Wayne, as I would learn, was quite instrumental in getting us this event I enjoy so much.

In his letter, Wayne writes:

“How did the Nationals East arrive in York back in 1981? My kitchen phone rang one evening in the fall of ’80. It was the events director, Gary Meadors, from the National Street Rod Association, searching to relocate the Nationals East street rod meet hosted at the Maryland State Fair grounds at Timonium. More room was needed for their growing event, while the Maryland facility was reducing their footprint by increasing the horse-racing track size (permitting a standard-sized racetrack for Maryland Preakness practice).”

Wayne was, at the time, president of the White Rose Street Rod Association, and said that Meadors “asked our club’s thoughts of feasibility for a move to Pennsylvania. We discussed some possible sites but were thrilled with their choice of the York Fairgrounds. However, in the background, several Pennsylvania street rod clubs were working on legistration to obtain a street rod license plate. Being a modified vehicle, our cars did not fall into the antique status where many had originated, nor did they fit the newly offered ‘classic’ category. Owners were being hassled by urban law enforcement departments who knew the misfit cars were a potential revenue source; your insurance agent was hesitant to insure the modified vehicle. State inspection stations were equally confused what was proper for the mechanical alterations.”

Wayne continued, “The White Rose Street Rod Association was a member the Mid-Atlantic Street Rod Association; its duty was a planning group for shows, meets and so rod run dates didn’t conflict. Within MASRA, several Pennsylvania clubs had pursued obtaining a state license plate, to no avail. A Philadelphia group spent seven years in pursuit, while a State College club was at the 18-month mark looking for a lobbyist and funding to present a bill to our state congress.”

Regarding the move of the show, he wrote, “Our club, buying a canopy to attach our banner, was ready for a June meet in our backyard at the York Interstate Fairgrounds! Moreso, we had invited all York County state congressmen to visit the event on Saturday and discuss the path of creating a state street rod license plate and inspection standards.”

Wayne added, “That weekend, there was a charity golf outing benefiting children, which most congressmen had entered. Replies from the golfers stated they would honor reports from those attending when they returned to Harrisburg. Attending Friday night – who would be golfing on Saturday – was state Rep. Sanford Lehr from West York. Don Mathews picked him up at his home in his bright red 1932 Ford 5 window coupe for the trip to the fairgrounds. As we walked, the street rods were cruising the roads. An early ’40s sedan with a V-8 engine passed, issuing a pleasant but mellow exhaust sound. ‘Where are the tin-can mufflers?” Rep. Lehr asked. We explained these are not hot rods of the ’50s but family transportation vehicles modified for comfort and safety for weekend outings. He was also impressed the normally idle fairgrounds was in use.”

He continued, “Saturday’s noontime meeting at the Yorktowne with state Rep. A. Carville Foster, the National Street Rod Association safety chair people, safety people from Pennsylvania MASRA clubs and our WRSRA board members. ‘Peck’ (named for his weekend bluegrass picker hobby) had stopped in the fairgrounds on his way to see the event and to monitor its tone. After lunch, we asked, while he answered, what it would take to lobby for a street rod license and inspection standards. Thursday I received a letter with the state seal in my mailbox. It contained a copy of the passed new law for a Pennsylvania street rod license. Returning to Harrisburg on Monday, ‘Peck’ explained our need to the House of Representives, who had passed a transportation bill the week prior permitting studded tires during winter months. They attached a rider to the House-passed bill and carried both across the aisle to the Senate on Tuesday for review and approval. He also noted it was an easy task as it didn’t cost anyone as the street rodder was paying all fees. Furthermore, it provided the state a yearly license fee instead of a one-time fee as antique tags produced. It provided annual required state inspection, again not required for antique tags. It permitted a class for insurance companies who wanted to insure those vehicles.”

And, he noted, “Back on the fairgrounds, our club members were enjoying their ‘backyard’ rod run. It was great all these visitors were enjoying York’s hospitality, but our club members (wearing club T-shirts) soon were sought out to assist the visitors. ‘Where can I get a thing-a-ma-bob for a 327 Chevy?” and so on. Jerry Henry barrowed my pickup to take an upstate New Yorker and his bent driveshaft to a West York repair shop so he could get home on Sunday.”

This year, as in past years, Wayne noted, he was glad to be along Route 30, watching the street rods come and go.

Wayne, who retired as a plastic mold designer and project engineer from Key Plastics, also included some follow-ups to previous columns and a couple questions of his own that I would like to share today as well!

• Referencing past columns on the Isetta car, Wayne noted, “1960 Red Lion Area High School classmate Joann Kaltreider drove an Isetta. Her brother Jim later had the AMC dealership on Route 74 south of Red Lion years later… I worked with Jim evenings at Superior Mold Builders near Winterstown in 1962. No Isetta, he was driving a Falcon station wagon then. He taught me a lot about machine shop work.” He mentioned that Jim’s family would pack in the Falcon heading to Maryland and Virginia beaches the day following a major ocean storm to treasure-hunt coins and relics washed ashore.
• In regard to a column way back in early 2018 about an ice-cream shop in the Freysville area, Wayne wrote, “I remember ice cream in Freysville; a large cone of orange pineapple was my favorite. I don’t remember the name but do remember showing movies near dusk along the building. Much like a drive-in movie, customers could watch from the parking lot or pull into the backyard grass (normal overflow parking). Dad and Mom would take my brother Dave and me in their 1951 Dodge on summer nights.” Other readers seem to recall that as Ritz Ice Cream; Wayne, I wonder if that rings a bell?
• Wayne also had some questions. He wrote, “What was the name of the original pizza shop where Genova’s Restaurant is located on West Market Street? I think it was a Camp Hill restaurant family.”
• He also is looking for a very specific memory I am hoping someone can help with! Wayne said, “From 1958 to 1961, I attended night school in the basement of the William Penn building for Machine Shop I and II. There were two instructors: Richard Wills from the machining trade (equipment sales) and a daytime shop teacher; I can’t remember his name. I learned to run a planer in the back of the shop but forget its brand name. Can anyone provide his name and the shaper’s brand name? I would be very appreciative!”

