The Vault

This is a story of survival – not of a living thing but of a collection of historical newspapers on the brink of extinction.  For six months the Project Team had been pursuing access to this known collection.  From early April through June 1985 our calls to the Northumberland County Historical Society went unanswered.  A call to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in Harrisburg led us to only a possible contact.  Not until a local postmistress confirmed the name of the president of the local historical society did we finally gain access to one of the most significant collections of historic newspapers in central Pennsylvania.  

Through our research we had discovered that Northumberland County’s newspaper publishing history was rich and extensive.  Founded in 1772 and situated in the interior of Pennsylvania, Northumberland County’s territory was massive covering more than one third the area of Pennsylvania.  Its boundaries extended from the Lehigh and Allegheny Rivers northwards to the New York state line.  According to Herbert C. Bell’s 1891 History of Northumberland County Pennsylvania, Philadelphia papers were the first to circulate in the County until the County’s first paper appeared in June 1792 – the Sunbury and Northumberland Gazette published by Andrew Kennedy.  

During its 220 year history from its origins in 1792 through 2012, 178 newspaper titles were published in seven different towns.    

As the Project Team found out in August 1985, the Northumberland County Historical Society held the most extensive collection of historic newspapers for the County and the region. 

This is our story of that discovery and what happened next! 

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During our visit to Northumberland County we broke all records to date and found a total of 29 new (previously unheard of) titles!!  None were listed in Rossell’s 1978 Bibliography.  

A second record for the team – we cataloged 105 titles and completed 55 more LDRs in one day while at the Fort Augusta Museum (the “Vault”).  The items belong to the Northumberland County Historical Society but are stored in the Museum in a locked room.

 –from the August 1985 Monthly Report

Herewith the events of “THE VAULT” story – as they unfold …

JOURNAL ENTRIES – relating to NCHS Site Visits

Wednesday, Aug. 7, 1985 

Ate breakfast at Glosser Motor Inn and headed to Sunbury to meet Hugh Jones at his downtown office at 8:30 am. 

We arrived before 8:30 — Hugh Jones didn’t get there till 8:50 am.  He then led us to the Fort Augusta Museum to the Vault

C Pic 1985 Norry Co His Soc Fort Augusta Aug 7 1985 vault had not been open for 35-40 yrs

A “shadowy” picture of Fort Augusta Museum, home of the Northumberland County Historical Society, August 7, 1985.

Fort Augusta was Pennsylvania’s stronghold in the upper Susquehanna Valley, from the days of the French and Indian War to the close of the American Revolution. This site, now within the limits of the City of Sunbury, is an area which the Native Americans called “Shamokin.”

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We waited for the President of the Museum/ Society [Jack Hetrick] to get there to let us in.  

Jack unlocked the Vault. 

D Pic 1985 North Co His Soc Fort Augusta Jack Hetrick Pres unlocking vault door Aug 7 1985

August 7, 1985 – Mr. Jack Hetrick, President of the Northumberland County Historical Society unlocking vault door and Hugh Jones, Secretary of Society, looking on.  The vault had not been opened for 30 – 40 years!    

E Pic 1985 North Co His Soc Fort Augusta Aug 7 1985

Becky moving boxes out so as to have room to work. Northumberland County Historical Society, Fort Augusta Museum, August 7, 1985.

At 9:15 am we began… 

There were many, many bound volumes of titles (Northumberland Co.) and there were also boxes full of Northumberland Co. titles and single issues and titles from other surrounding counties, plus other PA counties and out-of-state titles. 

F Pic Inside the Vault!

Inside the Vault!  After 9 hours – we cataloged 105 titles – the most we have done in ONE DAY –  August 7, 1985.   

It seems the vault hasn’t been opened in 30-40 years.   

So we had 30-40 years worth of dust and dirt to deal with plus nowhere to sit, light was one single light bulb, no bathroom plus no air!!  

We worked at an old desk and a podium (standing).  With these conditions we began our work. 

G Pic 1985 North Co His Soc Fort Augusta Aug 7 1985 Beck in vault looking tired

Becky cataloging titles inside the vault, Fort Augusta Museum, August 7, 1985.

Becky cataloged and LDRed and so did I – there was enough to keep us going for hours.  

Around 1:15 pm decided we had enough – went to Amity House for lunch.  

Back to work – took one short break – our feet were getting so tired!!

