Striking architecture lined York's South Duke Street

This undated postcard view, from a recent Codorus Valley Area Historical Society newsletter, shows a busy block of York's South Duke Street. The City Market's tower is central in this photograph and York Collegiate Institute's is at right, background. Background post: York Market House No. 2 - The architecturally striking City Market and Samuel Small tops community contributor list.

The postcard view above shows a bustling block where South Duke Street met College Avenue.

That block played host to the City Market house, the largest and most ornate of York's five market houses, and York Collegiate Institute, forerunner along with the York County Academy, of York College.

Imagine today how that neighborhood could be different if those two buildings, gone for decades, remained.

Philanthropist Samuel Small founded York Collegiate Insitute in 1873. The school later joined the York County Academy to become York College.

And one would like to think that today, buildings of with this history would be preserved in York.

A gas station occupies part of the market site, as does a uneven parking area badly in need of a pave.

A playground, Campus Park, covers where the school once stood. Next door, the school's former gym stands, the Voni B. Grimes Gym, sometimes called the College Ave.

But the school will be particularly remembered for one reason.

College Avenue drew its name from this once-grand school complex.

A sampling of other York market posts:

- York County farm vs. factory tension relieved in overnight raid .

- Going to market a longtime York County pastime.

- York's Central Market sells steak ... and sizzle.

- The forgotten fifth York market house.

- York Market House No. 1 - Penn Street Farmers Market.

- York Market House No. 2 - The architecturally striking City Market.

- York Market House No. 3 - The first Eastern Market.

- Market House No. 4 - Central Market, York's most popular.

- York Market House No. 5 - Carlisle Avenue Market, revisited.