Recently in Yorkco Category

Robert N. Senft had just been inducted into the service in this August 1943 photo. He is pictured with his wife, Ethel. Senft spent much of his life in York County, Pa., mostly in Zion View, Conewago Township. (See additional photo below.) Also of interest: In the WWII fight, in York County and abroad and 'Little Johnny' called from York for Allies in World War II and Beacon helped spot whereabouts of Zion View.

York County's role in World War II was so sprawling that I thought much about how to frame it in my research for a book on that topic.

After running across a nearly full set of York Corporation newsletters, at the York County Heritage Trust's Book Blast, I had gained a record about how one influential industry, and its employees, ventured through World War II.

Then I went on the lookout for particular employees who could help tell the story.

I found a hero, Red Lion's Thomas Frutiger, who survived the Bataan Death March in the Phillippines only to die at war's end on a Japanese hell ship as they transported the lieutenant and other POWs to Japan... .

When this Evening Sun in Hanover, Pa., photo was produced in 2008, about 16,000 pounds of potato chips per hour rolled off the lines at Utz Quality Foods' High Street plant in Hanover. Earlier this year, a deal in which Snyder's of Hanover would acquire cross-town snack food producer Utz Quality Foods fell through. Also of interest: Chipmaking of the potato kind has deep roots in York County and Who makes the best potato chips in York County, Martin's or Utz? Or someone else? and York Barbell's tall, heavyweight lifter has long helped put York County on the map.

I've written previously that York County manufacturers have historically made BIG, HEAVY THINGS.

York Barbell, of course, is Exhibit A, almost by definition.

Some lines of the old Pfaltzgraff pottery were known as stoneware and plates are rock-like in weight - wonderful rocks, I might add.

York Safe & Lock made vaults and other such equipment whose bulk kept their contents safe... .

An ATF agent and Spring Garden Fire officials investigate the ruins shortly after the explosion at York International on Feb. 2, 1998. The York Daily Record reported that four compressed air tanks, measuring about 25-feet long by 4-feet wide, exploded. One tank flew through the roof of the Grantley Road plant's Building 9 in Spring Garden Township. The tanks contained pressurized air and refrigerant. The mixture was used to test air conditioners at the plant. Dennis Stough, a 42-year-old welder, was killed. Twenty people were injured, including five police officers who suffered from chemical inhalation. (See aerial view of the damage below, also courtesy of York Daily Record/Sunday News.) Background posts: All York International/Johnson Controls posts from the start and Deadly York fire: 'There never was a more horrible one' and Hanover Civil War story stop: 'Mother Loses Two Sons to War'.

A fire that consumed 16 rowhouses and displaced 61 people in York City last week led to a York Town Square blog list that gave a sampling of the worst fires in York County history.

Arson is suspected.

That raises the question about peacetime examples of crime and trauma on York County soil, in addition to those wrenching fires.

Here are links to a sampling - just a few of many - of those painful moments:

The Orange Car's name, seller of fresh fruit, has been on the former Western Maryland railroad station, since 1938. Background posts: Collector searching for Western Maryland Railroad memorabilia and Jackson Township, Arm & Hammer's proposed new home, again in the middle of things and York County railroading: 'Something that gets into your blood'.

Dick Boyd writes in his memoir "The Bridge" about an oft-repeated experience growing up in York County.

"Christmas festivities were held at my grandparents Glen Rock farm and were always very special. One aunt was single and lived there. Each Christmas, she brough us candy, oranges, tangerines, and nuts. ... One year, I counted a hundred differents kinds of fruits, nuts and candy."

The source of such wintertime fruit and other delicacies for years and years around York County was the Orange Car on York's Roosevelt Avenue... .

The (York, Pa.) Gazette and Daily published this advertisement illustration on Aug. 15, 1945 - in celebration of V-J Day. Here, The Chic, 33 W. Market St., observes women's contribution in winning World War II. Background posts: York County sacrificed on homefront and war front - Part I and All WWII posts from the start.

York County did its share on the homefront and war front in World War II.

The York Plan is Exhibit A on the homefront.

And no story captures York County's considerable sacrifices on the war front better than the example of Ross Kurtz.

Notice how matter of factly Ross Kurtz related his considerable injuries sustained in a mortar attack... .