We kept working all the while – around 5 pm both of us were getting so worn down – but we kept working. 

Finally, … finally at 7:00 pm we came to the last title. 

Decided to drive back to Milton area – had to be in that area 8:30 am next morning.  

I was so tired and Beck too but we drove to Lewisburg (near Milton) and stayed the night at University Inn.  Ate dinner at 8:30 pm at Perkins connected to motel.  I was so tired I got silly.

H Pic Sue cataloging in the vault

Sue cataloging titles inside vault. Northumberland County Historical Society, August 7, 1985.

All in all, we cataloged:


30    Northumberland Co. titles

55   Other Pa. Co. titles
20   Non-Pa. titles
105   Total

This was the most we have ever done on one day!!!
Plus:  we LDRed


7      Northumberland Co. titles
30   Other Pa. Co. titles
7      Non-Pa. titles
44   Total

No wonder we were so dead tired!!

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Friday, August 16, 1985  (Partial JOURNAL ENTRY) 

Left [Mrs. Cechmann’s house in Watsontown] at 10:35 am. 

Stopped for quick snack then decided to head to Sunbury to look over the holdings at the John L. Kauffman Library.  

Arrived at Kauffman Library 11:15 – looked at microfilm holdings and put them in order.  Photocopied a history of the newspapers in Northumberland Co. published in 1973. 

Left at 12:45. 

Saturday, August 17, 1985 

Ate breakfast at Varias Restaurant then walked around Farmers Market set up in the street.  Bought tons of fruit and veggies. 

Went to Kauffman Library to work on microfilm holdings.  [Microfilm belongs to Northumberland County Historical Society].  

Cataloged 11 Northumberland Co. titles – of which 4 were new titles we hadn’t seen before.  LDRed 6 others.

I Pic 1985 Other Sep 6 1985 Kauffman Lib

John R. Kauffman Jr. Public Library, Sunbury, Pa. Some of the newspapers belonging to the Northumberland County Historical Society were housed here. September 6, 1985

We had plenty of time to go through the microfilm – we even caught a link which we hadn’t noticed before!  * It was so nice to have extra time then be pushed when time is so limited!!! 

J Pic Norry Co Kauffman Lib Sep 6 1985

Sue checking boxes of microfilm at Kauffmann Library, Sunbury, Pa., September 6, 1985.

Also LDRed Citizen Shopper belonging to Kauffman Library.  Left at 3:00 pm.  

Headed for HOME!  Arrived in Boalsburg 6:00 pm.  Had stopped at Rock Oak for dinner. 

All in all, GOOD trip 

Found 10 additional Northumberland Co. titles 7 of which were NEW titles and 3 were titles that had holdings listed in Rossell. 

This brings the TOTAL to 161 titles known to have been published in Northumberland Co. to date have found 76/161 = 47.2%     — Added star for Herndon on the MAP of STARS.

Friday, September 6, 1985 

Left Boalsburg for return trip to Sunbury, Kauffman Library to finish Northumberland Co. Historical Society’s holdings on 3rd floor.  [Ed. note: we did not find out until later that there were additional holdings on the 3rd floor!] 

K Pic Norry Co Kauffman Lib 3rd floor Sep 6 1985

Sue with Jack Hetrick, President of the Northumberland County Historical Society, 3rd floor of Kauffman Library, September 6, 1985.

On the way we posted ‘”WANTED” posters (at the following locations) –

1) Montandon Post Office; 2) Big T Family Restaurant; 3) Weis Store, Sunbury; 4) Court House, Sunbury; 5) The Market House, Sunbury; 6) Kauffman Library; 7) Sunbury Post Office.

L Pic Wanted Poster of Norry County Newspapers

Arrived at Kauffman 10:00 am – worked till 12:30.  Jack Hetrick stopped by and so did Hugh [Jones] – he brought several of his personal papers for us to catalog. 

Went to Sandy’s Station Deli for lunch then back to the 3rd floor 1:15 to 3:45 pm.  It was so hot and humid!!  It must have been 100 degrees!! 

All in all, cataloged 12 Northumberland Co. titles – 5 newly found titles, 2 listed in Rossell with holdings we hadn’t seen before and 1 which was listed in Rossell but NOT IDed.  

PLUS we LDRed 21 other titles – Northumberland Co. and various other surrounding counties.

