YorksPast

When I-83 was constructed through York County in the 1950s, most dwellings taken by eminent domain were simply demolished. However when highway construction schedules allowed, these condemned structures were offered for sale; provided the buyer stuck to strict schedules and conditions. If the intent of the buyer was salvaging selected building materials from a structure, a limited time frame was assigned to do so; just prior to the demolition of the overall structure by the contractor. Or, if the buyer planned on moving the entire building from site, it had to be done by a given date; if not, the contractor would demolish the building.

A back page article in the August 24, 1957 issue of The York Dispatch contained the bold headline “31 Dwellings on List of 85 Structures due Demolition for Bypass.” The Bypass noted here is what is that part of I-83 that skirts the city, east of York; i.e. from the Arsenal Road interchange to the Leader Heights interchange.

It appears only a small percentage of the 31 dwellings were moved. However of the six dwellings slated for razing at the South Queen Street interchange site, four still stand because they were moved. This post explores those dwellings and where they were moved.

The introductory photo shows one of the dwellings, which was moved. It is the farmhouse built for my grandparents Emanuel and Cora Barshinger in 1913. The front of the house initially faced a toll road, The York-Chanceford Turnpike in York Township; and later was given the address of 2134 South Queen Street. In mid-1958 the house was moved across the street to a lot outside of the I-83 construction zone.

The following section of the August 24, 1957 news article is about the dwellings of six families that are slated for razing at the Queen Street interchange site, in order to construct I-83. I’ve added the South Queen Street numbers for location identification.

The locations of the dwellings for families slated for razing per the August 24, 1957 news article are marked on following 1955 aerial photo of the future I-83 Queen Street Interchange site. The planning sketch of the I-83 alignment was done on this historic aerial photo.

The following present I-83 Queen Street Interchange aerial photo shows the corresponding locations of the street addresses of dwellings for six families slated for razing in 1957. Instead four of the dwellings (at 2134, 2148, 2150 and 2155 S. Queen St.) were moved.

Moved—Dwelling of Raymond Barshinger at 2148 S. Queen St.

The first of the four dwellings to be moved was the house constructed in 1949 for Raymond and Evelyn Barshinger. It was built at 2148 South Queen Street, which was a small lot on Raymond’s parents farm. In late 1957 the house was moved south, about one mile, along the graded path for I-83 to a vacant lot on the northeast corner of Ebony Drive and Darby Lane. This photo shows the house at that new location; 1829 Ebony Drive.

While the house of Raymond Barshinger moved to a new location, his family moved into a new home at another location in York Township; i.e. at 3075 Ironstone Hill Road. Their new house was built on a 2-acre lot on a section of the farm of Evelyn Barshinger’s parents; Harry and Pauline Hess.

Moved—Dwelling of Harold Smith at 2150 S. Queen St.

The second of the four dwellings to be moved was the house constructed in 1948 for Harold and Esther (Barshinger) Smith. It was built at 2150 South Queen Street, which was a small lot on a corner of Esther’s parents farm. In early 1958 the house was moved across the street to a lot along a new roadway. This photo shows the house at that new location; 2117 Louise Avenue.

While the house of Harold Smith moved to a new location, his family moved into a home at another location. Harold favored a move to a small Hellam Township farm off of Kreutz Creek Road, near Ore Bank Road; while Esther favored a home at 1644 Ridgewood Road in Springettsbury Township. Mom got her way, with the family making the move to Ridgewood Road on January 4, 1958.

An April 15, 1958 news article reported on the status of the six Barshinger families, at the Queen Street interchange site, preparing to yield their homes to construct I-83. Quoting that article:

“At the Queen Street interchange site, six Barshinger families—some of whom have resided there for more than 40 years—were preparing to yield their homes within the next two weeks to the scores of earthmovers now moving about them.”

“It was reported earlier that some of these families might decide to ‘sit’ in the path of construction at that point, but Emanuel Barshinger, whose two brothers and three children are involved, said today two children have already moved and the others will do so either this week or next.”

I remember hearing my grandfather, Emanuel Barshinger, express that he would sit and not move from his porch in order to stop the State from wiping out his farm. I believe that was after the State appraisers visited the properties in 1957; they upset many in the area, so it is possible Emanuel was not the only one making such a comment. However it appears Emanuel had softened his stance, in accepting the outcome, when responding to the reporter in 1958.

Demolished—Dwelling of Morris Barshinger at 2128 S. Queen St.

