Community Building

In 1926 the Penn Common Community Association dedcated this building that now stands unused near College Avenue, across from William Penn High School. Among the 500 people attending the event were prominent citizens and a Civil War veteran. It was named The Penn-Coates Memorial Buiding and intended for public use.

The18 by 20 foot building has a basement and an upper floor.There were two columns at the doorway, seen in a news photo of the day.The upper room was to beused as a rest and reading room. The officer on duty at the commons would have a desk and phone.  

"It is of Georgian design by James H. McClymont, architect, who contributed his work to the association. The approximate value of the building is $20,000," the York Dispatch said.

Materials and other needs were provided by local businesses and citizens. The glass for the now boarded windows was provided by J. Horace Rudy. F. M. Dyer did the ceiling decorations, stone was donasted by Mahlon Haines and the slate roof by Kottcamp and Sons.

Attached to the community building were two bronze tablets. One honored John Penn and John Coates, who donated Penn Common to York in 1816. The other honored soldiers who camped on the grounds. One of the dedication day guests was 88 year old Frank Ginter, a veteran of the Cival War.

to be continued

The stone is Cockeysville marble with brick backing.