PLUS we cataloged 4 other surrounding county titles. 

Beck found a German paper Der Union Demokrat from New Berlin which was on our Union Co. “Needs” list! 

GREAT!! 

          Traveled back home – arrived at 6:00 pm.    132 miles 

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To keep track of everything, the Project Team recorded all communications (phone calls, letters, visits, etc.) on 4 x 6 index cards for each site visit and/or contact person(s).  Four Cards were made for Northumberland County Historical Society in our effort to identify contacts and locations of newspapers. 

Sample of one of the cards:

                                                                                                                            At one point, we were tempted to FORGET IT!

M Pic Fort Augusta CARD FILE 1

N Pic Fort Augusta CARD FILE 2

Verso of the 4×6 CARD

 Finally!  We’re IN!!

MASTER CARD FILE:  DATES AND NOTES 

Northumberland County – Mt Carmel – Hugh Jones

10/83 – Survey from David Hoffman at State Library
2/4/85 – Sent our survey from Penn State asking about holdings
2/14/85 – Spoke at length to Hugh re holdings at Mt. Carmel Public Library
7/3/85 – Called to set up site visit at Mt. Carmel Public Library
12/85 – Sent Hugh a Christmas card
2/86 – Wrote asking Hugh to write Legislators
5/27/86 – New Newsletter sent
8/27/85 – Sent Thank you letter (q.v.)
9/10/85 – Sent Thank you letter and asked about missing issues (q.v.)
10/10/86 – Spoke to Hugh; got new address in Philly
11/18/86 – Sent 8-county- holdings- list from Barbara Kurimchak
??/?? – Sent letter of intro re Bill Hamill; returned; wrong address

Northumberland County – Northumberland – Jack Hetrick

8/1/85 – Got his name from Norry Post Office; Jack is President of NCHS (We knew this)
8/7/85 – Site visit.  Jack opened the Vault for us at Ft. Augusta, Sunbury
9/6/85 – Met Jack at Kauffman Library to catalog additional NCHS holdings on 3rd floor

Northumberland County – Sunbury – Fort Augusta Museum – “The Vault”

2/5/85 – Sent survey from Penn State asking about holdings
4/30/85 – Tried to call the Museum; no phone listing.  Someone from Fort Augusta Elementary School gave times the Museum is open.  Having money problems; may not have a phone
5/7/85 – Called Frank Schmidt (at the PA Hist. Museum Commission); left message to please call us
5/8/85 – Frank Schmidt returned our call; he suggested we call Jack Hetrick
5/8/85 – Called Jack.  He said Hugh Jones was working with us already.  There are papers on M’film owned by Fort Augusta Museum/Society plus more in the Hunter Bldg (Vault?).  Also papers on 3rd floor at Kauffman Library in Sunbury
8/7/85 – Spent almost 10 hours in the Vault, cataloging and inventorying newspapers! Jack left his key with us; we left it for him at Kauffman Library
8/22/85 – Sent Thank you letter.

Northumberland County – Sunbury  – John R. Kauffman Public Library

10/83 – Survey from David Hoffman at State Library
2/5/85 – Sent survey from Penn State 
2/25/85 – Received holdings list from Kauffman Library; items belong to NCHS
8/17/85 – Site visit to catalog holdings
8/25/85 – Sent Thank you letter
9/6/85 – Return visit to Kauffman to catalog papers on 3rd floor

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TITLES FOUND!

Here follows the list of the 180 titles belonging to the Northumberland County Historical Society discovered during our three visits to catalog all their holdings.  Some titles were unique; for others, we just recorded the holdings; some were on microfilm; paper issues were in the Vault; paper and film were found in the Kauffman Library.  Titles included those published in the County, in other Pennsylvania towns and cities, and in other states.

