows on these fifth-year anniversaries.

And York County's interest in the Confederate occupation is increasing. (See the beefed up York Daily Record/Sunday News Web site East of Gettysburg... .

Posted in Books & reading Civil War Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Quizzes & (fun) tests War York Town Square

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On the evening of Aug. 14, 1945, York County residents joined a massive national V-J celebration, marking the war's end. The largest county assembly occurred in York's Continental Square. Here, holding a special V-J edition are, from left, L. Allen Wolfgang, Richard E. Wolfgang and Lloyd E. (Pud) Wolfgang. Paul S. Wolfgang, who provided this photo, is at far left. Background posts: The first in (World) War (II), Perhaps the last in (World) War (II), 20 questions and answers to prove your York County smarts, Part III

The World War II Battle of Okinawa ended 63 years ago on Saturday.

And we're somewhere near the midway point between the often forgotten V-E Day - May 8 - and V-J Day - August 14.

So, here are 20 questions to focus us on York County's contributions to the war that spawned the Greatest Generation:

Posted in Black history Books & reading Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Made in York Nostalgia & memories People Quizzes & (fun) tests Small-town life War Women's history World War II York Town Square Yorkco

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These two views show York's Continental Square looking south. That's the Hartman Building, later Futer Bros., at left and the Colonial Hotel, right. Actually, the bottom view is dated. Futer Bros. has closed, and the new owner has removed the siding in renovating the building. Background posts: Contractor: Keeping old Futer Bros. building's integrity not hard, but costly,
'Skyscrapers' have shaped York's skyline since 1850 and Cobblers: 'There's still a need for us'

Read 19th-century documents and York's Centre Square often pops up.

But it's known as Continental Square today.

When and why the change?

Posted in American Revolution Books & reading Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local landmarks Nostalgia & memories Quizzes & (fun) tests War York Town Square

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