William C. and Evalina Goodridge
employed other barbers (at least four in 1850). They also used
their barber shop as the basis for many other ventures: marketing
William's "Oil of Celsus and Balm of Minerva" baldness
treatment; selling jewelry, toys and sweets; offering a private
"bathing establishment"; making loans; providing a job-placement
service; exhibiting a Christmas tree.
In 1842 the family began a railroad
freight service, the "Reliance Line of Burthen Cars," between
York and Philadelphia. They had at least 13 cars that used track and
engines provided by other companies. Although the cars did not carry
passengers, they probably provided secret transport for escaping slaves
as part of the Underground Railroad.
In 1839, Frenchman Louis Daguerre
introduced photography to the world. It caught on fast. In 1847,
Glenalvin Goodridge opened shop in York as a daguerreotypist. Born in
1829, Glenalvin also worked as a teacher.
In 1847
the Goodridges built the
business block called Centre Hall on the northeast corner of North
George and East Market Streets. Glenalvin soon had a photographic studio
with a skylight on the 5th floor.
Portraits made up most of Glenalvin
Goodridge's photography business. As his use of light and his ambrotype
of the cat demonstrate, he was an artist as well as a master of the
techniques of the rapidly changing science of photography. 
In 1856 he
received the premium for the best ambrotypes at the York County Fair.
See his 1856 advertisement for
ambrotype work.
