Putting the Family Puzzle Together

Today, Jan 10, Years Ago

2012-01-09T22:27:00.000-08:00

In 1907, South Carolina Seventh Day Adventists were arrested for working on Sunday. The laws in South Carolina at the turn of the century prohibited work on the Sabbath. Seventh Day Adventists believed that Saturday was actually the Sabbath and not Sunday. The Herald Journal of Spartanburg reported that the Adventists appealed to the Bureau of Religious Belief in Washington. To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1929 in the state to the north, a gas worker was found dead in the streets of Lexington, North Carolina. The Dispatch, the local paper, reported that the authorities assumed he had been murdered due to cuts and bruises on his face. He was found between main street and East Third Street. The man was only twenty-two. To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1934, the Dutch citizen, Van Der Lubbe, was beheaded for the Reichstag Fire in Germany. The Waycross Journal of Georgia reported that the beheading had taken place despite the objections and please of the Dutch Queen Wiheimina. To read the entire paper, click here.

To help us preserve more archived newspapers online please volunteer at SavingOurs.com.

Today, Jan 8, Years Ago

2012-01-07T21:46:00.000-08:00

Today we start off in Michigan, 1960. The Michigan Daily reported that President Eisenhower predicted "prosperity, peace and a budget surplus for 1960." The paper also reported that antisemitism was on the rise again in Europe. To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1865, while the Civil War was still raging, the Daily True Delta of New Orleans reported that a new draft had been ordered by the Confederate military. Along with the draft the paper reported that the military would seize any boats along the Mississippi who engaged in "illicit traffic with the enemy." To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1841, the Illinois Free Trader of Ottawa reported that a Mr. Combe had come to the conclusion that studying during dark hours could eventually lead to insanity. He remarked "the want of refreshing repose will ultimately produce a state of irritability of the nervous system approaching insanity." He recommends that one should "engage in severe studies early in the day, and devote two or three hours preceeding bed time to light reading, music, or amusing conversation." To read the entire paper, click here.

To help us preserve more archived records online, visit SavingOurs.com.

Iuka High School 1949 Yearbook

2012-01-07T20:32:00.000-08:00

While I was home for Christmas, I was able to scan in my grandmother's yearbooks from Iuka High School 1949 & 1950. I have been able to upload the 1949 yearbook and make it searchable online. To see this yearbook, click here.

It took me about 10 hours to put this online and index. So it is quite a bit of work but it is a labor of love. The 1950 yearbook will be completed sometime in the next week. While not professional, I hope that it will allow others to find a few ancestors, relatives and perhaps even themselves.

Today, Jan 6th, Years Ago

2012-01-05T21:36:00.000-08:00

In 1880, talk of the new "electric light" was all the rage. The Union and Journal of Biddeford, Maine reported that Edison was working on a new surrounding glass that was to be less likely to crack than current bulbs. The paper reported that a local resident who had these electric lights installed said: "These lights seem almost perfect. They give us absolutely no trouble. When we retire we turn the little screws attached to each and the glow instantly ceases. Often during the day I turn the lights up. So far, nearly three weeks, they have not failed." To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1856, the Louisiana Courier of New Orleans was published in both English and French. The paper reported that the sale of cotton that day was fair as 7500 bales were sold. The cost of ordinary cotton was 7 cents. The same day, 400 bales of sugar were sold at an average price between 6.5 and 7.5 cents. To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1885, the Telegraph of New Hampshire reported that an oil leak in Augusta, Maine had polluted the local river where ice is gathered for ice houses. The river was polluted for over a mile and the ice was of no use. Also, the paper reported that many folks were giving donations for victims of a large earthquake in Spain. The ex-queen Isabella had opened her palace for the sufferers of the quake. To read the entire paper, click here.

To help us preserve and digitize more archived newspapers volunteer with us at SavingOurs.com.

Today, Jan 5th, Years Ago

2012-01-04T19:18:00.000-08:00

In 1946, a Pennsylvanian woman committed suicide at the fear of going blind. Her husband and two sisters joined her in the suicide. The pact was reported by the Ellensburg Daily Record of Washington. In the same edition, the paper reported that a woman in California was sentenced to ten years to prison for killing the nurse lover of her physician husband. To read the rest of the paper, click here.

In 1886 con artists were busy as usual. The Chronicle Daily Knoxville, of Tennessee, reported that a con had swindled an old lady out of ten dollars. It was a change-dash. The paper also reported that a fire had been started by a dog. The pyromaniac dog knocked over an oil can and cause $250,000 in damage. To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1905, an Indiana woman attempted suicide after being harassed by a local man. According to the Warsaw Daily Union of Indiana, the "plucky" woman and the annoyer took shots at each other on her front porch. Both missed. Along with the attempted suicide the paper reported many tragic happenings in the area. For example, two children had taken chocolate covered pills thinking they were candy and died. Another example is a young boy who was crushed by a train. In between these were a few stories about explosions and scaldings. To read the entire paper, click here.