Wayne, I certainly appreciate all your memories – AND your work to get the Street Rod Nationals East to town – and hope some of our readers will be able to jog your memories of those other topics as well!

The post Street rod memories and more from Wayne Spyker appeared first on Only in York County.

What’s inside

1. Following up on pizza shop
2. Giving more WORK transmitter details

1. Following up on pizza shop

Reader Daniel McMaster had wanted to know the name of a pizza shop at the York Mall, presently home to Walmart and Sam’s Club and earlier, a home to many other stores and restaurants.

Rick Moul was the first to respond, noting, “Luca’s Pizza was at the York Mall in the ’70s.” That was seconded by a reader who did not give their name, but who noted that before it was Luca’s, it was called the Purple Cow.

Scott Pennewell also recalled Luca’s. He wrote, “It was on the Penney’s end of the mall. Excellent deep dish slices!”

A reader named Liz remembers an earlier time. She writes, “Could this person be asking about one of the first pizza restaurants in the York area? The era was the late ’50s or early ’60s. The restaurant had red checked tablecloths and a winebottles stuffed with a candle. It was charming but I don’t remember the name. The restaurant faced Market Street.”

I’m curious whether that was Luca’s, the Purple Cow or something else!

I also heard another possible name from Louise Kline. She noted, “If I remember correctly, when I was in high school in the 1970s, there was a pizza place called Marsala at the York Mall. I went to York Catholic High School and Joe Marsala was in my class. His family owned the business and he worked there too.”

She continued, “In the summer, my friends and I would meet at the mall and go to a movie at the cinema by Montgomery Ward. After that we would walk up to Marsala for pizza and soda. It was a narrow shop with small tables down one side and the counter/oven/work area on the opposite side. Good food and good memories with friends.”

I would love to hear more about the Marsala era as well!

Perhaps my favorite story about this business goes back to the Luca’s name, and came from Stephanie Kin. Stephanie wrote, “My husband and I believe that the pizza restaurant in question at the York Mall was Luca’s. We first spotted one another there in 1980 (even though we didn’t speak to one another at that point). We’ve been married 38 years in June!”

Stephanie, thanks for sharing that – and happy anniversary to you and your husband!

2.Giving more WORK transmitter details

Also in that recent column, John Berkheimer had asked about where the WORK radio station transmitter would have been from about 1946 to 1960.

That, too, drew some great responses!

John Simmers wrote, “The WORK (now WOYK) transmitter site is at the same location it’s always been, 141 N. Emig Mill Road in West Manchester Township. The station’s three towers are visible from Route 30 West. WORK signed on in 1932. I was a DJ at WORK’s successor, WZIX, in the 1970s when it featured a popular Top 40 format. The studios were on the second floor of 13 S. Beaver St., where they had been since 1932. The space had cavernous ceilings and had been a ballroom in the 1920s. Around 1978, the studios were moved to 2 W. Market St. on the square.”

Chris Wagman of York noted, “The three towers and the transmitter building were – and still are – located in West Manchester Township along Emig Mill Road. WORK came on the air in the 1930s; the call letters were changed to WZIX in the 1970s and to WOYK in the 1980s. The station has been broadcasting at 1350 AM since 1941, and recently added a translator at 98.9 FM. It is now owned by York Professional Baseball – The York Revolution. WOYK is the only locally owned radio station and the only radio station broadcasting local sports coverage. More history details can be found on the station’s website.” (That’s 989woyk.com/stationhistory.)

Joyce Moul noted also that WORK has become WOYK, and shared a webpage with the specific coordinates for the towers – radio-locator.com/info/WOYK-AM.

And finally, Jay wrote to me on behalf of the West Manchester Township Historical Society. He noted, “West Manchester Township commercial communication – In the early 1930s, WORK, York’s first commercial broadcasting station, erected their transmitting towers west of York in West Manchester Township. The towers and transmitter are located a half-mile north of U.S. Route 30 on the west side of North Emig Mill Road, just down the road past the old consolidated school building. Some of the first engineers who operated the transmitter were Willis Weaver, Merle Miller and Wayne Secat, who lived in the adjacent house. This house in earlier days was the third Bott’s School built in the township and was used as a school ’til 1938. Towers and house/school are still standing. The land is now zoned: Telephone Equipment Exchange.”

Jay also was kind enough to share the labeled Google Maps image you see with today’s column – thank you so much, Jay, and everyone else who was glad to share this info about WORK!

The post Ask Joan: Some quick-turnaround follow-ups appeared first on Only in York County.

What’s inside

1. Recalling a store for the stout
2. Seeking name of pizza restaurant
3. Where was WORK radio transmitter?

1. Recalling a store for the stout

Regarding today’s first question, I would like to begin by saying that I thought I had a pretty extensive list of the stores of the past in downtown York. But reader Melody Lherisson found an ad for one that was news to me, which you can see with today’s column!

