page_title: Murals of York, Pennsylvania
section_title: William Goodridge Mural
hierarchical_section_title: Murals of York, Pennsylvania / William Goodridge Mural
caption_attribution_description: English: As a conductor and stationmaster on the Underground Railroad, William C. Goodridge helped freedom seekers escape slavery. Born a slave in Baltimore, Maryland, he became a successful businessman and entrepreneur in York, Pennsylvania, then risked it all to help others. This mural about Goodridge is on West Market Street in York, PA, facing West. It is 24 feet wide and 23 feet tall and was completed by Don and Jared Gray in June, 2000. The mural features the grown and successful Goodridge in the center, with his advertisement behind him for the Goodridge Building on Centre Square. The square where the building was once the first 5-story building in York is a few blocks East, past the mural, at the intersection of Market and George. Also shown on the mural are a railroad car, representing the 13 rail cars Goodridge owned, a barbershop pole, and pictures of Goodridge as a babe in his mother's arms, and as a young boy. The mural is one of many maintained by the York County History Center. Photo by Anne Gray.
context_page_description: The Murals of York, Pennsylvania are a series of murals painted on the sides of buildings in York, Pennsylvania between 1996 and 2002. Paid for with local donations, the murals provide the community with details about some lesser-known people, businesses, and customs of the city while adding artistic beauty. The York County History Center owns and shares rights to the use of the mural images.
context_section_description: As a conductor and stationmaster on the Underground Railroad, William C. Goodridge helped freedom seekers escape slavery. Born a slave in Baltimore, Maryland, he became a successful businessman and entrepreneur in York, then risked it all to help others. As shown in the right corner of the Goodridge mural, there is a baby with a mother. This baby is William Goodridge. Also, in the right corner, there is a young boy. This is William Goodridge as a child. William was born a slave. Later, in 1822, he was freed and then he opened a 5-story building, and a Barbershop on York Centre Square. After he was freed he started helping other slaves through the Underground Railroad. Don and Jared Gray painted this mural to honor him. The mural was finished in 2000, in the month of June. The mural is 24 feet wide and 23 feet high. The reason they created this mural was to show that if one is determined to do something one can do it, just like William Goodridge. He inspired us all. Even enough to make a mural about him!
caption: Goodridge Mural on Market St
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