08/12/2024
100 Freedom & Dignity Trail Sites in York City
🟪 Downtown East 🟪
🔸YWCA York. 320 E. Market Street. A long-standing, trailblazing human and civil rights rights institutional leader, YWCA York is a branch of the national organization, Young Women's Christian Association.
Much of YWCA York’s support of LGBTQ+ individuals stems from their longtime Associate Executive Director Peg (Stoppard) Welch, an LGBTQ+ rights activist and former President of York Area Lambda, a local LGBTQ+ rights organization. YWCA York hosted organizational meetings for York Area Lambda and the Pride Festival of Central PA, performances by the Women’s Theatre Guild, and social events like a Valentine’s Day Square Dance.
🔸YWCA Cafeteria
🔸The Bond Building
🔸Home of Horace Bonham
🔸Presbyterian Church Graveyard
🔸Martin Library
🔸Goodridge
🔸First Black Church
🔸The Reliance Line Train Station
🟪 Royal Square 🟪
🔸Former City Human Relations Commission Offices: 221-225 East King Street: https://www.witnessingyork.com/mapping-meaning/controversial-mayors-office-becomes-latino-center/
🟪 Far East Side 🟪
🔸 Childhood Residence of Arthur Evans, 120 N. Harrison Street. Arthur Evans (1942-2011) was a longtime LGBTQ+ rights activist. After growing up in York, Evans eventually relocated to New York, where he became involved with the Gay Liberation Front and later cofounded the Gay Activists Alliance. In November 1970, Evans and fellow activists Dick Leitsch and Marty Robinson, appeared on The Dick Cavett Show, one of the first instances of a nationally syndicated television program inviting LGBTQ+ rights activists for national dialogue. Later, Evans relocated to the West Coast, where he formed the Weird Sisters Partnership commune in Washington state and wrote his widely circulated 1978 book _Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture_. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Evans_(author)
🟣Albemarle Park: The Garden of Serenity and Hope: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=758298316338853&id=100064760738592
🟣York Community Access Television Studios, 122 S. Lehman Street. York Community Access Television (YCAT) was a local public access station which aired the program Gay York! in the late 1990s. Randy Blymire debuted the 30-minute show in August 1997 to highlight local LGBTQ+ resources and to increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals in the larger York community. After airing an episode in 1998 featuring a series of same s*x kisses, the studio received extensive backlash and decided to relocate the show to a later time slot before eventually canceling the program altogether. In 1999, however, the show briefly returned to the air. YCAT has since become White Rose Community Television.
🟪 The Square 🟪
🔸ANCESTORS AND ORIGINS. You are standing at a crossroads of the Monocacy Road, the old Native American road bisecting York County, from Hanover to the southwest to Wrightsville to the northeast.
Thousands of years before these streets had names, before European explorers paddled and trekked here, this was the land of waterways, rocks, trees, wildlife and the Susquehannocks, the earliest known inhabitants.
The Susquehannocks named and worshipped waterways, the Susquehanna and the Codorus, meaning run with the rapids.
John Smith’s voyage to the Chesapeake and mouth of the Susquehanna.
Extermination of Susquehannocks through disease and war.
🔸THE GREAT LAW OF PEACE AND FOUR AMERICAN GOSPELS. High quality haloed replicas of Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, and the Gettysburg Address. Explore Smithsonian-approved regulations so the Center can borrow and display an original copy of the Articles of Confederation from the National Archives from time to time. Explore the connections to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Nation) Confederacy and its Great Law of Peace, Benjamin Franklin’s Plan of Union of 1754, and Franklin’s Articles of Confederation of 1775. John Dickinson’s 1776 Articles of Confederation, which included federal civil rights protections, borrowed heavily from Franklin’s work.
🔸🔸 CREATION OF A NATION. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: Thomas Jefferson trekking through and staying in York County — Hanover, York, Wrightsville on old Monocacy Road — on his way to write the Declaration of Independence. York’s James Smith — signer of Declaration of Independence and Pennsylvania Constitution.
The Declaration of Independence derailed Dickinson’s document because the Declaration called for freeing us from Great Britain, without addressing the more difficult issues of defining federal power or organizing a government. The York drafted and adopted Articles of Confederation of 1777 was the nation’s first Constitution and a necessary forerunner to the Constitution. Jefferson trekked through and stayed in York County on his way to Philadelphia, where he drafted the Declaration of Independence. Lincoln stopped at Hanover Junction and stopped and spoke in Hanover on his way to deliver the Gettysburg Address.
🔸 9 Months in York Town. Lafayette and the Toast. First treaty with France. First Thanksgiving Proclamation.
🔸 THE PARADOX OF LIBERTY AND WHAT IS A CITIZEN? Brief history of slavery and indentured servitude. Declaration of Independence uses words “inherent and unalienable” to describe the rights of men. The final text of the Declaration takes out the word “inherent.” The Declaration uses the phrases “one people”, “mankind”, “all men”, “People”, and “the good People of these Colonies.” York’s Articles of Confederation uses the phrase “free inhabitants.” Pennsylvania becomes first state of the union to pass a law gradually outlawing slavery (1780). The U.S. Constitution of 1787 uses the phrase “We the people.” The original Constitution defines blacks as 3/5ths of a citizen for determining representation, and only white, land-owning men can vote. Definition of “citizen” and post-Civil War Amendments to the Constitution (13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments).
