Letters about York, PA, and its food, hangouts and more
Today, I have a few letters to share about snippets of things around York County – including some very tasty-sounding ones. Want to hear about some great candy, local cafeterias and more?
Holland’s Candy
Back in the spring of 2013, we talked a good bit about crabcakes in York County, and as an aside in that post, reader Carolyn Woodring wondered if anyone remembered Stell Holland’s candy in Shrewsbury, which she described as “another yummy treat way back when.”
In response, I heard from Theola Birger, who writes, “I grew up in Shrewsbury and I do remember Holland’s Candy. When you went for candy you were ushered in through the kitchen where there would be large pots of melted chocolate on an old cook stove. The candy was in the basement – long shelves laden with trays of candy – caramels, seafoam, peanut butter, marshmallow and a combination of all of the above. The caramels were soft and the marshmallow was like no other – delicious. She also had chocolate covered raisins and peanuts and a cracker about 1 inch wide and 2 inches long covered in chocolate. At Easter time she would make large eggs of the caramel, peanut butter, seafoam and marshmallow and a combination of each. I think she also had fruit and nut at Easter. What a shame that those recipes are lost!”
Bear’s Cafeteria and the Golden Glow
After talking about cafeterias in downtown York in this post from last February, I received a note from J.M. Kinard, who says, “My mother worked at the salad counter at Bear’s Cafeteria. Elwood Kauffman … and also Mildred Rehmeyer. My mother brought home delicious Bear’s Sugar Cakes and Ginger Cakes. A few years ago while shopping at Eastern Market, I asked a lady tending a stand if the sugar cakes were Bear’s, she said ‘No, but many people asked me if they were.’ They were the size of a saucer and light in color.”
J.M. continues, “My mother also worked at The Golden Glow. I remember Mr. Al Knox and one of the workers. I believe the Baked Chicken Pie was a winner! Since I walked where ever, so I didn’t have to watch calories. After graduating in 1948 I worked at Bell Telephone Co. on N. Beaver St., next to Ernie McCall’s little shop where I bought a dill pickle (from a big wooden barrel) for dinner, then walked over to Jack’s Clothing Store and spent my money on better clothing. I still have 2 coats which look like new. Evidently someone had a cigarette in his or her hand when hanging their coat up at a restaurant and burned a 2 inch seam which I tried to repair.”
Finally, J.M. concludes, “P.S. Ernie McCall was the man who operated the shop across from Central Market, who had the big pickles in the barrel and also subs. I believe he went on to opening an (ice cone shop) maybe called Arctic Ice?? Having lived in York, I also worked at McCrory’s and The Bon-Ton.”
Hartley and Princess neighborhood
Longtime correspondent Yvonne Leiphart writes, “It’s me again. Leah Akin’s letter got me to thinking about my own childhood memories. Evidently her husband and I grew up in the same neighborhood, only 20 years earlier. The only place she mentions that were there in the ’40s were Hoffman’s Meat Market, Sam’s Café and Malask’s (kosher grocery). Going west from there on College Ave., opposite from Dental Supply Co. at the corner of College and Hartley was Walt Miller’s Restaurant. Going north on Hartley on the left was Hoffman’s Shoe Repair shop. At the corner of Hartley and Princess was Tom Miller’s Grocery. Directly across, where Salem Ave. and Princess St. intersect was John Stricker’s Dry Cleaning. At the corner of Princess and Hartley was the Town Talk (a teenage hangout).”
Yvonne continues, “Going east on Princess at the corner of Green St. was Rudisill’s Grocery. Midway down the block was a butcher shop (I don’t recall a name). Farther down on the left side of Princess was Hersheberger’s Grocery. At the corner of Penn and Princess was Fisher’s Restaurant, opposite Princess St. School. And several doors down on Princess from the school was the Third United Brothers Church. Also there was a street between Princess and College. From Penn St. to Green it was called Hope Alley and from Green to Hartley it was named Chester Place. (I’m still wondering who ‘Chester’ was that he got a city block named after him). At the corner of Green and Hope was Grieman’s Barber Shop. So just about everything you needed was within walking distance. You didn’t need a car.”
Thank you all for sharing these fun York County memories!
