History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 138

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372

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The manufacture of silk, now one

Silk of the most important products in Making. the industrial city of York, was originated in 1899. The pioneers in the establishment of this industry were D. F. Lafean, William S. Bond, Charles H. Dempwolf and Charles H. Emig. The York Silk Company was organized with a capital of $100.000, erected a plant in East York and fitted it up with the best of machinery for the manufacture of a fine quality of silk. In 1900 the York Silk Manufacturing Com- pany succeeded the York Silk Company and in 1902 purchased the Diamond Silk Com- pany at York and Carlisle, and the factory of the Pennsylvania Silk Company at Fleet- wood, Pennsylvania. The active promoter and business head of this prosperous indus- try is M. G. Collins, who, with remarkable energy, developed the business and made it one of the most profitable enterprises of its kind in this country. He studied the needs and wants of the silk trade in America and was successful in disposing of the products of the mills to all the large cities of the Union. The York mills, located in the east end of the city, comprise the York and Windsor Weaving Mills and the Diamond Throwing plant. The employees of these three plants number 700. In 1907 D. F. La- fean was president ; J. E. Phillips, vice pres- ident; C. H. Dempwolf, secretary; M. G. Collins, general manager; B. E. Sheibley, treasurer.

The Monarch Silk Company, on North Hartley Street, was organized in 1900 and a large and substantial mill was erected. This company has done an extensive business in the manufacture of broad silk goods. In . 1907 Sydney H. Souter was president ; John T. Kissinger, vice president ; Milton Ruby, secretary and treasurer. About three hun- dred hands are regularly employed.

CAUty SHaty

769

THE CITY OF YORK

The Ashley & Bailey Company, whose liable methods and industry was enlarged main office is in Paterson, New Jersey, one of the centres of the silk trade in the United States, own a large factory in the west end of York. This plant has been successful since its origin.

WILLIAM H. KURTZ, prominent man- facturer and banker, was a descendant of Rev. Nicholas' Kurtz, who emigrated to America some time in the seventeenth century and settled in Pennsylvania. George Peter Kurtz was one of

a family of children born twelve to Nicholas and Helena (Albright) Kurtz. He industries of its kind in Pennsylvania. was born in Berks County, October 4, 1749. However, Mr. Kurtz continued to be active in connection with the supervision of the malting business until his death. The pres- ent style of W. H. Kurtz & Son was adopted in 1855, when Mr. Kurtz's son, Charles became identified with the business, which he still carries on. He was one of the early men who came to York County, and here he resided until his death, becoming one of York's pioneer mer- chants, and an active, enterprising and re- spected citizen. His son, George Peter Kurtz, was born in York, October 17, 1799. This representative of the Kurtz family was educated for the ministry, but subsequently he learned the carpenter's trade, and chose what seemed to him a more humble sphere in life. He was married in 1852 to Eliza E. Fisher, also a native of York County and a daughter of Dr. John and Eliza E. Fisher. The result of this union was two children, viz: Catherine and Amelia. Mr. Kurtz died in 1836; his widow died in 1882.

Another important personage in this fam- ily was Charles Kurtz, born August 30, 1791. He was married to Julia Ann Eichel- berger, a native of York County, and two children were born to them: William H. and Catherine, deceased, who resided in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

William H. Kurtz was born in York in 1823 and here he resided until his death in 1894. His early education was acquired at the York County Academy, but his exten- sive knowledge of business had been ac- quired through his own efforts and in actual practical life. At fourteen years of age he was thrown upon his own resources, and for seven years he was employed as a clerk in a store. He established a malting busi- ness, still conducted under his name, in 1845, in which year he became associated with A. Hamilton Nes. The scope of the enterprise was limited at first, but by re-

until it became the most important of its kind in southern Pennsylvania. The orig- inal firm of Kurtz & Nes continued for about twenty years, after which Mr. Kurtz secured sole control of the business, in which he con- tinued until 1872, when he became a mem- ber of the firm known as Baugher, Kurtz & Stewart, iron and brass founders, machin- ists and manufacturers of turbine water wheels. There was in connection with this establishment the Codorus Tannery, which was at that time one of the most extensive

The marriage of Mr. Kurtz with Miss Mary Baugher was solemnized August 17, 1856. To this union were born three chil- dren: Charles, Julia and Mary, the last named dying in infancy. Mrs. Kurtz died in 1861, and five years later Mr. Kurtz was married to Miss Julia A. Baugher, a sister of his former wife, and daughter of Frederick Baugher, who was one of the leading citizens of York. Mr. Kurtz was enterprising in business, liberal in all affairs of true worth and merit and ranked as one of York County's most valued citizens. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

