Conewago Township mill recycled into a haunted mill: Linked in with neat York County history stuff, Aug. 16, 2012
More stories below: Rebels in Hanover Junction/Biglerville’s store/Church bells silent
This is one big mill, Hykes Mill on, yes, Hykes Mill Road in Conewago Township. But just as old railroad beds are being turned into rail trails, the old mill along the Conewago Creek has been recycled into a favorite occupation for old mills. It’s become a haunted mill, popular at Halloween. In fact, decorations advertising its scary nature are evident during the year. The book Millers’ Tales gives this information on the old structure, located upstream from where the new Ganoga Bridge crosses the creek near Strinestown: Harry Hykes was one of about 20 owners of the mill. Conewago Roller Mill produced: animal feed, flour and lumber. Camp Ganoga, the former Boy Scouts camp, was located nearby. Wonder if the mill was haunted then? The October Storm of 2013 damaged Halloween Park, as it is now called. Also of interest: Millers’ Tales tells tales about York County’s mills and millers.
Neat stuff from all over …
An emailer asked me recently about Confederate and Union troop movements in and around Hanover Junction when the Confederates were crawling around York County in June 1863.
I immediately emailed him that the expert on such is Cannonball’s Scott Mingus.
“He gives tours of that area and wrote in more detail about it in his “Flames Beyond Gettysburg,” I emailed. “If you haven’t seen that book, it’s well worth purchasing, given your interest in the area.
I also referred this informative site to him about Hanover Junction, inspired by the late Roger Shaffer.
Still standing: A group is looking to make York’s Trinity United Methodist Church, once endangered, its new church home. If so, they’ll keep its wide outdoor mural.
From the archives: Cold Warriors George F. Kennan and Ike Eisenhower, both Adams County residents. Did they ever meet at Ike’s former haunt at the general store in Biglerville? That would have amounted to a mini-summit. Thought about this when driving through there recently. Background: ‘X-Man,’ historian George F. Kennan no stranger to Berlin, Germany – and East Berlin, Pa.
Forum of the day: A ydr.com story Ringing the bells: Church tradition fading, but many still toll in York County tells about a disappearing tradition. Do you miss the sound of bells around York County? Please comment below.
Edited, 10/13/13