Age (Philadelphia)
Albion New Era (Albion, IN)
Albuquerque Tribune
Anabhangiger Correspondent (New Berlin)
Anthracite Monitor (Tamaqua)
Anti-Masonic Star (New Berlin)
Baltimore American
Baltimorean
Berwick Enterprise
Berwick Independent
Carthage Evening Press (MO)
Chester Count Day (West Chester)
Chickasaw Union (Pontotoc, MISS)
Chronicle of the Times (Reading)
Church Journal (NY)
Churchman (NY)
City Band News (Sunbury)
Commonwealth (VA)
Daily American (Sunbury)
Daily Herald (Shamokin)
Daily News (Philadelphia)
Daily Review (Towanda)
Dakota News (Watertown)
Democratic Press (Philadelphia)
Democratic Sentinel (Bloomsburg)
Democratic Whig (Bellefonte)
Der Christiche Botschafer (New Berlin)
Der Deutsche Ohio Adler (Lancaster, OH)
Der Union Demokrat (New Berlin)
Der Unparthenische Americaner (Carlisle)
Die Harrisburger Morgenroshe
Die Stimme Und Union, North … Advertiser (New Berlin) (Photo below)
Die Susquehanner Zeitung (Williamsport)
Dollar Weekly Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
Dunlap’s American Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia)
Elizabethville Echo
Evening Chronicle  (Pottsville)
Evening Item (Sunbury)
Evening News (Sunbury)
Evening Telegraph (Philadelphia)
Fort Wayne Sentinel
Freeburg Courier
Freeburg Weekly Courier
Freeburg Weekly Courier (1928)
Freedman’s Appeal (Harrisburg)
Gazette & Bulletin (Williamsport)
Gazetteer (Sunbury)
Gettysburg Compiler
Harrisburg Telegraph
Hazelton Anthracite Sentinel
Hazelton Sentinel
Herndon News Consolidated w/The Herndon Star
Hornet (1802) Frederick-Town, MD
Hornet (1809) Frederick-Town, MD
Hunterdon County Democrat & Democratic-Advertiser (NJ)
Huntingdon County Republican
Independent (Berwick)
Investigator (Harrisburg)
Journal of Humanity, Herald… Society (Andover, MA)
Kulpmont Weekly News
Labor (Wash., D.C.)
Lewisburg Chronicle
Lewisburg Chronicle (1865)
Lewisburg Democrat
Lewisburg Journal
Lewisburg Standard
Lewisburg Standard and Buffalo…
Lewisburgh Saturday News (Lewisburg)
Libanonor Morgenstein (Lebanon)
Lutherische Girtenstimme (Baltimore)
Luzerne Union (Wilkes-Barre)
Mail & Express (NY and Brooklyn)
McClure Plain Dealer…Consolidated
Medium (Danville)
Mid-Day Bulletin (Sunbury)
Middleburgh News Item (Middleburg)
Middleburgh Post (Middleburg)
Mifflinburg Telegraph
Milton Democrat
Milton Economist
Milton Evening Standard
Milton Ledger
Milton Record
Milton Weekly Record
Miltonian
Mining Register and Pottsville Emporium
Montour American (Danville)
Morning Bulletin (Milton)
Morning News (Danville)
Morning Press (Bloomsburg)
Mount Carmel Item
Mt. Carmel News
Muncy Luminary & Lycoming County Advertiser
National (Chicago)
New York American
New York Herald
New York Times
New York Tribune
Norristown Times Herald
North American (Philadelphia)
Northumberland Ad-topics
Northumberland County Democrat
Northumberland Union
Pennsylvania Reporter & Democratic Herald (Harrisburg)
Pennsylvania Reporter & Democratic State Journal (Harrisburg)
People’s Advocate (Lewisburg)
People’s Advocate and Press (New Bloomfield)
Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia)
Philadelphia Record
Pittston Gazette
Post (Middleburg)
Press (Philadelphia)
Public Aspect (Northumberland)
Public Ledger (Philadelphia)
Public Press (Northumberland)
Raftsman’s Journal
Reading Gazette and Democrat
Record and Star (Watsontown)
Record of the Times (Wilkes-Barre)
Republican (Huntingdon)
Republican Argus
Saturday Evening Post (Philadelphia)
Selins Grove Times
Selinsgrove Times
Selinsgrove Times and Snyder County
Tribune
Shamokin Canalboat
Shamokin Daily News
Shamokin Dispatch
Shamokin Drift
Shamokin Herald
Shamokin News-Dispatch
Shamokin Register
Shamokin Times
Shamokin Weekly Times
Shenandoah Weekly Herald (New Berlin)
Snyder County News (Middleburg)
Snyder County Tribune (Selinsgrove)
Snyder County Weekly Herald (Beaver Springs)
Soldiers’ Journal (VA)
Star of Hope (Williamsport)
State’s Advocate (Milton)
Sun (Baltimore)
Sun (New York)
Sunbury Advertiser
Sunbury American
Sunbury American (1848) (Photo below)
Sunbury American (1880)
Sunbury Daily
Sunbury Daily Item
Sunbury Daily Item (1892)
Sunbury Gazette
Sunbury Gazette = American
Sunbury Gazette and Miner’s Register
Sunbury Gazette and Northumberland Co. Republican
Sunbury Item
Sunbury News
Sunbury Sun
Sunbury Weekly News
Sunbury’s Original Shoppers Guide
Sun-Norry Star (Sunbury)
Sun-norry Star (Sunbury)
Susquehanna Valley Gazette (Sunbury)
Times (Sunbury)
Times (Sunbury)
Trevorton Times
U.S. Gazette (Philadelphia)
Uncle Samuel (Lancaster)
Union Annalist (New Berlin)
Union County Star and Lewisburg Chronicle
Union Star (New Berlin
Union Times (New Berlin)
Watchman (Norristown)
Watsontown Record
Weekly Age (Philadelphia)
Weekly Philadelphia Times
West Branch Farmer and True Advocate (Milton)
Wilkes-Barre Telephone
Working Men’s Advocate
World (New York)

