York Town Square

Many York countians wouldn’t need the sign to identify the graffiti-filled wall at the Shady Dell, the long-closed south York teen hangout. A website is keeping memories of The Dell and its owners, the Ettlines, alive. Also of interest: Part I: Shady Del Knight in worldwide search of honorary Shady Dell rats linked to old York, Pa., teen hangout and Part II: Shady Del Knight in worldwide search and York’s Shady Dell for sale: ‘People don’t like to see their past vanish’ and York-area full of memory-spawning landmarks and Interstate lined out Melvin’s swan song.

For 2 1/2 years, the website Shady Dell Music and Memories has told stories and shown photos of a favorite spot for many York countians, now in their Baby Booming years and older.
Soon after the site went up, I, rightly or wrongly, identified the former York countian and Dell Rat who operates the site.
But the identify of the Shady Del Knight has been been revealed on the site, never, that is, until last week.
So, we’ll now re-introduce the site and the leader of the Shady Dell rat pack.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Shady Dell Knight is … .

…. TOM ANDERSON.

Former York countian Tom Anderson, aka Shady Del Knight.
And he revealed his identity in this post: The unmasking of Shady Del Knight.
And Tom had this to say in that post:

The first chapter of Shady Dell Music & Memories comes to an end with this post, but an exciting new chapter is about to begin! Starting with my next post on Saturday, January 1st, I will be presenting the best of the old and the new. I’ll be digging into the archives and reposting evergreens that many of you will be seeing for the first time. There will also be plenty of fresh content including breaking news updates about the Dell, its renovation and its sale, new information about the Dell’s history and more vintage photos as they become available. I will also be following new threads provided or inspired by readers like you!
Let me assure you that I have no intention of abandoning the blog or my loyal readers. I will not resort to phoning it in. I won’t lose interest and let weeds grow. I will be right here to keep the discussion going as long as there are Dell rats like you who care and want to share.
I have chosen to end this amazing year by letting my friends and followers know who I am, what I stand for, and where I’m coming from. This special Unmasking post is the culmination of a two-and-a-half year fight to save the Dell from demolition and to prevent the Dell and John and Helen Ettline from permanently fading into obscurity. I believe theirs is a story is worth telling. Theirs is a legacy worth preserving.

Tom Anderson about John and Helen Ettline: … ‘I believe theirs is a story is worth telling’.
Additional posts on White Oak Park (The Dell’s northside counterpart) or the Shady Dell:
–Just try to resist this memory-tugging photo of White Oak Park.
–Stadium will be site of The Oaks music reunion
–Wanted: Old photos of teen hangout.
–Memorabilia from ‘the Oaks’ hard to come by.
–Memories of The Oaks pile up.
–Memories of The Oaks pile up – Part II.
–The Dell: ‘It was like family’.
–White Oak Park welcomed Blaw-Knox workers .
– Shady Dell was home away from home for many York County teens in ’60s.