Photo of the Hanover car by allcarindex.com.

Making History

Ever wonder where your office chair came from? What about your gameday snacks or your favorite college ballcap? Your chair, snacks, and cap may have come from Hanover, PA! A mecca of industry and invention since its humble beginning over 250 years ago, Hanover remains a center of innovation and development. Follow us as we take you on a tour of Hanover’s “have it made here” history: learn about several inventions that originated in our town, find out which snack food companies call Hanover home, get to know Hanover’s leaders of industry, and find out how you can plan your next visit to see the history of our makers firsthand!

Inventions of Hanover

Hanover’s leaders of past and present have always had pioneering and efficiency in mind. Keep reading to learn about several Hanover inventions that have received nationwide, and in some cases, worldwide recognition.

Mary Ann Furnace
Although it is no longer standing, the Mary Ann Furnace, located in present-day Codorus State Park, is believed to be the first charcoal furnace west of the Susquehanna River. Built in the mid-1700s by Mark Bird and George Ross, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the furnace once provided cannon balls and grapeshot for George Washington’s Continental Army. Today, visitors to Codorus can enjoy hiking on the Mary Ann Furnace Trail. A historical marker is located near the original site of the furnace.

Hanover Car
While Hanover has produced many successful inventions over the years, it is only fair to mention a much less successful, yet still significant invention from Hanover: the Hanover car (pictured above). Established in 1921, the Hanover Motor Company had locations in Hanover and Buffalo, NY. The company made two types of the Hanover car: a two-seat roadster and a two-seat delivery truck. Due to mechanical problems, including uncertain stopping and “hopping” around corners, the company only produced several hundred cars. By 1927, the company was out of business, marking the end of Hanover’s brief connection to the automotive production industry. Very few of the cars exist today, but luckily, a local museum has one on display. Take a short drive to the Agricultural & Industrial Museum in York to see a 1922 Hanover Roadster for yourself.

I-X-L Water Wheel
Founded in the 1800s, the Fitz Water Wheel Company operated out of Hanover. The company developed and manufactured the I-X-L steel overshoot water wheel. By 1915, the Fitz I-X-L water wheel was used in over 300 mills in Pennsylvania, the United States, and throughout the world. Because of its superior efficiency, companies used the wheel well into the 20th century.

Hanover Wire Cloth Company
In 1903, William Kintzing, a local mechanic, invented a specialized loom that allowed the Hanover Wire Cloth Company to produce insect screen cloth. With this invention, the company became a leading producer during the 20th century. The screen cloth proved crucial during World War II as soldiers used it to protect themselves from malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Additionally, the Hanover Wire Cloth Company produced pure nickel cloth used in the Manhattan Project during World War II. According to an August 1945 article from The Evening Sun, the company received the Army-Navy “E” Award, presented to companies who achieved “Excellence in Production” of war equipment.

Emeco 1006 Navy Chair
A common target for knockoffs today, Emeco developed its famous 1006 Navy Chair (pictured below) during World War II. William Carlyle Dinges founded Emeco, which stands for Electrical Machine and Equipment Company, in Hanover in 1944. The 1006 Navy Chair quickly became the company's most famous product. Originally used by sailors and often found on warships because of its durability, the chair can now be found anywhere from offices to homes. The process to make the chair includes 77 individual steps, setting it apart from its competitors. Over the years, Emeco has kept the original design fresh through various collaborations and commissions, including a version of the chair made of repurposed materials. If you’re in the market for a chair and are considering a 1006 Navy Chair, Greg Buchbinder, the CEO of Emeco, notes how to ensure you are getting an authentic chair, “To spot an authentic Emeco chair, you can see the smooth bends where the soft aluminum is curved, the consistent brush pattern always applied the same way, the perfectly tapered front legs, the even spread of the three vertical bars for the seat back, the Emeco name on the back of the seat bottom, and finally, the three small welds left by the craftsmen as their signature on every 1006 Navy chair.”

Snacks of Hanover

Beyond inventions, Hanover is also well-known for its local snack food manufacturers. In fact, Hanover and surrounding York County are often called the “Snack Food Capital of the World.” That’s a big title to live up to, but with major snack food companies including Utz and Snyder’s calling Hanover home, the title seems to fit well! Hanover's snacking history is so well-known that our town has received recognition from the "Food Network" numerous times.

Utz Quality Foods
William & Salie Utz started making chips in their kitchen in 1921. The couple sold chips to local grocers and markets during the early years. From these humble beginnings, a successful company emerged. Utz built its first plant in 1930, and by 1947, the company incorporated as Utz Potato Chip Company, Inc. Expansion and automation continued throughout the coming decades. Over time, the company expanded its offerings to include other snacks such as popcorn, cheese curls, and tortilla chips. Beginning in the 1980s, Utz began to extend into other east coast markets. Utz now produces products under other brands names including Zapp’s, Dirty, Bachman Company, and Golden Flake. Utz is the largest independent, privately held snack brand in the U.S. In 2019, the company expanded their national footprint further, serving as the presenting sponsor of Major League Baseball’s National League Division Series. Want to see how Utz produces over 3.3 million pounds of snacks per week? The company currently offers a free “Utz Chip Trip Tour.” The tour is self-guided and features a push-to-talk audio program that guides visitors through the process of making potato chips. There is also a wall display to help visitors understand the history of the company. Tours are available Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. For more information on the chip tour or to learn more about the history of Utz, visit utzsnacks.com.

