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A Time of Transition… Washington’s Funeral…
January 20, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
As I sit down to write this post, I wonder if there has ever been the death of a former president within 2 weeks of the inauguration of another. It is a lot of change for a country to lay to rest a former president (President Carter) while welcoming in a new leader (President Trump), however, it must have been significantly more unsettling for a nation to put to rest their 1st president. His legacy and wisdom were now gone from public discourse and there was still so much to be done. The blend of sadness and uncertainty must have been quite unsettling – yet, the nation moved forward.
We are now entering our own days of transition with hope that the upcoming weeks may not be days of tumult and that our new leaders will guide our nation with the same steady hand and heart General George Washington demonstrated during the early, formative, first-steps-era in our nation’s history. My prayer is that they look for wisdom and guidance from the same Source General Washington did so that 225 years from now, their life stories are also shared with pride and provide inspiration.
Let Freedom Ring. . . The Emancipation Proclamation …
January 13, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Free Speech, whether in verbal or written form… the underpinning of our union and the lifeblood of our republic. Speech is a gift to humanity and while all speech should be protected, there is something particularly irresistible about some words. Poetry can offer a respite for the soul while lyrics coupled with melody can cause the spirit to soar. Similarly, words of freedom spoken by someone who has the power to bring them to pass brings hope and therefore courage for a new day.
Such is the case with The Emancipation Proclamation. . . speech breaking chains, setting captives free and restoring hope to the human soul. For this reason, when we have the opportunity to see these words in print, we are witnessing a powerful moment for good in our country’s (albeit imperfect) varied history. While taking decades longer than we may look back and have wished for, the power of this pivotal moment should not be lost on America’s people; but rather, give us courage and boldness to guard it’s foundational gift.
PS Thanks goes out to our friends in Great Britain for helping to pave the way.
A New Era Captured in Story…
December 31, 2024 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
New Year’s Eve morning at the Rare & Early Newspapers’ archives was busy, but I did find a moment to clean up some issues in the ever-growing pile of “my favorite things”. As I progressed through the task at hand, I discovered the issue shown below and simply had to share it as it is a great reminder of how January 1st isn’t the only day to usher in a new era. Out of the ashes of the Civil War, Joel Chandler Harris captured the moment with whimsical stories gathered from black men and women who were piecing together their own America-rooted culture in the newfound light of freedom. Many years later, these stories were featured in movie & song so a whole new generation could appreciate the wisdom shared by those who had intimately experienced so much hardship decades earlier. Now we can hold tightly to the example of all the brave, overcoming souls who helped our country press forward at one of its most pivotal moments, and we can enter 2025 with boldness, hope and compassion. Happy New Year to everyone from those of us at Rare Early Newspapers. May your step into the new era of 2025 be smooth sailing. 
The More They Things Change, The More They Stay The Same…
December 25, 2024 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
I must admit, these days I am hoping Alphonse Karr’s famous quote, “The more things change, the more they are the same,” is in fact true. As we enter into the “Holiday Season”, those sweet memories of family Thanksgivings and Christmas throughout the years, are an anchor for the soul and truly priceless. We all have our own traditions… some commonly shared while others are unique to our tribe. One of my fondest Thanksgiving Day memories is of my middle sister Teena rounding up the troops for us all to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together and of her husband correcting everyone when they called it the Macy’s Day Parade 🙂 Truth be told, we all began to do it more on purpose for the sake of amusement. This New York Post from November 24, 1948, gives all the feel of an old time Thanksgiving Day and solidifies the necessity of holding on to the deep heart things of the past. Feel free to share the traditions in your memory that bring that same family warmth in our comments section… after all some of the rest of us may be looking for a little something new to add to our holiday celebrations while still holding tightly to the precious anchors our families have created.
Christmas Captured in an Image…
December 23, 2024 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Christmas may bring more nostalgia than any other time of year… Snow lined roads, bells ringing outside the local Walmart, candlelight services at a local church, houses crowded with full-sized evergreen trees , Presents under those trees and plates of cookies cooling on the kitchen counter, family, friends and loved ones lingering for one more glass of wine or eggnog before bundling up to take the long way home so they can see extra lights strewn across neighbor’s yards. The list could be endless and often unique to each person… some of us include memories of faith while others do not. Whatever your paradigm of Christmas, there is an image which will capture all the feels perfectly and so, I have included some of these delightful depictions from our newspapers for you to enjoy. So, from our RareNewspapers Family to yours:
Merry Christmas to ALL …
and to ALL a Goodnight !
History Surrounds Us… The Underground Railroad…
November 18, 2024 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
I am sure every area of the country entices people in different ways – beautiful weather, stunning scenery, an abundance of activities
, and more. Some even have multiple highlights, and the citizens of that region feel especially blessed. My community brings several of the above-mentioned highlights along with another some may not typically consider: rich history.
