Tropical Storm Agnes produced Kreutz Creek library building 40 years ago. Read about it here.
Kreutz Creek’s library building in eastern York County is profiled on a York County Library Pinterest Board, pinned by the York Daily Record/Sunday News’ Buffy Andrews. The building, of simple construction, has an interesting history. (Click on image to enlarge.) Also of interest: Motorists move through Kreutz Creek settlement, one of York County’s earliest, missing its history.
A combination of a Pinterest social media board devoted to York County libraries and terrible storms in the southeast reminding me of Tropical Storm Agnes prompted me to write this morning about the Kreutz Creek Library.
YDR/YSN social media guru Buffy Andrews put together the Pinterest Board showing all the library buildings.
There was Hellam Township’s Kreutz Creek library on that board, really a doublewide mobile home, pictured above.
It had served as housing for displaced families in Williamsport 40 years ago after Agnes struck. That storm took at least five lives in York County.
York County Libraries’ Deb Sullivan gave this piece of history in a York Daily Record column (2/16/03), excerpted here:
“Kreutz Creek Valley Library Center began as an initiative of the Wrightsville Rotary in 1976, according Dave Halliwell, the library’s current board president. He and his wife, Nancy, were among a group of citizens who became involved in the project.
The support of local service organizations was apparent. Hallam Borough, Hellam Township, Hellam Jaycees, Kreutz Creek Valley Lions, the Wrightsville and Hellam VFWs, and the Wrightsville Jaycees all participated. Together the service organizations and local residents prepared their case for an Eastern York library.
“Kreutz Creek became the first branch of Martin Library, and eventually the first branch of the York County Library System.
“The library structure is a doublewide mobile home that was originally used as housing for a family displaced during Hurricane Agnes. Weaver and the state helped locate the unused trailer in Williamsport. On route to York, the roof of the future library was torn off as it passed under a bridge.
“Once in Hellam, repairs were made with the help of architect Jack Spots. A dedication ceremony was held to open the new facility. Halliwell recalls Jay Bair and his wife, Pat, riding on horseback across the field to attend the event. Ironically, they probably had the easiest time departing, because as others went to leave, they found their cars stuck in the mud of the unpaved parking lot. A tow truck had to free them all.
“Twenty-four years later, Kreutz Creek Valley Library Center remains in the same location and structure.”
But the library building’s acquaintance with water was not over.
A hot water heater leak damaged part of the floor in 2003, forcing the library to close for a week.
And the little library with a big history reopened and operates today, as Buffy’s Pinterest board attests.
Also of interest
– All Tropical Storm Agnes posts from the start.
– Check out how York County residents remember Agnes.
Two other Hellam Township sites:
– Brook Leaf Love Nest tree house known as Hellam honeymoon spot.
– Seven Gates of Hell a history mystery of mythical proportions.