It’s for a business called The Stout Shop, 22 W. Philadelphia St. in York. Melody wrote, “I was wondering if you or your followers have heard of this store in York. My maiden name was Stout and I was curious about it.”

The Stout Shop billed itself as “York’s only exclusive store … for women of generous figure,” an early predecessor to the Lane Bryants or Torrids of our day. I had no idea there was such a shop in York, and as someone who could, we’ll say, “generously” be described as having a generous figure, I am beyond thrilled to know this was an option. I would love to hear more!

2. Seeking name of pizza restaurant

Our next question, short and sweet, comes from Daniel McMaster, who wants to know, “What was the pizza restaurant at York Mall?”

Unfortunately, the hardest part about Daniel’s question is that I don’t have an era to shoot for. We could be talking about Showbiz Pizza, the predecessor to Chuck E. Cheese in that complex today, or we could be talking about something from back when that center housed Montgomery Ward and J.C. Penney and The Bon-Ton. Though I haven’t found any mentions of pizza in those earlier days, it certainly doesn’t mean there couldn’t have been one, so I’m interested in any insights readers might have!

3. Where was WORK radio transmitter?

Today’s last question hits on another topic we’ve discussed frequently in the past – York County’s radio history, and specifically the WORK station!

Reader John Berkheimer writes that he grew up in York, graduating from West York in 1962. He wrote, “My dad’s name was Herman and he ran the transmitter for WORK from about 1946 to about 1960. He was pretty well known at the studio and a great admirer of Frank Renault, who had his own Hammond Organ show. Dad also cut a record on the organ there just for his own fun. In those days the studio recordings started at the label edge of the disk and worked to the outer edge.”

He continued, “Anyway, I was wondering if anybody knows where the transmitter was in those days. My dad took me out there a number of times and put me to work with stuff to keep me out of trouble. I’m pretty sure it was about 5 miles out on the East Berlin Road or maybe LeFever Road. Dad had a friend named Tim LeFever out there and we bought milk from him for awhile.”

John concluded, “There’s no sign of the transmitter building or the three towers on Google Earth, so I thought someone might remember.”

Now this is one I just have no idea about, so I’m hoping my many radio-history-aficionado readers can help John out!

The post Ask Joan: Some newer questions from readers appeared first on Only in York County.

What’s inside

1. Multiple ice cream follow-ups
2. More on five- and 10-mile houses
3. Update on York Adams Academy

1. Multiple ice cream follow-ups

In one recent column, I heard from two readers both asking about ice cream spots of the past. Bob Wolf wanted to know if anyone remembered City’s Edge or City Edge in York, and on that topic I heard from Lillian Hoffman, who wrote, “I well remember City Edge, and just talked about it recently. It was on the way to school at Phineas Davis Junior High. We used to stop there on the way home from school and get a 5-cent bag of Senft’s potato chips and a bottle of Pepsi and sat a small table. If we were feeling ‘rich’ that day, for 2 cents extra we could get the Pepsi ‘on ice’ in a glass. A nice lady named Mary ran it.”

Lillian, I was thrilled to hear about that, and I’m hoping even more peole will remember this great spot as well!

In the same column, Warren Hengst asked if anyone knew the name of an ice cream drive-in on the right as you entered Shrewsbury from York. Kay (Wolfe) Bufflap wrote that she and her sister, Mary Wurzbacher, put their heads together for this name. Kay wrote, “Way back in the 1950s and 1960s, it was Windy Hill Ice Cream, owned by a Mr. and Mrs. Ehrhart. Don’t remember first names. Great soft-serve ice cream. Then Tom Clark bought it. There was also an ice cream shop near the square that had homemade ice cream, Bowman’s.”

She continued, “While we are talking about Shrewsbury, does anybody remember Mount Airy store in the point of Mount Airy Road and Plank Road? I got on the school bus there. I remember getting chunks of cheese cut off a big wheel and penny candy. Hope you find these facts interesting.”

Kay, I certainly do!

Finally on that topic, I heard from Jay Harvey, a longtime reader who said he was writing for the first time, noting that he is “of the age (69) where my memory (good or bad) begins to relate to questions of 50 to 60 years ago!”

He began his letter, “I am a native York Countian, having been born and raised in southern York County (actually lived my first 22 years in the small village of Hametown, which is two miles north of Shrewsbury). I attended elementary school in Shrewsbury (currently housing borough offices). There were six grades in four rooms, which developed concentration, but also prepped you for the next year. I then went on to Susquehannock High School for grades 7 through 12, six grades of students in one U-shaped building.”

Regarding Warren’s question, Jay wrote, “By my recollection it was called Windy Hill Drive-In and was a very popular stop in the summer season. They served all kinds of ice cream treats. It was owned by Armand Ehrhart and his wife, whose name I can’t remember. They had a special-needs son who often helped out in serving at the window. (The service windows were the wooden-framed screen windows that slid up and down). They also had a daughter named Ella who, about 20 or so years ago, represented York County in a state/national (?) Scrabble tournament!”

(Interruption here, because I am hoping my friends Marilyn and Don Hake may know Ella, as they ran the local Scrabble club, of which I was a member for a few years, for quite some time, and I would LOVE to add to our Scrabble history.)

