Learn about the Susquehanna's role in the Civil War

(YDR) The Susquehanna River played an important role in the Confederate campaign into Pennsylvania prior to the Battle of Gettysburg.
You can learn about the river's significance during a historical presentation from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 11, at PPL's Brunner Island Environmental Preserve.
Steve Runkle of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission will talk about the Gettysburg Campaign. Continued

Stewartstown Railroad's future derailed?

(York Daily Record) For more than a year, some shareholders and supporters have been trying to get the Stewartstown Railroad back on the tracks.
They've done some work to repair the roof on the station in Stewartstown and prepared a business plan to that could allow the company to open at least a mile of track for tourist rides within a year.
But the 124-year-old railroad company is fast running out of time.
If it can't repay more than $350,000 in debt by Jan. 30, its biggest assets -- including two stations and an engine house listed on the National Register of Historic Places -- will be sold at sheriff's sale. Continued

Photos: Library of Congress

This year's York steam whistle concert could be last

(York Dispatch) The annual steam whistle Christmas concert might come to an end this year because of ongoing boiler issues and high costs.
"I want to make 55 years and we'll see what happens after that," said Whistle Master Donald Ryan. "I'm 66 years old and this has been part of my life for 55 years. That's my Christmas." Continued

One of the York Invalids describes the fight at Wrightsville

(Canonball) ... About 4 P. M. we marched out the pike towards Gettysburg. When four miles out we returned hurriedly and took the last train for Wrightsville, none too soon, for the mounted infantry of Early's Corps appeared on all the hills and formed a cordon around the town. After an exchange of shots at very long range, we arrived at Wrightsville, opposite Columbia, where some militia were entrenched, and about daylight we were thrown out on picket skirmish line. Some time about noon the Rebs began feeling their way in by shelling, the first shell passing over to the entrenchments. A cloud of dust then going towards the river, indicated that the militia were being withdrawn across the bridge and the battalion left to get all the glory. We hadn't long to wait as skirmishers soon appeared and we had it quite lively for some time. Continued

Photo: Rivertownes PA

Steam whistle concert revived

The Steam Whistle Concert, a Christmas tradition in York, will take place again this year. And organizers are asking for help from the public to make sure it continues.
Starting at midnight on Dec. 25, Donald E. Ryan will play seasonal songs for 30 minutes on the factory whistle at the New York Wire Company on East Market Street in York. Continued

Study shows factory tours give York County strong tourism base

(YDR) With York County's free factory tours as a draw, visitors annually pump about $1.3 billion into the local economy.
Yet, according to a recent survey, guests in the county don't know where to find the best shopping and restaurants. Continued

Link to York County Factory Tours

York City Council considers changes to historic buildings law

(YDR) Members of York City Council discussed a proposal Tuesday that would create a permit for work on historic buildings and add a penalty for work done without approval.
Councilman Cameron Texter drafted the proposed changes to the city's Historic York law, which includes the operation of the Historical Architectural Review Board.
The bill would "ensure that the City of York may continue to protect its historical properties, which exist as one of York's greatest resources and assets," Texter, who could not attend Tuesday's committee meeting, wrote in a memo. Continued

Photo: "York, PA" (Nightening)

Hunter Concealed Charm in Shotgun

(Universal York) Not having any luck hunting for game? You might want to try the charm above, shared by a friend who found it rolled up and tucked into the stock of his grandfather's century-old shotgun. ... like many other Pennsylvania Germans who believed in powwowing, a hopeful hunter might figure that a charm copied from The Long Lost Friend, a powwow book, would help put that dinner on the table. Continued

York Folk Artist Lewis Miller Elusive Character

(Universal York) Lewis Miller's drawings are widely known, but not a lot is known about the man himself. The drawings of nineteenth century life have been used widely to illustrate books, including textbooks, and many articles in newspapers and magazines. I often use them to accompany the items I post here.
Miller drew the people and places he knew and saw, at home in York and in his travels, during the first half of the nineteenth century even though, as I explain in my recent York Sunday News column, he seemed to have drawn them much later, after he had retired to live with nieces in Virginia in the late 1850s. Continued

Clement Studebaker

(Wikipedia) Clement Studebaker (March 12, 1831 – November 27, 1901) was an American carriage manufacturer. With his brothers, he founded H & C Studebaker Company, which built Pennsylvania-German conestoga wagons and carriages during his lifetime, and automobiles after his death, in South Bend, Indiana.
Clement Studebaker was born on March 12, 1831, in Pinetown, Pennsylvania. By the age of 14 he had learned to work as a blacksmith in his father's shop. He later worked as a teacher. Continued

Photo: Conestoga Wagon (1883) by Newbold Hough Trotter (1827-1898). Painting in the State Museum of Pennsylvania (AdMeskens)

York-made Manley radio a mystery

(Universal York) A friend recently shared these photos of a radio he picked up at a public sale. The Manley Manufacturing Company of York, PA made garage and shop equipment, as it says on the brass label of the radio case. They started out in the 1920s and manufactured items such as hydraulic lifts and jacks. The company eventually became part of American Chain and Cable.
So why does this radio have a plate that says it was manufactured by Manley and is machine no. 1008? Continued

Photo: Detail from a vintage Atwater Kent radio ad.

