MONEY&MORE

YORK SUNDAY NEWS • JANUARY 16, 2011 • WITH MOVING UP, FARM AND TRAVEL
E

DAILY RECORD / SUNDAY NEWS — KATE PENN

Jeffrey Hines became the president and
CEO of York Water Co. after Jeffrey
Osman retired in March 2008. Hines
joined the company in 1990 after serving
five years in the U.S. Army. He was
deployed to Afghanistan and Kuwait for a
year after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks,
serving as an engineer clearing
minefields, repairing airfields and dealing
DAILY RECORD / SUNDAY NEWS — KATE PENN with troop housing issues.
Walk into the York Water Co. building in downtown York and look up. You’ll see intricate paintings that pay homage to water as the great gift of
the Creator to mankind. The artwork was hidden behind a drop ceiling from 1970 to 1996.

Taking a closer look:

Inside the York

Water building DAILY RECORD / SUNDAY NEWS — KATE PENN
This gavel, which sits on the board room table, was made from a
combination of significant York Water Co. places, including the original
Practically hidden downtown is a treasure of symbolism and history. source of water for the company, its filter and pumping station.

By JEN BAKER
For Daily Record/Sunday News
Constructed in 1929, the main office of
the York Water Co. at 130 E. Market St. was
dedicated to the distribution of water.
Designed by architect William B. Bil-
lmeyer, the most impressive feature of the
building was the magnificent ceiling. Artist
Gustav Ketterer was commissioned to
create the intricate paintings that paid
homage to water as the great gift of the Cre-
ator to mankind.
But for nearly 30 years, this treasure of
symbolism and history was forgotten. Tow-
ering 25 feet above the floor and covering
some 3,800 square feet, the once beautiful
and decorative ceiling had lost its brilli-
ance from the effects of coal soot, pollution
and traffic dirt by the late 1960s.
Because of the focus on energy conserva-
tion and modernization of that time, this
unique work of art was hidden behind a
drop ceiling and fluorescent lighting.
In 1995, as the company approached its
180th anniversary, plans were made to re-
store the magnificent ceiling. “With wash-
ing, gold leaf and repairing the holes and
cracks, it just came back to life,” said Jef-
frey Hines, president and CEO of the York
Water Co.
Restored to its former glory by conserva-
tor James Vallano, the ceiling’s detail and
beauty continue to impress visitors today.
The most notable features are the central
paintings, which depict Neptune, Controller
of the Waters; Psyche offering the cup of the
water of life to Venus, the Roman goddess;
and The Four Rivers, a biblical interpreta-
tion of the waters of life flowing from the
Throne of God.
The 12 signs of the Zodiac are incorpo-
rated around the vaulting of the ceiling,
along with other figures representing Greek
mythology such as Ceres, the goddess of
grain and Pomona, the goddess of the fruits
of the land.
“It pays tribute to our agrarian roots in
York County,” Hines said. Artwork honor-
ing the White Rose symbol of York and the
Colonial Courthouse of York County also
adorn the arcs above the windows.
“We are very committed to the City of
York and also the county,” Hines said.
Additional treasures throughout the build-
ing include a working fountain above the
main entrance, and a painting of York’s
first water source, which was a spring along
Rathton Road and what is now the Penn
State York campus.
The ladies’ powder room on the main
floor features the original stained-glass art,
and the décor remains reminiscent of the
1920s. According to Hines, “It’s the room
that 1929 forgot. It’s never changed.”

History of the Want a tour?