At any rate, Jay continued, “The Ehrhart family lived right beside the drive-in in a brick rancher. Both buildings (the home and the drive-in) are still there. The house is now a professional building and the drive-in (after much remodeling) is also a commercial-use building.”

So, I think we have hopefully answered Wayne’s question with the Windy Hill name!

Jay also had more things to share from that area, and continued, “Two miles north of the Windy Hill Drive-In in my little village of Hametown was another eatery that was well-known in the ’50s and early ’60s. It sat diagonally across the road from my house and was known as the Candlelight Inn. It was a drive-in restaurant that served a complete menu of family-style food. It was run by the Geltz family and was a popular stop for truckers traveling the Susquehanna Trail from Baltimore to York and points north. They had delicious barbecue ham sandwiches, which had their own special relish on it. It was a favorite of mine.”

He recalled, “As a boy, I was often sent across the street with money from my parents and returned home shortly with a (paper!) bag full of those delicious sandwiches! Of course, the opening of Interstate 83 diverted most of the traffic from the Trail and the restaurant was forced to close. The restaurant is now a private home.”

This led Jay to a question I am hoping for more information on. “However,” he continued, “I think the Geltzes relocated to Route 74 north of Dover and opened a restaurant there. Maybe some of your readers could confirm or debunk that.” I’m curious about this; if we’re talking north of Dover Borough, that could be the Route 74 restaurant, or one of many of the restaurants that have been in Rossville over the years, or something else entirely; if it’s in the northern part of the township before the borough, it could be one of the many on 74 in the Weigelstown area, too. So I’m very curious!

Finally, Jay wrote, “There is another building in Shrewsbury that has been repurposed in my lifetime. Just two blocks north of the original square, a block building was built in the early ’60s. It was built so kids could race their slot cars there. My neighbor and I would bike the two miles into Shrewsbury and rent time on their track. You provided your own slot cars and you could spend a good bit of time there. Of course, you were always trying to get yours to go faster by tweaking it! Today the building is a NAPA Auto Parts store.”

He concluded, “I am even old enough to remember when Shrewsbury had NO traffic lights, just stop signs on Forrest Avenue at the center of town! … Keep the memories coming!” That we will be glad to do, Jay, and thank you so much for contributing to them!

2. More on five- and 10-mile houses

In an earlier column, reader Kenneth Paup had asked if anyone knew about the “five-mile” and “10-mile” houses along Lincoln Highway.

Longtime reader Paul S. Wolfgang noted that these were Conestoga wagon stops on the Lincoln Highway, headed west from York to Gettysburg, to rest the horses and “provide a libation for the drivers.” Paul noted, “Both buildings still standing. The first is approximately five miles west of York near the Spring Grove road on the northwest side of Route 30, and the second approximately 10 miles from York at the Village of Farmers on the side south of Route 30.”

Paul noted that at the second, “During the Civil War, a delegation from York headed by A.B. Farquhar met with General Early or the CSA in a move to save York from burning just prior to the Battle of Gettysburg.”

Paul, thank you so much for that info – I will definitely be keeping my eye on my odometer next time I’m traveling that way, as I’m sure will many other readers!

3. Update on York Adams Academy

Finally for today, I want to send a huge thanks to Michael Snell, Superintendent of Record for York Adams Academy, which I talked about in a recent column as the current incarnation of what used to be known as York County High School.

After reading that column, Michael wrote and said, “Thanks for your kind words about our program whether it was the York County High School or now York Adams Academy (YAA). I currently serve as the Superintendent of Record and am equally proud of our success with graduating students. I would like to make one clarification… YAA is not a public charter school as you stated in your article. We are officially referred to as a ‘Special Program Jointure’ by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Bottom line, we are a joint public school that issues a joint diploma from YAA and the sending/member school district.”

I let Michael know I was very glad for that correction and that I would be glad to share that in this column so that others would know the distinction as well!

The post Ask Joan: Further follow-ups edition appeared first on Only in York County.

Reader Becky Anstine had shared in that previous column that her father, James Mervin “Chips” Curry, had an Isetta. Later, she wrote back and said, “My brother, Jim, says that William ‘Bill’ Corse of New Freedom owned a red Isetta around the same time that our father, Chips, had our blue Isetta.”

I also heard from Marie Rentzel, who wrote “This is a story of my husband, Bob Rentzel, and his adventures with his Isetta.”

She shared the following story from Bob:

“In 1963, I was able to purchase a 1959 Isetta. It was blue and gray with a ragtop. I drove this car all over the place from my home in Mount Wolf.”

“This car was very peppy… I was able to give the engine a little more air so it could be fueled heavier. The rear axle was short, I think about 19″, so direct drive to the wheels let one tire slip slightly when turning.”

He continued, “Being 17 at this time, I had a lot of fun with this car. I could stop on the road, rev up the engine, pop the clutch and lay two black streaks on the road about 3 feet long. I-83 was new at this time; with the extra fuel to the engine I could pass tractor-trailers at 65 mph. This looked very funny since the Isetta is a very small car.”

“Some nights, I would take three of my friends for ice cream at the Rutter’s in North York,” Bob continued. “Four of us in the front seat was crowded, but with the four-speed gearshift on the left side of the car, it made it possible. We did this a few times; we would wait until we could drive up to the front where there was grass. I would drive up fairly fast, hit the brakes, and the door would open and my three friends would tumble out onto the grass. Just for show, of course.”

