Over the years the York County History Center Library and Archives has collected many plans for preservation of our local historical architecture and other resources. Most of them are full of good ideas on how not to lose those valuable resources. Unfortunately, many have not been implemented at all, and
Over the years I heard of the “Hermit of the Hellam Hills,” and came across a couple late 19th century newspaper articles that mentioned Joel Strong, the hermit. When I started digging in the files at the York County History Center and perusing newspapers.com (available to use at the YCHC
You might have recently read in the York Daily Record concerning proposed improvements and beautification of the Codorus Creek through part of the city. Wouldn’t it be great if this time something comes of it? Seemingly innumerable similar proposals have been put forth over the years, plans drawn up and
In a recent post, I shared some 20th century history and photos of Springwood Park in York Township. The park closed in 1954, after operating about 80 years. Springwood was developed as a destination for picnicking and dancing by the Peach Bottom Railway. The narrow gauge railroad opened from York
One place that is still remembered fondly is Springwood Park in the Ore Valley area, north of Yoe in York Township. At least one of the buildings, a home, still stands and I understand there are still some remnants of the pool off the east side of the Springwood Road.
What comes to mind when you think of local Sunday school picnics/church picnics? There were, and still are, at least two different types, and we fondly remember the kind that we attended while we were growing up. I grew up in the country, Chanceford and Windsor townships, so my kind
My most recent post was on the chapel that was part of U.S. Army Hospital on Penn Common in York during the Civil War. It was built by hospital convalescents and was large enough to accommodate religious services and public entertainments as well as rooms for a library and classes
If they were able, convalescent soldiers at the Civil War hospital on York’s Penn Common didn’t just sit around. They were kept busy, aiding in their rehabilitation and saving the government money. They acted as nurses and clerks; they tended the gardens and grounds. Convalescents staffed the hospital post office
Here are two more postcards from the York County Heritage Trust Library/Archives of Penn Park’s Rebecca at the Well fountain. They bring images of this impressive monument closer to the time when the fountain was taken down in 1968. The view above might be from the late 1950s, judging by
Here is another mystery concerning York’s Penn Park fountain–what does Rebecca have on her head? In these postcards from the York County Heritage Trust Library/Archives there seems to be some kind of ring above the statue on these postcards. There wasn’t anything like that on the drawing that accompanied one