Then & Now: Wagner’s Main Street

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William Wagner’s 38 watercolors contained in the Views in the Borough of York & Vicinity provides an accurate window into the past as it highlights how York looked nearly 200 years ago. I have attempted to match Wagner’s various 1830 paintings with their modern Google Street Views counterparts below.

South side of Main Street, east of Beaver

View from the northwest corner of Beaver and Market Streets showing the German Reformed Church where General Washington worshiped during a visit to York; also showing the Colonel Hartley home, now the site of Trinity United Church of Christ. At the left is the old White Hall Hotel, in later times the National Hotel. Click here to see where this is in York.

North side of Main Street, west of Beaver

View from the southeast corner of Beaver and Market Streets. This picture shows the north side of West Market Street from Beaver Street. The corner house on the right was Anthony Wayne’s headquarters. Click here to read about the ghost of General ‘Mad Anthony’ Wayne here. The home of Major John Clark, an aide on General Washington’s staff, is on the extreme left. Click here to see where this is.

South side of Main Street, west of Beaver

View from the northeast corner of Beaver and Market Streets. The corner building on the left during the Revolution was occupied by the Hall and Sellers printing press, where Continental Currency and the proceedings of Congress were printed. The corner at the extreme right was the headquarters of Anthony Wayne. The lamp bracket on the right can be seen today at this very corner. Click here to see where this is.

North side of Main Street, east of Beave

View from the southeast corner of Beaver and Market Streets. The building on the left is the old White Hall or National Hotel. The full three-storied house to the east still stands. Click here to see where this is.

Main Street, east of Water (now Pershing Avenue), south side

The large spire is the German Reformed Church with the Christ Lutheran spire to the right of this in the distance. The rack holds iron kettles, pots, and pans for sale. The building to the left is the Plough Tavern. Click here to see where this is.

Main Street, west of Water, south side

The south side of West Market Street between Water Street (now Pershing Avenue) and the bridge. Today, the Colonial Court House replica stands on the right where P. Ziegler’s corner store is shown. Click here to see where this is.

Main Street, east of Water north side

View from the southwest corner of Water and Market Streets. The corner house is the PloughTavern with the stable in the rear. The second house, with the small window in the gable, was occupied by General Gates while he lived in York. The third house from the corner was the home of George Updegraff, a noted Quaker. Click here to see where this is.

Main Street, west of Water, north side

View showing the beautiful covered bridge across the Codorus Creek. On the far right is the location of one of the first two lots granted in the proposed new town of York after Cookson’s survey of 1741. It was the choice of Ulrich Whissler, one of Cookson’s chain bearers. It is now the site of the Colonial Court House replica. Click here to see where this is.

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Here’s your chance to own some of Wagner’s work

I am currently selling 18″ x 24″ matte prints of his beautiful 1821 map of Lancaster County for the low price of $35 with free shipping and handling. It highlights the various townships, waterways, rivers, turnpikes, roads, mill sites with owner names, furnaces, and churches throughout Lancaster County.

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