York County industrial leaders turned out in large numbers for a dinner at the Yorktowne Hotel in World War II. The York Plan resulting from their cooperation became a national model. Background posts: All York Corporation/Johnson Controls posts from the start and Industrialist Thomas Shipley's 'enduring monument' in York did not 'endure' and York Corporation played role in Manhattan Project.

York County's homefront and war front efforts well represented what it took across America to win the two-front World War II.

And the best York County offered on the homefront - and it was significant - was the York Plan.

But ask a York County audience about the York Plan and surprisingly few know even the vaguest details.

So, here's a quick synopsis of the plan: ... .

Former U.S. President William Howard Taft spent some time with Thomas Shipley in his home in "the Avenues" part of York during his 1915 visit to York. Background posts: During York visit, former President Taft glad to be in 'this great hive of industry' and Washington Township, Jefferson Borough, Madison Avenue. How about an Obama Street in York County? and Teddy Roosevelt in York: 'I know York county farmers are prosperous. Their barns are bigger than their houses'

Fellow blogger June Lloyd provides a wonderful postcard view of a William Howard Taft visit to York in her post: President Taft Addresses York Crowd from Back of Train.

Information with the post card suggests he made his address in 1909. It must have been the stop Taft referred to in his 1915 visit when he said in a speech to the York Manufacturers' Association that he had previously given a short speech from the back of a train to a local audience.

But the 1915 visit was of longer duration, and it included time at Thomas Shipley's house at Linden and West York (now Roosevelt) avenues... .

The Shipley home was fit for an ex-president... .

This York Corporation worker had a little fun painting a devil's mask on his hood. (To view the face behind the desk, see photo below.) Background posts: 'Little Johnny' called for Allies in World War II and The bomb: 'And yet it stopped the war' and Nazis murdered downed airman from York County, Part IIII.

York's George Anderson made America laugh during the dark days of World War II.

He donned a York Corporation welder's hood bearing a devil's face.

And someone snapped a photo.

The image then appeared in about 700 U.S. newspapers during the war... .

First Moravian Church brought S. Morgan Smith to York as its pastor and his prominent family lived here for years. Steve Zirnkilton, a descendant and York County native, is known to millions. Background posts: How come few in York know about S. Morgan Smith anymore? , Samuel Small tops York, Pa. community contributor list, Cameron Mitchell, Craig Sheffer, Dixie Chick born here.

Pastor-turned-entrepreneur S. Morgan Smith left a world-wide legacy by spawning the forerunners of Johnson Controls, Precision Components, Voith Siemens Hydro and American Hydro.

But a member in his family line, Steve Zirnkilton, is known to many more.

Or at least his voice is.

That's the voice of York native Zirnkilton that is spoken at the beginning of the TV show "Law & Order." ...

The colorful former York Corporation/Borg-Warner plant on West Philadelphia Street in York is home to Buchart Horn/Basco Associates. (See how that crane or a similar overhead crane was operated in photo below.) Background posts: York, Pa. made big, heavy things - and was immensely proud of it, Carriage house dome: 'What's there will last for 100 years ... 200 years' and 'Little Johnny' called for Allies in World War II.

The 445 W. Philadelphia Street complex often just referred to as Borg-Warner was in severe disrepair in the 1990s.

Long ago, the two air conditioning/refrigeration plants known as "The Yorks" consolidated at the Grantley site, best known today as York International and Johnson Controls... .

A piece of a boiler from the York Rolling Mill's 1908 explosion flew several blocks before crashing into a home on North Queen Street. The piece went through the roof and hit a dresser in a bedroom, according to a newspaper report. Background posts: 100 years later in York, Jumbo's terrible roar remembered - Part I, Additional York Corporation (York International) stories and Glatfelter, Morgan Smith head industrial legacy list.

The blast rocked York County and beyond 10 years ago.

Four tanks containing a mixture of pressurized air and refrigerant blew up shortly before midnight on Feb. 2, 1998 at York International, now Johnson Controls.

At that time, York College's William Kreiger told the York Daily Record/Sunday News that an explosion such at that at York International is like a truck barreling down the highway pushing air out of its way... .