Snyder’s of Hanover
Another leader in the snack food industry, Snyder’s of Hanover’s roots go back to the early 1900s. In the 1920s, Grandma Eda and Edward Snyder started selling their homemade fried potato chips door to door, at fairs, and at local markets while their son and his wife made and sold angel food cake. The two merged to form Snyder’s Bakery in 1924. In 1909, Harry Warehime began making Olde Tyme Pretzels. In 1961, Harry’s family acquired Snyder’s Bakery. At the time of the acquisition, the Warehimes were also running Hanover Canning Company. In 1980, the companies separated into Snyder’s of Hanover and Hanover Brands so each company could better focus on its individual industry. Hanover Brands, now commonly known as Hanover Foods, specializes in canned, frozen, fresh, and snack food items. The company is the only privately held, fully-integrated, kosher-certified food processor in the nation. Over the past few decades, Snyder’s has continued to expand its offerings to include more sweet and salty flavors such as chocolate covered pretzels and gluten-free pretzels. If you are interested in seeing how Snyder’s makes their pretzels, the company offers free tours for those ages 5 and up. The tour is approximately 30 minutes and must be reserved at least 24 hours in advance. For more information about tour availability or about the history of Snyder’s, visit snydersofhanover.com.

In addition to Utz and Snyder’s, Hanover is home to several other snack brands. Wege and Revonah Pretzels both call Hanover their home. Wege, named after a family who made bread and rolls during the late 1800s, continues to produce delicious sourdough hard pretzels. The company is now part of Hanover Foods and is known as the originator of the “Poker Pretzel” – a fun snack featuring pretzels shaped like card suits. Revonah Pretzels are another local staple. Even today, Revonah makes each pretzel by hand before baking in an old-fashioned oven. Revonah offers a variety of pretzel flavors ranging from classic to “xtra” salt to whole wheat and honey. Wondering how the company got its name? Revonah is simply Hanover spelled backwards!

Leaders of Industry

Legacy Athletic
Started in 1992 by roommates Mark Landgren and Paige Wingert, Legacy began as a quest to find the “perfect-fitting, retro-inspired hat.” What started with a simple mission has grown to include high-quality headwear, apparel, home décor, and fashion accessories influenced by vintage style with a modern spin. The company currently services four major markets: collegiate, resort and destination, corporate, and golf. Legacy ships products throughout the U.S. In 2018, Legacy merged with fellow Pennsylvania-based company League to form L2 Brands.

Hanover Shoe Company
Although no longer operating under the same name, the Hanover Shoe Company made significant contributions to the local community and the shoe industry. Harper D. Shepard and C.N. Myers took charge of the Hanover Shoe Company on December 26, 1899 with a common vision: sell the best shoes at an unbeatable price of only $2.50 a pair. The duo took the industry by storm, challenging popular sales methods at the time by eliminating the middleman and selling directly to the public. They opened their first store in York, PA in June of 1900, and within fifteen years, the Hanover Shoe Company had 61 stores from Indianapolis to New York City. The original Hanover Shoe Factory closed its doors in 1974, and the name and right to manufacture Hanover Shoes was purchased by C. & J. Clark Ltd. (the British firm of Clarks shoes) in 1978. Years later in 1996, Clarks moved the production of Hanover shoes to West Virginia. Parts of the original factory are still visible today as the Residences of Hanover Shoe, an apartment complex located on Carlisle Street. Looking to buy your own "Hanover" shoes? Visit the Clarks Bostonian Outlet store in Center Square for a huge selection of discounted styles. You can also visit Hanover Shoe Farms, a world-famous horse breeding facility also established by the founders of the Hanover Shoe Company.

Have it Made Here
A maker spirit drives the economy of Hanover like a symphonic snack-packing machine. This means loud bursts of productivity that announce our town's continued excellence in manufacturing, innovation, and doing what we can with what we have. Today, we have a skilled workforce aided by the latest technology, as well as the trust of companies like Utz, Snyder’s, and L2 Brands to handle their iconic products—because they know that Hanover is one of the few places where they can be made. Hanover isn't the only hub of industry in the area. In fact, most of York County houses a manufacturing facility of some sort. As such, our county is embracing its heritage with a new brand, logo, and tagline: "have it made here." From snack foods to motorcycles, art to history, we make it all in York County, and we invite you to make memories in a setting to suit every moment, every passion, and every lifestyle. For more information on the many memories you can make in Hanover and beyond, visit www.yorkpa.org.