Soap Box Derby racing began on York streets in 1939 and progressed to a dedicated track in York’s Memorial Park from the 1960s into the 1990s. In 1972, Debbie Laughman was the first girl to win the York Soap Box Derby championship. This is the fourth in a series about
George A. Wood is the only York County African-American killed in action during WWI. His grave in Spring Garden Township is unmarked, although he had a headstone at one time. His grave was not marked by a small American Flag this past Memorial Day; I wonder if it ever was?
William H. Myers completes the series examining the three York County WWI Veterans who were recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross. Private Myers is one of the few WWI Veterans granted permission to be buried in Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg. The following illustrated map pinpoints the location of William
Ervin Sheffer is among the 24 WWI York County Veterans buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France (complete list at end of post). Corporal Sheffer was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions in the taking of Hill 253 during the Meuse-Argonne region offensive, occurring the
Wilbur Suiter has connections with both the pictured WWI aircraft hanging in the Smithsonian and York County History Center’s giant A-Frame Compressor. In 1933, a flying field in Hawaii was named Suiter Field, in his honor; for heroism during World War I. First Lieutenant Wilbur C. Suiter is one of
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
Daylight Savings Time was first adopted in the United States as a mechanism to minimize the use of artificial light to help win the Great War. Today there is the easily understood saying: “In the Spring, move the clocks Forward one-hour. In the Fall, move the clocks Back one-hour;” or
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