To help us preserve archived newspapers volunteer with us at SavingOurs.com.

Today, Jan 4, Years Ago

2012-01-03T20:08:00.000-08:00

In early 1924, WWII had been raging for quite a while. The Weston County Gazette of Upton, Wyoming reported that 680,000 US troops had been killed so far in the war. The paper also reported that a local man named Jeff Stout had been lost in a recent snow storm and when he was found both feet were frozen. He was in the local hospital being treated. To read the entire paper, click here.

Back in 1896, a local gold boom in Cripple Creek, Colorado had pushed the produced value of the gold to $8,000,000, which was half of the state's total. According to the Cripple Creek Mail, the total had increased $3,000,000 from the previous year. To find out what else was going on in Cripple Creek on January 4, 1896, click here.

Three Virginians drown in freezing ice in 1918 while trying to cross the James River in their car. According to the Fredericksburg Daily Star, the three brothers were heading home when they attempted to cross the frozen river. Unfortunately, the car did not make it across. The brothers were 26, 24 and 23 years old. To read the entire paper click here.

Help us add more archived newspapers online by volunteering at SavingOurs.com

Today, Jan 3, Years Ago

2012-01-02T22:47:00.000-08:00

In 1908, the Florence Times Daily of Alabama was filled with sad stories. One for example, was the account of a local suicide. A man shot himself in a local storage room. The paper wondered what made him do it as he was acting quite normal just before it happened. Also the paper reported an entire family confined to bed with a severe illness. The father of the family stated that he had been close to death only a few hours before. On a brighter note, the Times reported quite a few new business including a new factory, to employ 10-15, were opening soon. To read the entire paper, click here.

Staying in Alabama, remaining somber and moving ahead to 1932, the Tuscaloosa News contained quite a few depressing stories. The first, from Missouri, involved the slaying of six officers attempting to capture of a murderer. The murderer and his companion escaped into the Ozarks and were still being hunted. Another story detailed the horrific flood affecting the Mississippi Delta. People were stranded in their homes surronded by water. The area had run out of boats trying to rescue the marroned. The state was asking for more boats to aid in the rescue efforts. To read the entire paper, click here.

Finally, back in 1851, the Covington Journal of Kentucky, reported on a recent article in a medical journal regarding Tobacco use. The article concluded that those who chew tobacco lost their sense of flavor. Along with the loss of taste, chewing tobacco warded off the kiss of beautiful women. "If there be a vice more prostrating to the body and mind, and more crucifying to all the sympathies of man's spiritual nature, we have yet to be convinced of it.", said the paper. To read the entire Journal, click here.

To help us preserve more papers like these by digitizing them and making them free online, please visit our website at SavingOurs.com.

Today, Jan 2, Years Ago

2012-01-02T15:53:00.000-08:00

In 1928, a fireman lost the sight of an eye after being shot in the face on New Year's day. The San Jose News of California reported that the fireman was walking with his wife when the driver of a car pulled up beside them and shot at the fireman and his wife. The gun was filled with blanks. However the shot caused extensive damage to the fireman's eye. The shooter stated it was all just a New Year's Eve prank. The local authorities disagreed and arrested him for attempted murder with a deadly weapon. In the same edition the paper reported that a bomb in Scranton, PA at the local paper, failed to stop the newspaper from continuing to print. The bomb was still under investigation. To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1891, President Harrison held his New Year reception for the public at the White House. The Middletown Daily Signal of Ohio describe the reception in detail adding that rain had caused the attendance to be quite slim. The paper also reported a Native American uprising in South Dakota. The Signal reported that thousands of Native Americans were turning against the United States Military in one of the final battles of the Indian Wars. To read the entire paper, click here.

Help us preserve and digitize more archived newspapers by visiting our website at Savingours.com.

100 years of Happy New Years

2011-12-31T02:08:00.000-08:00

The following are captured images from local newspapers from the years 1912-2008. These images are intended to give a glimpse of what folks were thinking, feeling and understanding as they approached a new year. To help us get more archived papers online please volunteer at Savingours.com.

