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I've been editor of the York Daily Record/Sunday News for about 4 years and managing editor of the newspaper for 15 years before that. So, York Town Square explores the world of journalism. But I also studied York/Adams in graduate school and have written five books about these fascinating southcentral Pennsylvania counties. So, this blog deals with regional history. Often, journalism and history meet here. They're part of a continuum anyway. My hope is that this site intrigues readers on both accounts. Contact me at jem@ydr.com.

May 12, 2008

Kaltreider Library draws name from noted Red Lion cigarmaker

(06:18 AM)

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Kaltreider-Benfer Memorial Library is known for a lot of quality public services, including its used book sales. The next Book Nook is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 17, at the Red Lion Country Club, formerly Copper Beech. But where does the Kaltreider come from in its name? This is part of a continuing blog series about the sources of names on the sides of York County's buildings.Grange Hall represented past way of York County life, Red Lion's Ebert Furniture: From bedroom suites to gunstocks and Red Lion's towering Fairmont Park off the beaten track.


Historian George Prowell named cigarmaker D. Frank Kaltreider as the epitomy of a self-made man, starting at the bottom and achieving "sound" financial condition by the age of 29... .

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May 11, 2008

Mother Goose teaches York County history lessons

(05:55 AM)

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Springettsbury Township's Meadowbrook mansion looms in the background as riders and horses strike a pose. At the turn of the 20th century, cigarmaker Edwin Myers brough this George revivial look to the mansion. Many stories are attached to the site. Tradition has it that invading, horse-hungry Confederates visited the spread in 1863, perhaps in search of the ancestors of the mounts pictured here. This photograph came from a Meadowbrook Village brochure filed at the York County Heritage Trust. Background posts: Property rights foundational in Lauxmont debate, York County cigars: 'They contained a vast amount of nicotine.' and Picturesque steel bridges going way of covered bridge ancestors.

The Canada goose that sought to hatch her goslings near Borders on Whiteford Road provided an opportunity to draw lessons from the former Meadowbrook estate.

I devoted my York Sunday News column (5/11/08) to the topic, which touched on the Dempwolf architects, cigarmaking, the lives of the rich and covered bridges - and the story of Mother Goose:

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May 10, 2008

Famed doo-wopper from York, Pa. walks down the aisle of heaven

(06:22 AM)

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Georgjean Fells, known in her performing days with the Quintones as Jeannie Crist, died recently. Her death comes two years after fellow York, Pa., group member, Phyllis A. Carr, passed away. Background posts: The Oaks in York: 'I often look up there ... and think about how nice it was', York Soul group Magnificent Men come to age on big screen and York's Sovereign Stadium will be site of The Oaks music reunion.

Doo-Woppers The Quintones, from William Penn High School and York, Pa., drew national attention in the late 1950s with their "Down the Aisle of Love."

Their hit reached No. 18 on Billboard and sold almost a million copies.

They played on American Bandstand.

They performed at the Apollo Theater.

Their hit became a well-known song at weddings... .

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Chambersburg seminars spread awareness of south central Pennsylvania Civil War history

(05:46 AM)

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The Confederate raid on Chambersburg on July 30, 1864, resulted in the fiery destruction of more than 500 buildings. It was a retaliation, the Confederates argued, for similar Union action on Virginia soil. To celebrate its Civil War heritage, Chambersburg sponsors an annual series of Civil War lectures, including an annual Lincoln Symposium May 16-17. Background posts: Mayor of York, Pa.: 'We are no longer unprotected' , Was York's surrender justified? and Rebel invaders put off by earthy Pennsylvania women.

People sometimes think the Confederate burning of Chambersburg and the rebels' occupation of York happened in the summer of 1863.

The rebels actually torched Chambersburg in the summer of 1864, something they threatened to do in York during their Gettysburg campaign the previous summer.

The same general extorted threatened to burn York and consummated the act in Chambersburg... .

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May 09, 2008

Map aficionados will love bird's-eye view of York County

(08:31 AM)

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This aerial map, courtesy of Penn Pilot, shows York in 1938. Notice the horse track at the York Fairgrounds at left. York's Continental Square can be located by tracing the major north/south route (George Street) to where it intersects with the major east/west route, now 462, in the right, center part of the photograph. Background posts: Absorbing photo and overlay shows locations of six Susquehanna bridges, Genealogical society speaker to provide tips for 'Finding Lydia's Bottom' and Map explains York's $50 million redevelopment area.

A reader provided a heads up on the site Penn Pilot that provides interesting aerial views of Pennsylvania for several years in the 20th century.

Map enthusiasts, prepare to become enthralled as the maps are presented in a format that allows you to zoom in, zoom out and pan... .

