Each of our York County communities, no matter what size, seems to have its own uniquely rich history. My own families settled, some well over two hundred years ago, in the southeastern part of the county. I still have so much to learn, especially about the rest of the county.
The Holiday Season—when thoughts turn to Stauffer’s chocolate coated stars. Over the years the Stauffer family has shared company history with the York County History Center. One of my favorite artifacts is the long cylindrical animal cracker cutter at the Agricultural and Industrial Museum on West Princess Street. They have
A friend told me earlier this week that she was at the Stauffer Cookie outlet on Belmont Street in York, and that they still had chocolate stars. I’m sure they won’t be around too long. Since they discontinued the chocolate bunnies a few years ago, it will seem like a
In the late 19th century and well into the 20th century, York newspapers had stringers in just about every small community throughout the county. These local people reported on church, school and social happenings. I mentioned before that my aunt was the Gazette and Daily stringer at New Bridgeville, Chanceford
Bakery ad from 1916 York Hospital Auxiliary Cookbook We tend to romanticize “the good old days” when Mom, or Grandma, or Great-grandma, lovingly baked wonderful breads and cakes, all from scratch. If those fine ladies were doing all the baking, why then are there so many ads for local bakeries
Ad from 1916 York Hospital Auxiliary Cookbook I have been having a good time reading both the recipes and the local ads in the recently reprinted 1916 York Hospital Auxiliary Cookbook. Even though there were a good many recipes for home-baked breads, rolls, cakes and cookies in the cookbook, Minnich’s
Dark chocolate Stauffer star cookie, actual size In 2004 I did an oral history interview with the late David Stauffer, Sr., the former head of the bakery business started by his grandfather, D. F. Stauffer. David Stauffer was then 103 years old. He had joined the family business at age
I came across the two ads above in an 1856 York Gazetteer and City Directory. I understood the wheat and rye bread and the rolls and cakes. I wasn’t sure about the rusks and the Dyspepsia completely stumped me. I thought dyspepsia meant indigestion, which wasn’t something I thought bakers