York Town of history

First hall – “About 1812 Peter Wilt (owner of The Golden Lamb tavern on East Market Street) built a hall.

Described in an 1813 petition as "a large and new courthouse nearly completed," the building had replaced the first courthouse, constructed during the decade of the 1730s.

First coal – In 1818, having heard about “stone coal,” Wilt had a half of ton of it unloaded in front of his tavern. “Wilt invited his friends and neighbors into his tavern to see how he would start a fire,” Prowell wrote.

First telegraph – The first telegraph line extended from Washington to Baltimore in 1844, and the first message sent was about President James Polk’s election.

By 1850 the line reached York, “and in September of that year, the first message was received in the York office,” Prowell wrote in another early Dispatch story. “Ovid Buckley was the first operator.

First motor – In 1853 Joel M. Ettinger of York made a small electric motor and exhibited it at the county fair.

In August 1862, for the very first time, it was the town house.

A three-man committee was created in 1863 to survey the structure for repairs, but there seemed to be no further action taken.

At the meeting of March 22, 1869, the electorate voted for the purchase of the courthouse and the old prison "the Gaol" from the county.

Moody, the son-in-law of the late Nathanial Grant Marshall, had delivered his address on the 20th anniversary of Marshall's 1874 dedication.

First electricity – Until 1881, “electricity was for practical purposed was utilized in York by the telegraph only,” said The Dispatch.

The early account of electricity in York says six Yorkers organized a company and procured a charter from West Virginia to incorporate the York Overland Telephone, Telegraph and Electric Light Co. in the fall of 1882.

According to York author Betty Peckham, Holtzapple “obtained the materials for making oxygen, chlorate of potash and black oxide of manganese,” and some equipment on March 6, 1885. “The doctor rigged up the apparatus and heated the chemicals over the spirit lamp.

22, 1889, reports “A distinct novelty in flour bags that is now being used by P. A. & S. Small, proprietors of the Codorus Flour Mill, York, for the purpose of bringing publicity and popularity to their brand of Pearlicross patent winter wheat flour.

22, 1894, dedication of the town hall following new improvements to the building undertaken by the York Association.

First Olympic winner – York Barbell lifter Tony Terlazzo took the Gold in 1936.

10, 1945, brothers Ralph and Charles Senft first started selling what many Yorkers remember as York’s best potato chip.

First escalator – According to “A Dynamic Community Forges Ahead” published by the Chamber of Commerce in 1956, it was installed in the Bon-Ton in 1956.

In early 2009, the York County Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Committee was formed and, on June 2, 2009, the York County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution supporting the State Commission and its work to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War in Virginia.