1912: The Evening News: RI

1913: Lake Benton Valley News: MN

1914: Prescott Journal Miner: AZ

1915: The Lewiston Evening Journal: ID

1916: The Day: CT

1917: Easton Free Press:PA

1918: The Crawfordsville Review: IN

1919: The Mansfield Shield: OH

1920: Lewiston Morning Tribune: ID

1921: The St. Petersburg Daily Times: FL

1922: The Sunday Tribune: RI

1923: Aurora Daily Star: IL

1924: Schenectday Gazette: NY

1925: Beaver Falls Tribune: PA

1926: Times Daily: Florence, AL

1927: Schenectady Gazette: NY

1928: The Altus Times-Democrat: OK

1929: The Daily Times:PA

1930:Herald Journal: SC

1931: Carbon County News: MT

1932: The Kyle News: TX

1933: The Youngstown Vindicator: OH

1934: Herald-Journal: SC

1935:The Telegraph: NH

1936: The Desert News: UT

1937: The Desert News: UT

1938: The Woodville Republican: MS

1939: The Victoria Advocate: TX

1940: Berkeley Daily Gazette: CA

1941: The Milwaukee Sentinel: WI

1942: The Dispatch: NC

1943:The Ellensburgh Capital: WA

1944: The Milwaukee Sentinel: WI

1945:The Free Lance-Star: VA

1946: Baltimore Afro American: MD

1947: Times Daily: AL

1948: Williamson Daily News: WV

1949: The Milwaukee Sentinel: WI

1950: The Sunday Morning Star: DE

1951: The Victoria Advocate: TX

1952: Rome News-Tribune: GA

1953: The Modesto Bee: CA

1954: Williamson Daily News: WV

1955: The Victoria Advocate:TX

1956: The Daily Reporter: IA

1957: The Anson Record: NC

1958: Times Daily: AL

1959:The Bladen Journal:NC

1960: Williamson Daily News: WV

1961: Tri City Herald: WA

1962: Ellensburg Daily Record: WA

1963: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:PA

1964: St. Petersburg Times: FL

1965: Lewiston Morning Tribune: IA

1966: The Press-Courier: CA

1967: Post Weekender: TN

1968: Daily News: KY

1969: Youngstown Vindicator: OH

1970: Lawrence Journal-World: KS

1971: The Modesto Bee: CA

1972: The Toledo Blade: OH

1973: The Portsmouth Times: OH

1974:Washington Afro-American: DC

1975: The Modesto Bee: CA

1976: The Sharon Valley News: KS

1977: Sarasota Herald-Tribune: FL

1978: The Evening News: CA

1979: St. Joseph News-Press: MO

1980: Washington Afro-American: DC

1981: Anchorage Daily News: AK

1982: The Milwaukee Sentinel: WI

1983: Daily Times: OH

1984: Eugene Register-Guard: WA

1985: The Vindicator: OH

1986: Star News: NC

1987:Altus Times: OK

1988:The Desert News: UT

1989: The Durant Daily Democrat: OK

1990: The Daily Gazette: NY

1991: Reading Eagle: PA

1992: The Vindicator: OH

1993: The Bulletin: OR

1994: The Free Lance Star: VA

1995: The Durant Daily Democrat: OK

1996: The Record Journal: CT

1997: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: WI

1998: Eugene Register-Guard: OR

1999:Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: WI

2000:Times Daily: AL

2001: Times Daily: AL

2002:Kingman Daily Minder: AZ

2003: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: PA

2004: The Tuscaloosa News:AL

2005: The Beaufort Gazette: SC

2006: The Beaufort Gazette: SC

2007: The Tuscaloosa News:AL

2008:Walsh County Press: ND

Today, December 31, Years Ago

2011-12-30T20:08:00.000-08:00

As we close out 2011 and look forward to 2012, let's take a look back at New Year's Eves of the past.

On the last day of 1887, the Kern County Californian of Bakersfield gave some advice to the store's of main street and to the local businessman. First, the paper reviewed the various store dressings and discussed what it found. It came to the conclusion that a happy medium between too much in the window and too little is the best way to go. It also advised businessmen that reading on the train was a way to start the day off poorly as the eye should be focused outside the window and not on a newspaper. To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1948, the Clatskanie Chief of Oregon had a few wishes for the new year. The paper wished that a new high school building would be built. It also wished for a lighted athletic field but most of all it wished that it could trust the Oregon Highway commission and its engineer. To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1970, according to the Anchorage Daily News, folks in Alaska were hoping for the Alaska Pipeline bill to pass in 1971. The paper also reported that Nixon was the most admired man in the United States for the second consecutive year. He beat out Billy Graham and Edward Kennedy. To read the entire paper, click here.

At the end of 1930, the townsfolk in Cape Girardeau, Missouri were planning to usher in the new year with watch services, parties and a movie. The Southeast Missourian reported that several churches were having watch services and the local theater had a special midnight show called Viennese Nights. The paper also described the outlook for factories in the town for 1931 to be about the same as 1930. Most factories were anticipating continuing at their current level. To read the entire paper, click here.

To have more newspapers added online, please volunteer with us at Saving Ours.