The Manufacturers' Association of York was organized February, 1906, when John C. Schmidt was elected president; Thomas Shipley, first vice president; S. Forry Laucks, second vice president ; Francis Far- quhar, third vice president ; Robert E. Gep- hart, secretary and treasurer. In 1907 Thomas Shipley was elected president. The association started with sixty members, who meet monthly for the purpose of discuss- ing questions relating to the manufactur- ing interests of York. It is an active and energetic body, composed of the leading manufacturers of York, who have aided in developing the material interests of the city.

770

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

CHAPTER XLIII PUBLIC ENTERPRISES

York Water Company-York Gas Com- pany-Street Railway-Postoffice-Agri- cultural Society - Hospital - Prospect Hill-Associations-Centennial Celebra- tions-Public Parks.

From 1741, when the town was founded, down to 1816, York was supplied with water by means of pumps and wells. In front of nearly all the old time taverns or in the yards adjoining, stood a pump which was connected with a well below. More than half the dwelling houses had wells from which the water was obtained for household purposes. When fires took place men, boys and sometimes women stood in two rows and passed leather buckets filled with water from one of these wells up the one row to the fire, where it was then thrown on the flames. The buckets were returned down the other row to the source of supply.

In 1816 an act was passed by the Penn- sylvania Assembly which empowered a local company to lay plans for supplying York with water. Under this act George Spang- ler, William Nes, John Barnitz, George Small, C. F. Fisher, Abraham Gartman and Jacob Smyser were appointed commission- ers to receive subscriptions to stock. No member was originally allowed to take more than four shares. A board of nine managers was elected at a meeting held in the Court House on Monday, the 18th of March, 1816, as follows: John Barnitz, George Spang- ler, Martin Danner, Abraham Gartman, John Demuth, Peter Small, Christian Lan- ius, George Small and David Cassat. Con- tracts for 16,000 feet of trunks or logs with a bore of four inches, were made at the pub- lic house of George Hay, on West Market Street, March 19, 1816. David Cassat was first president; John Barnitz, secretary; George Haller, treasurer.

of water at this early date was a novelty to the citizens, but it became very popular and iron and lead connecting pipes were placed in the public buildings and dwellings soon after the company was organized. Pumps continued to be used, however, in front of the hotels, even as late as 1850.

The five acre tract where the springs are situated was purchased and has since been owned by the York Water Company. The original reservoir at the south end of Queen Street was enlarged many times to meet the demands of the growth of the borough. In 1852 it was found necessary to obtain the supply of water from the Codorus Creek, near the railroad culvert, at the foot of Boundary Avenue. In 1870 the supply was taken from the Codorus at the Penn Street mill. Some years after this infiltration gal- leries were built at the foot of Penn Street, and the water pumped from these, which effected a partial purification, and was the best practical means of purification known at that time. In 1898 the works on the Co- dorus, as well as the reservoir on South Queen Street, were abandoned and a new plant built in its stead.

The supply was taken from the south branch of the Codorus Creek, a short dis- tance above the forks and immediately east of the railroad. The pumping plant has a daily capacity of 10,000,000 gallons. The aerating fountain, reservoirs of 40,000,000 gallons storage capacity and the Jewel grav- ity filtering plant of 5,000,000 gallons daily capacity were located on Glatfelter's hill, one-half mile south of the city limits, as were also a covered reservoir of 2,000,000 gallons capacity for the storage of filtered water and a modern laboratory, well equip- ped for making water and bacteriological analyses. The distribution system was in- creased to upwards of seventy-five miles of cast iron pipe, extending through all the streets of the city and into each of the suburbs.

David Cassat, the first president, was succeeded in 1824 by William Barber, a leading member of the bar. George Small, a prominent merchant, and the father of Philip A. and Samuel Small, was president from 1826 to 1833. James Johnson served for one year and was succeeded by George Small, who served again from 1834 to 1838.

