York Town Square

Linked in/Neat stuff: Climbing Gettysburg’s Longstreet Tower/Murals of York quiz

Charles H. Glatfelter writes in ‘York County Lutherans’ that St. John’s Church went up in 1875. Architectural specialist Terry Downs, who is looking at some of this building’s many significant features, writes that this was designer John A. Dempwolf’s first commission. So a lot of history comes together at 140 W. King St. (See additional photos on Terry Downs’ Facebook page). Also of interest: Dempwolf architects built York’s skyline, history.

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This is the view from St. John’s Lutheran’s West King Street bell tower. The community-minded congregation, part of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, goes by First St. John’s. That distinguishes it from the Mount Rose Avenue congregation, St. John’s. ‘York County Lutherans’ states that the congregation voted to sell the West King Street building in 1968 and conduct St. John’s activities at 2580 Mount Rose Avenue. About 200 congregants stayed with the West King Street building and started the First St. John’s ministry, which continues to this day.  Charles Glatfelter writes that German-language worship services were held at West King Street as late as 1944, when they were discontinued. Also of interest: ‘On the Codorus’ tells about early Lutherans in York County.

Other neat stuff from all over … .

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York countian Roy Flinchbaugh has done some effective sleuthing. He noted the movies showing at the old HiWay Theater in this story and determined the photo’s date at 1945:

“Although the Hiway Theater was pretty far from my childhood home on Jackson St, I went there fairly often (funny, I can’t remember how I got there). I checked on the Internet & learned that the film advertised on the marquee (Muggs Rides Again) came out in 1945, starring Leo Gorcy. To my knowledge the Hiway never showed re-runs, so I would suppose that would give an approximate date for the photo accompanying your article. Thanks for the memories.”

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Tall tower: High trek up Longstreet Tower

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Growing momentum: A national idea to ring bells in towns on the moment of the Civil War’s end at Appomattox is growing locally. Three buildings with towers have pledge to ring them.

Here’s another chance to visit Terry Downs’ Facebook page to find the participants so far.

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Mural smarts: Check them out

How well do you know #yorkpa murals? http://t.co/vW0LfXe5k9 #ILYC @yorkhistory @JamesMcClure @skypelemon @flipsidepa pic.twitter.com/0kpISjP4PB

— Buffy Andrews (@Buffyandrews) March 27, 2015

+++ History Mystery: This place has scrubbed up well … .