This panel, part of the Murals of York series, shows the Central Market, one of at least three murals that celebrates York County's agricultural prowess. The murals can be used as an effective tool to teach county history. Free walking tours of the murals, courtesy of the York County Heritage Trust, are scheduled at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Tuesday through Saturday until Aug. 30. The tours start at the gift shop behind the Colonial Courthouse, West Market Street, York. Background posts: Don't know much about York County history? Part I, Part II, and Civil rights heros stand out at Bradley exhibit.

The Murals of York can served as a classroom teaching tool.

That's what I told teachers recently in a continuing education course on York County history, offered through Millersville University.

I then provided an overview of county history using the murals, as described in the following York Sunday News column, to be published on July 25: ...

On the evening of Aug. 14, 1945, York County residents joined a massive national V-J celebration, marking the war's end. The largest county assembly occurred in York's Continental Square. Here, holding a special V-J edition are, from left, L. Allen Wolfgang, Richard E. Wolfgang and Lloyd E. (Pud) Wolfgang. Paul S. Wolfgang, who provided this photo, is at far left. Background posts: The first in (World) War (II), Perhaps the last in (World) War (II), 20 questions and answers to prove your York County smarts, Part III

The World War II Battle of Okinawa ended 63 years ago on Saturday.

And we're somewhere near the midway point between the often forgotten V-E Day - May 8 - and V-J Day - August 14.

So, here are 20 questions to focus us on York County's contributions to the war that spawned the Greatest Generation:

William C. Goodridge, a former slave who became a respected York businessman, was an influential 19th-century figure in York County. He is on a short list of top newsmakers in York County in the past 250 years. Background posts: List of luminaries from Dover lengthens, How come so few in York know about S. Morgan Smith?, Samuel Small tops community contributor list.

On Sunday, we'll post a sampling of 25 of York County's most influential residents. Actually, there are 26.

The suggestions came from members of the public, York Daily Record/Sunday New staff and the newspaper's editorial board.

As a warm up, we post here a list from "Never to be Forgotten" of a group of 30 influential residents from York County's past... .

This turbine, also known as a runner, was manufactured at Voith Siemens Hydro's West Manchester Township plant in 2006. (See related photos below.) Background posts: Glatfelter, Smith top industrial legacy list, Voith turbine runner legacy of former pastor/entrepreneur, York made big, heavy things - and was immensely proud of it.

A student in my OLLI class at Penn State York wondered why S. Morgan Smith, an industrial giant in the late 1800s, isn't better known today.

The short answer is that no company with Smith connections bears the name of the Moravian-minister-turned-entrepreneur today... .

York (Pa.) Ice Machinery Corporation, later York Corporation and today owned by Johnson Controls, served as a catalyst for the York Plan. Yorkco chairman William S. Shipley headed the York Manufacturers Association, which promoted the sharing of machinery and manpower to land large World War II defense contracts. Here, condensers are lined up on Yorkco's shop floor. Background posts: York made big, heavy things and was immensely proud of it, The bomb: 'And yet it stopped the war' and 'Her words helped win the war'.

Continuing the series of iconic photos - photos that capture layered moments - from York County, Pa.:

This big World War II mobile siege gun represented the legacies of two industrial giants. Neighboring factories S. Morgan Smith Co. and York Corporation jointly constructed the gun, which could lob 240-pound shells at targets 30 miles away. Background posts: Glatfelter, Morgan Smith head industrial legacy list and 'Little Johnny' called for Allies in World War II.

In a recent York Sunday New column titled "Contributors bring history to life (see below)," I muse about how York County factories historically have made big things and worked hard to tell the world about them.

I tied it to the recent sale of Bradley Lifting, which made big, heavy devices that helped lift big, heavy things.

I went on a riff like this: ... .

Work is under way on the roof and dome of the old Helb Mansion carriage house, now occupied by Pace Resources, parent of engineering and architectural firm Buchart Horn-/BASCO Associates. The carriage house, 40 S. Richland Ave., has remained standing despite demolition of its accompanying mansion long ago. (Additional picture from the York Daily Record/Sunday News below.) Background posts (involving Buchart-Horn): Yo, Yoe never was Yohe and
Original WSBA station hands mic to demolition team.

