Ever hear of the Coliseum Ballroom? Linked in with neat York County, Pa., history stuff – April 16, 2010
York countian Joe Stein emailed this photograph of an S. Morgan Smith (‘World’s Largest Builders of Hydraulic Turbines”) float in an unidentified parade. The industrial progeny of pastor/industrialist S. Morgan Smith still operates around York County: Johnson Controls, American Hydro, Voith Hydro and Precision Components. (See additional photo from Joe below.) Also of interest: Glatfelter, Smith top industrial legacy list, How come few in York know about S. Morgan Smith anymore? and York made big, heavy things – and was immensely proud of it.
Neat stuff from all over … .
Yorkblogger and York Sunday News columnist Gordon Freireich helped the Valencia celebrate a birthday recently.
“Locally in 1911, the Coliseum Ballroom and Convention Hall opened at 142 N. George St.,” he wrote in a York Sunday News column. “That facility – built on the site of attorney George Bacon’s home – would become the Valencia Ballroom. Tracing the Valencia back to its origins, the place is celebrating its 100th birthday this year.”
He also included this chronology about this prized York landmark:
Before 1911 — Site at 142 N. George St. was the residence of attorney George Bacon.
1911 — Shellenberger family builds the Coliseum Ballroom and Convention Hall.
1928 — Tassia family purchases the Coliseum and renames it the Valencia.
1934 — Major interior and exterior renovations by the Tassia family. Exterior has latest Art Deco design, including colorful, geometric terrazzo floor at the entry. Fourteen painted murals reflective of Valencia, Spain are the main décor inside.
1960 — The Valencia closes.
1978-1988 — York Revival Center Church buys and occupies the location.
1989 — The Dutch Club purchases the building for its new facility.
1990 — York businessman Robert Kinsley purchases the building and the Valencia reopens for catered events.
2001 — Altland House Hospitality Group becomes the manager for the facility.
Honors from Her Honor: Mayor Kim Bracey presented York Arts awards to York City School District alumni and saxophonist Tim Warfield and posthumously to sculptor Charles Rudy.
And a street sign honoring former NFL player Chris Doleman was placed at Prospect and Lamour streets in York. Doleman, a William Penn Senior High School grad, received the first White Rose Hall of Fame Award from the mayor.
Blog post of the day: Buff Andrews gives the best of Yorkblogs for the week: From PSU recruit to Civil War to York High vs. William Penn to ‘Angry Birds’ and Spring Grove/Central volleyball action
Forum of the week: Exchangers are discussing lies about the Civil War.
According to Joe Stein, this report card was issued at Miller’s School in 1908. Mabel was a pretty good student..
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