Part II: King’s Mill building wins award; Philip King mansion could become public safety building
This aerial photograph shows the Smurfit-Stone site along the Codorus Creek in York, Pa., when York College of Pennsylvania purchased it in 2009. About five years earlier, the site was under consideration for construction of a stadium for professional baseball. The site is one of York’s oldest industrial locations, home of a papermill from the late 1700s. The King’s Mill Depot, recepient of a recent renovation award, is seen across the road from the main plant at right. Background posts: York College book provides insight into school, community and Researcher leaves detailed files on more than 300 York and Adams mills and American pastime vs. American dream playing out in York, Pa. and Worker saved key historical surveys from Glatfelter pulping machine and Part I: Kings Mill building wins award.
A blog post on the award-winning rehabilitation of an old Smurfit-Stone/Stone Container/Schmidt and Ault/King’s Mill building drew memories from a reader.
Gary Heiland wrote about this building, York College’s King’s Mill Depot:
The Smurfit-Stone site appears to be a miniature city in this 2009 photograph.
“I suspect the Schmidt and Ault in-plant industrial railroad also served or entered this building.
“Those tracks can still be seen imbedded in the street between the depot and the office/mansion across the street. The gauge of the tracks look to be somewhere around fifteen to eighteen inches. I remember seeing one of the engines crossing Kings Mill Road sometime in the sixties or early seventies. It looked to be around eight feet long and perhaps three feet high and three feet wide with the operator sitting on one end.
“I hope the tracks stay in the street for a long time but in the future some road work will probably destroy them.”
Meanwhile, York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News reporter Emily Opilo says that York College officials have said that the old mansion – Philip King House – could become the campus’ Public Safety office. The house also could provide housing for students who work or serve in public safety internship.
She said plans are preliminary
All this adds up to a success story for this site, one of York’s oldest brownfields.
Also of interest
York College book provides insight into school, community and Researcher leaves detailed files on more than 300 York and Adams mills and American pastime vs. American dream playing out in York, Pa. and Worker saved key historical surveys from Glatfelter pulping machine.
This planter in York’s arts district was made from equipment salvaged from Smurfit- Stone.
*Photos courtesy of York Daily Record/Sunday News