He continued, “One other time, we had a large rabbit suit from Easter; one of my friends put it on and stood on the seat with half of his body sticking out the top to wave to the people along the way at the Mount Wolf/Manchester Halloween parade.”

“We had a lot of fun with this little car for about three years,” he noted. “Then the electrical system in the engine messed up, could not be fixed. I installed a John Deere 12A combine engine in the Isetta, but it stuck out on the left side 18 inches, so it could not longer be driven on the road. We had lots of fun with it on the farm, but it it did not handle too well, so it was shut down soon.”

He added, “It sat for awhile until I decided to make a dune buggy out of it. I took the body off of it and sold it (to who, I don’t know). I moved the John Deere engine forward and centered it on the frame. The first time I ran the dune buggy, I pulled onto the street in Manchester heading south onto York Street and opened the throttle and had to hang on. I rounded the curve on York Street and I left four streaks of rubber on the highway. It stayed on its wheels, but I did not run it after that.”

He concluded, “I had the Isetta for about five years and lots of fun.”

The post Readers share more memories of Isetta cars appeared first on Only in York County.

What’s inside

1. Following up on trucking company
2. Helping solve the hardware mystery

1. Following up on trucking company

Back in 2018, reader Steve McGinnis wrote about a photo I’ve shared several times of the former York County Shopping Center. He was curious about the trucking company pictured in the lower right corner. I did have a reader, Charles Rearich, reply some time ago and mention that it was probably Mason and Dixon Trucking Co. I also heard the same from Jerrold Keyes.

But today, I have a short story to share from another Steve, this one Steve Godfrey. He writes, “I’m responding to Mr. McGinnis’s question about the trucking company pictured in the lower right corner of the York County Shopping Center. It was home of Mason-Dixon Trucking Lines.”

He continued, “My father and uncle worked there beginning in 1954. They eventually moved to Emigsville before going out of business in 1984. After high school in 1971 I became the third-generation family member to work in the trucking industry. My grandfather got the ball rolling by working at Motor Freight Express. We all put at least 30 or more years in the business. As they used to say back in the day, if you bought it, a truck brought it.”

As we enter Year 2 of pandemic living, I thought that was a particularly good sentiment to share. I am so grateful to all the truckers who’ve kept things moving, ensuring a steady stream of goods and groceries that come to my door. If you’re interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the vital role truckers play and want to explore CDL practice tests, you can find valuable resources at https://www.cdlknowledge.com/cdl-practice-test/.

2. Helping solve the hardware mystery

A fun question last week came from a reader named John, who wanted me to settle a dispute with a coworker. John thought the former Hechinger hardware used to be where Sheetz and the Hyundai dealer are in Springettsbury Township, on Memory Lane; his coworker said it was the building later occupied by Wolf Furniture.

Well, fellow Yorkblogger Stephen H. Smith of the amazing Yorkspast was able to play referee for me, as it were! He wrote, “I often shopped at Hechinger and Lowe’s in Springettsbury Township. After Hechinger went bankrupt, Wolf’s eventually moved into their vacant store on the corner of Industrial Highway and Northern Way. Lowe’s was originally in a smaller store when it opened in the mid ’70s along Industrial Highway; that is the building that became a Hyundai dealership; after Lowe’s moved to their present mega-store in the York Marketplace. The Sheetz, next to the Hyundai dealership, replaced a Roy Rogers Restaurant.”

I had mentioned I was particularly interested in this because I thought I remembered a West Manchester Hechinger’s, where the Sheetz is now on Carlisle Road. I was close, but not quite, and was so excited when Stephen was able to provide more details on this as well.

He continued, “When Hechinger had their going out of business sale, I remember also seeing Builders Square tags on items. In looking up that connection, I discovered a paragraph in an April 8, 2000, article in the York Daily Record, which concisely answers the second part of your Hechinger query. ‘Last year, those west-end residents lost Builders Square on Route 30, which closed after its parent company, Hechinger Co. filed for bankruptcy. For years, Builders Square in Northwest Plaza Shopping Center served as the only home improvement outlet within miles. In 1998, a Sheetz convenience store had replaced a Leaner Home Center at the corner of Carlisle Road and Brougher Lane.’

So, it was not Hechinger’s, but Leaner’s, that I remember so fondly. I used to go there on Saturdays with my dad, a woodworker who was always looking for some new tool or project. I told Stephen I was so happy to have that memory made clearer!

The post Ask Joan: Following up on trucking company and hardware stores appeared first on Only in York County.

But, of course, that means any feeble attempts I’d been making to catch up on my Ask Joan mail have now gone out the window… so we better get to the questions!

What’s inside

1. Remembering York County High School
2. Where to get Ahrens butcher bologna
3. More of your memories sought

1. Remembering York County High School

Just recently, I heard from Sundra Shaffer of York, who wrote, “Friends and I were talking about the old West Manchester Mall. The subject came up of an alternative-type high school being located in one of the vacated retail stores. It was a school where students had the opportunity to gain a high school diploma who had formerly left the regular school system. It was located I think in the same hallway of Value City. Can you shed any light on this topic!?”

Sundra, I can, and in fact I have several friends who graduated thanks to that institution, which was at the time called York County High School. Your description is pretty spot-on – in general, it served people who left the traditional school system for one reason or another, offering classes at night and on weekends, among many other things.

