Tom Thumb ad illustration makes him look really small. I recently noted that people in York County have always seemed to turn out in droves for whatever entertainment came to town. In May 1849 the biggest little sensation to hit the circuit appeared at the York County courthouse. He was
I n 1867 the York Fair was held in October, about a month later than the current September time slot. What did those fairgoers do for fun 140 years ago? The fairgrounds, which then stretched from King Street, just east of Queen, to the Spring Garden Plank Road (Prospect Street)
York Fair week brings back memories of the midway when I was a child. Even though I never spent the money to go see them, I remember the hawkers and big tacky painted banners inviting fairgoers to step in and see the skinniest man, fattest lady, or whatever else they
York County, Pennsylvania wasn’t just about farmers and merchants and trying to win a lottery. Click here for previous post on lotteries. For example, in 1826 a multi-talented young woman was in town to teach both the French language and the art of dancing.
Yorkers did not lack for entertainment. Traveling performers and theater groups of all kinds made regular stops in York. The draw of the menagerie was usually the assortment of exotic animals, but the one the came to town in May 1843 added lots of drama to the animal acts. The
Renowned composer and orchestra leader Victor Herbert was in the prime of his career when he came to York in May of 1908.
Duke Street Methodist Church Shortly after Completion Anyone associated with a non-profit institution knows that fundraising is a continuing necessity. It was the same in the past. York County churches were very good at coming up with new ways to raise cash. In a previous post I wrote about the