Hear Their Footprints
The History of the Grit Newspaper in Williamsport
The Grit newspaper's history began nearly 145 years ago, in 1882, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. One of the young printers involved in its early days was Dietrick Lamade, a German immigrant who later took over the struggling publication with partners and helped transform it into an independent Sunday paper. In time, Grit became known for bringing the “good news” of rural America into homes across the country.
Fannie Heddens
Fannie Heddens spent nearly her entire life in the hotel business. Friends and family gathered in Montour County in 1906 to celebrate her eightieth birthday as she recalled her life in Washingtonville. We also share an anecdotal story of three Bloomsburg girls and their efforts to prepare a live chicken for dinner.
The Appollonicon
Now and Then "Devoted to Local History, Amusement, Instruction and Advancement of the Borough and the Valley of Muncy, Penna." was a privately printed magazine published at irregular intervals between the years 1868 and 1878. Its publisher was Jeremiah Meitzler Mohr Gernerd, who started a music and variety store in Muncy, Pennsylvania, which he continued until 1872. His magazine was devoted to preserving local history in the Muncy area of Lycoming County. The following story from 1888, talks about the arrival of the North American Circus of Spalding and Rogers in September of 1849. It caused a great deal of excitement, and also provided what Gernerd called a “humbug.”
Lumber Camps in Clinton County
Northern Pennsylvania’s “lumbering days” were roughly from the early 1800s into the 1920s, with the great boom years from about the Civil War through the first decade of the 1900s. Logs could be rafted or driven downstream. Later, narrow-gauge logging railroads, splash dams, steam mills, and tanneries pushed the industry deep into the mountains. Harry Cranmer, of Hammersley Fork in Clinton County, was a veteran lumberman and was also an historian who shared his stories of life in lumber camps.
A Montour County Woman was the Ancestor of a Real Yankee Doodle Dandy
When Danville and the entire country celebrated the bicentennial in 1976, a story written by newspaper reporter Jim Birt in a July Danville news supplement included the proud ancestry of Mrs. Pearl Fitch Diehl. She was the wife of Fred W. Diehl, the man who served as superintendent of Danville schools for decades and authored several local history books. Mrs. Diehl was a direct descendant of Captain Thomas Fitch Junior.
The Lost Coffin
Hello everyone. My name is Terry Diener, an author, historian, and researcher from the Susquehanna Valley. You may be familiar with my website, SusquehannaFootprints.com. It features stories on people, places and events from the region. I do have a podcast link on the site as well. Relying on my many years behind the radio mic, I’m beginning a daily podcast, just a few minutes in length, entitled Susquehanna Footprints: Treading Lightly. The stories will focus on the unusual, interesting, positive and lighter side of life from the rich history of the Valley.
Historian Larry Mordan Was Always Willing to Share his knowledge of the Iron Industry of Montour County
The Susquehanna Valley lost a valuable resource in local history, especially the Montour County Iron industry, with the passing of Larry Mordan in 2019. Larry once told a newspaper reporter his interest in local history was sparked by his late grandfather, James Bryant, who was one of the last puddlers of iron in Danville. The famous T-Rail was first manufactured at the Big Mill in Danville. Larry’s great-grandfather, Charles Morgan Bryant, was one of the last to work in the Iron mines in Danville. And Mordan's great-great-great-grandfather, Samuel Bryant came to Danville from Wales in 1841. A talented artist as well as a historian Larry may be best known for his vast knowledge of the miners and the mines during the iron industry of the 1800s.
Weather Superstitions of the Pennsylvania Germans
Pennsylvania Germans brought customs, traditions, and superstitions to many counties of the Commonwealth. An article in a Pennsylvania German magazine dated 1904, reported that weather prognosticators placed a lot of stock for future conditions based on the end of December and early January. “The weather of the different months of the year corresponds in a general way to the condition of the twelve days of Christmas which extend into early January and Epiphany or Twelfth night.
I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
The familiar Christmas carol “I Heard The Bells” was originally a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on Christmas Eve of 1863. He was recognized as the most popular poet of his day. Other works included the “Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,” and “The Song of Hiawatha.” We’ll fast-forward to the 21st century in just a bit and include the story of Civil War reenactor Chase Petro of Columbia County and his role in “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” the film released in 2022 from the Sight and Sound Theater Production group based in Lancaster County.
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Williamsport Church Rector Authored We Three Kings Christmas Carol
John Henry Hopkins Jr. served at Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, PA, from 1876 to 1887. During his final year of teaching at the General Theological Seminary in 1857, Hopkins wrote the popular song "We Three Kings" for a Christmas pageant held at the college.