News update April 18, 2024

Plight of 100-year-old bridge creates concerns

Carolyn Hoffman/Staff Reporter

Curt Werner/Dillsburg Banner

Old Cabin Hollow Road bridge, a one-lane structure built in 1918 owned by the county, may close if it is damaged and deemed unsafe for traffic.

It might happen in a month or a year. It could be tomorrow. “It” is the permanent closing of the Old Cabin Hollow Road bridge, which will create a massive ripple effect through four municipalities whenever it happens.

The issue begins with the bridge itself. A lovely one-lane stone bridge built in 1918, the bridge has been hit multiple times by vehicles too large or cars traveling too fast to make the narrow crossing. Today, the bridge is in a precarious situation. One more hit, one more bit of damage will make it unsafe for all traffic. Although large trucks are the major concern, even cars and commuters traveling the route could damage it, especially if the reports of speeding vehicles along the road have any validity.

The bridge is owned by the county, which has designed a two-lane bridge to replace it. PennDoT says any replacement bridge must be two lanes, as there's too much traffic along the road to keep it a single lane. But a new bridge won't be stone and it won't be lovely to look at. The county is ready to put the bids out to replace the bridge, but this is where the difficulties begin.

For the rest of the story see the April 18, 2024 edition.

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Festival draws crowd despite blustry, cool, wet weather

Mary Lou Bytof/Staff Reporter

Curt Werner/Dillsburg Banner

The Regimental Pipes and Drums parades from the courtyard to the main stage to welcome the Saturday visitors.

More than 1,200 visitors braved the occasional rain and nearly constant blustery winds to attend the annual Celtic Festival held at Dills Tavern Friday evening and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

“That [attendance] was good given the weather,” Northern York County Historical and Preservation Society (NYCHAPS) president Doug Riley said on Monday. “It was real Irish weather,” he continued, “blustery, cool and wet.”

It is fitting for Dillsburg to hold a Celtic festival since its early settlers were of Scots-Irish ancestry.

“We are standing on the epicenter of Matthew Dill's American Dream, a 500- acre property purchased in 1742 that would see the gradual development of an entire thriving community,” Riley said about Dills Tavern and its founder who is the namesake of the town of Dillsburg.

Visitors who wanted to get out of the wind or rain could gather in the Wheelwright Shop on the tavern property. There they could watch local masters of crafts of yesteryear. Jason Metzger demonstrated blacksmithing, Jeff Keyser showed his skill in coopering or barrel-making, and Clair Zeiders exhibited his woodworking projects.

For the rest of the story see the April 18, 2024 edition.

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Carroll Township

Zoning input discussed

Kristen Stagg/Staff Reporter

At the Carroll Township special meeting on April 11, the board of supervisors entertained public comment on potentially rezoning the industrial section bordering U.S. Rt. 15 near the Northern York County schools. The property had been proposed for warehouse development twice, most recently in extensive hearings for conditional use that was eventually withdrawn.

Township manager and zoning hearing officer Brandon Slatt and engineer Phil Brath both offered input.

Resident Chelsea Markel said, “Rezoning the land from industrial to commercial would make a difference.”

Slatt responded, “Silver Spring Township [in Mechanicsburg] rezoned from industrial to commercial. It was brought before the courts in Pennsy Supply vs. Silver Spring Township in 2015. In that case, the township was found at fault and required to change the zoning back.”

For the rest of the story see the April 18, 2024 edition.

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