Only in York County

I think I could write an entire blog based around just memories of things along Market and George streets in York. Today’s post stems from that area and follows up, at least tangentially, on two places we’ve talked about in the past.

Previous posts
· Sept. 4, 2012: Ask Joan: East Market Street memory edition
· Oct. 9, 2012: Ask Joan: Old World Import Shop edition

In those, we talked about two hangouts – the Web and the Teen Age Club, or TAC. Today, I have some memories of those to share, so read on!

Fred W. Messerly writes, “I am 73 years old and did attend the Teen Age Club on S. George St. It was on the 3rd floor of the building across the street from the Post Office. I was trombone player and I thought of myself as a jazz musician. When I played there I was in 8th and 9th grade. I was the youngest member of the band. I was very pleased to be asked to play with the older players. The club was run by a nice couple, I think their name was Yohe or Yinger. They were strict about the rules of the club and ran a nice place. I was supposed to be paid 2 or 3 dollars a night if they had any extra money. I can’t remember ever getting much pay, but I sure had a lot of fun. Some of the musicians that I remember were Dick Hake, a drummer from Wrightsville. There was a very good trumpet man, can’t remember his name, but, he went on the road with a big band and then owned a night club in the Harrisburg area. The club operated one or two nights a week and probably had about 70 people on a good night.”

Mike Meckley noted, “TAC was located where Cobblestones is today. In high school my wife and I went to TAC frequently. I still have my TAC photo card dated 1950 with my picture, which was required to gain admittance. TAC was open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. There was a live band from York High called the Sunlight Serenaders. There was a dance floor on ground level and a game room and seats upstairs. On the dance floor there was a row of chairs on each side where the boys were on one side and the girls on the other side. The guys crossed over and asked the girls to dance. Many of the girls danced together. If you had a car you would go to Melvin’s after TAC closed and dance some more. TAC was a fun place and there was never any trouble. The House Rules said NO to the following: Profanity or vulgar language, Gambling, Drinking, Horse-play or petting, Destruction of equipment, furniture or property, Loitering outside on pavement about club, Smoking in Club or restrooms, Disorderly conduct of any kind, and Transfer of membership card to non-members. These rules were printed on the back of your card. TAC was a wonderful place and brings back fond memories to many people.”

Joyce Paules wrote that she also still has her TAC card! “I wanted to tell you about TAC. It was a great place. It was a teen age club across from the post office. It was called the Alkazar. It had a great dance floor, and a stage where it had a live band. I helped to teach kids to dance, I sang with the band and I played basketball for TAC.” She recalled a Mr. Yoe (spelling uncertain) in charge of the club. She added “He was a wonderful man. The band had some great musicians. Most came frmo York High, one of many was Ray Myers, he played trumpet and he was the best. Also Ronnie Alwood also a great trumpet player came from Red Lion. I could go on forever. Dave Boyer also sang with the band.” She added that the club owner was strict, but that in all the time she spent there, she never saw anything wrong, and she noted that the club members had great regard for him. “And we were so busy having fun, we didn’t have time to do anything wrong. There were rules, and we all respected them… I made so many close friends, it was a wonderful time for all of us. We also had pingpong and special dances.”

And then there was The Web, on East Market Street. Jim Fahringer recalls, “The Web was a teenage hangout on the north side of East Market Street close to Henry M. Blatner’s Photography and the Martin Memorial Library. They also had a back entrance in the alley that runs between Market and Philadelphia Streets. There was another teen hangout that operated for a brief period of time in the back basement of the Rosenmiller Building at 35 West Market Street. It was called the ‘Middle Earth.’ It also had an entrance in the back at the alley that runs between Market and Philadelphia Streets.”

Kathy Campbell said, “I remember the Web!! It was a great place for teenagers to gather!” And Pam Lee said, “In another basement was The Web, a music club which did not serve alcohol. I recall going there to hear the band of someone from my school (don’t remember who or name of band).”

And Toni Lehman said of The Web, “My friends and I went there every week to listen and dance to local bands, although we weren’t supposed to dance because the facility was too small. We would sit in any one of several small rooms drinking sodas and eating light snacks, joking around and just being sociable. We also danced at The Gig. The venue would be in different locations around town, like the YMCA, YWCA, and a couple of churches and featured our favorite soul music bands.”

Terry Zellers, a fun coworker of mine with a TON of York County memories, added, “I remember the Web also. I played in a band ‘Forever After’ that played there a couple times.”

And finally, Sally Wilson noted, “The Web I remember was in the basement at the corner of Pine & Philadelphia St., like a beatnik place back then. Some guy named Ray had a pet raccoon that he’d bring in. We always had fun. … After posting about the Web, I think now what I remember was the Mad Cubicle, at that corner, a very long time ago.” So, not The Web, but seriously? A pet raccoon? Awesome!