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May 08, 2008

Of antiquarian Joe Kindig III: 'He is generous with his knowledge'

(08:05 AM)

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Joe Kindig III, noted York, Pa., antique dealer, will receive the 2008 award of merit from the Antiques Association of American on April 12 in Philadelphia. He was featured with multiple photos and a long story in the April 4 edition of "Antiques and The Arts Weekly."
Bottle & jug enthusiasts must dig for their York County gold, Springetts collector attracts 'Antiques Roadshow's' Kenos and Flag expert: 'I was interested in my nation's heritage'.

Ask anyone in York County's historical community about Joe Kindig III, and they speak in respectful tones about his vast knowledge of antiquing and history surrounding his artifacts.

A story in "Antiques and the Arts Weekly," tells how the Kindig family got its start in the antique world:

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May 07, 2008

To those seeking to donate York County artifacts to preserve and present history ...

(07:02 AM)

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Fred Rosenmiller is donating this 1917 Bell Motor Car, made in the 200 block of North George Street in York, Pa., to the York County Heritage Trust. He declined, with a smile, to place a value on the car other than to say it's worth more than it originally cost. The Heritage Trust regularly receives donations from the community. Background posts: Digging Coulsontown: 'This is not Indiana Jones', Did you know this about York/Adams history?, How to start researching York/Adams history, artifacts.

Fred Rosenmiller's generous donation of scores of vintage bottles made the headlines recently.

Rosenmiller is obviously an accomplished and savvy collector.

But not everyone is so in the know.

What are some suggestions about donating historical artifacts of value?

Finish reading 'To those seeking to donate York County artifacts to preserve and present history ... ' »

Parade Music Prince Roland Seitz: From Shrewsbury to Friday Night Lights

(06:24 AM)

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Roland F. Seitz (1867-1946) was a York County, Pa., native and composer of marches who is remembered today. One of the pieces he wrote and arranged, 'Grandioso March,' appears on the 'Friday Night Lights' soundtrack. Background posts: Long Level and Pleasureville fielded bands?, York County (Pa.) community bands played on and The night the furnace 'blew'.

Roland F. Seitz is internationally known as the "Parade Music Prince".

His "Grandioso," "Salutation" and "Brooke's Chicago Marine Band" are well-known pieces.

He's an achiever may be better known nationally than in his native York County, where he grew up on a Shrewsbury Township farm.

That said, local community bands continue to play his pieces... .

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May 06, 2008

Gettysburg campaign killed York countians long after battle ended

(05:17 AM)

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Cases filled with Civil War artifacts line the wall of the Chester, Va., home of Sam White, a Civil War relics collector. White was killed earlier this year when a Civil War-era cannonball exploded. His widow, Brenda (pictured in this AP photo), says the collection will go to their son. Background posts: Rebel trooper: 'Broken down & in no condition to fight', 'One of the shells found its mark' and Pro/Con: Should York's leaders have surrendered to the rebels?

Samuel Wehring, former chief of York's police, made the trip to Gettysburg soon after the battle in 1863.

He joined scores of others from York County who traveled west to help clear the field still littered with items discarded or lost in battle or to aid the wounded in makeshift hospitals... .

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May 04, 2008

Bottle & jug enthusiasts must dig for their York County gold

(08:32 AM)

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Fred Rosenmiller was publisher of the undated (probably late 1990s book) "Bottles & Jugs, With a York, Pennsylvania Pespective." Rosenmiller recently said he would donate scores of bottles from his collection to the York County Heritage Trust. (See photo below.) Background posts: Good stuff found in 'Codorus Valley Chronicles', Where do you go for one-stop shopping on York County history, Hart-Krafts: 'Most of the trucks were used and abused'.

Fred Rosenmiller, whose massive and valuable bottle collection will go to the York County Heritage Trust, gave away some of his collecting secrets in his book "Bottles and Jugs."

One route is to dig... .

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One image illustrates two long-neglected subjects in York area - Iconic photos 26-27

(06:03 AM)

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Students are silhouetted against pictures of Civil War-era residents at the York County Heritage Trust as Justine Landis, right, describes the people of York from that period. People looking to understand their community to serve it better often avail themselves of programs and exhibits at the Trust and numerous other local historical groups dotting York/Adams. (See separate educational iconic photo below.) Background posts: Mayor of York, Pa.: 'We are no longer unprotected' - 15/20 iconic photos, Interesting Web site dedicated to American country schools and Looking for a local history research topic?

Continuing in this series of iconic photographs from York County's past... .

Finish reading 'One image illustrates two long-neglected subjects in York area - Iconic photos 26-27 ' »

May 03, 2008

York's 23 parks + Renaissance this summer = 24 city