What Happened Next?

Rescued from obscurity, crumbling with decay, locked in a vault for 40 years, completely inaccessible, titles unknown… 

Over a ton of newspapers were located, inventoried, cataloged!  

The future of the Society’s existence was unknown – lack of funds, lack of staffing and uncertainty about the future of its buildings.  

Then, sometime between inventorying the collections of the Northumberland County Historical Society (August, September 1985) and the Journal Entries below (October 1986), a series of phone calls occurred between Mr. Jack Hetrick and the Penn State Project Team, which resulted in an agreement to house the Society’s collections at the Penn State University Park Campus.

Here’s how it happened.

Vault Beck note to self Capture

Partial JOURNAL ENTRIES

Friday, October 10, 1986  

Back to W308!  [following Advisory Board Meeting in Harrisburg the previous day].  Went through mail from yesterday.  Nothing exciting. 

Beck got on the phone and talked to Hugh Jones and then Jack Hetrick. 

After much discussion and setting up time and place – Beck and Jack agreed on when and where we (Beck, Smith? and I) would come on Oct. 16th to pick up the newspaper collection of the Northumberland Co. Historical Society and bring them back to PSU.

Beck then called to arrange a cargo van…

Monday, October 13, 1986 

…Beck talked to Barbara [Smith] about Northumberland Co. newspapers that we’re planning to pick up this Thursday.  Seems Barbara didn’t realize they were going to give them to PSU. 

Barbara still must decide where we are going to put these here at PSU. 

Anyway, I guess we’ll go on Thursday…

Wednesday, October 15, 1986

What a day!  We were both on the phone almost all morning. 

Talked to Peter [Gottlieb] about having a couple boxes to take w/us tomorrow.  Spent some time discussing the problems w/getting the Northumberland Co. Hist. Soc. papers w/o having Jack Hetrick sign anything. 

Peter suggested that we prepare a list of titles that is going to be transferred to PSU for Jack and us to sign tomorrow. 

Maybe Jack would also agree to sign a “Deposit Agreement” in which he would still remain the owner but the papers would be deposited at PSU.

Anyway – Beck made out a written agreement for Jack to sign.  I found the title listings of what we had seen at Fort Augusta and Kauffman Library…

The yellow sticky note is pasted on the Journal Entry page with directions from State College to Sunbury.   Remember, GPS and Map Quest did not exist!

O Pic Yellow sticky directions Norry

 

Thursday, October 16, 1986 

Beck met me at Boalsburg at 7:35 am – drove to Fleet Operations, picked up van and headed for Sunbury.

Arrived at Fort Augusta at 9:50 am. Jack Hetrick arrived and we followed him to the STORAGE Building. 

P Pic Jack Hetrick

Q Pic Carrying out the wrapped and bundled newspaper collection

Carrying out the wrapped and bundled newspaper collection.

R Pic Piles of wrapped and boxed newspapers

Piles of wrapped and boxed newspapers housed in the Storage building.

Two older men joined Jack, Beck and I and we soon began loading the van w/bound, wrapped, loose volumes of newspapers.

S Pic Beck moving collection

Beck did a GREAT job packing the van and by 10:30 we finished putting the last bundle in.

