The H. J. Freezer Company is listed among the nineteen York County war production plants granted the Army-Navy “E” Award during World War II. The “E” Award is for Excellence in Production. The WWII era poster notes the “Army-Navy Production Award is the highest honor given industry in recognition of
Interesting finds associated with Philip Livingston monuments in York evolved from a common family history query. Two signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried in York, PA; native son James Smith and New Yorker Philip Livingston. Philip’s prominent monument in Prospect Hill Cemetery notes: “This monument erected by his
President George H. W. Bush is first cousin, seven times removed to Philip Livingston; a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Philip Livingston is buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery, in Manchester Township, York County, PA. I created this chart several years ago for one of my family history talks to
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