🟪 Downtown Beyond The Square 🟪
🔸 QUEST FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. York County’s early diverse Protestant and deistic roots — Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Methodists, Brethren, Baptists, Quakers, Amish, Jewish, influx of Catholicism, later offshoots, and today’s burgeoning diversity.
🔸 Quaker Meeting House
🔸 Quaker Meeting House Graveyard
Of about 85 known Underground Railroad conductors and station masters in York County, a substantial number were Blacks (32 or so) and Quakers (27 or so).
The key word is “known.” The true total number of conductors is likely over a hundred and will never be known, for at least three reasons.
One, the under-representation of conductors or helper heroes who were females. Most Underground Railroad accounts only mention the man of the household.
But no man operates in a vacuum. The true impact and influence of wives, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, daughters, and nieces on the Underground Railroad in our region or any region are rarely documented.
Two, families and extended families. As Jim McClure, long-time York County historian, writes, “working on the Underground Railroad was a family affair. Children, too.” Note that in the 19th century, houses were chock-full of family members and often close family relatives lived next door or on the same block.
Third, silent partners.
It’s inconceivable that they or any conductor or agent operated without the active participation or at least the tacit approval of their fellow churchmen and churchwomen, friends, “above ground” railroad directors, business associates and/or employees.
The often clandestine network was interdependent, multi-modal, clever, slick and vast.
It also was brave. Risking livelihoods, lives and limbs throughout and in all three corners of York County, family and individual freedom fighters linked together to make the Underground Railroad sync and chug north.
And it was diverse. Conductors included Black freedmen and women, “[w]hite families. Quakers. Scots-Irish. Germans.” (McClure).
Of diverse hues, conductors were Reformed Protestants, African Methodist Episcopalians, Methodist Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Swiss Mennonites and secular humanists.
Mingus notes, “The conductors and waystation agents in York County were an interactive, inter-connected network of Black and white, young and old, rich and poor, powerful and lowly, male and female, religious and non-believers.”
The Underground Railroad was our nation’s first integrated civil rights movement. York and Lancaster Counties, and other Pennsylvania border counties, were in the middle of the heat and the thick of that movement.
🟣THE SECOND AMERICAN REVOLUTION. “The Great Commoner” Thaddeus Stevens begins his professional career in York at the York Academy. Thaddeus Stevens as champion of public schools and the oppressed. Underground Railroad county-wide: William Goodridge, Osborne Perry and John Brown’s raid. Samuel Berry bought his and his family’s freedom in northern Maryland before moving to Shrewsbury, where he became an important conductor of the Underground Railroad and was beaten for his activism. William C. Goodridge House, store and trains.
Wright’s Mansion, Wrightsville. Mifflin House. Samuel Willis House. Kirk-Griest house, 322 West Market (Griest was a Quaker and helpful friend of URR traffic northward up Newberry Street onto Sprenkle Farm and onto Lewisberry).
Site of former Jacob Wirt House in Hanover. Fugitive Slave Act and Prigg vs Pennsylvania (facts of this landmark case of 1842 originated in York County).
Young industrialist phenom A.B. Farquhar and Surrender of York during Civil War. First battle on free soil —Battle of Hanover. Burning of Wrightsville Bridge.
🔸Union Lutheran Church, 408 W. Market:
https://www.gaychurch.org/find_a_church/
🔸Heidelberg United Church of Christ, 47 West Philadelphia: https://www.gaychurch.org/find_a_church/
🔸St. John’s Episcopal Church, 140 N. Beaver: https://www.gaychurch.org/find_a_church/
🟣Cherry Lane Park, 21 W. Market Street
Cherry Lane Park is a small park located in downtown York.
🔸Cherry Lane was the site of the first York Equality Fest. In 2014, following the legalization of same-s*x marriage in Pennsylvania, organizers decided to host a celebration which recognized diversity within the York community. During the inaugural event, approximately 1,000 residents packed into Cherry Lane to celebrate equality. After the success of the event, in 2015, York Equality Fest relocated to the parking lot of the Bond building at the corner of East King Street and South Queen Street.
🔸An office adjacent to Cherry Lane also was the site of the IDEAS Center.
🔸Cherry Lane also was the site for a vigil for the nightclub massacre in Florida.
🟣Marketview Arts: Site of historic event partnering over 50 organizations for LGBT+ equality and to ban conversion therapy.
🟣Current City Hall: 101 South George Street.
🔸In 20 , Mayor C.Kim Bracey extended health benefits to city employees in same-s*x unions.
🔸 On , 2023, Mayor Michael Helfrich signed into law York City’s ban on the discredited practice of so-called “conversion therapy.”
