A Newspaper - A Hundred Years Ago

Not too many Bedford Inquirer newspapers, published in 1873 can be found today. We had the opportunity to review four years of this old newspaper. We specifically noted that its motto was "A Local and General Newspaper, Debotch to Politics, Education, Literature and Morals".

First of all the format of the newspaper is very different from the paper printed today. The old newsprint was so small we wonder how the readers of that day could read it. Much of the front page was devoted to advertisements, particularly in the lower left side where we found the attorneys all had their names and addresses listed. They were:

W.C. Smith, Juliana Street.

J.H. Spang, Juliana Street.

Mower & Mower

Hayes Irvine, Second story of Law Building

Samuel Ake, One door south of Courthouse

H.D. Tate, Office opposite Inquirer Building

William D. Schell

Lingenfelter & Jordan Public square - opposite the Courthouse

Alex King, Opposite the Mengal House

Russell Longenecker, Juliana Street

Very little local news could be found. When this column was found it was under the heading of 'Local Affairs.' Obituaries were never written up in detail except if the person happened to be a dignitary. Otherwise the column was headed 'Died'. Here would be the name, date of death and age.

Each week there appeared a column or more about Congress. In one issue there appeared a full length three column on the constitution proposed to citizens of this commonwealth for their rejection or approval by Constitutional Convention. One issue contained a four page 'Extra' containing the full text of President Grant's message to Congress.

Each issue contained a space devoted to poems. One had a long one about a 'Toad', another 'Practical Lover' and one devoted to 'My Sleeping Boy'. A space was also devoted to children's stories.

For five consecutive weeks long columns appeared on the life story or confessions of Davy Lewis. He was the noted highwayman in the early 1800's. The stories were supposed to have been written by him in 1820 while a prisoner in jail. He said he was born at Carlisle, Cumberland County March 4, 1790.

There were many columns which provided its readers ample topics for conversation. One was "Drain of Gold" and its causes! 'How smooth bore cannon are rifled'. An amusing item was about the use of paper. It was now being used to make barrels to ship sugar and flour. The column described how the paper boards were cemented together and then subjected to an enormous pressure. The weight of each barrel was half the weight of wooden barrels.

Apparently Kerosene, also called coal oil, was beginning to be used for lighting because there was quite a long column devoted to the coal oil lamps. The article said that coal oil is not explosive, that a burning match thrust in the liquid is extinguished. (P.S. Do not try it) but if a blaze be applied to the surface and retained there for some time it will ignite. It will only burn in bulk when heated. The author then asks a question and then attempts to answer it—"Why is there so many dangerous accidents?" The reply was 'it depends upon two properties'. It is very volatile and when ignited it burns with great vigor. The author advised users to clean the lamps once a day otherwise the oil will collect on the outside of the burner and catch fire. Also, the wick must accurately fit the burner. The author summed up his report with eight points: 1. Keep the lamps full. 2. Keep it clean. 3. See that the wick fits the burner. 4. Extinguish, not by blowing down the chimney, but by lowering the wick _ to l/2 inch. 5. Only trim the wick by removing the cinder. 6. Fill the lamp in day light away from fire. 7. Never fill while burning. 8. Do not drop it, get broken or turn over while in the vicinity of fire. 9. Incidentally, the Inquirer copied this from the Cumberland Presidential.

In another issue we found a six column full page length story of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Every issue of the Inquirer contained many advertisements. It seemed that every business place in the county took out an 'ad', sometime during the year. For the first time, we found that a Bedford Nursery existed here. Their announcement said they had 16,000 apple trees for sale from six to 12 feet high in addition to other fruit trees of all varieties as well as grape vines. Smith & Garretson were the owners. (Note we would like to know where this place was located).

The Juniata House on Juliana Street was operated by Mary J. Ripple. Transients would be taken in by the day, week month or year. N.L. Fyan sold drugs, fine groceries, dye stuffs, glass ware, also pure wines, liquors and tonics for medicinal use. His store was located one door west of Captain Metzger's red front hardware store on Pitt Street. B. Oppenheimer and sons were having a sale of fall and winter goods in immense quantities. The latest styles were being sold at half the regular price.

We were quite surprised to find advertisements from places in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Cumberland. John C. Davis & Son operated the Union Spoke works at S.W. corner of Leopard and Otter Street, Philadelphia. They had on hand for sale wagon and buggy wheels, spokes, rims and plow handles. T.F. Phillips at Sixth and Liberty Streets, Pittsburgh, had a large 'ad' on dry goods. Samuel J. Edwards, 84 Baltimore Street, Cumberland, Maryland, was conducting a sale of boots, shoes, hats, caps, trunks, carpet bags, valises, umbrellas and leather fittings.

This was your newspaper - a hundred years ago.