Check out this list of York County records and record breakers, Part I
Continental Congress visit to York, Pa., in 1777-78 produced at least one record breaker – the adoption of first framework of government for the United States of America. Here, is a page from special publication York Daily Record/Sunday News publication detailing a number of congressional delegates who took place in the record breaking. Also of interest: Declaration signer James Smith gains moment of fame and John Adams: ‘Yesterday the greatest question was decided’ and Events in 1777 helped tip Revolution toward patriots.
Wineries across Pennsylvania will open their doors for the Great Pennsylvania Wine Toast later this month.
The toast, set for 3:30 p.m., Aug. 14, is a stab at a world record for the largest wine tasting ever conducted, according to sponsors.
That prompted York Daily Record/Sunday News reporter Erin McCracken to ask what records and record breakers that York County has put on the board.
So, I resisted in replying with those mythical or hard-to-prove claims – York, first capital of the United States; the York Fair, the nation’s oldest; and York, the Detroit of the East.
I came up with 5 records today, some fun, some serious and most just plain interesting:….
1. In 1749, York County became the first county west of the Susquehanna River, separating from its mother, Lancaster County.
2. The Continental Congress’ adoption of the Articles of Confederation in November 1777 in York gave American its first framework of government lasting for about a decade, succeeded in the late 1780s by the U.S. Constitution.
3. In the Civil War, York became the largest town north of the Mason-Dixon line to surrender to – and to be occupied by – the Confederate Army.
4. An early practitioner of using oxygen to treat pneumonia worked in York County in the 1880s. Dr. George Holtzapple, longtime York Hospital physician, then published his successful treatment of a Loganville youth and is believed to be the first to widely publish his work.
5. Back to the past and the topic of wine: York countian-turned-Virginian John Adlum has been called “the father of American viticulture,” the science dealing with the cultivation of grapes and grape vines and grape growing.
According to historian June Lloyd, Adlum’s study of the type of grapes that grew and produced best in America made him a master viticulturist.
The taste buds of those participating in the Great Pennsylvania Wine Toast will benefit from this former York countian’s work 200 years ago.
Read 5 more records in tomorrow’s post, 8/3/10.
