YorksPast

“Lost Landmark?” is the headline of an article appearing in the April 30, 1992, issue of This Week; a weekly newspaper serving Springettsbury and Spring Garden Townships. The subheading is “Owners of Meadowbrook Restaurant get permit to tear down historic Springettsbury farmhouse.” On April 28th, Meadowbrook Limited Partnership had paid the $5 demolition permit fee; giving them the right tear down the building with little notice. Fortunately Christmas Tree Hill came along as the buyer, thus saving the historic property; nixing discussions to build a Toys-R-Us on the site. The ‘Lost Landmark’ article does have a bearing on the present struggle to save historic properties along East Market Street in Springettsbury Township.

Several months later the July 16, 1992, issue of This Week reported:

Township gives okay to initial historic survey

The Springettsbury Township Supervisors will spend $1,000 to begin a survey of historic and notable properties along East Market Street.

Officials of the township’s Historic Preservation Committee said the cost of surveying the entire township would be about $17,000 although no budget has been prepared.

The action comes in the wake of fears that the Meadowbrook Restaurant building will be demolished. Owner Bert Holleran obtained a permit earlier this year from the township enabling him to raze the landmark structure.

East Market Street, committee members said, was in the most danger and should be surveyed first.

The East Market Street properties in danger now, due to a rezoning request, were some of the first properties in this survey requested by the Springettsbury Township Supervisors. In the coming years over 500-structures were surveyed, by architects with Historic Preservation Committee members; from which the top 100 most historically significant properties in the township were selected and the list issued to the Board of Supervisors on February 8, 2001.

The properties at 3311, 3323 and 3405 East Market Street have been on the top 100 list ever since the inception of the list in 2001. However two of these properties were recognized for their historical value well before 2001. On May 12, 1994, a proclamation, by the Springettsbury Township Supervisors, was given to Bob & Debbie Straw for their faithful preservation of the Modernaire Motel. On March 26, 1996, “Bloomingdale,” at 3405 East Market Street was designated National Register eligible; that paperwork in Harrisburg is likely the reason the State chose not to touch the stone wall in front of the property during the Market Street widening.

There is an over 20-year history of the Springettsbury Township Supervisors supporting the establishment of this list of the most historically significant properties in the township. It is up to the present Supervisors whether to ignore or use this list; established under the direction of a host of Supervisors that preceded them.

Related posts include:

• Mount Zion Commons coming in Spring of 2024
• These Places Matter in Springettsbury Township
• Bloomingdale, a Remarkable Historic Home
• The WEISER Sign in the Attic
• The Modernaire Motel, A Classic on The Lincoln Highway
• Builders of the Modernaire Motel
• Historic Courthouse Columns built into Meadowbrook Mansion
• Meadowbrook Tavern Menu loaded with neat stuff
• Springettsbury Township does not need a Shopping Center at a Busy Intersection
• Answering Your Questions about Rezoning for a Shopping Center on Corner of East Market Street and Mt. Zion Road in Springettsbury Township
• Letter to the Editor got Results in Springettsbury Township
• Free Weekly Newspaper for Springettsbury and Spring Garden Townships