Pace Resources is involved in a high-profile rehab project on its unsung headquarters, built in the old Helb Mansion carriage house.

The company occupies another often-overlooked historic structure in the west part of York. In the mid-1990s, the company consolidated its engineering and architectural offices in the old York Corporation-Borg-Warner manufacturing site on West Philadelphia Street and Roosevelt Avenue... .

Harvey Bradley, who built his York company, Bradley Lifting, from scratch has sold his company to an out-of-town outfit. Here, Bradley is seen with a giant hook in 2007. His company fabricates the block that the hook will be hung from. Background posts: Glatfelter, Farquhar, Shipley: Insights from local greats, Who will lead York in the future? and Samuel Small tops community contributor list.

Harvey Bradley is a living example of some of York County's past captains of industry.

He started with few resources, except perhaps the most important, an entrepreneurial spirit. He built big things... .

This flag at York Corporation's West York plant shows that 24 Gold-Star employees lost their lives in World War II through V-E Day, May 1945. At that point, 1,148 had served in the military. Robert W. Zercher, branded a terrorist by his Nazi executioners, was one of those 24. Background posts: Zercher, I, Zercher, II, Zercher, III and Zercher, IIII.

Swiss resident John Meurs has picked up on York Town Square posts about York County resident and downed World War II airman Robert W. Zercher.

Meurs provided additional details about the capture of Zercher and another airman by the SS in Apeldoorn, Holland, and their subsequent execution along with members of the Dutch resistance. Their bodies were displayed around the Dutch city with signs saying "Terrorist."

Meurs wrote: ...

This artwork was the header for a York Corporation poster detailing employees serving in the military in World War II - and those who died. This was distributed in "Shop News," a newsletter for employees at home and in the military. The right part of the header stats that 991 men and women had served to date. The six stars indicated that six employees had died in uniform. Background posts: Zercher, I, Zercher II , Zercher III and 'Little Johnny' called for Allies in World War II.

York's factories kept employees up to date about those who were serving in uniform in World War II and those who had died.

No one did it better than York Corporation, previously known as York Ice Machinery and later as Borg-Warner, York International and Johnson Controls York.

But Yorkco could not keep up with a fast-moving war... .

York County's Sgt. Robert W. Zercher, a gunner for a B-17 Flying Fortress in World War II, survived a crash landing but could not escape the cruelty of his German captors. For a full account about this downed airman, with appropriate kudos to researchers Jim Marsteller and Annette Tyson, helping to locate it, see below. Background posts: World War II in York County, by the numbers, York County historical war deaths top 1,000 and York County's World War II sacrifices .... part last.

More information has surfaced on Robert W. Kercher, the downed airman from York County executed by the Nazis in October 1944.

A bare-bones story of how the Nazis then posted a sign saying "Terrorist" on Kerchner's body was related in a previous York Town Square post... .

Founder A.B. Farquhar (in portrait) appears to be overseeing the sale of his 95-year-old company in 1951. William J. Fisher, seated, Farquhar president, and his son, Edward H. Fisher, sold the company to Oliver Corporation. Farquhar executives cited the difficulty of independent medium-sized companies trying to do business through depressions, wars and war threats. Other York County companies also started selling to large, out-of-town interests in those years. Interestingly, the trend today is not only to sell to larger, out-of-town companies but then some of that work is moved not only out of town but out of the country. Background posts: York County agrarianism vs. industrialization, Part I and York's western gate: One image says so much.

Around York, community service organizations are concerned about where leadership - and funding - will come from after a group of aging philanthropists who have made things happen for years pass on.

In a York Sunday News column, I explored options and even named names, taking a long historical detour along the way... .

This was the first graphic or photograph to appear with a York Town Square post, accompanying York Market House No. 5 - Carlisle Avenue Market, revisited in April 2006. Incidentally, that the present-day Dreamwrights building was built as a farmers market still surprises folks. Background posts: There were 5, count 'em, 5 York markets and Don't know much about (York market) history?.

The year 2007 saw visitors to this blog increase exponentially over the previous two years we've been posting.

We hope you are enjoying each day's history lesson. The numbers, increased commenting and e-mails suggest you are.

