Here is a tour of York’s Center/Continental Square, featuring the big star that was the centerpiece of the decorations from the late 1940s through the 1950s. I’m not sure when the star was first fabricated and when it was replaced with other decorations. These photos, showing the square from various
Next week marks the 13th annual Book Blast at York County Heritage Trust’s Agricultural and Industrial Museum, 217 West Princess Street. Many thousands of donated books are being sorted by category for easy purchase by bargain-loving readers. There are hard covers books and paperbacks galore, arranged in categories such as
This the second of a three part series of posts chronicling the June 30, 1863 York Gazette coverage of the occupation of York by Confederate troops 150 years ago. General Early was very specific about what he expected for sparing the town. Reports were also coming in from other parts
The photo above could have been taken about the same time as the one I recently posted of the Davy Crockett merchandise. This one is also from the Simon Collection at the York County Heritage Trust Library/Archives. It is identified as McCrory’s toy department and is probably from the 1950s.
This photo is from York County Heritage Trust’s Simon Photography collection. The window display is of one of York’s many 5 & 10 cent stores, probably McCrorys near the square in the first block of West Market Street. The Davy Crockett phenomenon started out in 1954-55 with just three hour-long
A recurring advertisement for a new health aid first appeared in the York Press in October, 1851. The ad reads: “A natural Remedy, Procured, from a Well 400 Feet Deep, and possessing wonderful curative powers, in diseases of the Chest, Wind Pipe and Lungs. Also, for the cure of Diarrhea,
In my York Sunday News column few months ago I wrote about the wealth of local history you can find in City Directory Collection at York County Heritage Trust. The advertisements alone paint a picture of how our families lived and how they spent their hard-earned wages. The directory references
In my last post I introduced four noted writers: Edna Ferber, Ogden Nash, Vincent McHugh and John Roy Carlson. They were in York on June 22, 1944 on behalf of the World War II Fifth War Loan Drive. The authors all spoke at the “Book and Authors War Bond Rally”
This one must be included in the “what were they thinking” category. The full-page ad above is from a late 19th century York, Pa. city directory–it shows Samuel Dick’s “Daisy” folding flower stand. Mr. Dick was selling it at his establishment on South Duke Street; he may have also been
York County Heritage Trust photo cataloger Paul Wolfgang called this photograph to my attention, pointing out that this was a pre-ATM banking convenience. Looks a bit unwieldy now, doesn’t it? People were busy 60 years ago too, so at least you wouldn’t have to wait for a teller to make