Market & Penn Streets Farmers Market filled with Fall Colors at Chronister Stand
Cliff Satterthwaite artwork of Market & Penn Streets Farmers Market
This time of year, fall colors are prevalent at the Chronister stand in the Market & Penn Streets Farmers Market. The plants, fruit & produce are local; coming from their farm, orchard and greenhouses along Vireo Road near Lake Redman.
My aunt & uncle, Mamie and Harold Chronister started tending a stand at this market house in 1949. Some years ago, the second generation, Beth and Bob Chronister, children of Mamie and Harold, took over the stand. That is sixty-six continuous years, and counting, of tending a stand at Farmers Market.
Mamie Barshinger and Harold Chronister married in December 1945. They purchased their farm and were tending a stand at Central Market starting in 1946. Harold’s parents Lloyd and Beulah Chronister had stands in Central Market from 1914 to 1968 and also in Farmers Market from 1936 to 1968. Mamie’s father Emanuel Barshinger, my grandfather, had a stand in City Market; I’m still searching for documentation for the exact years, however I know his stand was number 367 out of the 700 stands in that massive market house that once stood on the southeast corner of South Duke and East Princess Streets in York.
In 1949, Mamie and Harold Chronister switched from tending market at Central Market to Farmers Market. Mamie always said that Central was a lookers market and Farmers was a buyers market; meaning Central Market always got a good share of sightseers who never bought much, however most of those coming to Farmers Market were there to buy.
Beth Chronister indicated they have very loyal customers; that are generational. Parents and grandparents of many customers today also shop or previously shopped at their stand.
Farmers Market is the oldest enclosed market house in York; it was established in 1866. Next year, 2016, will be its 150th year. John Gibson’s 1886 History of York County, PA notes on page 521-522:
An act of assembly passed on January 31, 1866, with the following-named persons as incorporators: Jacob Baer, John Winter, Israel Laucks, C. F. Winter, John H. Baer. The name of this corporation was entitled “The Farmers’ Market of York.” The rapid growth of the borough west of Codorus Creek demanded a market house in that section.
This market at once became a great success, being long before needed. It was twice enlarged, until it has reached its present size, being a conspicuous building on the corner of West Market and Penn Streets.
In 1976, Cliff Satterthwaite captured the Farmers Market, on location, in the following pencil drawing. Observing the rooflines, one gets an idea where the two additions occurred; somewhere in the 20-years between 1866 and 1886.
Later Cliff carefully applied pen and ink to the pencil lines, and added color to produce the following artwork. This artwork was sold as signed prints.
The Cliff Satterthwaite artwork was used with his permission. Cliff lived in York County, PA, from the mid-1950s to the early-1980s, creating a host of artwork, with much done live on location. He has a book available containing nearly 400 images of his artwork from that time period; e-mail contact is monsterart4grani@aol.com
Related posts include:
- New Eastern Market celebrates 65 Years on Memory Lane
- #34 George A. Kohler & Company Cigar Factory in York; Becomes Merchants Cigar Company
- Cliff Satterthwaite artwork of Giant Oak Tree along Freysville Road
- The Famed Twin Barns along Mt. Rose Avenue
- Beekeeper House in Hellam Township frequent subject of Cliff Satterthwaite