This program later became York Adams Academy, which is still in operation, at the York Learning Center in the former Central York High School in North York borough. York Adams Academy operates as a public charter school, and is open to students 17 to 20 years old who live in a participating district and who have completed at least some high school credits already. When students complete their required credits for graduation, they are issued a dual diploma from YAA, in partnership with their home district.

I’m glad York County is still offering this type of completion program, and I’m certainly interested in hearing memories from anyone who attended when it was still York County High School, “in the mall!”

2. Where to get Ahrens butcher bologna

One of the regional foods we talk about regularly is butcher bologna. Not very long ago, reader Rodney Leiphart wrote to me, asking about one of the more well-known local brands, Ahrens, and specifically to their larger bolognas. “Can’t find it anywhere. The small just ain’t the same,” he noted.

Ahrens is made by Kessler’s in Lemoyne, and in the past, places people have told me they found it (specifically the large version) were at what is now Dottie’s in Dover Township (though that was reported to me back when it was still Hake’s), at the Weis on Carlisle Road in Dover Township, and at Jerry’s Great Valu near Red Lion. Jerry’s even lists the “chub” (which I think is the shorter stick of the larger bologna Rodney is looking for) for sale on their website, so they would probably be one of my top recommendations for somewhere to look!

3. More of your memories sought

To close out today, I thought I’d do some “quick hits” of topics people have asked me about, and which I don’t have much if any information. If you have memories to share regarding any of these, please do write!

• Bob Wolf wants to know if anyone remembers City’s Edge, an ice cream shop on Harrison Street in York.
• Warren Hengst is wondering, “Does anybody know the name of the ice cream drive-in that was on the right-hand side of the road from York to Shrewsbury at the borough limit?”
• Beverly Johnson is “looking for the year that Twin Kiss on Route 74 closed.” She said she thinks it might have been the late 1960s or early 1970s. “Having no luck researching it myself,” she added.
• Kenneth Paup said, “As I was growing up in York Town Homes in the 1950 era, I remember people talking about a five- and a 10-mile house. This was before the Lincoln Highway was constructed to Gettysburg. My thought is that those were measurements between York and Gettysburg. Do any of your readers know of this?”
• And, in one of my favorite roles, “Joan who settles fights,” I had this question from a reader named John. “Me and this guy at work are having an argument about the old Hechinger. I say it used to be where Sheetz and the Hyundai dealer are on Memory Lane; he says it was the building Wolf Furniture is now in. Help!” (Wolf’s, of course, has closed since John asked this; sorry, John!) I’m interested in this one too because I thought I remembered a Hechinger where the West York Sheetz is now, but I might be misremembering that!

The post Ask Joan: Back in the saddle edition appeared first on Only in York County.

What’s inside

1. An update on Gable Flats
2. Following up on recipe-sender
3. Name of South Queen Street bar/restaurant
4. A few “saucy” recipes for fun

1. An update on Gable Flats

Just last week, I wrote about an area between Dallastown and Red Lion that an older reader recalled being known as the Gable Flats. I had wondered if the surrounding property had been owned by someone named Gable, or if the name came from somewhere else, but basically added that question to my pretty much insurmountable list of “research I really want to do sometime except I’d have to live to 195 to get close.”

So I was thrilled when reader Tom Brenner wrote to me that he found a 1955 aerial photograph available through York County Archives, showing this area and referring it to “Isaac Gable’s plan.”

Tom wrote, “Presumably the land was owned by Isaac Gable and he was planning to subdivide it. That is more than likely the source of the name of the area.”

Tom, I am so grateful to you for shedding light on that and solving at least one of my York County history mysteries!

2. Following up on recipe-sender

You might remember that, right before the holidays, I shared a column based on a heaping helping of newspaper clippings sent to me by a reader who did not give a name.

The clippings, full of older recipes and ads, were a real delight, and led me down so many research rabbit holes. Once again, a reader came through for me in clearing up a mystery, though – Lori Sawmiller wrote to me and let me know that she was my mystery clipping source! She said she read and enjoyed that column, as did several of her family members and friends.

Lori wrote, “Grandma Martha’s been gone a number of years, but I’m sure she is smiling from ear to ear in heaven.”

Lori, I certainly hope so, and I’m very grateful to you for keeping her legacy alive by sharing these with us!

3. Name of South Queen Street bar/restaurant

A couple of weeks ago, I heard from reader Paula Metz, who recalled that along South Queen Street in York Township, near where Jimmy John’s and Little Caesar’s are across from Taco Bell now, there was once a restaurant or bar that the Shirelles played at. “I think back in the ’80s,” Paula wrote. “Would you happen to know the name of that place? Cannot find it anywhere.”

This was one that was on the tip of my tongue – or fingertips as I type this, I guess? I think I’ve written about it before. But I couldn’t find anything useful, so I turned to some of my local friends who have been involved in York’s live music scence over the years to see what they could tell me. Stay tuned!

4. A few “saucy” recipes for fun

To conclude today, I want to go back to recipes for a little. This is more of a York County-adjacent item, but we found this cute postcard folio of Musselman’s Pennsylvania Dutch Recipes while sorting through the family ephemera collection and I couldn’t pass up a chance to share it.

For those who don’t know, Musselman’s is an almost 100-year-old family-owned company based in northernmost Adams County. (The folder says Biglerville, which may have been their older mailing address, but the farm is in the unincorporated area known as Peach Glen or Gardners in northern Tyrone Township.)

We have some York-area friends and former colleagues who’ve been heavily involved in their marketing and packaging over the years, so I’m making the executive decision that it’s “local enough” to share!

