YorksPast

Part of the USA Today Network

Three Free Talks in Next Four Weeks

Montage from 1994 Annual Report of York International Corporation
Montage from 1994 Annual Report of York International Corporation

I use this montage, from the 1994 Annual Report of York International Corporation, as the title slide in my presentation York Air Conditioning & Refrigeration; from 1935 to 2005. This talk is a continuation of an earlier presentation on the first 60 years of the company; which was from 1874 to 1934. Click on this LINK for a Full View of the illustration in this post; since the ydr.com site will occasionally cut off important details in the cropping of illustrations.

This presentation on York Air Conditioning & Refrigeration is free and will be given at two locations:

  • West Manchester Township Historical Society on Monday, February 15, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is in the West Manchester Township Building, 380 East Berlin Road (Doors open at 5:45 p.m.)
  • Lower Windsor Area Historical Society on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is in the Lower Level of the Lower Windsor Township Community Building, 2425 Craley Road (1-mile west of Craley on Route 624).

I will also be presenting at the February meeting of the York Civil War Round Table. The title of my talk is: Examining a Unique African American G.A.R. Post as the Grand Army of the Republic Celebrates 150 Years.

The Grand Army of the Republic became the most successful of the various veteran organizations, which formed following for Civil War.  During 2016, the G.A.R. celebrates 150-years since it was founded on April 6, 1866.  The G.A.R. became a powerful political force.  They were responsible for officially getting May 30th established as Memorial Day and in lobbying Congress to establish regular veterans’ pensions.  Learn more about this nationwide veterans organization through the examination of a unique African American G.A.R. Post; the David E. Small Post, No. 369, from York, Pennsylvania.

The York Civil War Round Table is free to attend. The Wednesday February 17, 2016, meeting begins at 7:00 PM and is held at the York County Heritage Trust, 250 East Market Street, York, PA.

The following list contains my present talk topics. If your organization would like to schedule one of these talks, contact me at stephen.smith4@comcast.net

[1] First 60 Years of York Corporation; from 1874 to 1934 {Traces the founding of the company, as The York Manufacturing Company, through a change of focus; Air Conditioning} (Previously presented at OLLI, YCHT as Second Saturday Program, Lower Windsor Area Historical Society, West Manchester Township Historical Society, and at Johnson Controls)

[2] York Air Conditioning & Refrigeration; from 1935 to 2005 {Traces locally independent York Corporation through Borg-Warner days and back to independence as York International Corporation} (Previously presented at OLLI and scheduled for February 15, 2016 at West Manchester Township Historical Society and for March 1, 2016 at Lower Windsor Area Historical Society)

[3] Countdown of the Top 50 York County Factories in 1899 {This can be used as a stand alone talk or as part one of a two-part presentation. This part gives a brief overview of all the top 50 factories during York County’s Sesqui-Centennial in 1899} (Previously presented at OLLI)

[4] Highlighting 8 of the Top 50 York County Factories in 1899 {This can be used as a stand alone talk or as part two of a two-part presentation. This part looks more in depth at: A. B. Farquhar Co., York Safe & Lock Co., Hoover Wagon Works, York Manufacturing Co., S. Morgan Smith Co., Hanover Match Co., American Caramel Co., and York Haven Paper Co.} (Previously presented at OLLI)

[5] 19th Century Railway Car Builders of York (Previously presented at OLLI, YCHT, Red Lion Area Historical Society, Normandie Ridge and Shiloh Church group)

[6] Rail Events in the 1800s, Rail Trail Area {An offshoot of [5]; focusing a greater amount along the Northern Central Railway in the 1800s} (Previously presented at Glen Rock Historic Preservation Society, OLLI and Codorus Valley Historical Society in Jefferson)

[7] Never Built? The Town of Pleasant Garden and other Curiosities (Previously presented at Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Zimmerman Center for Heritage, Lower Windsor Area Historical Society, and Red Lion Area Historical Society)

[8] The Making of a Family History Book (Previously presented at South Central PA Genealogical Society, Lancaster Family History Conference and numerous other sites)

[9] Private Burial Grounds, Discovering Their Stories {Talk has case study on how to trace land ownership back to original Maryland squatters in 1730; uses Dosch Burial Ground in LWT as example} (Previously presented at South Central PA Genealogical Society and Lower Windsor Area Historical Society)

[10] York & Leading Industries of the Gilded Age {A subset of talks [3] & [4], specifically focusing on industries in the City of York} (Previously presented to AP History Class at Central High School and YCHT as Second Saturday Program)

[11] Examining a Unique African American G.A.R. Post as the Grand Army of the Republic Celebrates 150 Years {Examine the David E. Small Post No. 369, G.A.R. in York, PA as the Grand Army of the Republic celebrates 150-years since it was founded} (Scheduled for Feb. 17, 2016 at York Civil War Round Table and Apr. 3, 2016 at G.A.R. Museum & Library in Philadelphia)

[12] History of The Susquehanna Trail {Before Interstate-83, the prominent north-south road in York County was the Susquehanna Trail. Learn about the origins and myths of this route} (Scheduled for Sept. 6, 2016 at OLLI and available elsewhere anytime following that date)

Related posts include:

Reading the Headlines: A Quick Index to All YorksPast Posts