York County’s Phineas Davis, an inventor, contributed much to commerce and transportation in the 40 short years of his life.
craftsmen Archives
Who knows how many thousands of sturdy musical instruments emanated out of the growing complex of buildings that stood imposingly for 136 years at the intersection of Broad and Philadelphia streets in York? The York County History Center Library/Archives has 16 volumes of shipping records, up through 1944, and it
As promised in a recent post, here are more graphics showing the remarkable growth of the Weaver Organ and Piano Company factory in just 22 years. The 1882 building, designed by the Dempwolf firm of architects was of fair size, but the 1892 and 1898 additions added much more
My last blog post noted that the book featuring York folk artist Lewis Miller’s drawings of “Hessians” that settled in York County after the Revolutionary War is once again available at the York County History Center, long after it was thought out of print. The book features 22 full page portraits, each
Doing historical research? Can’t find much on a particular person or family? Don’t despair—just keep looking and widen your search to include many resources. Sometimes you find what you are seeking where and when you least expect it. See below for my recent York Sunday News column using York’s 19th
My previous two posts concerned a day trip I took a couple of weeks ago to southern Maryland, visiting the homes of two of the convicted Lincoln conspirators, Mary Surratt and Dr. Samuel Mudd. Both sites are well interpreted. I was especially interested in Dr. Mudd’s house, since carpenter Edman
I really enjoyed Saturday’s tour of a dozen sites graced by Rudy stained glass, featuring the work of the studio under the tenure of founder J. Horace Rudy. Thanks, Historic York, Inc. and the Rudy Collective, for putting together a dazzling look at some of York’s treasures. Since there is
Advertisers have always tried to make their ads pop out. I don’t know if the eye-catching arrangement above was thought up by coppersmith Charles Fisher or the newspaper publisher, but it worked for me. Charles Fisher was the son of famed York County clockmaker John Fisher. This advertisement is from
Martin Hoke Coverlet York weaver Martin Hoke was so upset that a thief made off with four of his “coverlids” in 1843 that he offered quite a substantial reward for their return. They wouldn’t be too hard to identify as they had both Hoke’s name and the name of the
One of the colorful patterns from Abraham Serff’s pattern book, now in the York County Heritage Trust Library/Archives. Weavers were essential members of the community in 18th and 19th century America. In Pennsylvania before the Industrial Revolution you would raise sheep for wool and cultivate flax for linen fibers. After