You can see a few of the recipes in photos with today’s column. And even better: The current Musselman’s website has tons of recipes available at musselmans.com/recipes, so you can take your pick of more traditional options or things more crafted for the modern palate, like apple pie cream cheese wontons, which sound pretty amazing to me!

I had fun comparing the booklet’s Apple Sauce Cake recipe to the one found on the Musselman’s website.

It’s neat to see how things have changed over the years; for instance, the original recipe calls for cinnamon and cloves, but the newer version makes use of apple pie spice, a great (and easy!) mix of those two spices as well as allspice and nutmeg.

I was also sad but not at all surprised to see that the number of Jell-O salad recipes on the current site was zero. (Number in the booklet: One, titled “Dibbon Delight,” a mix of applesauce, cherry gelatin dessert, lemon juice and walnuts.)

I hope you’ll enjoy some of these as much as I did!

The post Ask Joan: Follow-ups, food and fun appeared first on Only in York County.

Today, I have even more, some in follow-up to that column and others touching on topics from a while ago!

What’s inside

1. More on Godfrey Bridge
2. Leader(s)? Height(s)?
3. Fast times at Gable Flats
4. What’s next for William Wells Young Memorial School?

1. More on Godfrey Bridge

In February last year, I shared a photo and memories from the Rev. Arthur S. Zeigler of York, who was writing about a small North Hopewell Township bridge built in 1918 by J.A. Godfrey, a local farmer.

Reader Virginia Lease wrote in response and noted she saw the photo of the small bridge along Swamp Road in North Hopewell Township. She wondered about J.A. Godfrey, its builder, “Could this have been the old gentleman they called ‘Alley’ Godfrey? He had 15 children, one of whom was married to my cousin (both deceased).”

I don’t know, but it certainly seems possible, Virginia!

Meanwhile, I also heard from Ricka Patterson, a retired music teacher who I met a couple of years ago at a meeting of the York County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees. She was familiar with the Godfrey Bridge area, noting that she has ancestors who’d attended Miller School in North Hopewell Township, near Winterstown.

She was even kind enough to take a drive past this bridge on a Sunday last year so she could take pictures for her second cousin in Missouri, who is actually who originally saw the column about the bridge and shared it with her!

You can see those photos today, and for anyone else looking for a nice drive, she notes, “The Godfrey Bridge is in the pasture on the corner of Swamp Road and Myers School Road. Enjoy!”

2. Leader(s)? Height(s)?

Another letter I received in the past year or so was from Raymond Hovis, who was actually primarily writing about Jessop’s School, the schoolhouse on what is now the property of Apple Hill Medical Center. As he finished that letter, Raymond wrote, “A couple of miles to the south, at the top of the hill, is “Leader’s Height.” The name has undergone some change over the years, but the original name was as stated above. My great-grandfather, George M . Leader, had a sign painted on the south side of his barn using those words. Many years later, my uncle and law partner, Henry B. Leader, had the sign removed and refurbished and gave it to his brother, Governor George M. Leader II, as a present. The sign is now located on a barn presently owned by George’s son, Mike, who has the same name as his father.”

You can see that photo with today’s column as well, and I am so grateful to you for sharing it, Raymond!

For those who aren’t aware, in all official capacities, this area of York Township is now styled Leader Heights, thanks to a 2007 decision by the township commissioners that I wrote about in 2014. (That was done to stay in keeping with PennDOT maps from 1976 forward.)

But, as Raymond notes, it was in fact originally “Leader’s Height,” dating back to the 1920s or so. This is a story I love sharing because there are so many people who are adamant that it’s “always” been some way or another, and in fact, as is usually the case with the “history mysteries” I track down, the answer is “a little of column A, a little of column B!”

3. Fast times at Gable Flats

A few years ago, my good friend Jennell Moser was talking to an older York Countian who recalled an area between Red Lion and Dallastown that he called The Flats. She and I had been wondering if anyone knew about the area, but I didn’t hear much.

Then, though, I got a letter from reader Mike Kehr, who wrote, “The Flats is the quarter-mile straight stretch of road that extends from Locust Hill Road just west of Dallastown to the crest of the hill just before the Honey Valley Road intersection.”

He noted, “In the late 1950s, when I was a teenager with a freshly minted driver’s license in my pocket, traffic was lighter and the entire stretch was a passing lane. It was a place where I and my friends would floor the accelerator and see how fast we could go. We knew it as The Gable Flats.”

Now, see, that’s where we get into a real “Names of York” situation. Why Gable Flats? Was the land near there owned by a family named Gable, maybe? I’d love to know more!

4. What’s next for William Wells Young Memorial School?

Finally for today comes the oldest follow-up I’ve had in a while. No, not the oldest languishing letter or email I’ve received; this note, from Ruth Wolfe, only came my way in late November 2020.

The past column Ruth was commenting on, though, was from much earlier – August 2010, to be exact! In that piece, one of the original Names of York series, I mentioned William Wells Young Memorial School in the Northern York County School District, a lovely stone building built in 1907. William, who died from diphtheria as a child, was the grandson of the founder of the town of Wellsville – Abraham Wells, hence the name.

As of about 2007, I could find record that the building was still being used by the school district as a music room and kindergarten classroom, but, I mentioned in my 2010 column, I couldn’t figure out what, if anything, was happening with it at the time.