The original water supply was received from springs on a five acre tract of wood- land, owned by Peter Small, in Spring Gar- den Township, adjoining the residence of Henry C. Niles. Large wooden pipes were used to convey this water to a small reser- voir on South Queen Street, then without the limits of the borough. The introduction Christian Lanius, the father of Henry Lan-

771

THE CITY OF YORK

ius, chief burgess of York at the opening of the Civil war, and grandfather of Cap- tain W. H. Lanius, was president from 1838 to 1847. John Evans, a leading member of the York County Bar, was president of this company from 1847 to 1867. Samuel Small, Sr., who for half a century was identified

On the 24th of January, 1849, an act was with most of the public enterprises of York, passed, incorporating the "York Gas Com- was president from 1867 to 1882. On Octo- ber 27, 1882, Jere Carl, who had a large ex- perience as a banker and business man of York, was elected president and served con- tinuously in that office. pany." Dr. Alexander Small, Daniel Hart- man, Dr. W. S. Roland, Edward G. Smyser, Charles Weiser, William Wagner, Peter McIntyre, A. J. Glosbrenner, Thomas P. Potts, Emerson Case, Dr. Luke Rouse, John The secretaries, in order of succession have been John Barnitz, J. Eichelberger, Charles A. Morris, William S. Roland, George M. Shetter, Smyser Williams. Evans, Thomas E. Cochran and Matthew Tyler, were the commissioners named in the act. July 3, 1849, Dr. Alexander Small was chosen president of the company; Thomas The treasurers of the company have been P. Potts, secretary and treasurer; A. J. George Haller, Daniel Heckert, Samuel Glossbrenner, Samuel Wagner, John Evans, Small, Charles A. Morris, Charles Weiser, W. S. Roland and Thomas E. Cochran, man- William H. Griffith and John J. Frick. agers. A contract was made with the Tren-

Alexander J. Frey acted as superintend- ton Improvement Company to build the ent of the company from 1860 to 1882. He works at a cost of $23,000. The entire amount expended was $35,000. The gas was succeeded by Jacob L. Kuehn, 1882- 1898; Henry Birkinbine, 1898-1900. Since used until 1857 was made from rosin. The 1900 John F. Sprenkle has been the effi- capital stock of the company at first was cient superintendent.

The office of vice president was created in 1899 and has since been filled by George S. Billmeyer. The office of assistant secre- tary was created July, 1899, and was filled by John F. Sprenkle until February, 1900, when he was succeeded by E. P. Kable.

For more than a century York York Gas Company. existed without being lighted by the town authorities. In front of the many numerous hotels lanterns containing tal- low candles or lard were hung by the pro- prietor, for the double purpose of lighting the way of footmen and inviting profitable customers. Saloons in the basement were not so common then. In front of the houses of some of the wealthy citizens, lanterns were also placed. The inner apartments of houses were lighted with tallow candles, manufacturing gas has been introduced.

"lard lamps," fish oil and sperm oil lamps. The invention of the process to manufacture illuminating gas from bituminous coal was made in the year 1792 by William Murdock, of Cornwall, England. In 1798 he success- fully proved his experiment by lighting a large foundry with artificial gas. A great event in the history of science was the il- lumination of the Lyceum Theatre, London,

in 1803, by which it was first proved that the gas could be conveyed in pipes from one point to another. The first patent was ob- tained in 1804 and soon after this event the large cities were publicly lighted with gas.

$20,000-400 shares at $50 a share.

The first superintendent of the works was Samuel Croll, who was followed by Samuel Herman, Simon Kopp, John Schall and Jacob L. Kuehn.

Philip A. Small was for many years pres- ident of the company and was succeeded by David E. Small, who served until his death, when Edward Hersh was elected. The board of managers were John A. Weiser (who was treasurer for nearly thirty years) ; William H. Kurtz, W. Latimer Small, George S. Billmeyer, John G. Schmidt and Jacob L. Kuehn. Entirely new works have been put up since 1868, at a cost of $70,000, and dur- ing the summer of 1885 additional works were erected in an eligible spot, along the line of the Hanover & York Railway, at a cost of $40,000. An improved process of

The officers in 1907 were as follows : president, Grier Hersh; treasurer, John J. Frick; secretary, James H. Small: general manager, F. R. Smart, Jr. ; board of man- agers, E. K. McConkey, John C. Schmidt, George Small, Henry Nes, George S. Bill- meyer and Charles Kurtz. The capital stock is $600,000; number of consumers, 6,000 ; amount of gas made per year, 95,000,-

772

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

000 cubic feet. Forty miles of main have the construction of the York & Dallastown been laid by this company in the city of Street Railway and the York & Dover York. Street Railway. The road to Dallastown, a The York Street Railway Com- distance of seven miles, was opened July pany was chartered by the State 27, 1901. In the spring of 1902, the Red Lion & Windsor Street Railway was con-

The original board of directors structed from Dallastown, through Red Lion to Windsor. The line was completed to Dover and opened for travel, November 1901, and in 1902, Brookside Park, situated along the trolley line, half a mile southeast of Dover, was opened as a pleasure resort.

