York was a center of the air-cooling and air conditioning industry in the early decades of the 20th century.

Founded in 1874 as an ice-making company, the company grew rapidly, eventually building this plant where air-cooling systems were manufactured.

In 1899, York Manufacturing was the second-largest employer in York County.

Workers for the firm had their own passenger railroad stop at the factory.

By 1917, this company had 50% of the ice-making manufacturing business in the United States.

In 1937, the company advertised their boast of installing the world’s largest air-conditioning system for the nation’s Capital Building and the House and Senate Office Buildings in Washington D.C.

Although York Manufacturing now exists in another location under another corporate name, some of these buildings still stand.

A wonderfully-written, readable and illustrated history of this company is found in a history blog by a retired engineer – it can be found on-line.

This postcard photograph was published by “Fair and Square Bargain House” of York sometime in the 1920’s.

The postcard was given to Harry Oleweiler by his mother; it was not mailed.

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