York College of Pennsylvania - Horizon Tower Yearbook (York, PA)

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The castle-like building which today houses the York Junior College is a landmark in this area, and justly so. Its massive brick and brownstone outline is familiar to the eyes of the townspeople and dear to the memories of its alumni. But many changes have taken place in the school ' s history. In 1787 the York County Academy was founded by St. John ' s ' Episcopal Church. Occupying the old Academy Building still standing on North Beaver Street, it was, in 1799, dedicated as a non-sectarian school. Philanthropist Samuel Small initiated and endowed the York Collegiate Institute, which was opened in 1873 at the present site of the school, a tract of land at Duke Street and College Avenue that Mr. Small donated. The Institute was destroyed by fire in 1885 and the contemporary structure erected in 1887 by Mr. Small ' s nephews, Messrs. George Small, W. Latimer Small and Samuel Small. In 1929 it was agreed that the classes of the Academy should thereafter be conducted in the building of the Institute. It was decided in 1941 to add to the curriculum the courses of a Junior College, and in 1948 previous reciprocal agreements with the Academy were made applicable to the Junior College. Following the eclectic style of the ' 80 ' s, the impressive edifice raises skyward a Neo- Gothic tow er of brick, stone, iron, wood, and stained glass, adorned with Norman pillars, Roman arches, Italian mosaics, French grill- work, and Byzantine sculpture. Within the ample walls of this castle of higher education youth is trained to honor the past, explore the present, and prepare for the future.