Universal York

I just realized that I hadn’t written a letter of support for the Spring Grove Area Historical Preservation Society’s proposal to save the historic Hoke house. The deadline to post or email letters is tomorrow, May 16.

Here’s a link to the Save the Hoke House page on Facebook for more information. Their suggestions, if you decide to lend your support are to simply follow this procedure:

Please send letters of support of the Hoke House to Spring Grove Borough. The Borough will package the letters together and see that they are delivered to Rutter’s.

c. Letters can also be emailed to doloresa3@verizon.net or manager@springgroveboro.com by May 16, 2013.

The letter I wrote is below, just to give you an idea of how I feel about the importance of preserving this site as part of our local heritage:

May 15, 2013

Scott Hartman, President & CEO
Rutter’s Farm Stores

First, I want to thank you and Rutter’s for all the past interest in and support of our common rich York County heritage.

Then, as a member of York County’s historical community, professionally and personally, I would like to ask Rutter’s to agree to the Spring Grove Area Historical Preservation Society’s request to have the Hoke house site donated to their organization.

I know you are familiar with the long history of this sturdy stone building, said to be well over 250 years old. As a tavern on the Monocacy Trail, one of the first roads for travel and emigration to the west, it would have hosted visitors, famous and ordinary, as they pioneered onto the frontier. It witnessed hordes of Confederates during their June 1863 occupation of York County. More recently, generations grew up learning the joy of reading when the building served as the area’s library.

Many events, large and small, which occurred there, have become part of historical fabric of our area. Its destruction, now or in the future, swift or gradual, would leave a hole in that fabric, diminishing our common past.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
June Lloyd