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:

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During a drought in 2004, a land bridge, probably an old farm lane, connected the marina at Codorus State Park's Lake Marburg to Long Island, or Long Peninsula at that moment. The island contained the remains of an old farmhouse and bank barn that made way for the lake. Its waters covered the town of Marburg Flats and part of old Route 216. The lake made news in the drought of 2004 for its dwindling water supply, and the drowning of a teen girl this week propelled the 1,275-acre reservoir back into the headlines. Background posts: 18th-century brownfield now parkland, Is it Pigeon Hills or Pidgeon Hills?, Worker saved key historical surveys from Glatfelter pulping machine.

To fill its massive water demands, Glatfelter paper built Lake Lehman in 1942.

It built Lake PahaGaCo (P.H. Glatfelter Co.) in 1955. It supplemented PaHaGaCo's 1.3 billion gallons with water from the Thomasville Stone & Lime Company quarries.

But the severe drought of 1963 proved that more water was needed. That was a moment that communities even resorted to cloud seeding... .

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This photo from the Stewartstown Historical Society might show the result of a 1923 accident on the Stewartstown Railroad, the worst in its history dating back to 1885. With multiple railroads crossing York County, its rail history is filled with accidents (The Great Watermelon train wreck) and near accidents (The unsolved mystery of locomotive No. 1689). Background posts: What was it like aboard the Stewartstown Railroad?, Whatever happened to York County's Hungerford? and Is mystery railroad the old Shrewsbury narrow gauge?

One day in 1923, a car carrying several passengers and crew members becomes uncoupled from a train on the Stewartstown Railroad and drifts down a grade.

A freight train, going at a rapid speed, meets it head on and plows through the passenger coach "telescoping" about two-thirds of the length of the car... .

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A slow-moving tractor tows bales of hay along Grandview Road in Jackson Township in 2007. The township has long been agricultural in nature. "The land of Jackson Township is fertile and productive, and its owners are industrious and prosperous," historian George Prowell wrote in 1907. But the township's location along the turnpike - later the Lincoln Highway and Route 30 - and the Western Maryland Railroad also meant it has played host to its share of industry. Soon, an Arm & Hammer plant is expected to operate there. Background posts: Part of York County's past goes on the auction block, York County railroading: 'Something that gets in your blood' and Old Lincoln Highway pulled 'Americans out of the mud'.

Jackson Township, carved from Paradise Township in 1857, is slated to be home to a new Arm & Hammer laundry detergent plant and distribution center.

Though a longtime farming township with a productive limestone and red shale soil, its position along the former York-Gettysburg Turnpike and the presence of the Western Maryland Railroad meant that businesses have long been operated there... .

Posted in Books & reading Civil War Events Explanations/controversy Famous York visitors Farms & fields For photo fans Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Made in York Presidential stops Small-town life War York Town Square

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Sherry Dunbar is a green-coffee specialist at Starbucks' East Manchester Township roasting plant. She smells unfiltered coffee before sampling it. She is a professional coffee taster, and quality control specialists like Dunbar must approve all beans from around the world before they get the Starbucks stamp. Another Starbucks plant to service the southeast U.S. is expected to open in 2009. Background posts: York County farm vs. factory tension relieved in overnight raid, Images explain changes in York County factories, farms and York County agrarianism vs. industrialization, Part I.

The sign at the Starbucks in Chinatown in Washington, D.C., stated: "Brewed at York Plant, roasted 5/13/08."

You've seen them and probably wondered: What's the "York Plant?" ... .

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Two of York County's most influential leaders shake hands at York's Susquehanna Commerce Center's opening in 2005. Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff President Louis J. Appell Jr. and York Mayor John Brenner celebrate the occasion. Background posts: hInfluential citizens, Part I, Who is Bob Kinsley? and First York City Latino councilman temporarily state's top appointed Dem.

York Daily Record/Sunday News readers came through with dozens of recommendations for the most influential people of York County.

The newspaper staff and editorial board added some of their own and came up with a list that is certain to draw scrutiny.

We pondered particularly what to do with Jim Grove, the far-right activist who is effective in the courts in protecting First Amendment rights, even if his abrasive techniques in practicing free speech impair his messages more than promote them. You'll see how we handled his nomination below... .

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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... .

Posted in A.B. Farquhar American Revolution Black history Books & reading Civil War Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research God & York County Local journalism & Web Made in York People Quizzes & (fun) tests War Women's history World War II York Town Square York celebrities Yorkco

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Harvey Bradley studies the York, Pa., Bradley-made block that the hook will be hung from. These images, as well as other iconic photos in this series, will appear in the "Connections" section of the York Sunday News on May 25. (See the iconic farm image below.) Background posts: York, Pa. made big, heavy things - and was immensely proud of it, Bradley Lifting's boss Harvey Bradley: 'I'm 81' and Harley newsy in York: 3 strikes, 3 presidential visits, 300 jobs down .

Two more photos in York Town Square's series of iconic images - images that tell a story about York County and its history:

Harvey Bradley built his York company, Bradley Lifting, from scratch. He started with few resources, except perhaps the most important, an entrepreneurial spirit... .

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Riders on York County's rail trail glide past the venerable Glen Rock Mill Inn. The mill greeted numerous luminaries passing through the southern York County town when the Northern Central Railroad operated. That included Abraham Lincoln on his way to and from Gettysburg and Lincoln's funeral train. Background posts: Parade Music Prince Roland Seitz: From Shrewsbury Township to Friday Night Lights, Is mystery railroad the old Shrewsbury narrow gauge?, 'Rocks in the Glen' turns into town where things happen

But still, Glen Rock was a mill town... .

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Built in 1929, Box Hill Mansion is one of York County's most noteworthy nods to the era of Georgian style. It was featured on the cover of the soon-to-be-published Spaces magazine, published by the York Daily Record/Sunday News. The mansion serves as the focal point for the exclusive Regents' Glen Country Club in Spring Garden Township. (See additional photo below.) Background posts: Glen Rock farm: 'You can not stay stressed here for long', How to accurately restore an old home, A virtual photo tour - and an actual tour - of York County's vintage Schultz House.

A story in an upcoming Spaces magazine gives a little-known fact about the Box Hill Mansion, now on the eve of its 80th birthday.

The brick mansion's walls are solid concrete, designed to control fire, according to the magazine... .

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