YorksPast

Cliff Satterthwaite’s 1973 photo of a Parade of Vintage Cars in Springettsbury Township contained a background farmhouse directly south of Avalong Farms Dairy Bar. I remembered a large barn in front of that house during our family’s many visits to the Dairy Bar or the Drive-In, during the 1960s. Cliff Satterthwaite captured this third Avalong Barn in 1964 via his artwork and via a photograph.

I call this the third Avalong Barn, after the two Avalong Barns that sat along Whiteford Road; just east of the Mansion House, now Christmas Tree Hill. The Avalong Barn closest to Whiteford Road is the one that burnt down. Directly behind that barn was the Avalong Barn that was converted into a “Pfaltzgraff Outlet” Barn and was demolished in 2013 to build a branch of Susquehanna Bank.

The third Avalong Barn was accessed via a short lane from Mt. Zion Road or off the lane to the farmhouse. The third Avalong Barn was of the same style as the two barns along Whiteford Road. This is Cliff Satterthwaite’s 1964 photograph of the Avalong Barn along Mt. Zion Road.

Using historic aerial photos, the third Avalong Barn is removed by early 1972. When the “Pfaltzgraff Outlet” Barn and was demolished in 2013, I remember hearing talk about fires at two Avalong Barns. I think that second barn fire was likely at this third Avalong Barn and not at the “Pfaltzgraff Outlet” Barn, which some people contented. It is easy to see the confusion, since all three Avalong Barns looked alike. Unfortunately this confusion may have contributed to the demolition of the only Avalong Barn not to be touched by fire.

However all three Avalong Barns appear on the earliest available historic aerial photo, dated 1938.  This was when the owner was Harold Robertson, who had extensive livestock operations that included cattle, swine and turkeys in addition to his dairy; selling his milk to the Lancaster Milk Company and Cedar Hill Dairy.

The following THEN & NOW Aerial Photos show where Cliff Satterthwaite was standing and his viewpoint for his artwork and photo of the third Avalong Barn; which I’ve indicated the location where it sat prior to 1972. In terms of the present surroundings, the third Avalong Barn sat where the parking lot is located in front of Books-A-Million.

Related posts:

• Avalong Dairy drawn by Cliff Satterthwaite
• Mystery of the Druck Valley Barn
• Parade of Vintage Cars in Springettsbury Township
• York County Tourist Information Center and Avalong
• Avalong Farms Miniature Golf & Arnold Palmer Driving Range
• What will be the Fate of the Cow Weathervane?
• Alva R. Long acquires the Meadowbrook Estate of Harold E. Robertson on January 3rd 1950; and Avalong Barn Remarks
• Let Susquehanna Bank know what You Think about the Destruction of the Avalong Barn for a Branch Bank