YORK, THE WHITE ROSE CITY - Along with the name of old York, York,
PA adopted the symbol of the English city, the white rose, while
the neighboring city of Lancaster, PA, similarly adopted the red
rose.
The symbol of the white rose dates from the Wars of the Roses
(1455-1471) in which the two powerful houses of York and Lancaster
struggled to gain possession of the throne of England.
Richard, Duke of York, while walking in the Temple Gardens in
London with a company of nobles was endeavoring to persuade them to
take up arms in his behalf. Seeing that the nobles were unwilling
to commit themselves, he said , "Ah, I see you are afraid to speak
out. Give me then a sign. Show which side you favor. From all this
brier pluck a white rose with me."
Immediately, a number of nobles plucked white roses and thrust
them into their caps. Seeing this the Duke of Somerset, who was of
the House of Lancaster, sprang forward and tearing a red rose from
another bush, exclaimed, "Those who take my side from off the thorn
pluck a red rose with me."
The knights championing his cause, put red roses in their caps.
The nobles separated in anger and rallied armies for the struggle
which continued intermittently for seventeen years.
With the Battle of Bosworth Field, the Wars of the Roses came to
an end. Henry Tudor, of Lancaster, who became Henry VII wed the
White Rose Princess, Elizabeth of York, sister of the little
princes murdered in the Tower, and thus the two rival houses were
united.
For further information, please refer to "THE STORY OF A DYNAMIC
COMMUNITY, YORK, PA" Published by York Chamber of Commerce.
This started with various white rose items, a TB and a log book.
The container is a black, plastic cylinder.