Street Railway. of Pennsylvania, February, 1886. was composed of Captain W. H. Lanius, W. Latimer Small, D. K. Trimmer, Colonel Levi Maish, Captain Frank Geise, Charles S. Weiser, Israel K. Ziegler. The company organized by the election of Captain Lanius as president, and Charles S. Weiser, treas- urer, and immediately laid plans for the con- struction of lines through the main streets of the town. September 30, the company commenced operating with two one-horse cars, one going west from Centre Square on Market Street to Belvidere Avenue, and the other west on Market Street to Penn, in Penn Street and West York Avenue to Linden. The same year, the line was con- structed from Centre Square eastward to Broad Street. It was not connected with the West Market Street line until after the market sheds were removed by authority of the mayor and first city councils, June, 1887. In 1888, a mile track was laid and put into operation on South George Street. Tracks were later constructed on South Queen, Cottage Place, North George, South Penn and Princess Streets.

Meantime, some of the cars were drawn by two horses. A line was laid to Highland Park in 1890. In August, 1892, the York Street Railway Company abandoned the use of horses, erected a power plant and began the operation of all cars by means of 'elec- tricity. This was a great improvement and facilitated rapid transit to various parts of the city. The success of the trolley lines in the city was fully appreciated by all enter- prising citizens and a desire was manifested for the extension of lines to the neighboring boroughs. The York County Traction Company was chartered by the State of New Jersey, June, 1900, for the purpose of build- ing suburban lines. The members of the board of directors at the time of incorpora- tion were Captain W. H. Lanius, president ; George P. Smyser, J. W. Steacy, Grier Hersh, George S. Billmeyer, W. F. Bay Stewart, of York, and W. A. Himes, of New Oxford.

March 2, 1901, a contract was made for

The York Haven line was completed as far as Emigsville, in 1903, and to York Haven in August, 1904. October 1, 1903, the Wrightsville & York Street Railway was constructed to within one mile of Hel- lam, when the severity of the weather pre- vented further work. In 1904, the line was completed to Wrightsville and put in op- eration May 21. Cold Spring Park, near Manchester borough, was opened in 1903.

In the spring of 1906, President Lanius, Directors Steacy, Billmeyer, Smyser and Himes sold out all of their interests in the property to Messrs. Brown Brothers & Com- pany, Bankers of New York and Philadel- delphia, Judge Stewart and Mr. Hersh re- taining their holdings.

The present board of directors is made up as follows: W. F. Bay Stewart, presi- dent; A. H. Hayward, vice president ; George S. Schmidt, secretary; Ellis S. Lewis, treasurer: David Young, Jr., general manager, of York, and directors George H. Frazier, Thomas F. Newhall, of Philadel- phia; David Young, Sr., Newark, N. J .; Grier Hersh, Baltimore; John C. Schmidt, and A. H. Hayward, York.

The new company has planned for the construction of a comprehensive system of city and suburban track, amounting to over seventy-five miles.

The Edison Electric Light, Heat

The and Power Company, of York, Edison. was chartered in 1899, when it purchased the stock of the West- inghouse Light, Heat and Power Company and the Edison Electric Light Company, both of York. This company existed until 1906 when its rights and interests were bought by the owners of the York County Traction Company. It has since remained a separate corporation with W. F. Bay Stewart, persident ; George S. Schmidt, sec-

773

THE CITY OF YORK

retary and treasurer. The capital stock is The other officers have remained the same $183,000, and the company owns a large as at the time of the organization. plant on North Water Street, which fur- nishes the city with light, a large number of factories with power, and heat to many pri- Office. vate residences, business houses and facto- ries

The government building at the Post northeast corner of Philadelphia and Beaver Streets, was completed in 1895. An appropriation of $80,- 000 was made by act of Congress May 26, 1890, while Colonel Levi Maish represented York County in that body. The sum of $24,000 was paid for the site. The first floor of the building is used by the post of- fice department and the second story by the United States revenue department. A com- plete account of the post offices and postal routes in York County will be found on page 589.