Wrightsville "Farthest East" Monument Dedicated on July 4, 1900

(Cannonball) This impressive old Civil War memorial has stood for more than a century at the intersection of Hellam Street (once the famed Lincoln Highway) and Fourth Street in downtown Wrightsville, Pennsylvania. It commemorates the town as the point farthest east reached by the Confederate army during the 1863 Gettysburg Campaign. Union militia burned the mile-and-a-quarter long wooden covered bridge over the Susquehanna River to prevent the Rebels from marching into Lancaster County. [Conveniently enough, as the "Rebels" were out to burn it anyway.] Continued

Photo: Nightening

Lawyers re-enact Articles of Confederation debate in York

(YDR) York County Bar Association lawyers sported shiny white wigs and other Revolution-era garb Sunday to celebrate the Articles of Confederation, adopted in York 232 years ago to the day.
The lawyers re-enacted the 40-day debate leading up to the nation's first constitution in a one-hour performance before a packed crowd in the Colonial Court House on West Market Street.
The crowd snapped pictures with digital cameras while the lawyers debated the articles' provisions, such as money and taxes, and chuckled when the narrator joked about Benjamin Franklin inventing lightning. Continued

Utz, Snyder's discontinue merger plan

(York Dispatch) Snyder's of Hanover Inc. and Utz Quality Foods Inc. announced Wednesday they no longer plan to pursue merging the two snack food companies.
The companies were told last week that its first and second filings didn't clear with the Federal Trade Commission, so Utz decided to withdraw from "what would likely have been a protracted approval process," the company said in a news release. Continued

Photos: Library of Congress

Cameron Mitchell

(Wikipedia) Cameron Mitchell (November 4, 1918 – July 7, 1994) was an American film, television and Broadway star with close ties to one of Canada's most successful families, and considered, by Lee Strasberg, to be one of the founding members of The Actor's Studio in New York City.
Born Cameron MacDowell Mitzel in Dallastown, Pennsylvania to Rev. Charles and Kathryn Mitzel, Mitchell served as a bombardier with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. His film career began with minor roles in films dating back to 1945 ... Continued

Goodbye, Ohio Blenders

In a strange effort to transform itself from an "architectural museum" to a craptacular bore, York, Pennsylvania continued its campaign against the "York Triangle," this time dismantling "Ohio Blenders," a profitable agricultural processor. They had to take it using eminent domain. The city is planning to put in residential and commercial development - because, I guess, that's such a lucrative business to be in right now.
Not that Ohio Blenders is an architectural gem or anything, but it certainly added a little variety to the place. The problem, as I see it, is that the entire historic York Triangle area is in danger of being leveled, over time. See my article at Railroad.net, York Won’t Be Timeless Forever, for more information.

Photos: MDRails

Three-day event puts focus on J.A. Dempwolf

(YDR) - To celebrate the firm of J.A. Dempwolf -- touted by local experts as one of the most significant architectural firms in the region -- Historic York Inc. will host Discovering Dempwolf.
The three-day event and fundraiser will include a reception with a display of featured Dempwolf-designed properties and a walking tour of the firm's downtown York buildings.
Also, Historic York has dedicated its annual tour to 11 properties designed by Dempwolf including J.A Dempwolf's residence and the Hahn Home. Continued

Photo: Library of Congress

Living History at Muddy Creek Forks

(InYork) A company of World War I re-enactors will be encamped at Muddy Creek Forks in southeastern York County on Oct. 10 and 11.
The troops will be in authentic uniform using authentic equipment, and are prepared to answers questions regarding the lives of the typical "Doughboys" of that era. Continued

Photos: MDRails

Northern extension of York County rail trail moving along

(InYork) - The groundwork for a section of the Heritage Rail Trail County Park northern extension is moving along quickly.
The York County Rail Trail Authority's current major project is phase two of the northern extension. The phase will include a new Emig Road bridge next to the current bridge and a continuation of the trail to Route 30, where a parking lot will be built. Continued

Photo: "Passenger train schedule of the Pennsylvania Railroad, on its Northern Central Railway line between Baltimore, Maryland and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1955, showing both local commuter and long distance trains on the route" (JGHowes).

YouTube - MA & PA Railroad

Ride the long extinct MA & PA Railroad. Filmed in 16mm.