AREA HISTORY:  York Furnace, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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YORK FURNACE – Page 744

This place as a postoffice and business center of the lower end of the county, has 
long been well known.  John Bair, Esq., who has been prominently identified with its 
interest, was born in Lancaster County, May 25, 1816, and came to York Furnace in 
1845, to engage in the manufacture of iron, which interest is described elsewhere in  
this work.  He also began the mercantile business, and in 1850 added the burning of 
lime as a fertilizer on an extensive scale, and the manufacture of lumber at his own 
saw-mills at this place.  In 1855 he began dealing in grain.  Mr. Bair was married, 
in 1855, to Susan Groff, daughter of David Groff, of Lancaster County.  They have 
two children, Robert Cobeen and Lizzie.  R. C. Bair, the son, is now a partner with 
his father.  The article on the “Scotch-Irish,” though not especially prepared for 
this work, was kindly furnished by him for publication.  It is a well prepared 
paper, and contains much valuable information.

John Bair & Co. are at present doing an extensive business of a varied character.  
They own a large number of canal-boats which run on the Susquehanna Canal, that 
passes
 York Furnace.  A saw-mill run by water power, and one by steam power, are generally 
in operation.  This firm owns also a store of general merchandise, and deals in 
coal, lumber, grain, phosphates, railroad ties, bark and other products.

The hotel is kept by Elias W. Urey.  Mr. Bair is the owner of 2,500 acres of land, 
most of which lies in York County. 


York Furnace Bridge

The Susquehanna River, at this point, is quite narrow.  For several miles up the 
river from here it is very rocky, most of the water passes down on the Lancaster 
County side in a rapid current.  In 1853 a company was formed, of which Mr. Bair was 
president and William Campbell secretary, with a capital stock of $40,900.  A pier 
bridge, on the Burr plan, was built across the Susquehanna consisting of four spans 
on the east side over the main channel, and one span on the west side.  The bridge 
was commenced in 1855 and completed in 1857.  It was nearly completed earlier and 
used from October, 1855, to April 5, 1856, when the superstructure of the four spans 
on the east side was blown over by a wind storm and went down the river.  It was 
rebuilt at a cost of $20,000.  It was finished to within a few planks of the last 
span when the entire bridge was taken away by an ice-flood February 7, 1857, and has 
never since been rebuilt.