A list of best, first and most popular posts at this blog follows:

This page from "In the Thick of the Fight," profiles several of the 25 York Corporationemployees who died in uniform in World War II, according to "Shop News," Yorkco's newsletter. A researcher has shared additional information on the death of Robert Zercher, alphabetically last on the list of those who died. Background posts: Book blast produced Mother Lode and Dealing with POW camp, loss of life among York County's WW II sacrifices.

"I know from my research, most of the time, the story of what happened doesn't end when they were shot down, it is only the beginning."

So says ace researcher Jim Marsteller, expert on the 392nd Bomb Group.

Marsteller, jimbob@cyberia.com, also noted that more US servicemen died in the Air Corps than the Marine Corps. And while completing the required 30 missions, the chance of being killed was 71percent.

He noticed a short profile of an airman from York, Robert W. Zercher, who was killed in action.

Another researcher with the bomb group started digging for more information on Zercher, son of
Frank and Ella Zercher of York.

What Annette Tyson found is fascinating, according to this edited e-mail she sent Marsteller:

The Civil War-era U.S. Army General Hospital became a major site for treatment because of its proximity to Virginia and Maryland, where many battles took place, and its location on a major rail line. Here, convalescents pose in one of the hospital wards at the Penn Park complex. The military hospital is an example of a York County history topic awaiting study. Background posts: Civil War nurse: 'Dogs of War in our midst' and Not all rebel wounded suffered after Gettysburg.

Many people use New Year's to kick off historical research projects.

My York Sunday News column Looking for a local history research project? probed several topics ripe for research focusing on York's Civil War-era military hospital.

The following is a sampling of topics from York County history awaiting further exploration or publication of existing research:

Col. Paul W. Tibbets, with the B-29 Superfortress bomber the Enola Gay, the plane he piloted in dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on during World War II. Tibbets, who had named the plane after his mother, died recently in Columbus, Ohio. Background post: Publishing legend Gitt vocal about nuclear power.

York countians helped with parts of the Manhattan Project. And at least one York countian saw the destruction wreaked by the second bomb, the one that hit Nagasaki.

Lt. Paul Hyde, a York Corporation employee, was navigating a Coast Guard-manned landing craft that was greeted with a tench as his craft moored in Nagasaki's harbor....

My book "In the thick of the fight" described this scene: "Soon after Pearl Harbor, York (Pa.) Corporation President Stewart Lauer stood on a truck bed to tell workers the world was embroiled in a war of ships and machines. And a modern war machine can't keep going without refrigeration. That speech and others in York Corporation's shop marks Yorkco's commitment to stick to the knitting -- cooling and refrigeration equipment for the Allies. Although the company did produce ordnance, the refrigeration it produced -- for example, to preserve food on big ships crossing great oceans -- aided the war effort." And one other project made a difference in the war: Yorkco was involved in the Manhattan Project. Background post: "Little Johnny" called for Allies in World War II and Her words helped win the war'.

The death of Enola Gay pilot Paul Tibbets prompts York County connections to the atomic bomb:

- Jack Yeaple was aboard the U.S.S. Indianapolis when it went down after a Japanese torpedo attack. The Indianapolis had just dropped off atomic bomb parts and was on to another mission. Yeaple was perhaps the last York countian to die in World War II... .

The missing historical marker that marked the spot of Camp Security is missing. The sign stated: 'Stockade built in 1781 by Col. Jas. Wood on land of Daniel Brubaker. British Troops of Burgoyne's army imprisoned here guarded by York County militia. The camp was about a mile to the south.' Background post: Camp Security memories tucked inside memoirs.

The presence of the missing Camp Security marker is a story in itself.

The marker is one of more than 15 American Revolution-related markers dotting greater York.

The prevalance of these markers underscores the area's rightful love affair with its Revolutionary War past. In contrast, the number of markers pointing to Civil War sites is one or two.

It could be three, but a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Web site says that a marker pointing to Gen. Jubal Early's march through the Weigelstown area is also missing.

Thus, these signs can be viewed as artifacts that, taken as a whole, point to the way the community sees itself. That surrender to the invading Confederates in those pre-Gettysburg days of 1863 is long remembered - or maybe intentionally forgotten.

But what is not as easily explained is the dearth of World War II markers... .