During the late spring of 1958, the dwelling of Emanuel’s brother, Morris Barshinger, was the initial structure demolished in the South Queen Street interchange area. Morris’ three-story frame dwelling was the oldest building in the area, dating back to the 1860s. This tall building was not in good enough shape to make a move. Immediately after the Civil War, Ernst C. Grevmeyer had this structure built as a hotel for travelers along The York and Chanceford Turnpike. Grevmeyer had been in charge of the commissary at the U.S. Army General Hospital in York during the Civil War.

In 1871 Abe Brenneman purchased the hotel and 58 acres of the surrounding land. He operated “Honest Abe’s Hotel” at the site for 28 years and lent his name to the nearby Brenneman’s One-Room Schoolhouse.

The next owner of the hotel was Katie Shearer, who operated it as “Shearer’s Hotel” for 10 years before selling it to Morris Barshinger in 1910. Several of Morris’ brothers lived in this repurposed hotel immediately after marrying, or as they purchased land along this stretch of roadway. One of his brothers who took advantage of these hotel accommodations was Emanuel. After my grandparents Emanuel and Cora Barshinger married on July 1, 1911, they initially lived in Morris’ three-story structure; it was adjacent to the land where Emanuel had his farmhouse built in 1913.

Just prior to the contractors razing the three-story frame structure, Morris Barshinger moved into a new dwelling on his property, just outside of the I-83 construction zone. He even kept his same address.

Demolished—Dwelling of Emory Barshinger at 2121 S. Queen St.

During the summer of 1958, Emory Barshinger’s one and one-half story brick dwelling was demolished since it was within the widened South Queen Street right-of-way. The two and one-half story farmhouse of his parents, Emanuel & Cora Barshinger was later moved to Emory’s 2121 S. Queen Street lot, with it being set back further from the right-of-way. It became the new home of the Emory and Lorie Barshinger family until being sold in 1999.

Moved—Dwelling of Emanuel Barshinger at 2134 S. Queen St.

Some memories have the farmhouse of Emanuel Barshinger being moved across Queen Street during mid-1958, which is supported by the April 15, 1958 newspaper article. Other memories have the move occurring during the fall of 1958. Either way, the two and one-half story frame farmhouse built for Emanuel and Cora Barshinger in 1913 was moved in 1958. The dwelling was moved across South Queen Street onto son Emory’s 2121 S. Queen St. lot. It served as the home of the Emory and Lorie Barshinger family; until being sold in 1999.

Emanuel Barshinger had several requirements for his replacement property. It had to have chicken houses, a field to grow corn for his chickens, and outhouses. All the time the 1913 farmhouse was located at 2134 South Queen Street, it did not have indoor toilets; only outhouses. Emanuel and Cora Barshinger located a property that met those requirements. It was a 3-acre farm at 2786 Ironstone Hill Road. Although that property had an indoor toilet, grandpa did not use it until he got sick.

Moved—Dwelling of Charles Barshinger at 2155 S. Queen St.

The two and one-half story brick farmhouse of Charles and Grace Barshinger was built about 1924. It stood at 2155 S. Queen St. until it was moved a short distance onto a lot at 14 Gateway Road during October of 1958. Karl H. Oerman was the buyer of that condemned dwelling. The story and photo of that move are provided in a prior post.

Emanuel Barshinger’s 1913 farmhouse houses Commercial Businesses

“The Old White House,” a business selling antiques and collectibles, operated in the former Emanuel Barshinger farmhouse at 2121 South Queen Street from 2000 until 2004. During that time, except for a few interior improvements, the dwelling largely remained unchanged from when it served as a residence for Barshinger families.

Attorney Steven Stambaugh purchased “The Old White House” in 2005 and converted the 2121 South Queen Street building into his law office; as shown within this 2006 Yellow Pages ad for Stambaugh Law, P.C. The farmhouse features, both inside and out, remained, and were evident after this renovation.

In 2010, needing more office space, Stambaugh Law extensively remodeled their 2121 South Queen Street office by enlarging the second floor and adding a full third floor. Although to a lesser extent, farmhouse features, both inside and out, remained evident. After Steven Stambaugh was elected a York County Common Pleas Judge in 2021; the office become site of KBG Injury Law.

Click on this LINK for a yorkblog.com Full View of the photos in this post.

Links to related posts include:

• A Musical Chairs of Early Barshinger Land
• Memories leading up to I-33 opening in 1959
• 1931 Brenneman’s One-Room School students identified
• Abe Brenneman becomes an Inn Keeper in York Township
• Neat Photo of House on the Move
• 4-Lane I-83 planned through Downtown York
• Memories of Brenneman’s One-Room Schoolhouse
• Cliff Satterthwaite captured early South Queen Street Auto Dealerships
• Square Deal Garage, the north end of Spry