🟣York City Council Chambers: 101 South George Street
🔸On August 15, 2023, York City Council, by a 3-to-1 vote, passed a ban on so-called “conversion therapy.” Joining 12 other Pennsylvania municipalities, York’s ordinance protects youth mental health by banning the harmful, thoroughly discredited practice of so-called “conversion therapy.”
York became the first municipality in its immediate region (York, Dauphin, Lancaster, Adams, Cumberland and Franklin Counties) to achieve this.
Madam President Sandie Walker ran a civil, professional and excellent meeting, a Master Class on democracy-in-action. Councilman Lou Rivera proposed the legislation. Councilwoman Betsy Buckingham joined Sandie and Lou in an affirmative vote.
Moving speakers spoke in favor of the legislation, including Clare Twomey, Carla Christopher, Joslin Love Kearse, Donald J Knaub Sipho Knick-Ndlovu Melanie Yan, Adam David Jones and Manuel Gomez.
🟣Guerrilla Gay Bar York, 19 N. George Street
Guerrilla Gay Bar York is an LGBTQ+ Facebook group which hosts monthly events at different bars throughout York. York is one of several U.S. cities which had a “Guerrilla Gay Bar,” a concept that emerged from San Francisco in the 1990s to allow LGBTQ+ communities to congregate at non-LGBTQ+ bar spaces. Following the closure of the last LGBTQ+ bar in York County, Altland’s Ranch, in 2016, organizers created this Facebook group in October 2017. The group visited a new bar every second Saturday of each month and does not post information until the day of the event. The first event was held at this location, Revival Social Club, in October 2017.
🟣Town Tavern, 41 North George: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/0be994def02040d78d7bd5c6595a6ea0
🟣The Handsome Cab, 106 North George: https://www.yorkpa.org/blog/post/york-county-welcomes-the-lgbtq-community/
🟣York County Courthouse: The first same-s*x union in York County was certified here in 20 .
🟣York Revolution Ballpark, North George Street. From Explore York: “Every year, York Revolution holds a Pride Night in June. The night starts off with a Pride Parade in the ballpark, followed by presentations, performances, and loads of fun. The team also wears Pride-themed jerseys for the night! All throughout the season, the Revs hold exciting events at each one of their games. There's fun to be had by everyone -- all are welcome!” https://www.yorkpa.org/blog/post/york-county-welcomes-the-lgbtq-community/
🟣Family First Health: pioneering work in treating people with HIV/AIDS
🟣Former City Hall: 50 West King Street. Here, in 1991, Mayor William J. Althaus
🟣Residence of Randy Blymire, 131 S. Beaver Street: Randolph “Randy” Blymire (1954-2005) was a lifelong York resident, LGBTQ+ rights activist, founder of Gay York Productions, and longtime member of York Community Access Television (YCAT). Through his involvement with YCAT, Blymire hosted the public cable program Gay York! and produced shows for PFLAG York. Blymire was a tireless activist who joined York Area Lambda (formerly York Support), advocated for the passage of York’s anti-discrimination ordinance in 1993, organized the Gay and Le***an Short Film Festival at the Capitol Theatre in the 1990s, and designed Pride Month window displays at Martin Library in the 2000s.
🟪South-side Neighborhoods🟪
🟣Red-lining
🟣 Penn Park. Later, EqualityFest moved to Penn Park, the event’s home from 2016 to 2019.
🟣Current City Human Relations Commission offices: 101 South George Street
West Side
🟣GUSH then OPEN (Ordinary People, Extraordinary Needs) of Cavalry Presbyterian Church, 495 West Market Street. GUSH was an informal organization of gay men who were trying to care for other gay men who were struggling with various stages of AIDS. Few outside the gay community wanted to go near them in the late 1980s and into the 1990s. These men needed a place to meet and organize in the west end of town, so a new minister to town offered the church’s dank, moldy church basement.
Beginning around 2008 at 495 West Market, OPEN provided medical and financial/ prescription assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS. Eventually Family Health took over OPEN.
The York Council of Churches operated on the first floor of 495 West Market.
🟣Eventually, GUSH rented space on the 2nd floor of a Victorian house at 105 South Duke Streer, at the corner of Duke and King. GUSH provided medical and financial/ prescription assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS. Eventually Family Health took it over.
🟣14 Karat: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/0be994def02040d78d7bd5c6595a6ea0
Opening in 1985, the 14 Karat was in the same block as Cavalry Presbyterian Church, the home of the York Council of Churches, GUSH, and OPEN.
🟣 South George
🔸Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York, 925 S. George Street, Open and Affirming. The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York is a longstanding LGBTQ+ affirming church in York. The congregation originated as the Unitarian Society of York in October 1954 and met at several locations over the years, including around the corner at 49 E. Springettsbury Ave. from 1972 through the 1990s, before moving to this location in 1999.
🔸 Carriage House Library. In the 1990s, the congregation hosted MOIRA, an LGBTQ+ youth support group. Since 2003, PFLAG York, a local chapter of the national LGBTQ+ organization, has held their monthly meetings in the church’s Carriage House Library. The site has hosted charity benefits, drag performances, discos, and themed parties, in particular Halloween parties which became must-attend events.
