Only in York County

Last week, we focused on Yoe, so I thought I’d aim for the other side of the county this week!

In addition to the photo seen with today’s column from longtime reader Gary Heiland, I’d like to share some memories from other readers loosely tied to the Dover and West York area.

From Dona Crouse, I received the following letter in response to a question last year about the Pilot Haven Garage.

Dona writes, “I remember Pilot Haven Garage in Dover. It was owned by Joe Boeckel and his wife, Norma. Norma was my childcare provider in the early ’70s. We lived at 57 S. Main Street and they were two doors down from us at the bottom of the hill. It was across from a gas station (can’t remember what kind) and Mundis Supply Company. Joe had what appeared to be the largest Jeep repair/service/sales around. When Agnes hit in June of ’72 I remember the water running through the Boeckel home and business. They survived the damage and Joe continued in business. I’m not sure what year they sold and moved. They had 4 children; 2 girls and 2 boys, and I remember especially the girls, Belinda and Cindy as they were my evening babysitters when the need arose. Belinda is an exceptional cook/baker and has won many awards at the York Fair. I’m not sure what happened to the whole family as we moved at the end of June that year. They were wonderful people and very helpful to a young mother whose husband was out of town a good deal as a truck driver.”

Interestingly, I have something neat to share in a future post about another Dover garage/service station, one frequented by my family in the ’70s and ’80s. Anyone have any guesses what it was?

On another topic altogether, I also heard from Ted Grove of Dover in response to some previous columns about The North Pole drive-ins, of which there were two in York County.

Ted noted, “As a youngster, I can remember visiting both. As you pointed out, one was located at the southeast corner of Whiteford Road/Arsenal Road (now called Route 30) and Sherman Street. The other seemed to be in question. The second North Pole was located in Weigelstown where today you see a Turkey Hill at the corner of Emig Mill Road and Route 74/Carlisle Road.”

Ted also had another question: “I wonder how many folks can recall the gas station and restaurant called the Bright Star on the southeast corner of Loucks Road (now Route 30) and Roosevelt Avenue/Bull Road. Across the road was an orchard. Going west was a trailer park with the golf course behind. As you traveled into York on Roosevelt Avenue and before you reached Lincoln Park, a very small airport was located behind the small shopping center where an Acme food store was also constructed in the ’50s. Across from Lincoln Park a Twin Kiss ice cream stand was located. Sylvania, the State Troopers’ barracks, Williams Tool Shop were all built along Roosevelt Avenue during that era.”

He concluded, “As a child during the ’50s, my parents lived in the Yorktowne Homes community, so I can recall many of the details of that area. Fireside Terrace was open farm fields, but was also developed during the ’50s. York was growing and expanding, so in 1960, my parents moved to the Dover area in order to get back to country life. I hope these tidbits of information help to create a picture of that general area. I enjoyed sharing parts of my memory with you.”

Ted, I enjoy hearing them! Thank you (and everyone) for continuing to share!