Today, Dec 30, Years Ago

2011-12-29T21:24:00.000-08:00

Today in our Saving Ours Years Ago article, we visit the states of Oregon, Oklahoma, Maine and Ohio. There are many interesting articles to be found in these papers. To help preserve more newspapers such as these, please volunteer on our website located here.

In late December 1937, the papers were abuzz with the accidental bombing by the Japanese of an American ship called the USS Panay (PR-5). The Japanese claimed it did not know it was an American ship. The Bend Bulletin, from Bend, Oregon reported that review of a film showing the sinking of the ship proved that an American flag was clearly visible. The paper showed a picture of the highlight of the film in which you could see an American flag. To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1941, the papers were filled of stories on the recent attack of Pearl Harbor and the new war. The Altus Times-Democrat of Altus, Oklahoma, had stories keeping local folks aware of the happenings around the world. These stories included reports of allied victories and Japanese and German aliens in the US surrendering radios and cameras. Mixed in these national stories were the local ones. For example, the paper reported two local soldiers were safe. Their families had heard from them and neither were harmed during the bombing at Pearl Harbor. To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1975 a bomb ripped through the baggage area at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. The Bangor Daily News of Bangor, Maine reported the following day that twelve people had been killed as a result of the blast. The paper stated that authorities were not yet saying it was a bomb until further tests were run. The blast took place around Gate 22, which was between the TWA and Delta baggage areas. To read the entire paper, click here.

Finally, in 1909, the Toledo Blade of Ohio ran an article discussing the Notable Events of that year. The paper concluded that "discovery of North Pole and definite adoption of air flight [the] two most striking features" of 1909. To read the entire list click here.

Today, Dec 29, Years Ago

2011-12-29T06:09:00.000-08:00

Today in our Saving Ours Years Ago article, we visit the states of Idaho, North Carolina and Indiana.. There are many interesting articles to be found in these papers. To help preserve more newspapers such as these, please volunteer on our website located here.

In 1907, police in New Jersey were investigating the discover of a nude body found in a local pond. The Lewiston Morning Tribune of Lewiston, Idaho reported that the woman had been identified and the police were getting closer to finding out what had happened just prior to her death. The paper also reported on the mayor of Spokane refusing to observe a new Sunday law(stores not allowed to open on Sunday). To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1898, a wealthy society lady of New York was poisoned to death. According to the Muncie Morning News of Muncie, Indiana, she had a headache and took what she thought was Seltzer. However, it was in fact cyanide. Her husband had received this Bromo Seltzer as an anonymous gift for Christmas. To read what else was going on in Muncie, click here.

In 1932, there were fifteen people in jail for Christmas in Bladen County, North Carolina. The Bladen Journal reported that two were in for murder, six for probation violations, four for larceny, two for assault and one held as a state witness. The paper also reported the death of a local farmer. He died Christmas Eve from a head on collision. He was in his Model T driving along nicely, when he came up on a fifteen year old in a Ford driving rapidly and too far on his side of the road. The collision killed the local farmer instantly. To read more of the paper, click here.

Today, Christmas, Years Ago

2011-12-25T15:27:00.000-08:00

Today in our Saving Ours Years Ago article, we visit the states of Minnesota, Michigan and New York.. There are many interesting articles to be found in these papers. To help preserve more newspapers such as these, please volunteer on our website located here.

In 1908 the Duluth Daily Star from Duluth, Minnesota, ran Christmas message from worldly leaders. Messages came from Sweden, Denmark, Persia, Japan, Russia, England and Germany. There are numerous Christmas articles including a feast for Duluth's poor and a day of good will "in every heart." To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1885, The Weekly Press of Adrian, Michigan, filled up the entire front page of the Christmas edition with a depressing story about siblings neglecting a brother who was slow and how they would come to regret it the rest of their lives. To view the entire paper, click here.

In 1925, the Schenectady Gazette too was filled with Christmas greetings. Along with the greetings was a story of rescue. A Christmas Eve fire started sometime after a family had gone to bed. The family dog awoke a child by howling around 2 a.m. As a result, the family was able to escape and lived to tell the tale. To view the entire paper, click here.

Christmas Eve, Years Ago

2011-12-23T19:26:00.001-08:00

Today in our Saving Ours Years Ago article, we visit the states of Maryland, Missouri, Georgia and Louisiana. There are many interesting articles to be found in these papers. To help preserve more newspapers such as these, please volunteer on our website located here.

We start off in 1904, with the Afro American and a letter to Santa by a child from Baltimore.

"Dear Santa Claus. Won't you please bring me a pair o shoes, an overcoat, a cap and some candies for Christmas, my mama says that Santa Claus won't come to our house this Christmas because mama and grandpapa are sick in the hospital, so that is the reason that I write you this letter because I love to have dear old Santa Claus to come at my house on Christmas eve. I am a little boy 6 years old, my name is Elbert Richardson, and I live at 533 N. Central avenue."

