YORK TOWN SQUAREPhotos: Old, fortress-like York County Prison to become data centerThe old fortress-like York County Pa., Prison on Chestnut Street in York has been declared an endangered historic site by city officials. But that status has been improved by its recent acquisition by UFD. The low-tech place will become a high-tech data center .More about that at the end. This gallery gives a sampling of photos of the building over the years. The county moved its prisoners from this building to a new lockup in Springettsbury Township in 1979.Paul Kuehnel, York Daily RecordGeorge Boring, executive chairman of the York Street Community Center, second from left, shakes hands with John Gearhart in front of the old York prison in August 2003. At the time, Gearhart's family owned the building. The center was run by Stillmeadow Church of the Nazarene, which was considering buying the prison to make parking space. But a deal never went through. A York Daily Record story on 8/16/18 states: For a period in 2018, the Redevelopment Authority of the City of York appeared to be stuck paying $1.25 million — plus more than $240,000 in interest — for the old York County Prison that’s been abandoned for decades. But the old place is now in the hands of UFD - United Fiber & Data. In a one-sentence order, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to hear the authority’s latest appeal in an eminent domain case."Paul Kuehnel, York Daily RecordPhotographer Rob Dietrich captures the age and immensity of this old building.Rob Dietrich, SubmittedArt of Jimi Hendrix and the names of songs of the time cover the interior of a cell at the former York County Prison in October 2007.Paul Kuehnel, York Daily RecordArtwork remains on the walls of some cells inside the old York County Prison August 2007.Jason Plotkin, York Daily RecordEric Gearhart, an agent with Rotz Realty, took on a western theme while enlisting other agents to go after a $25,000 reward for enticing a developer to buy the former York County prison in York October 2007.Paul Kuehnel, York Daily RecordEric Gearhart stands near what he called the "hanging hook," where prisoners would have been hanged in the old York County Prison.Jason Plotkin, York Daily RecordEric Gearhart, an agent with Rotz Realty, meets other realtors to show them the former York County Prison. The open house took on a western theme enlisting other agents for a $25,000 reward to entice a developer to buy the former York County Prison in October 2007.Paul Kuehnel, York Daily RecordEric Gearhart, an agent with Rotz Residential Realty, describes the inner workings of the old York County Prison, which is for sale. Gearhart's parents, John and Joyce, bought the prison in 1982 with plans to turn it into a restaurant complex. August 2007.Jason Plotkin, York Daily RecordJohn Gearhart looks out the top floor of the old York County Prison, taking a moment away from the group. The top floor was built for expansion in mind with some of the plumbing in place, but never completed. It remained an empty space. This photo was taken in August 2003Paul Kuehnel, York Daily RecordThe fortress-like Chestnut Street Prison, closed since 1979.York Daily Record FileClose up, the old prison looks longer in tooth than from afar.York Daily Record FileThis October 2014 scene shows demolition of buildings in the 200 block of Chestnut Street with the former York County Prison in the background.Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record/Sunday NewsThe old prison was hard to miss in the first place, but it now stands alone with surrounding housing largely demolished.York Daily Record FileThe old York County Prison can be seen, as Willie Summers waters his plots at a community garden near Alexander D. Goode Elementary School in 2014.York Daily Record FileFrom atop Think Loud's building, you can see two old structures. The old prison, right, and the old silk mill, now Hudson Park Towers. UFD is headquartered in Think Loud's building.York Daily Record FileUFD, headquartered near the old prison in the Think Loud building on York Street,, has acquired the old prison and plans to transform it into a data center.Jim McClure, York Daily Record'York County Prison,' a photograph of the old Chestnut Street prison submitted to York County Camera Club competition. Photographer Ted Taylor of Wrightsville won honorable mention in the competition, which had an architectural theme.Ted Taylor, SubmittedThe old York County Prison on Chestnut Street is seen from the site of the former Graybill building on North Broad Street, demolished in 2007York Daily Record FileThe first York County Jail, seen here in a Lewis Miller drawing, came under fire from a group of prisoners of war in May 1778. British prisoners in the American Revolution complained about conditions. The jail was located at South George and East King Streets in York. A new county prison was constructed on its current site in the mid 1800s.York County History CenterThis was the facade of York County's Chestnut Street Prison in the early 1900s, replaced by the familiar red-brick facade standing today. This facade covered the old cellblock, left, rear, that was demolished in the past 20 years.York Daily Record FileThe proximity of the old prison to the restored Maple Press building, now Think Loud's and UFD's headquarters. The old prison will become part of UFD's campus. The startup is building a $30 million, 400-mile fiber optic line between New York City and a hub about 30 miles from Washington, D.C. The line is running through York.York Daily Record File