You know my theory–dig deep enough in just about any subject and you’ll find a York County connection. That’s why we named my blog Universal York–York County, center of the universe. Here is another example, gleaned from an article in the September 10, 1905 York Gazette: “Samuel Toomey left York
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
Wouldn’t you know it? As soon as I think I’m done learning about local potato chip history, something else pops up. Did you ever think about who first came up with dispensing the little bags of potato chips and other snacks in coin operated machines? Well, guess what: According to
I hate to iron clothes and I do as little of it as possible. On the other hand, I don’t like to wear wrinkled clothing, so sometimes I do break out the steam iron. I remember when people actually ironed sheets. One older neighbor fascinated me because she ironed everything,
William Goodridge’s advertisement of the public display of a Christmas tree in 1840, fairly rare for that time, has often been repeated at this time of year. In the hope of adding a new twist, I did an internet search on Goodridge plus Christmas tree and came up with an
Every since humans discovered fire, we have been relying on it for cooking our food, keeping us warm, and lighting our way. We also know the destruction and tragedy accidental fires can cause. Three items, datelined Hanover, from the April 25, 1908 York Gazette illustrate why fire needs to be
An ad in a 1823 York Recorder reminds us again why the good-old-days weren’t so great. Cabinetmaker George Dowdel guaranteed that his improved bedstead was better than any heretofore made.
A recent newspaper article said there is a shortage of court stenographers. It reminded me of Henry Clay Demming, official York County court stenographer for nearly 45 years. Demming was born in Geneva, NY, but came to Harrisburg to learn printing at the Patriot and Union newspaper as a young
What is historical mitigation? A simplified example is that when a structure that might have some historical value is demolished, something is done to compensate for that loss. When the Sovereign Bank Stadium in York, bounded by George, North, Queen, and Arch streets, quite a few structures were torn down.
That’s what a headline proclaimed in the March 17, 1908 Gazette. It seems that 24-year-old Phares Frey, a cigar maker from York had gone to Boston to raise money for his revolutionary project. How did he plan to raise those funds?