There are many other letters from the children of Baltimore. Most asked for dolls, candy, nuts, boots and clothes. To read the entire paper, click here.

Over in Missouri in 1913, The Daily Republican says that the best gift to give for Christmas is to "secure a marriage license" and "give yourself back and forth." On the same note, the paper reports that a bride of fifteen was stolen from her husband on her wedding day. To view the entire paper click here.

In 1943, down in Waycross, Georgia, the Waycross Weekly Journal reported what it was like to be a solider in WWI and away from home for Christmas. A local sergeant, in a letter to his parents described the sounds, sights and smells of the South Pacific and what he was experiencing during the holiday season. The paper was filled with many war stories, including a story about an Indian (Native American) solider who killed two Japanese men with his bare hands. To read the entire paper, click here.

Finally, in 1865, in New Orleans, The Daily True Delta was oddly devoid of Christmas news and wishes. With the exception of a few advertisements, the paper was strictly business as usual. To read the entire paper click here.

Today, Dec 23, Years Ago.

2011-12-22T21:13:00.000-08:00

Today in our Saving Ours Years Ago article, we visit the states of West Virginia, Texas, Tennessee and Rhode Island. There are many interesting articles to be found in these papers. To help preserve more newspapers such as these, please volunteer on our website located here.

It's only a few days until Christmas and I am sure papers of the past are filled with Holiday Joy, right? Well, mostly. Down in Williamson, West Virginia in 1949, the Williamson Daily News reported that a couple of local boys and a girlfriend were out hunting rabbits, possibly for Christmas dinner. Instead of a rabbit, one of the boys, accidentally shot and killed the girlfriend. Police arrested the two for hunting without a license. And, it seemed they were under suspicion for murder. Perhaps it wasn't an accident. Also the paper reported that the Pope urged all Christians to join the Catholic Church. It seems he was hoping for a mass return of all the wayward Protestants. To read the entire paper, click here.

More sad news down in Bonham, Texas. This time, the year was 1912. The Bonham Daily Favorite, reported that a very popular local lady, had committed suicide by shooting herself three times in the stomach. She worked at the local Hotel and was at work when she committed the horrible act. She seemed happy and in good spirits to everyone who saw her right before she ended her life. No reason was given as to why she would do this. In lighter news, the area had seen quite a bit of rain, sleet and snow over the past day. However, the ground was too warm for any of the snow to stick so hopes of a white Christmas were dashed. To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1883, down in Knoxville, Tennessee, the community was celebrating the opening of its first city hospital. The Sunday Chronicle, reported that the hospital was located on the second story of a local building. It opened with four rooms, a kitchen and capacity for twenty patients. Here are a few interesting tidbits from the "Neighborhood Notes" section: "Bristol wants street lamps." Johnson City has 21 stores." Bristol has a new skating rink." Morristown anticipates a woolen mill." "There are over 100 coke ovens in use at Soddy." To read the entire paper, click here.

Finally in 1813, the Rhode Island Republican was full of war stories(The War of 1812). One discusses the defeat of the British Fleet by the Americans on Lake Erie. Another discusses how the Essex Frigate had captured the British ship Montezuma just outside of the Gallapagos. There is also a list of people who have uncollected mail at the Post Office. To read the entire paper, click here.

Today, Dec 22, Years Ago

2011-12-21T23:39:00.000-08:00

Today in our Saving Ours Years Ago article, we visit four states, Wisconsin, Alabama, Arizona and Utah. There are many interesting articles to be found in these papers. To help preserve more newspapers such as these, please volunteer on our website located here.

In 1937, Snow White, the first full length cartoon opened. The Milwaukee Journal in Wisconsin reported that Snow White began with such a "bang that Walt Disney immediately started production of two more." The paper also reported that the folks who paid $5.50 to see the premier got their money's worth. To view the entire paper, click here.

In 1968, Apollo 8 launched, allowing the crew to be the first people to see the far side of the moon. The Gadsden Times in Alabama reported that most of the worlds newspapers praised the historic launch. The Soviet Union being the exception. The front page of the paper starts off with an article entitled "Astronauts Making History; On Way to the Moon." To view the entire paper, click here.

In 1988, a bomb exploded on Pan Am 103, causing the debris to fall on the town of Lockerbie, Scottland. The Lodi News-Sentinel of Arizona reported the sad news the next day on the front page. Along with the main story, the paper discussed the thirty-eight Syracuse University students who perished in the accident. To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1989, the last hard line Communist dictator was toppled in Romania around the same time the US invaded Panama. The Deseret News of Salt Lake City, Utah reported on both events on December 22. The paper reported that the US "missed capturing Noriega by minutes." The paper also reported that 85,000 Arizona citizens signed a petition to repeal Martin Luther King Holiday. To read the entire paper, click here.