Well, I just had to be patient! Ruth wrote in November of last year that the building was just sold to private individuals. “Rumors are it may become a bed and breakfast, I don’t know for sure,” she wrote.

I don’t know either, but I will certainly be waiting to see what happens!

The post Ask Joan: More about names around York County appeared first on Only in York County.

A friend posted on Facebook asking if we recalled the last “normal” thing we did. I went digging through past Only in York County blog posts and realized that my last pre-COVID column was published online on March 10, 2020, sharing some neat, serendipitous information about York’s former American House Hotel on the corner of West Market and Newberry streets.

That led me to my inbox, where I realized I had several American House follow-ups tucked away. And since I was on a roll, thinking about “the before-times,” I thought that might make a good topic for this week’s column!

The American House was owned and operated by Cornelius B. Landes from 1894 to the early 1920s. At some point after that, it became the site of the (also now-former) Western National Bank. Even later, the YMCA of York and York County came to own the property, and it’s been leasing it to a group called The Fortress Initiative, a technology hub where the goal is to train groups of students on topics like robotics and artificial intelligence.

That’s a huge change from the days of Cornelius’ hotel! His great-granddaughter, Helen Z. Loucks, had recalled that the hotel was also known for its livery stable, and one set of enterprising readers even found me a photo of that!

We’ll get to that in a little, but first, I wanted to share a quick note from Kitty Everard, who pointed out that I mentioned that Western National Bank was chartered in 1875, but also the Market-and-Newberry location was the American House until the early 1920s. I was not very clear, but I believe the bank opened at another location first and then moved to this site later on. I would certainly be interested to know if any readers know a previous address for it!

Kitty also wrote, “The American House looks like a beautiful building. I would imagine it was torn down, because the bank building looks nothing like the American House. Wouldn’t it be great to go back to that time, walk around and see so many different sights? I often wonder how it smelled,” she concluded.

To the topic of all those construction changes came a letter from Joe Brillhart, who described himself as part of a group of “YMCA long-timers,” along with “history major CEO Larry Richardson and old York history buff Doug Stein.” Joe wrote on behalf of the group after reading last year’s column, providing a lot of new information on that block’s history that I am grateful to be able to share today!

Joe began, “While I’m an old guy, I’m not THAT old, and my memories of the property only go back to the 1940s when I was privileged to accompany my dad to the Western National Bank, and marveled at how impressive it was when I was allowed to easily move the huge steel vault door with my little finger. So your column for all of us was one of those reminders that, yes, life really did exist before even our oldest remembrances.”

He continued, noting that after the three saw that column, “immediately we went to the Y Archive to see if there was anything in there that might support or expand on the American House. And this is what we found: When the Y structure was built in 1925 (till then it was in the 100 block of West Market Street), some farsighted member of the building committee contracted a professional photog to document the project’s progress from start to finish. That guy did a GREAT job, and the album of about 30 8- by 11-inch glossies remains a key archived artifact.”

That’s where some of the images I’m sharing with today’s column came from, in fact!

Joe wrote, “From about mid-pic to the right are all the back of Market Street rear buildings abutting Clarke Alley. As Landes owned the first two lots west of Newberry Street, it is probable the first two buildings shown here were behind the American House. Note that at first blush I thought that because of the emitted black smoke, there was an actual ‘steam shovel’ in the pit toward the right edge. But the several internal combustion engines also shown on the premises may belie that impression. What do you think?”

(Joe, I have to admit, what I think is that I am NOT the person to ask about the history of heavy equipment. The only powerful shoveling I know much about is that of getting Pennsylvania Dutch food into my mouth, so if anyone out there has thoughts on this, I’d love to be enlightened!)

Joe also shared a photo of a view west from Newberry Street, prominently featuring the neighboring structure with signage stating “Joe Kindig, Horse and Mule Stables, Always 100 to 200 Head on Hand.” Modern-era Joe recognized that name and noted, “That’s a clear reminder that before the two Joe Kindigs were ever in the antique business, old Joe and his father Eli were very prominent horse and mule dealers throughout the area.”

Finally, Joe provided a historian’s dream – a copy of a plate section from the 1903 Roe’s Atlas of the City of York.

He wrote that it shows the same area 22 years before the Y construction and added, “Note the two lots owned by Landes (301-307), the significant Kindig properties all north of Clarke Alley, and Jos. A. Ocker’s City Hotel facing 335-37 W. Market St. (recently nicely rehabbed by Dylan Bauer and his crew at Royal Square).”

Joe further noted, “If you face the City Hotel (now bordered by the Y’s parking lot) you can’t help but notice the horse and carriage portal on the right-hand side that leads to its rear. While it’s speculative on my part, in light of Kindig’s extensive livery facility, it could very well be that the American House and the City Hotel may have outsourced their stabling business to their big back neighbor.”

I can’t say for sure, but I think I’m inclined to agree with Joe’s assessment there too.

And, he concluded, “Anyway, Larry and those of us at the Y are most appreciative of your column as it helps to lend some new perspective to the history of its currently most prominent structure. We hope our info above also helps to add to that story.”

Joe, it certainly does – as did the reminder that even years like the one we’ve all just been through will someday be “history” too. I’m grateful that I’ve had the ability to spend a lot of this year making new and different memories, and documenting the older ones of both myself our county. Having something to keep me busy is no small thing, and I’m hopeful that soon we’ll get to tell the next phase of the story for this property!

The post Following up on York’s American House appeared first on Only in York County.