We then all drove to Kauffman Library where we started carrying volumes (heavy) down stairs from the 3rd floor to the back parking lot to the van. 

T Pic Carrying volumes downstairs

Carrying volumes downstairs, then outside to the waiting van.

This work was more tiring since the volumes were heavier and we had longer to carry to get to the van. 

U Pic Sue loading the van

Sue loading the van (and still smiling!).

By 11:00 am we were finished!  

Jack, Beck and I washed up and Jack then signed the document that we had indeed physically moved their holdings from STORAGE to PSU.  Jack had no problems signing. 

Jack then took us out to lunch at Tedd’s landing.  

Met Tedd and then after lunch Jack gave us the nickel tour of Tedd’s property overlooking the Susquehanna River (Beautiful view). 

12:20 headed for PSU. 

Stopped at Buggy Town to tell [i.e. phone call] Wayne Baumgardner that we would arrive around 2:00 pm (earlier that we originally thought).    [Remember, no cell phones yet]. 

2:10 pm arrived at Pattee.  Waited for Wayne and helper.  

By 3:00 pm two Library assistants and Beck and I were unloading the newspapers at STOW-AWAY. 

V Pic Sue at Stow-Away

Sue at Stow-Away, State College, Pa. storage unit.

By 3:30 pm we finished.  Dropped off students. Returned van to Fleet Operations and finally arrived at home 4:00 pm.  

I’m tired!

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The following agreement was signed by Jack Hetrick and Becky Wilson.  An official Memorandum of Deposit was later signed Mr. Jack Hetrick and Dr. Barbara Smith on October 24, 1986.

Vault Notes Oct 16 1986

 Partial JOURNAL ENTRY

Friday, October 17, 1986

Beck spent early morning, typing and preparing the Agreement between Northumberland Co. Hist. Society and PSU.  Sent to Barbara for her to sign…

Note from Becky to Jack following the transfer of newspapers. 

Vault Ltr Becky to Jack Oct 17 1986

Partial JOURNAL ENTRIES 

Monday, October 20, 1986 

            …Called Barbara… 

Barbara had some problems w/the [official] depository agreement Beck had typed concerning the Northumberland Co. Hist. Society collection. 

Barbara will send back for us to work on…

Tuesday, October 21, 1986

…[Beck] called Jack Hetrick to ask about rewording Depositor agreement, since Barbara S. had some concerns with some of it.  He said they do not want the papers returned, but does want the film.  Said we could reword – so Beck rewrote the section and sent it off to B.S. again…

Tuesday, November 4, 1986

Beck worked on photocopying, etc., etc. the Depository Agreement signed and returned by Jack Hetrick.  I guess Peter G[ottlieb] will house the official document since they will eventually be housed in his area. 

Becky photocopied all the correspondence leading up to the transfer of their collection… 

 *************************************

The Collection TODAY!

The collection remained in STOW-AWAY in State College, Pa. from October 1986 to the mid-1990s, at which time it was moved to a secure Library Annex facility owned by the Penn State University Libraries, where it remains.  

W Pic NCHS coll at PSU 2

This is the current state of the Northumberland County Historical Society’s holdings at the Penn State University Library, October 19, 2012.

One of the rare titles found in the Vault, and now held at Penn State is the December 5, 1822 issue of  Die Stimme von Union, Northumberland und Centre Caunties advertiser.

X Pic NCHS coll at PSU 14

Published weekly by Amos Stroh in New Berlin, Union County, Pa., Die Stimme von Union, Northumberland und Centre Caunties advertiser, flourished from 1822 to 1823.

This December 5, 1822 issue is the only known surviving copy.

Y Pic NCHS coll at PSU 23

It may be too late to save some of these …

As a result of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Project, 1985 – 1989, and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Project, 2006 – 2008, the following titles from the Northumberland County were microfilmed and preserved for future access and digitization. 