Today, Dec 21, Years Ago

2011-12-20T18:54:00.000-08:00

Today in our Saving Ours Years Ago article, we visit four states, Missouri, New Jersey, Montana and Iowa. There are many interesting articles to be found in these papers. To help preserve more newspapers such as these, please volunteer on our website located here.

In 1899, the St. Joseph Weekly Herald of St. Joseph, Missouri, was filled with various war stories from the Philippines. There was also a brief story on an arrest of a man who was soliciting young men for service in the British army. Finally, the paper reported that ten inches of snow had fallen in Houston. To read the entire paper, click here.

The Evil of Dances,an article in the Evening True American (Trenton, NJ) in 1912, spoke of banning rag music because the rhythm promoted dances such as the wiggle and the Turkey Trot. The paper also reported the death of 1,000 Mexicans at the hands of Native Americans. The Yaquis tribe attacked a small town near Agua Prieta, Mexico and massacred the local villagers. To read the entire paper, click here.

In Belgrade, Montana, a man napping on the street, was awoken by police and soon discovered that his feet had frozen. His quick nap cost him a leg, literally. In that same 1916 newspaper, a 12 year old had recently died as a result of Diphtheria. In a related article the paper discussed how one becomes ill with Diphtheria. To read that entire Belgrade Journal, click here.

Finally in 1972, the Carlisle Citizen (Iowa) announced the arrival of Santa to that part of Iowa. Along side the many Christmas ads, stories included a local drive for the needy and local sports coverage. To view the entire paper, click here.

Today, Dec 20, Years ago

2011-12-19T19:30:00.000-08:00

Today in our Saving Ours Years Ago article, we visit four states, Michigan, Alaska, Kentucky and South Carolina. There are many interesting articles to be found in these papers. To help preserve more newspapers such as these, please volunteer on our website located here.

In 1895 up in Michigan there were sad tales and medical advances. The Ann Arbor Argus reported the murder-suicide of a local women. She drown her three year old child and herself in a cistern. The husband learned of his wife's demise in a very pragmatic note she left for him on his return from work. On a more positive note, the paper also reports a case of successful skin grafting on a 12 year old boy. The skin of another person was used. To read the entire paper, click here.

In 1972, the Anchorage Daily News reported the successful return of Apollo 17, ending the Apollo program. With the end of the Apollo program, the paper also pondered a new era in space. Finally, the paper discusses the start of the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway in Alabama in an article entitled "Pork barrel public works may end with Ala canal." The article starts out with the not so prophetic statement "Construction began here last week on what may be the last of the great multi-million dollar public works projects in this county." Isn't Alaska the home to the Bridge to Nowhere? To read the entire paper, click here.

Over in Covington, Kentucky, in 1851, The Covington Journal offered advice on naming your child. The article starts out with this advice: "Do pray call it something comfortably decent!" The author goes on to request that one should "give the baby a pretty name." The paper also has a short blurb about a German man who was blind but recently had his sight restored. His happiness was short-lived as he quickly realized that he had married an ugly woman. The point of the story, according to the paper is that "our cruel physician is Experience." To read the entire paper, click here.

Finally, in 1981 down in South Carolina a woman hijacked a helicopter and helped three inmates escape. In the process she shot a guard. The Charleston Post & Courier also reported about a gunman who took over a French courtroom. The terrorist responsible was a Palestinian guerrilla who wanted to "give the French state a slap in the face." To read the entire paper, click here.

Today, December 19, Years Ago

2011-12-18T21:01:00.000-08:00

To promote our goals at Saving Ours, we continue our look at how today was being reported by various archived newspapers. To volunteer to help us get your local papers archived, visit our website here.

Today, we start in 1914 down in Baltimore with the Afro American Ledger. In this edition the Ledger discusses President Wilson's policy towards African Americans. The paper also discusses life in Louisville Kentucky with Dr. G. D. Smith. Also, in honor of the Christmas season, the Ledger offers advice on charity by suggesting that readers give to a family who recently lost their father. To read the paper, click here.

A few years later in 1936, down in Daytona Beach, Florida, robbers had a profitable night looting several business safes. The Daytona Beach Morning Journal also reviewed the performance of a singing mouse from Chicago, which many had heard of the radio the previous night. To read more, click here.

Moving on to 1957 up in Kasson, Minnesota, the Dodge County Independent was full of local births, deaths and Christmas happenings. One such story shared the misfortune of a local family who while moving lost all their belongings to fire. Apparently, a cigaret from a passing car was tossed into the moving truck and caught the Darwin family's belongings on fire. To read the paper, click here.

