Worst, bad fire: Linked in with neat York County, Pa., history stuff – July 24, 2010
Mel Miller, a student of York County history, believes this photograph from Earl Shaffer’s glass plate negative collection shows the York Carriage Works fire in 1904. “The street on the right would be West North Street. I think the bridge in the foreground is the North Beaver Street bridge and the one beyond is the North George Street bridge. Only the abutment stands out on the north bank,” he wrote. That blaze, which broke out on April 6, 1904, claimed the lives of three Vigilant firefighters – Harry Saltzgiver, Lewis Strubinger, Horace F. Strine. The negatives are part of the West Manchester Historical Society collection. Also of interest: Deadly York fire: ‘There never was a more horrible one’ and York’s biggest blaze struck 150 years ago and A list of traumatic, painful incidents that rocked York County .
That Zion View vs. Zions View vs. Zion’s View debate?
Well, York attorney and artifact collector Byron LeCates has found an sign that points to “Zion’s View,” as an early spelling.
The sign, framed in wood, touts: John A. Bahn, Undertaker and Furniture Dealer, Zion’s View… .
He speculated the sign comes from the late 1800s.
We appreciate Byron, a York County Heritage Trust board member, sharing this artifact.
This is all good fun.
The simple truth is that the spelling could have varied from business to business, person to person – just as it does today.
And all this points back to the day that undertakers ran furniture stores in York County towns – and vice versa.
Reminder of the week: The final day to donate books for the York County Heritage Trust’s Book Blast is July 31. If you are looking to stock up on summer reads sure to last through the chilly winter months, be sure to visit the Trust’s 10th Annual Book Blast held August 12-14 at the Agricultural & Industrial Museum.
Event of the week: At 4 p.m. today (July 24), stop at the dedication of a by-way marker in Bendersville marking the 1845 kidnapping of freed slave Kitty Payne and her children by slave catchers from their home on Bear Mountain. Local Quakers –many of whom were conductors in the Underground Railroad— helped Kitty with her trial and subsequent release from Loudon County, Va. prison. Menallen Friend Deb McCauslin, who does Underground Railroad tours, has organized the dedication.
Blog post of the week: Trolley car wrecks common in York County
Forum of the week, Joan Concilio’s Only York blog: People are responding to: Do you remember these downtown stores?
Also of interest:
– York Sunday News’ column: Hellam/Hallam, Zion View/Zions View, Loucks-mont/LOW-mont
