Partners for Sacred Places
Historic York, Inc. in partnership with the York County Council of Churches initiated a program where local churches look funding opportunities to preserve their historic places of worship.
Preservation Advocacy
Historic York, Inc. will continue our advisory roles on the Lancaster-York Heritage Region, YorkScape Beautification Committee, and the York Heritage Committee. We have also been invited to participate in the newly formed Growth Management Task Force that will help update the county’s comprehensive plan. We expect preservation to play an increasingly important role.
Preservation Easements
Historic York, Inc. holds easements and protective covenants on sixty-three properties throughout York County. Our easement monitoring program safeguards inappropriate alteration or demolition of many local historic properties as well as helping them retain their social and economic value to the community.
Preservation Education
Historic York, Inc. strives to educate our community on the important and active role historic buildings play in our economy. Through our Annual Historic House Tour, Annual Preservation Awards Program, educational workshops and lecture series, we show that any building can be reused in the twentieth-first century
Walking Tours
Our historic walking tours of downtown York can be catered to whatever resources you want to see and whatever time you have available. Please call to set up an appointment.
Historic Preservation Resource Library and Archives
Historic York, Inc.’s Resource library contains many books, periodicals, reference materials and period maps to help researchers and those with a desire to learn more about historic architecture and related issues. The library and archives are open Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Historic Sites Survey of York County
Historic York, Inc. has compiled architectural descriptions and summary histories on over 30,000 historic buildings in York County through our Historic Sites Survey. The information is available for research through the Historic Preservation Resource Library.
City of York Façade Easement Program
Historic York, Inc. oversees the program and ensure that all facades are all properly maintained.
Technical Advisor
Historic York, Inc. provides the technical assistance to the City of York Historic and Architectural Review Board (HARB) to process and administer the board. Staff reviews all applications and writes a review of each application for the Board to consider.
I am writing a family history and am seeking dates and any specific information concerning when my grandfather, George A. Brown and his wife, Almedia J. Brown, may have purchased land and subsequently built a house on it in Spring Garden Twp.
York Co. Archives is searching tax records for me; they also suggested I contact you for any information to which you may have access. The property, at 1501 Starcross Rd. is presently being restored. It was formerly the site of the Shady Dell, a popular venue for teenagers in past years and has generated a lot of interest among those folks who spent time there. (This was of course long after my mother’s family moved out.)
There is some confusion as to who built the original house and when it was first occupied. My mother, who is still living at 99, remembers living there as a young girl, surviving the Great Influenza epidemic of 1918, and many other things about the property. However, since she was very young when it was built and her family moved there, she doesn’t remember details about her father purchasing the land, having the house built, etc. Apparently such things were not discussed with children at that time.
I’m also contacting my cousins for any info that their parents, who also lived in the house as children and teenagers, may have shared with them. So far, nothing factual or of substance has turned up. All my aunts and uncles are now gone.
I would appreciate any information you may have regarding this property. Another family that lived in this house, the Spanglers, give dates for the house’s construction and when they moved there that don’t square with either my mother’s memories or the few bits and pieces of records that I have found.
Thank you for your help in documenting this episode of my family’s past.
Kathleen M. Clunk
Kathleen,
Our staff is currently looking into what we may have in our archives. If or when we find something we will cretainly be in touch. If you would want to speak with one of us directly please feel free to call our office between 8-5, monday-Friday.