Finally, over in Aberdeen, Idaho in 1968, a new portable irradiator was being tested locally. According to The Aberdeen Times, this portable irradiator was the nation's only one and was being used to test the difference between irradiated and chemically treated potatoes. The Times had many Christmas event stories and it even had an article on how to cook your own juicy goose. To read the paper, click here.

Today, Dec 18, Years Ago

2011-12-17T21:05:00.000-08:00

Today, we start our tour of historical newspapers of the past way down south in Mississippi. In 1920, on December the 18th, The Woodville Republican had several stories about the war that had just ended.(WWI) Titles include the following:""Future United States Laws Can Suppress World Chaos and Tyranny, "Disaterous Effects of War", and "Beginning of the End." To read the paper, click here.

Let's go back to 1886 and see what was happening in Washington, PA. The Washington Daily Reporter was filled with advertisements giving folks ideas for Christmas gifts, including watches, china and wagons. There were also several columns discussing the latest events in various parts of the area. For example, in an article called "Around Claysville", the paper tells of illegal hunting tales. It says "It is reported that there are parties in the community who are hunting rabbits, with ferrets, contrary to law. Suffice it to say that they are watched and had better desist at once." I guess big brother or perhaps the ancestor of Gladys Kravitz was watching back then as well. To read the paper click here.

Up in New York in 1930, there were mysterious barn fires, "streets and stores in gay attire"(A Carson Kressley's great uncle visit?) and rumors of consolidating schools. The Canaseraga Times reported these events as well as left the reader to ponder the following: "Could it be(one guess is as good as another) that the recent shower of meteorites brought with it, from distant space, some poisonous substance that, reduced to powder by contract with the atmosphere, floats about in the fog, and is carried into the lungs? Meteorites bring us iron, copper, gold. Why now arsenic, or a worse unknown poison, from some vicious interstellar neighbor?" Read the paper here.

Saving Ours is a volunteer group dedicated to preserving our archived newspapers by ensuring they are digitized, searchable and free online. For more information or to join us please visit our website here.

Today, Dec 17, Years Ago

2011-12-16T21:52:00.000-08:00

Today we start our journal of historical newspapers by visiting Blair Wisconsin in 1925. The Blair Press has quite a bit of information on local happenings, including a front page story about a local family's trip to Florida for the winter. To view this paper, click here.

Next we go to West Virginia in the year of 1948. The Williamson Daily News is full of interesting stories, including Radio Berlin towers being blown up and Congressional spy hunters locating a potential spy. To see more, click here.

In our nation's capital in 1855, the Evening Star discussed superstitions in an article called "Lucy and Unlucky Days." The paper also discussed all the latest news and gossip in D.C. including the happenings at all the local Christmas balls. To view more, click here.

In Florence Alabama, 1892, the Florence Times posted the suicide letter of "Black John", in which he claimed to have been married to thirteen women in the past ten years. Also, the paper reports in an article entitled "Better to Sleep Alone Seems to Be the Prevailing Opinion" that "..there is nothing that will so derange the nervous system of a person who is eliminative in nervous force as to lie all night in bed with another who is absorbent of nervous force." So may pre-1960 Hollywood had it right? Dual beds? To read more, click here.

Saving Ours is a volunteer group dedicated to preserving our archived newspapers by ensuring they are digitized, searchable and free online. For more information or to join us please visit our website here.

Today Years Ago

2011-12-15T23:33:00.000-08:00

As a way to promote our new archived newspaper group Saving Ours. I've decided to start a new column called Today, Years Ago, in which I will show highlights from archived papers this date from many years ago. To start, I picked December 16, 1911. So let's she what was happening 100 years ago.

December 16, 1911:

The front page of the Middletown News Signal from Middletown Ohio has an interesting story about an attempted murder case involving two show girls, Lilliam Graham and Ethel Conrad who were acquitted for shooting W. E. D. Stokes. The show girls claimed that they shot Mr. Stokes in self defense. The paper also had a front page story about an Englishman who predicted a war with Germany within six years. To read more click here.

The Arizona Journal Minor from Prescott Arizona has front page articles on building roads in the West, creating a state holiday for the day that Arizona was admitted into the Union and an article on the seizing of letters from McNamera in an investigation into explosions in buildings completed by non-union workers. To view the entire paper, click here.

The Lodi Sentinel of Lodi, Lodi, California discussed the results from local elections, plans for a new $150,000 school building and how the W.I., a women's club, met to discuss their plan for helping the poor during Christmas. To view the entire paper, click here.

