Only in York County

Reader Jim Hitz wrote last year, asking if anyone remembered a doctor with the last name Doctor, who was perhaps a dentist on West Market Street.

I heard many replies to this!

One came from Tim Goodwin, who shared clippings from the U.S. Public Records Index detailing a Dr. John W. Docktor (born Dec. 29, 1941) and a Dr. Susan A. Docktor (born June 12, 1944), both of whom had addresses listed in York. Tim sent something else, too, which I’ll get to at the end of today’s column!

A commenter named Lisa said she believed there was an ear, nose and throat specialist named John Doctor on West Market Street. “He did my eardrum surgery,” she noted.

Another reader, Nancy Rudisill, wrote that Dr. Docktor “was an ear, nose and throat doctor on West Market Street. I really liked him and didn’t give a second thought to his unique name. That happens when you are in pain!” Indeed, Nancy, and I’m glad he could help!

Reader Steve Bancroft noted Dr. Docktor the ENT’s practice was on the north side of the 300 or 400 block of Wet Market Street “in a brick building that was and still is painted light grey.” He noted that there was a dentist in the same area, Dr. G.W.T. Bentzel, and that might be why Jim was thinking of Dr. Doc(k)tor as one of those.

Brenda Raffensberger also remembered Dr. Docktor as an ENT. (She also wrote to ask what the name was of the restuarant at Belmont and East Market Street, where I-83 now crosses; I was glad to be able to let her know that was The Flamingo and The Elmwood Grill at different times.)

Back to the Docktors, former YDR opinion editor and longtime friend Linda Seligson also recalled Dr. John Docktor the ENT and his wife, an attorney. Linda said that to the best of her knowledge, the Docktors are “alive and well and enjoying retirement,” and while they were not among those I heard from on this topic, I’d certainly be glad to hear from them.

The original question from Jim Hitz stuck with me because I recalled writing a story about former York County funeral director Guy Creep, whose profession led him to think of himself as “that ‘creepy’ Guy” who was friends with “a dentist named Payne and a lawyer named Crook.” I had originally thought Mr. Creep mentioned a Dr. Doc(k)tor as well, and while he didn’t, I thought it was a neat chance to talk about other interesting York names!

On that topic came a note from longtime commenter friend Jim Fahringer, who wrote about an interestingly named York dentist, Dr. Sweet. Jim wrote, “In January of 1969, I student-taught at Heistand Elementary School at the farthest end end of Philadelphia Street – sometimes called Royal Street. While student-teaching there, I met one of my students named Todd Sweet, whose father was a dentist. In addition to his father being named Dr. Sweet, the doctor’s wife made the most delicious and sweet sugary glazed fastnachts I ever tasted. I can still remember that Fastnacht Day back in 1969 and the taste of that absolutely sweet sugary glazed fastnacht to this day. Perhaps she was drumming up business for her husband, but who cared – they were absolutely like going to sugar heaven.”

A few readers were also able to recall Guy Creep; Steve, who I mentioned earlier, noted that his funeral home was on the north side of East Market Street, a block past the Hiway Garage, where Mish Mash Consignment Shop is.

And Bob Liebhart recalled something else unusual about Mr. Creep, or rather, one of his employees. Bob noted, “If my memory serves me correctly , in the ’60s, there was a contest to find ‘the most beautiful ear in the world.’ The honor went to a lady that worked for Guy B. Creep… In those days I worked for TV station 43 – WSBA-TV. She was a guest on one of our live shows. Sorry, her name was not as ‘catchy’ as Mr. Creep and I do not remember such.”

Another note came from Daryl Stull, who recalled Dr. Docktor and then went on to talk about other neat names, including that of his grandfather, John Freeze, who was the head of the garage for Penn Dairies in West York. Daryl wrote, “He and his mechanics kept the 50-plus home delivery milk trucks serviced and the drivers safe and trained in safety! He worked for them for 50 years.”

Daryl also added that his grandfather taught him the rules of the road when he turned 16, and said, “He got me ready to face the state trooper in charge of licensing tests at the York barracks on Roosevelt Avenue… Sergeant Bo Savage! How’s that for a name to strike fear into a teenager!”

And, he concluded, “I had the pleasure of having a literature professor by the name of Mrs. Duck… She actually named her son Donald! And we lived next to a family named Christmas. The father was the president of AMF that was located on Route 30 where Harley is now. AMF bought it from the government… in the ’50s it was still know as the navel ordnance facility… I also dated a girl from York Suburban whose name was Heidi Hough!”

A final thing before we close today: The other item sent by Tim Goodwin, which I mentioned earlier. Tim also shared the matchbook image you see with today’s column, for Haugh’s Restaurant in Strinestown, the area in which he lives.

Tim wrote, “I think this was across from PADE Auto Auction. This match pack is probably from the 1960s. Still strike matches in the front. Exit 12 is now Exit 28.” I’d be very interested to hear any memories of this restaurant, so if you have them, please do share!