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So, what’s a “humhum”?
January 8, 2011 by TimHughes · 2 Comments
This advertisement appeared in the “Middlesex Gazette” of Middletown, Connecticut, on June 13, 1803. I have no idea what a “humhum” is. Do any of you?
The Traveler… greetings… and something to chew on…
December 30, 2010 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
As this year draws to an end, I traveled back 100 years to December 31, 1910. The Christian Science Monitor that day contained a variety of articles on the front page from aeroplane flights records being broken to Chicago having a record in new buildings to the fall off in Alaska gold production to the discovery of a new star! A nice automobile ad is also present.
However the article that intrigued me most was of “Taft Greeting to Army and Navy.” It had been a New Year’s custom for the officers stationed in Washington to call on
the President as commander-in-chief, however there would be change this year. President Taft had arranged to have telegrams or cablegrams sent to every navy yard, naval station, army post, fleet or detached vessel he could reach. The message was brief, but was a Presidential greeting sent around the world.
As you are celebrating New Year’s with your pork and sauerkraut, consider the additional article I found in this issue, “Alfalfa As Food Served Guests” where the entire meal and beverages consisted of alfalfa, including the toothpicks being made from the alfalfa straw…
Wishing a blessed New Year to you and yours.
~The Traveler
Cigarettes do not cause cancer…
December 18, 2010 by TimHughes · 1 Comment
Hindsight means everything when it comes to history, and browsing through the pages of newspapers from years ago can often turn up reports which now are almost humorous in their inaccuracy. One item: “Clears Cigarettes As Cancer Source”, which appeared in the July 10, 1928 issue of the “New York Times“, provides some interesting reading in light modern scientific research about the effects of cigarette smoking and cancer.
The Traveler… West Florida and fencing…
December 16, 2010 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
This weeks travels brought me to the Connecticut Mirror dated December 17, 1810 where I found the second page to contain numerous articles pertaining to the independence of West Florida. Included is President James Madison’s message including the proclamation in which a portion states “Now be it known, that I, JAMES MADISON, President of the United States of America in pursuance of these weighty and urgent considerations, have deemed it right and requisite, that possession should be taken of the said territory, in the name and behalf of the U. States…” Letters from both the Florida and West Florida’s are in this issue as well.
This issue carries numerous advertisements – one being illustrated. It is an unusual one of a Fencing Exhibition being held by Mr. P. Thomas with an admission price of 37-1/2 cents!
~The Traveler
A collector sells bound volumes in 1878…
December 11, 2010 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
This advertisement appeared in the “Scientific American” issue of June 22, 1878, noting a collector who has various bound volumes of the title, selling for $1 each. How prices have changed.
What could happen to a rumor…
December 9, 2010 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
“The Daily Journal” newspaper of August 20, 1861 from Wilmington, North Carolina, a Confederate publication, printed an interesting series of dispatches of a fictitious assassination attempt upon President Lincoln (see below). They provide an interesting perspective on how a dramatic event could be much less so once more trustworthy news reports found their way to the press.
The reliability of news reports was a big problem in the 18th & 19th centuries during the pre-telegraph, pre-wire service days when word of mouth was often the source of what made it into the newspaper. This somewhat comical piece illustrates a quandary likely dealt with by most newspaper publishers of the day.
Lamenting the handwritten word…
December 4, 2010 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
In today’s world of email, instant messaging, and twitter, there are many who lament the “old days” when people took the time to type out a letter, sign it, and use a stamp & envelope to get it to its destination. This item, found in “The Townsend Messenger” of Montana, issue date of March 18, 1892, takes that “lament” back one step further when the typewriter replaced the handwritten note.
The Traveler… up the canal… ready to sign on the dotted line…
December 2, 2010 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
It is so hard to believe that I am now traveling into the journals for December already. I found The Christian Science Monitor of December 2, 1910 to be very interesting, but I’ll highlight only two articles. The front page reports the sailing of the first vessel up the Panama Canal. This was a three-masted steam 17-foot yacht, Visitor II, owned by Commodore W. Harry Brown of Pittsburgh, which sailed to the Gatun lock and returned.
The other article is found on the sports page, “Soon to Sign Contracts for New N.Y. Stadium”. This was to be a $500,000 stadium which President Frank J. Farrell of the New York Americans plans to build at Kingsbridge. After doing quite a bit of internet researching, it isn’t quite certain if this may have been a stadium that existed prior to the earlier Yankee Stadium or not. It is noted that Mr. Farrell and William S. Devery were the first owners of the New York Highlanders, now the New York Yankees.
~The Traveler
Patrick Henry… A mid-19th century view…
November 30, 2010 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Although much has been written about Patrick Henry, a December 18, 1840 issue of the Citizen Soldier, Vermont, gives us a glimpse as to how he was viewed within less than 50 years of his death. The end of the biography has a few extra treats as well. Although quite lengthy… please enjoy:
Amazing Stories… The Loch Ness Monster…
November 29, 2010 by GuyHeilenman · 2 Comments
Today we begin a series of “Amazing Stories” found within original newspapers. We’ve always stated, and newspaper collectors agree, “History is never more fascinating than when it is read from the day it was 1st reported”. Over the course of the next several months we are going to highlight some of the more interesting and/or amazing stories/reports to be found within historic newspapers. Today’s installment: the printing of the photograph and the corresponding report of… The Loch Ness Monster (see below). The article and photograph shown appeared in The New York Times dated April 22, 1934. Additional images are available at: Loch Ness Monster. Enjoy.