Category Archives: 150 Years Ago This Week

News from 150 years ago

Charleston and Chicago on Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2021 by SUMPTER

150 years ago a couple editorials, North and South, seemed to share some similarities. From the December 25, 1871 issue of The Charleston Daily News (image 2): Christmas. May we not hope that this day of days, the festival of … Continue reading →

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not half bad

Posted on November 30, 2021 by SUMPTER

Another year, another Thanksgiving. Here’s President Grant’s 1871 Proclamation: THANKSGIVING DAY 1871 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – A PROCLAMATION The process of the seasons has again enabled the husbandman to garner the fruits of successful … Continue reading →

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“Chicago will not succumb”

Posted on October 11, 2021 by SUMPTER

I never knew much about the devastating 19th century Chicago fire, except that it seemed to have something to do with a Mrs. O’Leary and her cow. As I realized the fire was getting nearer, at least in sesquicentennial time, … Continue reading →

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upriver

Posted on September 15, 2021 by SUMPTER

According to documentation at the Library of Congress, an expedition of exploration set out from a camp in Arizona territory 150 years ago today: In its May 6, 1871 issue Harper’s Weekly provided more information about the expedition: SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. … Continue reading →

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another glorious day

Posted on July 4, 2021 by SUMPTER

From the July 8, 1871 issue of Harper’s Weekly: An editorial commented on the picture – the Fourth of a July was customarily a noisy, boisterous, and often dangerous holiday: ____________________________ A week later the editors still found the Fourth … Continue reading →

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redecoration

Posted on May 30, 2021 by SUMPTER

From the June 10, 1871 issue of Harper’s Weekly: From the The New York Herald May 31, 1871: THE NATION’S DEAD. … The muffled drum’s sad roll has beat The Soldier’s last tattoo, No more on life’e parade shall meet … Continue reading →

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nothing to see year

Posted on January 1, 2021 by SUMPTER

At least not over here. The Chicago Tribune used its January 1, 1871 issue to review the old year. According to the paper, the recent-history-perusing side of Janus would have been kind of bored looking at events in the United … Continue reading →

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guns and egg-nog

Posted on December 25, 2020 by SUMPTER

And the firecrackers look like fun, too As Reconstruction was presumably trudging on, a New York City newspaper provided its readers with a couple glimpses of Christmas celebrations from the land down under, down under the Mason-Dixon line. From Harper’s … Continue reading →

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the three exemptions

Posted on November 26, 2020 by SUMPTER

Apparently 150 years ago the United States was free from pestilence and civil strife: BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas it behooves a people sensible of their dependence on the Almighty publicly and collectively … Continue reading →

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a death on campus

Posted on October 12, 2020 by SUMPTER

It was a damp, chilly afternoon in Lexington, Virginia. A heavy rain set in that eventually resulted in some severe flooding. September 28, 1870 was a long day for Robert E. Lee, the president of Washington College. According to Colonel … Continue reading →

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