Universal York

Here is another example that the “good old days” weren’t always that good. There were “wicked and evil disposed persons” in our past history too. (Our forebears did love their adjectives.)

The handbill below, from the York County Heritage Trust archives, concerns break-ins and vandalism at Spring Garden Township school houses. The $20 reward would be about $554 today. The image is quite clear, but I’ll transcribe it for a little easier reading:

TWENTY DOLLARS
REWARD
Whereas, some wicked and evil disposed persons have broken the Locks of the School Houses of the School District of Springgarden township, York county, and have forcibly entered said School Houses and have damaged the property contained therein, and otherwise injured and defaced the outside of said School Houses; therefore the above reward of Twenty Dollars is offered for the detection and conviction of any person or persons who have committed said outrages, or for the detection and conviction of any person or persons who shall hereafter willfully injure or damage the said School Houses or their contents, or break any lock and forcibly enter said School Houses.
By order of the Board of School Directors of Springgarden township, York county, Penn’a.
JOHN IMMEL, PRESIDENT
York, Feb.16, 1859.

Click here to read previous blog posts about local schools of all kinds.