Four-foot-tall "Little Johnny" is shown with 250-pound Charles Chester Stine during a visit to York Corporation during World War II. York Corporation played role in Manhattan Project and All Johnson Controls/York Corporation posts from the start and York County sacrificed on homefront and war front to aid Allies in World War II.

Hedy Lamarr made a well-publicized visit to York Safe & Lock to promote war bond sales in 1942.

A lot of people remember that visit.

York Corporation, another giant defense contractor, also brought in a celebrity to raise morale and investment in war bonds.

That was "Little Johnny" of Philip Morris cigarette fame... .

York native Jacob L. Devers, third from left, surveys Hitler's home in Berchtesgaden, Germany. Devers' men helped capture this hideaway, 'Eagle's Nest.' From left, Sgt. John Turnipseed, from Devers' staff; Gen. Wade H. Haislip, commanding general of the 6th Corps, and Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor, 101st Airborne Division, join Devers. Ken Burns' is exploring heroes like these in "The War," broadcast at 8 p.m. today and Tuesday at 9 p.m. Wednesday on WITF-TV (Ch. 33) and WMPB-TV (Ch. 67).

The airing of Ken Burns' "The War" prompted me to write a primer on local World War II highlights in the York Sunday News.

I included my two favorite local stories as part of that piece, titled "York/Adams residents contributed to 'The War.'"

The first one brings together the type of contributions to the "Arsenal of Democracy" by farm and factory:

Factory space is so scarce in York that one small businessman, Charles Coffey, set up a machine shop in the end of City Market, where farmers still sold their wares. He crafted parts for York Safe & Lock machines that, in turn, made armor plates.

The City Market, now demolished, was the largest and most ornate of the five covered market houses in York.

This was, indeed, an example of farm and factory literally working together... .

I've previously posted on yorktownsquare.com about how the York County Heritage Trust's Book Blast solved a puzzle for me.

I was trying to figure out a way to frame the massive amount of World War II material available into a story line for a local book on the topic. I ran across a box of war-era "Shop News," the company newsletter for York Corporation, now Johnson Controls.

Yorkco's people would become my framing device... .

This turbine, also known as a runner, was manufactured at Voith Siemens Hydro's West Manchester Township plant in 2006. (See related photo below.) Background posts: Glatfelter, Smith top industrial legacy list, How come few in York know about S. Morgan Smith anymore? and York made big, heavy things - and was immensely proud of it.

S. Morgan Smith might have looked on York County with pride this week.

The Moravian-pastor-turned-washing-machine-pioneer would have witnessed a 292,000-poud turbine runner leave a company that grew from one of his enterprises.

As the story goes, Smith left his pastorate because of a voice condition after the Civil War. As he recuperated, he observed his wife laboring with the laundry. This inspired him to begin work on an early washing machine... .

I was browsing through stacks of books at the York County Heritage Trust’s annual Book Blast a few years ago when I found a long-sought-after piece to a writing puzzle.

For months, I had been looking for a way to tell York County’s sprawling World War II story. So, when I found a box of York Ice Machinery/York Corporation newsletters from that era, I knew I had something I could use to build the story around... .

I've been studying the lives of York County's captains of industries -- both past and present -- for years. Same with everyday men and women. So I pulled together some key points from all the generations for a York Sunday News column. At the same time, I pushed public service.

The writing process caused me to reflect on my own public service. Much of my discretionary time is spent alone, researching and writing. I hope it shows that public service can come in many ways -- in a crowded room or in a corner of the York County Heritage Trust.

The column follows:

My Sunday column on Flo Snyder’s poetic contributions to Allied war effort in World War II is an example of journalism meeting history.

I came across the young woman’s writings in research on a World War II book.

Sixty years after her writing appeared in York Corporation newsletters, I interviewed her for a York Sunday News column.

The column included material from the past — history work — and information about what Flo Snyder has done up to the present day — journalistic work.

The work of a journalist and historian is a continuum.

It’s just fun to work in both worlds. Or is it one world?

York Corporation, later York International and Johnson Controls, made essential machinery for the production of plutonium as part of the Manhattan Project.

So reports longtime Dallastown resident Charlie Raab, who worked as a metallurgist for York Corporation during World War II. The Manhattan Project produced the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945... .