Historic York: From Ag to Industry, York Has a Long History of Innovation

BY BRENDAN SALYARDS | MANAGER, ECONOMIC INITIATIVES

Since York’s Founding in 1741, the White Rose City has been a hub for industry and innovation. From its early days as a market-town at the center of a thriving agricultural community, York evolved into a center of innovation during the early industrial revolution. By the early 20th century, York was a manufacturing powerhouse that provided the material to win two world wars.

The legacy of York County’s Agricultural and Industrial Heritage lives on today. York County is second only to Lancaster in its number of farms, and the manufacturing sector employs 18% of York County’s workforce, far outpacing the state and national statistic. With this in mind, it’s worth reviewing a few of the things invented right here in York, PA.

1765 - The York Fair

Under a charter granted by Thomas Penn, the first York Fair was held eleven years prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Originally held on the grounds of the town commons, which later became Penn Park, this is purportedly the first fair to be organized in the New World and the ancestor of America’s much beloved state fairs.

1820 - York Imperial Apple

Experimenting with tree grafts which he acquired from John Kline, of Hellam Township, Johnathan Jessop developed a new variety of apple – the York Imperial which is distinct for its ability to be kept through the winter. This fact resulted in Andrew Jackson Downing, a noted landscape architect, granting the apple the moniker “Imperial of Keepers”.

1825 - 1st Iron Steam Boat

Launched in November 1825, the “Codorus” was the first iron-hulled ship built in America. The 60-foot vessel was designed to carry lumber down the notoriously shallow Susquehanna River. Despite several successful runs, the ship was only operable for few months out of the year and was soon sold. According to reporting by Stephen Smith, the Codorus eventually made its way to North Carolina before record of the vessel is lost to history.

1830 - 1st Coal Burning Locomotive

In 1830, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad announced a competition for the design of a coal burning locomotive with a first prize award of $4,000 (in today’s dollars that’s well over $100,000). Davis, who had designed the engine for the Codorus, designed and built the “York” – a 3.5 ton locomotive capable of pulling 15 tons at speeds up to 35 miles an hour. A replica of the York is on display at the York County History Center’s Agricultural and Industrial Museum.

1838 - The York Plan

As early as 1938, S. Forry Laucks began preparations for what would become the York Plan an early coordinated industrial policy which made spread government work to a variety of local companies via subcontracting. The success of the transition from civilian to military production in York was lifted as a national best practice.

1839 - Haupt Truss Bridge

Developed while he was serving as the engineer for overseeing the construction of the York and Wrightsville Railroad, this innovative design received a patent. Herman Haupt would go on to serve a chief engineer of the Pennsylvania Railroad and pioneered the use of railroads for military purposes during the Civil War.

CITATION: Sheets, G. R. (1991). Made in York: A survey of the Agricultural & Industrial Heritage of York County, Pennsylvania. Agricultural & Industrial Museum of York County.

PHOTO CREDIT: York County Postcards Collection, York County History Center, York, Pennsylvania, United States. https://www.yorkhistorycenter.org/ library-2/online-library-collections

Through murals with tours, lectures, workshops, exhibits, research facilities and living history programs, the York County History Center continues collecting, preserving and interpreting more than 250 years of York County’s rich and diverse history. The Center includes the Historical Society Museum and Library/Archives, Agricultural and Industrial Museum, Colonial Complex, The Bonham House, and Fire Museum.

York County History Center | yorkhistorycenter.org