Titles filmed by PaNP 1 (1985-1989)

  • Mount Carmel Item
    1881-1884, 1921-1922, 1948-1967
  • The Item (Mount Carmel, Pa.)
    1967-1968
  • News-Item (Mount Carmel, Pa.)
    1968-1969
  • Watsontown Record
    1870-1884
  • Record and Star (Watsontown, Pa.)
    1884-1920, 1923-1926

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Titles filmed by PaNP 3 (2006-2008)

Public Press (Northumberland, Pa.)
1872:11:22-1917:06:08
11 reels

Sunbury American (Sunbury, Pa. : 1880)
1902:02:14-1910:07:29
3 reels

Evening Item (Sunbury, Pa.)
1894:01:01-1899:12:28
8 reels

Sunbury Daily Item (Sunbury, Pa. : 1904)
1905:04:26-1925:07:22
6 reels

Sunbury Item
1927:04:29-1936:03:26
4 reels

Z Pic NCHS coll at PSU 27

…but these titles were preserved on microfilmed in 2006 – 2008 as part of the NEH-sponsored Pennsylvania Newspaper Project

 Northumberland County Titles NOW Online!

As of August 2012 the following two Northumberland County titles have been added along with 47 others, as part of Pennsylvania’s contribution to the Library of Congress’s Chronicling America Newspaper Database.

Now digitized and keyword searchable:

  1. Sunbury American and Shamokin Journal, September 12, 1840 to March 18, 1848
  2. Sunbury American, April 1, 1848 to April 7, 1876

American and Shamokin journal and Sunbury American

The Sunbury American and Shamokin Journal was born in response to a political emergency but lived on to become the oldest 19th-century newspaper in Sunbury, the seat of Northumberland County. What became Sunbury was once Shamokin, a cluster of three villages and the Indian capital of central Pennsylvania under Shikellemy, chief of the Six Nations. The area was the westernmost settlement in Pennsylvania in 1724 and the site of Fort Augusta in 1756. Sunbury was the seventh and last proprietary town in Pennsylvania, laid out in 1772 for the heirs of William Penn, who owned the property and sold the original lots. Located near the confluence of the north and west branches of the Susquehanna River, Sunbury became a port on the Pennsylvania Canal and a major railroad center. The area boomed with the development of local anthracite coal mines and various industries such as textile mills. Thomas Edison installed the first successful three-wire electrical lighting system in the United States in Sunbury, illuminating the City Hotel on July 4, 1883.

Northumberland County in the 1830s was overwhelmingly Democratic, and receiving a nomination from the party was tantamount to winning the election. This meant that any campaign battles took place at the nominating convention. Twice-elected state legislator Charles W. Hegins, taking re-nomination for granted, was surprised to be preempted by a rival candidate from Milton at the 1840 county Democratic convention. The upstart was supported by the two local Democratic newspapers, the Sunbury Gazette and the Milton Ledger. Hegins’s friends promptly organized another convention in protest and nominated him, but there was no newspaper to promote his campaign. Within ten days of the protest convention, on September 12, 1840, Henry B. Masser, the deputy attorney general for the county, and printer Joseph Eisely launched the Sunbury American and Shamokin Journal, initially giving away large numbers of copies as there was no subscription base. Despite the heroic efforts, Hegins’s opponent was narrowly elected, but the new four-page publication with the unwieldy slogan (“Absolute acquiescence to the decisions of the majority, the vital principle of Republics, from which there is no appeal but to force, the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism. – Jefferson”) found its niche within the available reading population.

Amended to become simply the Sunbury American in 1848, the newspaper provided a solid weekly offering of national and regional political coverage, fiction, reprinted news and feature stories from all over, county legal notices, local news, and advertising. Masser customarily advertised his law office directly below the subscription and advertising rates on the front page. The newspaper was Democratic until the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, at which time it became Republican and remained so. Masser was joined in 1864 by Emanuel Wilvert, who had lived with the Masser family in the 1850s while a printer’s apprentice. In 1866, Masser’s nephew, Norman S. Engle, joined the business. Emanuel Wilvert’s son, Austin, worked with the American for a few years, during which time (on April 11, 1879) it merged with the Sunbury Gazette, at one time a great rival, and became the Sunbury Gazette-American.

Provided by: Penn State University Libraries; University Park, PA
Source:  Chronicling America      

Capture Vault Memoriam for Jack H

See also:  Maj. Jack K. Hetrick, 94, Northumberland.  The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA.  April 23, 2012.

ZC Pic NCHS coll at PSU 20

Jack would be pleased to know that many of these papers…

ZD Pic NCHS coll at PSU 21

…have been microfilmed and now digitized. Some titles have come full-circle and are no longer on the brink of extinction and obscurity.

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