Workers' Homes

Workers' Homes. . , The small neighborhood surrounding the rail expansion primarily developed during the years between 1860-1890. As industrial pursuits located along the active rail corridor developed residential tracts filled with small pockets of working class housing stock followed. The neighborhood was defined by activity along the paths of the creek and the Northern Central Railroad., Residential, institutional and educational related buildings in the neighborhood contained late Victorian architectural elements including bracketed cornices, cantilevered oriel windows, mansard roofs, and window lintels indicative of the time period. Pictured is a row of one and a half story, brick, gable roof attached houses which were located at 322-334 North Court Street., A number of small businesses arose to sustain the railroad. In support of these businesses, residences were built close to their place of employment. Occupations of the residents varied including blacksmiths, coach makers, machinists and chair makers., By the time of the 1900 census, there were 464 manufacturers in York employing 7,687 men and women producing goods worth $12 million. Due to the presence of the railroad, larger manufacturers were able to call York home because of the ability to transport finished goods. Keeping rail operational was seen as vital at all costs., A stage coach factory, owned by G.W. Hoover, and twelve small houses including those pictured were constructed along North Court Street, then known as North Front Street. The single block long Washington Avenue was constructed connecting North George and North Front Streets., At that time the neighborhood of cottages, shanties, and log homes was also called "The Swamp" because it had been built on a flood plain of the Codorus Creek. The area was inundated with flood waters multiple times including the floods of 1920 and 1933. During the flood of August 1933, it rained for four days and four nights causing the Codorus to overflow its banks. Two people lost their lives and thousands were left homeless. Property damage exceeded $4.2 million.