Mahon Haines built the Shoe House, York County's famed roadside attraction, to promote his chain of shoe stores and attract Lincoln Highway motorists off the busy road. "He began on a shoe string," the Saturday Evening Post said, "which he tied into a long string of shoe stores." The 75-year-old Shoe has served as a honeymoon place, an ice cream parlor and many other things. Today, it’s been re-laced into a work boot-shaped Vrbo vacation rental venue. Hometown History’s Jamie and Domi talk about this intriguing place inside and out in Episode 3.5.

Haines Shoe House is a one-of-a-kind roadside attraction in Pennsylvania, and Tom Davidson wanted to put an exclamation point on that. So he successfully applied for a state historical marker for the Shoe House. In an interview with Hometown History’s Jamie Noerpel and Dominish Marie Miller, he talks about how he did it and his long time interest in the Shoe House and the Lincoln Highway.

Mahon Haines built the Shoe House, York County's famed roadside attraction, to promote his chain of shoe stores and attract Lincoln Highway motorists off the busy road. "He began on a shoe string," the Saturday Evening Post said, "which he tied into a long string of shoe stores." The 75-year-old Shoe has served as a honeymoon place, an ice cream parlor and many other things. Today, it’s been re-laced into a work boot-shaped Vrbo vacation rental venue. Hometown History’s Jamie and Domi talk about this intriguing place inside and out in Episode 3.5.

What started as unsanctioned artwork, or even vandalism, now is a public art gallery located on Penn Street. In this Hometown History SHORT, Domi and Jamie discuss the cultural importance of this ever-changing art space.

he mid-1700s, the neighborhood west of the Codorus was tagged Bottstown. Mr. Bott wanted his town to compete with York, over there to the east. But York got the head start, annexed Bott’s town in the 1880s and, over time, drew much of the city’s investment and attention. Now there’s a plan that features the best things about Penn Street, an important street in these neighborhoods on the Codorus’ west bank. The plan takes into account the Penn Street corridor’s challenges. And searches for its promise. Jamie and Domi will tell stories about Penn Street that cover both.

Signs about York County history are everywhere. Yes, everywhere a sign. And contra to the 5 Man Electrical Band’s 1970s protest anthem, history signs don’t block out the scenery. And no, they don’t break your mind. They help us to understand the landscape. They inform you about the people, places and moments that have shaped our county, past and present. We are blessed with Keystone markers, part of the Good Road program from a century ago. And those prestigious blue-and-gold Pennsylvania markers. The Haines Shoe House will unveil one this summer. Wayside markers that serve as outdoor storyboards. Hanover just installed a score of those. And ghost signs that point to a history that is fast fading. Hometown History’s March episode will cover local history markers and how they help make sense of our surroundings. Yes, everywhere a history sign. And might there be more.

Signs about York County history are everywhere. Yes, everywhere a sign. And contra to the 5 Man Electrical Band’s 1970s protest anthem, history signs don’t block out the scenery. And no, they don’t break your mind. They help us to understand the landscape. They inform you about the people, places and moments that have shaped our county, past and present. We are blessed with Keystone markers, part of the Good Road program from a century ago. And those prestigious blue-and-gold Pennsylvania markers. The Haines Shoe House will unveil one this summer. Wayside markers that serve as outdoor storyboards. Hanover just installed a score of those. And ghost signs that point to a history that is fast fading. Hometown History’s March episode will cover local history markers and how they help make sense of our surroundings. Yes, everywhere a history sign. And might there be more.

Veteran journalist Neil King Jr. wrote a memoir, “American Ramble: A Walk of Memory and Renewal,” about his 330-mile walk from Washington, D.C., to New York City. King discusses his journey with Jamie Noerpel and Dominish Miller.

In the spring of 2021, King embarked on his journey in search of a slice of early America. York County was on his short list of stops. He did his homework and made it a destination. The former Wall Street Journal reporter passed through the county, up from Maryland and along the rail trail to York. He enjoyed conversation at York mayor Michael Helfrich’s fire pit, took in Ophelia Chambliss’ art exhibit featuring people who help shape community, toured the restoration of historically Black Lebanon Cemetery with Samantha Dorm, and squatted on an outcrop in the Susquehanna River with Paul Nevin to view early Native American rock carvings, called petroglyphs.

In paternship with York College

Season 3, episode 2 EXTRA

Interview with Lou Lavetan (Leader in the Four Chaplains Memorial) and

Paul Schiffbauer Jr. (Marketing consultant with a deep interest in the story of the Four Chaplains).

It’s Feb. 3, 1943, 80 years ago. Midway through World War II. The torpedo strikes. The troop transport Dorchester goes black. Confusion reigns. But four chaplains become light in darkness. York rabbi and Chaplain Alexander D. Goode gives his gloves to a soldier. He has another pair, he says. Only he doesn’t. He’s not leaving the ship. Life jackets are gone. Goode and three fellow chaplains give their life jackets to panicked soldiers. The ship is going down. Soldiers on lifeboats look back. The Four Chaplains are singing and praying. In English, Latin, Hebrew. Their arms are locked. Hope amid despair. The Four Chaplains go under with 668 others. But 230 survive to tell about the chaplains’ valor, a lesson for the ages. And for us to consider: Will our valor shine when our courage is tested?

It’s Feb. 3, 1943, 80 years ago. Midway through World War II. The torpedo strikes. The troop transport Dorchester goes black. Confusion reigns. But four chaplains become light in darkness. York rabbi and Chaplain Alexander D. Goode gives his gloves to a soldier. He has another pair, he says. Only he doesn’t. He’s not leaving the ship. Life jackets are gone. Goode and three fellow chaplains give their life jackets to panicked soldiers. The ship is going down. Soldiers on lifeboats look back. The Four Chaplains are singing and praying. In English, Latin, Hebrew. Their arms are locked. Hope amid despair. The Four Chaplains go under with 668 others. But 230 survive to tell about the chaplains’ valor, a lesson for the ages. And for us to consider: Will our valor shine when our courage is tested?

Season 3, 2023

3.1 - William C. Goodridge: “One of the coolest guys you'd ever want to learn about": https://youtu.be/kBFID_BfFlE