The Pueblo Lead of Colorado had an interesting story about attempted suicide and love. Mrs Robinson of Chicago shot herself while on the phone with her boyfriend after he refused to marry her. This was the second time she had asked and he refused. The paper also has a front page story on the accidental death of a famous gun fighter called Rudy Barthel. To read the entire paper, click here.

The Meriden Daily Journal of Connecticut also has the Stokes acquittal on the front page. The story focused on how Mr. Stokes doctors were not allowing updates about the trial to reach Mr. Stokes as he was still not well from the shooting. The paper also reported over 3,500 deaths of Christians in Turkey by the Turks. To read the entire paper, click here. You'll need to scroll over to the 16th.

The Robesonian of Lumberton, North Carolina had a lot of tidbits of local news, listing quite a few names. There is a story about run away horses causing a panic in the street, an obituary about a Mrs. Ann Eliza Higley and also a bit about how the stores along main street are all fixed up for Christmas. To read the entire paper, click here. You'll need to scroll over to the 16th.

Why We Need Small Town Newspapers

2011-12-09T00:03:00.000-08:00

Recently with Saving Ours, I've made a push to encourage folks to organize and help get archived newspapers online, searchable and free to the public. I've had a lot of support, but also a few folks who have asked me why I wanted to waste my time on "that." I wanted to share why it's important, at least to me, to have these documents available online.

First and foremost, it is important for family historical research. For example, I've been researching my maternal grandfather's family in Alabama. I found the Times Daily, the local newspaper for Florence, Alabama on Google's, now defunct, archive news page. The Times Daily archives are from 1890 to 2007.

I have found many interesting tidbits, and sometimes more, about my family from the Times Daily. For example, my mother told me she had a cousin who drowned when he was twelve and she was eight. She couldn't remember much else about it. I was curious to see if there was an article on the drowning. I found the date of his death and was able to locate a news article.

From this news article I learned that he was actually being watched that day by his older sister. He and three other children, none of whom could swim, were playing in Bear Creek just south of the town where they all lived. He fell in a hole that had been left by a tree and was found dead a few feet from where he went missing.

Why is this important you ask? It's important, to me at least, to understand the story behind the death. Because I found this story, I realized that his older sister was actually watching him. She was twenty-three. Now I wonder if she carried some sort of guilt with her.

She, too, died at a young age. She was 32 when she died in a car wreck in 1968. I also found that article in the Times Daily along with a picture of the car she was in when the wreck occurred.

These stories along with many obituaries that I have found in the Times Daily newspaper have helped me better understand the lives of my ancestors. I have also been able to find valuable clues in helping me verify information.

Finally, newspapers from the past, help us better understand what it was like to live during that time from day to day. They make it more real than just a bunch of dates and snapshots of time. For example, for the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, I looked up the December 7th and December 8th newspaper articles in the Times Daily to see how the bombing of Pearl Harbor was reported in the paper. What struck me the most about finding these articles was not how it was reported but how it made me feel. Reading reports of Japanese planes being seen over San Francisco and other parts of California on reconnaissance missions and the fear it struck in locals, helped me understand just a little bit better what they were going through back then.

These articles are real, written during the time and not subsequent to the events. Imagine what it would have felt like being woken up several times by air-raid sirens during the first night after your country had been attacked. Everyone looking over their heads wondering if bombs would fall there too. I seem to remember feeling something very similar in September of 2001.

So as you can see for genealogy research alone, it's important to have these gems digitized, searchable and online. Add in the historical value and it's a no-brainer.

Join us at SavingOurs.com

Welcome Karen

2011-12-06T15:49:00.000-08:00

Saving Ours is proud to have Karen Synychak as our Lead Volunteer for the West Central Florida region. She is a native Floridian born in Marion County, Florida. She is a graduate of Florida State University and is currently a Florida Registered Paralegal working in Brooksville, Florida. Her work experience includes real estate title work, probate, advanced internet searches, scanning and saving historical documents. She is also a member of local historical preservation society and active genealogist since 2003.

If you live in the West Central Florida region, please sign up to help Karen out. Good luck Karen. Let's get those papers and documents digitized and online.

Saving Ours is a grass root group dedicated to preserving our past by ensuring our records are digitized and made free to the general public online. For more information visit Saving Ours.

New Florida Region created

2011-12-06T03:12:00.000-08:00

Saving ours is happy to announce that a new Florida region has been developed. The region is West Central and includes the counties of Hernando, Citrus and Sumter counties. Karen Synychak has agreed to be the Lead Volunteer for the area. More about her is forthcoming. Karen will need other local volunteers to help her. If you are in the area and wish to help out, please visit the West Central Florida region page for more information.

Saving Ours is a grass root group dedicated to preserving our past by ensuring our records are digitized and made free to the general public. Our current focus is preserving our small town newspapers of the past.