User:Pop Ryan

A short History of the automobiles of York County, Pa.

Although most car historians are willing to accept the Pullman Automobile Co. as the premier automobile manufacturer in York County between the period od 1903 and 1916, there were many other manufacturers that should get as much credit as Pullman for York being called the 'Detroit of the East' by many automobile enthusiast.

By the late 1900's the Conestoga wagon era had completely been left behind. York was now rich in agriculture and industry and was about to make it's place in the history of the horseless carriage. These wagon craftsman were going to need a place to continue to practice their craft. What better place than the new horseless carriage industry. Although some will still remain in the manufacture of carriages for commercial and private transportation, those that moved on to the new era will show their craftsmanship in the beautiful work that will be done in the interiors of these new vehicles as well as the bodywork of some of the special interest vehicles.

George W. Hoover and his three sons built horse drawn buggies and pleasure vheicles in the 1880's. They were known for their design and ability to satisfy those who wanted the finest and most unusual custom vehicles. By 1899 a reorganization created the firm now called Hoover Carriage Works. In 1904, two years after a move to a larger facility to accomodate growth, there was a major fire that distroyed the building. Demand and reputation encouraged them to rebuild the factory and continue on with what would be a major company in the future. The era of the horseless carriage was fast approaching and Hoover would be another major contributor. Hoover Wagon Works, as it bacame around 1910, would soon be known as Hoover Body Corporation and be the manufacture of everything from electric motor trucks to US Mail trucks, to military vehicles and utility bodies for public utilities. (For a story on Hoover Body itself goto: http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/y/york_hoover/york_hoover.htm

In 1929 the government added Hoover Body to it's list of manufacturers that made the wooden mail truck bodies for local deliveries. They shared the local manufacture with a company called Martin-Perry located in West York that made the larger bodied mail trucks used for transporting the mail bags from post office to post office. The building still stands today as York-Hoover Casket Company, still applying its craftsmanship to fine made caskets of wood and various metals.