Living in North-Central Pennsylvania tucked in among the Alleghany Mountains brings a sense of peace, and yet still gives easy access to some of the earliest sites related to U.S. history. From Philadelphia to Boston, Williamsburg to Gettysburg, we are surrounded by fascinating historical locations to visit and imagine what life was like for those early settlers and founders. In fact, the old barn which was once across the street from my house (now gone) was part of the Underground Railroad – and linked up to “Freedom Road”. Sadly, a considerable amount of newspaper content deals with slave ads, so, when I come across articles like the one found in the Oct. 6, 1854 issue of THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE,, my interest is piqued. When I read,
“Four fugitives from slavery arrived in this place on Thursday…by the underground railroad. They were kindly cared for by the inhabitants, and sufficient funds furnished them to pursue their journey to the land of freedom, and long ere this they are beyond the reach of a law abominable to all.”,
I am captivated with thoughts of where these sojourners for freedom stopped before they reached New York (perhaps the barn which was once a stones-throw from my house?), along with those who risked much to help them along their trek. It is a blessing to be surrounded by areas which are a constant reminder of the bravery and selflessness some people find within themselves when a moment of crisis arises. May we all be our best selves when faced with similar moments.
There Are Not Enough Words to Say Thank You… Veteran’s Day
November 11, 2024 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
“In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “the Great War.”
Commemorated in many countries as Armistice Day the following year, November 11th became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became known as Veterans Day.” (History.com)
Those are the facts however, there is a much deeper truth… Where would we be without all the brave men and women, living and gone, who risked everything so we might all say with confidence, “I live in the freest nation on Earth”. There are magnificent places across this stunning World we live on however, none of these places, outside of the United States of America, have a people who can boast of a Constitution and Bill of Rights which protects our rights of Freedom of Speech, to worship as we please, to choose our friends and associates and to bear arms… which keep our Federal Government at bay and in check. So, with this in mind I would like to say to all of our soldiers of the past and present who have put country and her people before themselves, You have my heartfelt thanks and eternal gratitude! May we all be even a fraction as brave as you and love our country with as much passion.
Journalists at Their Gritty Best…
October 25, 2024 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Fair or not, the journalists of today have taken a substantial hit in terms of credibility. However, at least for some, the cred-deficit has been well-earned. We have to look far and wide to find an “old school”, gritty, gutsy reporter who pounds the sidewalks and knocks on doors to get the scoop. Nowadays it is easier to visualize them lounging at a Starbucks with their laptop, a latte and headphones blocking out the public noise, hoping to discover an early mention of an event through the news sources which match their societal bent. Unfortunately, this taints the reputations of those who take the road less travelled. However, “back in the day”, those who went the extra mile and physically climbed up hills and down dales was more the norm. Case in point (from during the Civil War): The journalists of THE MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL from Jackson, Mississippi.
Below Wikipedia gives an interesting look at this historic paper’s origin story.
“The Commercial Appeal traces its heritage to the 1839 publication, The Western World & Memphis Banner of the Constitution. Bought by Col. Henry Van Pelt in 1840, it was renamed The Memphis Appeal. During the American Civil War, the Appeal was one of the major newspapers serving the Southern cause. On June 6, 1862, the presses and plates were loaded into a boxcar and published from Grenada, Mississippi. The Appeal later journeyed on to Jackson, Mississippi, Meridian, Mississippi, Atlanta, Georgia, Montgomery, Alabama and finally Columbus, Georgia, where the plates were destroyed on April 16, 1865, temporarily halting publication days before the Confederate surrender. The press was hidden and saved, and publication resumed in Memphis, using it, on November 5, 1865.” ~ WIKI
Now that’s what I call gritty, gutsy journalism.
The Calm Before the Storm… Treaties of Mankind
October 21, 2024 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Treaties are a vital part of history and the survival of the human race. From the Thirty Years’ Peace between Athens & Sparta, The Treaty of Versailles, The Treaty of Ghent to the Camp David Accords in 1978, some treaties are successful from the day they were signed while others start strong but denigrate over time. Other treaties are proposed but never passed and the war which follows can be devastating to all while still producing a victor. Such is the case with the Conciliatory Resolution, proposed by Parliament in January of 1775 and later rejected by The Continental Congress on July 31, 1775, thus failing to stop the impending Revolutionary War. While many collectors are drawn to war content across histories timeline, a closer look at humanities treaties may give deeper insight into our thought processes and condition.
The Political Season Has Arrived. Next Up – An October Surprise (?)…
October 4, 2024 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Since it only takes 2 items to count as a series, this is the 1st post in what I am confident will be a series leading up to the election in November. However, in lest anyone already be overcome by political angst, please know the series will only meet the minimum requirement of 2 – one in September and one in October, this being the first.
In anticipation of what might soon be filling the airwaves and making the rounds on social media ad nauseum, I was inspired to explore the history of the political tactic of using an “October Surprise”. With minimal effort (thanks to the internet), I found a report in THE GLOBE, October 23, 1840, which describes what many believe to be the first such occurrence.
“In mid-October 1840, shortly before the 1840 presidential election, federal prosecutors announced plans to charge top Whig Party officials with “most stupendous and atrocious fraud” for paying Pennsylvanians to cross state lines and vote for Whig candidates in New York during the 1838 [midterm] elections.” ~ Wikipedia
So, as we keep our eyes open for what is sure to rain down upon us in short order, let’s keep our heads about us as we recite the age-old adage: “There is nothing new under the sun”. 