Readers Choose Top 10 Posts during April 2016
Near the beginning of every month, I’m sharing with my readers the top 10 posts from the previous month. This single graphic, features illustrations from all top 10 posts; however giving greater space to the higher ranked posts. If you are reading this on the Ydr.com site, click on this LINK for a Full View of the illustrations in this post on the original YorkBlog site; since the ydr.com site will occasionally cut off important details in the cropping of illustrations.
These are your favorites during April 2016:
1—Readers Choose Top 10 Posts during March 2016. Near the beginning of every month, I’m sharing with my readers the top 10 posts from the previous month. These were your favorites during March 2016.
2—New Name is York County History Center. This is Part 8 of an industrial chronicle of the buildings on the property recently purchased by the York County Heritage Trust, with their goal of renovating the buildings into a York County History Center. A year ago, the York County Heritage Trust brochure “Pondering Change” contained a conceptual illustration of the History Center on page 14. The landmark chimney intuitively proclaimed History Center! A name change was one of the items on the agenda during a special meeting of the membership of the York County Heritage Trust on April 20, 2016. The members overwhelmingly voted in favor of an organizational name change to York County History Center.
3—100th Birthday for the History Center Chimney. This is Part 6 of an industrial chronicle of the buildings on the property recently purchased by the York County Heritage Trust, with their goal of renovating the buildings into a York County History Center. When it came time to build the giant chimneys, for the coal-fired power plant in these buildings, the premier chimney builder in the United States was selected; the Alphons Custodis Chimney Construction Company of New York. The landmark 1916 chimney still stands and celebrates its 100th birthday during July of 2016.
4—DC Cherry Blossoms and Civil War Graves. I took a break from viewing the blossoming Japanese cherry trees in Washington DC and took a walk across Arlington Memorial Bridge in search of the headstone of a local African American Civil War soldier buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Joseph Edward Lawson was one of the eleven charter members of the David E. Small Post, No. 369, Grand Army of the Republic. This African American G.A.R. post was established in York, Pennsylvania during 1883.
5—Birth of District Steam Heating in York. This is Part 7 of an industrial chronicle of the buildings on the property recently purchased by the York County Heritage Trust, with their goal of renovating the buildings into a York County History Center. In 1898, Adam F. Geesey was instrumental in the birth of the York Steam Heating Company to make use of exhaust steam; that would have otherwise been wasted at the Edison Electric Light plant. After electric generation ceased in 1959, the York Steam Heating Plant operated until 1977. These buildings housed the first electric generating station in York County. The buildings generated electricity for 75-years and supplied steam, keeping Yorkers warm for 80-years.
6—Capt. William Frey and the Spring Garden Band. In 1855, William Frey was responsible for the establishment of the Spring Garden Band of York; believed to be the fourth oldest continuously active band in the United States. They became the official musical organization of the 87th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers during the Civil War.
7—Campaign Signs on Little Barn Created Problems. Oversized campaign signs on a little barn, in Springettsbury Township, were judged to be a zoning violation prior to the election primary of 1977. A variance was filed to “legalize” the oversized 6-feet by 12-feet signs on the east and west ends of the barn. In the application, the candidate stated, “The signs will promote public interest in the election of public officials, and spur interest in the American right to participate in elections.”
8—Battle Flag for York African American Civil War Soldiers. A case at the Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library, in Philadelphia, contains what remains of the original battle flag of the 127th Regiment, United States Colored Troops. Four African American Civil War veterans, with York, Pennsylvania connections, fought in the 127th; they are: Thomas Grigsby, James Jamison, Samuel Johnson and Daniel McGee.
9—Tale of the Springettsbury Township Crest. There are three versions of the Springettsbury Township Crest; with the original crest version going back to 1891, when the township was established. All versions were intended to represent the Coat of Arms of Springett Penn [1701-1731], however an article inside the front cover of the Springettsbury Township Centennial book concludes an early township employee fabricated the township crest. This post looks at related family crests and bookplates, which were likely used in the fabrication.
10—DC Japanese Cherry Tree Intrigue in 1941. In 2016, the peak bloom of the Washington DC Japanese Cherry Trees was announced for March 25, which was noted as 16 days earlier than the peak bloom during 2015. In walking around the Tidal Basin, one often encounters tour groups with a guide. Every now and then, one overhears a guide with a unique narrative. One such narration dealt with Japanese cherry tree intrigue during 1941.
This chart tracks the level of my YorksPast readership. Thank you to the multitude of readers that e-mail me with comments, suggestions and finds; you’re created a wonderful backlog of subjects for me to post. Your continued feedback is very much appreciated.
