York Town Square

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Harley-Davidson Archives

York, Pa., and York County, Pa., continue in their search for an identity. It appears the ‘Creativity Unleashed’ brand, put into play about 5 years ago, works for recruiting designers but is not concrete or broad enough to help explain a county. And the ‘Factory Tour Capital of the World’ slogan used by tourism folks never was strong and only four of 13 tour sites today are factories. Harley-Davidson, seen here, is one of them. So why not go with what people commonly say about York: It’s near everything. This thinking caused the York Daily Record to suggest ‘The Middle of Everything’ or something like that.

This Harley-Davidson motorcycle was assembled on Feb. 2, 1973, the first to roll off the line at the Harley plant in Springettsbury Township. This Sunburst Blue Sportster XLCH carries the serial number 4A60000H3. The company, then AMF, had just moved assembly of its bikes to York County. The bike, owned by Mercer County’s Mark Duell, is seen here in 2013, but was back in York and on display at the Harley open house and associated Bike Night and White Rose Thunder activities this weekend.