The H. J. Freezer Company post of Tuesday quickly resulted in nine questions from readers. That military apparel company in Spring Garden Township was granted the Army-Navy “E” Award, for excellence in production, on June 27, 1944. In addition to replying individually to the e-mails, I’m sharing the answers in
Soap Box Derby racing was conducted on the South Queen Street hill from 1952 until 1959. The gravity-powered racers started in Spring Garden Township; just below the Highland Road intersection with Queen Street. As the racers sped through the Rathton Road intersection they entered York City. The finish line of
Officially sanctioned Soap Box Derby racing began on York’s Madison Avenue in 1939. The gravity-powered racers started in Farquhar Park, sped across Roosevelt Avenue to the finish line at Hartley Street; a 730-foot course. The contestants were required to enlist a sponsor. The sponsor paid the cost of the official
Kit Lentz submitted two Melvin’s drive-in photos; which are new to me. Who can identify these five girls at the original drive-in location, next to Mill Creek; photo is probably from late 1940s or early 1950s? Melvin’s original drive-in was demolished in the late 1950s, with the construction of I-83.
Soap Box Derby racing in York raises questions. Did you ever build a derby racer in Junior High shop class? Do you know the sites of the three derby tracks in York? What happened to all those old Soap Box Derby racers? Can you name the Yorker that defeated all
In the span of 13-years Dempwolf Architects designed at least five buildings for Mahlon Haines in York County. The final buildings was the 5-story, 47-room Haines Hotel on the northwest corner of North George Street and West Philadelphia Street. Reinhardt Dempwolf had a recurring business association with Mahlon Haines. J.
The distinctive red roof of Memory Lane’s Huntleys drive-in was repurposed to the pictured hunting club in Centre County. Mike Eisenhart shared the photo and wrote: “My father-in-law, Curt Linsey, worked with the crew that demolished Huntleys on Memory Lane. He was able to salvage the red metal roof shingles
Mahlon Haines’ Wizard Ranch might be a great location for a disc golf course. My first encounter with the Shoe Wizard occurred during a Haines scouting safari at that ranch in June of 1960. That first encounter was just in passing, as Mahlon walked through our area at Wizard Ranch.
The walls flanking Gate 4 of the York Fairgrounds contain the names of York County’s fallen during World War I. In this and subsequent posts, their tales will be shared from seldom-used sources.
Upon seeing the tiny watch George Sellers wrote “it was a beautiful piece of workmanship considering the tools Davis had at his command.” Sellers saw this watch in 1828 when papermaker George King, of York, brought it along on a trip to Philadelphia; showing it off during a paper-mould buying