York County's second female state legislator has decided to call it quits in Harrisburg.

Bev MacKereth, a four-term Republican legislator, is taking a position as the executive director of the York County Human Services Department.

Interestingly, in a legislative world of long terms, York County's first female state legislator also served a relatively short time.

Posted in Events Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web People Women's history York Town Square York celebrities

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

York County has produced many star athletes, but not that many Olympians in recent years.

There were those decades that weightlifters from York Barbell were kings of that sport. About 40 lifters, coaches or trainers with ties to York Barbell went to the Olympics, and earned 11 gold medals.

And, according to the York Daily Record/Sunday News sports department, Hans Gerhard Boetzelen won a silver in 1932 in rowing (double sculls).

And Robert Sohl won a bronze in 1948 for the 200-meter breastsroke.

And Linda Myers picked up a fifth and seventh places in 1972 and 1976, respectively.

Recently, the county has produced two medalists.

Scott Strausbaugh picked up a gold in canoeing in the 1990s.

And the most recent medalist, Whitney Metzler, won a medal in swimming in 1996.

Now, Whitney Metzler is back in York... .

Posted in Events For photo fans Local journalism & Web People School days Women's history York Town Square York celebrities York sports

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Scott Stevens, a relative newcomer to York, e-mailed about whether a historical monument marked the birthplace of George Robert Stibitz, widely called the father of modern computing.

The short answer is that no marker is in place anywhere in York County feting Stibitz. In fact, a quick check at the usual local sources brought scant information of Stibitz, a Dartmouth mathematician born in York on April 30, 1904.

But he is all over the Web... .

Posted in Explanations/controversy Genealogy/research Local landmarks Mail bag People York Town Square York celebrities

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Loretta Claiborne long jumps in Special Olympics competition in York in 2007 - the competition which launched her achievements.

Someone recently nominated Loretta Claiborne as one of York County's top 25 most influential people, in a sampling conducted by the York Sunday News.

The York Sunday News named Claiborne in the top 10 sports achievers in 20th-century York County.

Though only in her 50s, she already has her name on the side of a building on South George Street in York.

But those are just local accolades... .

Posted in Black history Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Local journalism & Web People Women's history York Town Square York celebrities York sports

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

This image, used as a basis for a large-scale panel in the York County Heritage Trust's Murals of York series, shows Dr. George Holtzapple deploying oxygen to treat a Loganville pneumonia patient. This image appeared in York Hospital's history 'That Sovereign Knowledge.' Tradition has it that this pioneering treatment took place in the house's basement.

Lois Stoner, a nurse in York, e-mailed recently wondering why the Loganville house where Dr. George Holtzapple saved young pneumonia sufferer Frederick Gable's life is not marked with a historical monument.

She raises a good point ... .

Posted in Books & reading Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local landmarks Mail bag People Small-town life Unsung/obscure sites York Town Square York celebrities

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

The York Sunday New rated Bob Hoffman, founder of York Barbell, at the top of the top 10 York and Adams counties sports figures in the 20th century. Background posts: Lineup full of stars with York County links, Author muscles way into York's body building world and Richard Nixon's visit to his namesake park sparks memories.

The York Daily Record/Sunday News publication of the 25 most influential people in York County sparked much community discussion.

The same was true in 2000 when the York Sunday News issued its list of the 20th-century's top 10 sports people.

Bob Hoffman headed the list on the strength of his role as five-time Olympic weightlifting coach and his founding of York Barbell.

His selection - and others in the top 10 - brought accord and also disagreement... .

Posted in Black history Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Mail bag Nostalgia & memories People Pets & animals Quizzes & (fun) tests Women's history York Barbell York Town Square York celebrities York sports

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Davy Crockett and other luminaries visited Charles Barnitz's Springdale Mansion after its opening in 1828. Crockett did not impress certain members of the Barnitz household. Background posts: Exploring ornate Springdale Mansion, Imagine: 70-foot boat navigated York County's Codorus Creek and Who were York County's most influential citizens, Part I.

Maureen Beattie of Longmeadow, Mass., found an old letter - and part of a York County legend - at a garage sale.

She e-mailed with these details:

It is addressed to Mary M. Barnitz, c/o Herman Cope Esq., Cincinnatti, Ohio. Handwritten above the addressee is 'free C.A. Barnitz". The body of the letter is in tatters, but there is one whole area that says: ...

Posted in Books & reading Explanations/controversy Famous York visitors For photo fans Genealogy/research Local landmarks Mail bag People York Town Square York celebrities

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Fifty-one years ago, Daisy Myers and her family were victims of racial harassment after they moved into a new home in Levittown, Pa. This incident was included in a recent New York Times Magazine article. This is the cover of her autobiography telling about her Levittown experience, available at www.yorkheritage.org. Background posts: Daisy Myers: Rosa Parks of the North, A short test of your York, Pa., black history knowledge and Doris Kearns Goodwin gives tips to analyze presidential hopefuls.

Daisy Myers has been a York County resident going on 50 years. She has been in high-profile positions as a York City Schools administrator and assistant to Congressman Bill Goodling.

But many York countians aren't aware that she and her family made national news for holding out against racial harassment after moving into their dream home in the planned community of Levittown in Bucks County in 1957.

From time to time, their courage is remembered... .

Posted in Black history Books & reading Explanations/controversy For photo fans Local journalism & Web People Women's history York Town Square York celebrities

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

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... .

Posted in Black history Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Made in York Mail bag People Quizzes & (fun) tests Women's history York Town Square York celebrities

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

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

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (2)