Within the recollection of the oldest citi- zens of York in 1907 the postoffice was kept at the following places: First, at the north- east corner of Water and Market Streets; second, at McGrath's Hotel on the site of the Rupp Building in Centre Square; third, in a stone building on the site of P. Wiest's Sons' store ; fourth, in the building on West Market Street next to the National Hotel; fifth, in a building which stood on the site of the County Court House: sixth, on the west side of North George Street, first door cepted the arc system for lighting the from corner building; seventh, in a building

immediately east of Trinity Church on West Market Street; eighth, in the rear of the Rupp building at the southwest angle of Centre Square : ninth, in the building at the northeast angle of Centre Square next to

Andrew Johnston, the first postmaster, was wounded at the battle of Paoli, under General Wayne.

David Small, first appointed in 1839. was the first newspaper man in the United States who held the office of postmaster. He received the appointment three times and served in all thirteen years.

Jonathan Jessop held the office the long- est, nearly nineteen years. He served as a lieutenant in Company B. One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Regiment, Pennsylva- nia Volunteers, and lost a leg at the siege of

The following places in York County

the alley to the rear of the Drovers and Me- chanics Bank in order to accommodate the have money order offices connected with increasing business of the company. Wil- postoffices, established at the dates herein liam S. Wanner was chosen vice president. given: York, July 1, 1865; Hanover, Au-

Plans to introduce electric lights into York were originated in 1884 when the Electric Light and Power Company of York was chartered by the State of West Virginia. The original officers were Geoffrey P. Yost, president ; Dr. John Weist, secretary, and Jacob H. Baer, treasurer. The company reorganized with the same officers and re- ceived another charter from the State of Pennsylvania in 1885, as the Edison Elec- tric Light Company, with a capital stock of $40,000. Originally the arc lamps were used. Under the new company the Edison incandescent lights were introduced. In December, 1887. soon after York was in- corporated, the Edison company received a contract to light the city. The capital stock has been increased to $80,000 and in 1893 to $250,000. In February, 1888, this com- pany absorbed the interests of the Peoples' Electric Light Company of York and ac-

city. A second charter was obtained by the Edison Electric Light Company in 1889. In June, 1892. a contract was received to furnish power to the York Street Railway Company.

The Merchants Light. Heat and Small's store, from which it was removed a in 1895 to the Federal building on North

The Power Company obtained Merchants. charter in 1900 and organized Beaver Street.

by electing Charles H. Bear, president; George C. Campbell, vice presi- dent ; Thomas B. Loucks, secretary : Harry Wasbers, treasurer. The capital stock was fixed at $150,000. The company established a plant in the southwestern section of the city. The amount of $200,000 has been expended for the construction of the building and sup- plying equipments. Light and heat have been furnished by this company to many consumers in York and power to many fac- tories. This company has a contract to light North York and West York boroughs. In 1907 a transforming plant was erected in Petersburg, being wounded by a shell.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

gust 6, 1866; Glen Rock, July 31, 1871; net profit of $3,000. The second exhibition Shrewsbury, July 31, 1871; West Bangor, was held in 1854 and resulted in a loss, the July 6, 1876; Wrightsville, August 15, 1881 ; receipts not covering the expenses by $110. Wellsville, August 7, 1882.

The money order system went into oper- ation in the United States in 1864. The postal note system was put into operation September 3, 1883.

York

The following is an accurate list of the names of all post-

Postmasters. masters at York under the

present system in order of succession, together with the dates of their appointment :

Andrew Johnston, February 16, 1790. James Edie, October 9, 1791. Robert Dunn, January 1, 1794. Jacob Spangler, January I, 1795.

Peter Spangler, December 14, 1812.

Peter Small. December 19, 1814.

Thomas McGrath, November 19, 1821.

Daniel Small, June 3, 1829. David Small, March 30, 1839.

George Upp, Jr., July 2, 184I. David Small, May 5, 1842. Michael May, April 3, 1849. John J. Cochran, September 25, 1850.

David Small, March 30, 1857. Alexander J. Frey, April 5, 1861. Jonathan Jessop, July 12, 1865. James Kell, February 19, 1884. James B. Small, April 17, 1888. Charles S. Weiser, January 24, 1892. Hiram Young, July 1, 1892. David H. Minnich, July 9, 1896. Augustus Loucks, November I. 1901. Samuel S. Lewis, February 7, 1906.

The growth of the business interests of York are shown in the statistics of the city Post Office. During the year 1895, when the present Federal building was first occu- pied, the postal business was conducted by twenty-one persons and postal supplies were sold to the amount of $43,384. During the year 1906 the sale of postal supplies amounted to $76,000. There are now fifty employees connected with the City Post Office. The rapid increase in the postal business at York seems to demand larger facilities.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 138

Author: Prowell, George R. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1372

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372