11 designs to highlight upcoming Historic York’s ‘Discovering Dempwolf’ house tour – Part I
In 1926, York, Pa.’s Union Evangelical Lutheran Church hired J.A. Dempwolf to design a new sanctuary. That would be his last church design, according to a church spokesman. In 1929, the new sanctuary was dedicated. “The shape of the ceiling is that of an inverted ship’s hull; hand-carved oak figures of Moses and Luke flank the altar; and art-glass windows line the nave, choir loft and clerestory,” the spokesman said. Interestingly, the first building the Dempwolf firm designed was a Lutheran church – First St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church on West King Street, according to a York Daily Record article. Background posts: Dempwolf windmill graced north bank of York’s Codorus Creek in 1870s and Fawn Township’s magnificent Centre Presbyterian Church worthy of a looksee and Dempwolf architects built York’s skyline, history.
Brothers John A. and Reinhardt Dempwolf designed more than 400 schools, churches and other architecturally significant buildings.
Just in York County alone.
Eleven of those buildings will be on display during Historic York Inc.’s “Discovering Dempwolf” on Sunday, Oct. 11.
Some facts about the Dempwolfs and the tour:.. .
– A reception planned from 7-9 p.m., Oct. 9, at the York County Heritage Trust’s building at 250 E. Market Street. This will be an opportunity to see architectural drawings and photographs of several of Dempwolf’s projects. Tickets are $30.
– The house tour of Dempwolf buildings will be from 12-5 p.m., Oct. 11. Tickets are $15. Combo tickets for the reception and tour are also available for $40.
– From the York Daily Record (8/20/1999): Together, the two designed municipal buildings, hotels, schools, churches and residences. Among these are the Colonial Hotel, the York Trust Company, the York National Bank, the Grumbacher & Son (Bon-Ton) building, Bear’s Department Store and William Fluher’s jewelry store. Their work for area public school systems included buildings in York, Spring Grove, Hanover and Columbia.
– Comment about the Dempwolfs: “In their heyday, they were probably the most prolific architects around,” York architect Mark Shermeyer said.
– Dempwolf projects elsewhere: A church in Elkhart, Ind.; a summer cottage in Cape May, N.J.; a hotel in Denver, Colo.; and a house in Brooklyn, N.Y.
– Successor Fred Dempwolf designs: Martin Memorial Library, York City Hall and the York Telephone and Telegraph building.
The tour has another benefit: It brings together two of York County’s most significant historic preservation organizations – Historic York and the Heritage Trust – to work on one project.