York Water Co. It’s winter and long trips
might not be in your plans. But, if
1816: Incorporated on Feb. 23, you are looking for quick tour in
1816, serving about 35 homes via York, you can stop by the York
log pipes. Water Co.
1851: First water main con-
structed under the Codorus Creek. York Water’s main office
1899: Construction of first filtra- building is featured on select his-
tion plant on Grantley Hill. toric walking tours of the city.
1903: Reservoir Park opened to
It is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
the public. Monday through Friday, and visi-
1913: Construction of Lake Wil- tors are invited to stop in and
liams. enjoy the wonder of the ceiling
1929: A new main office opens. and general décor. “We’ve
Dedicated to the “gift of water” to always kept the building open
mankind, the most outstanding fea- and our customers appreciate
ture is the painted ceiling. that access,“ said Jeffrey Hines,
1967: Completion of Lake president and CEO of The York
Redman. The capacity of both lakes Water Co. “We’ll gladly show you
is now more than 2 billion gallons. around.”
1970: The magnificent ceiling,
aging and in need of restoration, is
hidden from sight by suspension tiles Inside
and fluorescent lighting. York, known as the “Factory Tour
1996: The 180th anniversary of Capital of the World,” is full of
the company, and the restoration free tours. See a sample of some
and refurbishing of the ceiling. The of the tours inside on 2E.
cleaning process took nearly 1,400
man hours.
2006: The 190th anniversary of Clockwise from upper left, the York Water Co. was incorporated in
the company, which now serves 1816, serving 35 homes. The main office, at 130 E. Market St. in York, was
more than 30 municipalities with a constructed in 1929. Right, one of the original water pipes, made of wood,
daily consumption of about 18 million sits on the board room table. The earliest water lines were created for fire
gallons. crews. When water was needed, firemen would drill a hole in the wood to
2010: The magnificent ceiling get to the water and plug it up when they were done. Left, the roses
continues to be a historic beacon in
downtown York and has needed no incorporated into the ceiling of the water company are believed to be the
additional cleaning or repair in the first use of the white rose included in the architecture of a building in York.
nearly 15 years since its restoration. DAILY RECORD / SUNDAY NEWS — KATE PENN

Daily stats Fraternal Order of Eagles Briefly noted Local stocks: Friday’s close
Friday’s close
Last Chg
Construction under way c The York County Community Foundation plans
to host an information session for local nonprofit
Company
ACNB
Last
15.00
Chg
-0.10
Company
Hershey
Last
49.55
Chg
-0.26
Dow 11,787.38 +55.48 Construction is under way on the former Frater- leaders on grant opportunities through the founda- Banco Sant. 11.48 +0.12 Honeywell 55.02 +0.43
nal Order of Eagles building at 37 W. Philadelphia tion at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 21 at its office, 14 W. Market St., Bon-Ton 11.54 +0.04 Johnsn Ctl. 40.45 +0.24
Nasdaq 2,755.30 +20.01 Caterpillar 94.01 -0.13 M&T 86.38 +0.12
S&P 500 1,293.24 +9.48 St. in York. York.
Plans for the $2.5 million project will include an Ch.&Dwight 69.88 +0.17 Metro 12.40 +0.52
AMEX 2,185.52 +17.75 The foundation awarded $2.5 million in grants to Cod.Vly Bnc. 10.21 +0.28 PNC 64.22 +3.09
artist gallery, a multi-purpose assembly space, two benefit York County last year, it said in a statement, Comcast 22.72 +0.18 PPL 25.65 -0.08
Prime rate 3.25 percent residential apartments, an arts orientation center and plans to strengthen its strategic giving this year. Dentsply 36.29 -0.01 Rite Aid 1.04 +0.03
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Gold 1,360.40 troy oz. dents. Road, York, plans to host an “introduction to Harley 36.99 +0.08 York Water 16.80 +0.04
Silver 28.31 troy oz. The York County Industrial Development Author- computers” class from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Platinum 1,813.40 troy oz. ity, a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project The class will cover skills for job searches,
grant and private investors will fund the project. resume writing and personal computer use, Ca-
More stocks YCI
On our blogs The project is scheduled to be completed in Sep- reerLink said. The York County Index,
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Looking for business tember. Visit www.cwds.state.pa.us and click on “search an average of the 28 stocks
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McCoy Brothers Inc. of Carlisle is the general con- events” on the lower right-hand side of the page to listed above.
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