Let’s Explore Some Vintage Newspapers

Who likes to drink tea like we do? Well grab a cup and join us!

The Cure Listing, The Calgary Herald (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), August 28, 1918

Sounds like a great day to go to the movies. The Cure stars Charles “Charlie” Chaplin (1889-1977) as an alcoholic at a health spa. Hilarity ensues, no doubt. Some believe that the character played by Chaplin is his beloved creation, The Tramp. Also acting in this film were: Edna Purviance (1895-1958), and Eric Campbell (1879-1917).

Next up, The Master Crook. Apparently a master crook returns gems he stole after a blind girl frees him after a gang accosts him and ties him upside-down in a sewer. This film 1913 film stars Arthur Finn (born 1888) and Marie Pickering.

And to cap off this fine night of entertainment, the 1918 film Friend Husband. Madge Kennedy (1891-1987) stars as a young woman opposed to marriage and after her aunt dies, she is shocked to learn that in order for her to inherit her aunt’s estate, she has to marry. Rockliffe Fellowes (1884-1950) also stars.

Seems like a pretty good night out. What do you think?

Herman A. Barth Advertisement, The Baltimore County Union (Towson, Maryland), June 18, 1887

Herman Adam Barth was a stone cutter for many decades, just like his father before him. Herman was born on May 15, 1856 in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania to German immigrants John B. and Josepha (Bolster) Barth. The Barth family moved to Baltimore, Maryland after Josepha’s death and where Herman would live the rest of his life. Herman was married 2 times and fathered two children, one boy and one girl. After about 4 decades of stone cutting for the funeral industry, Herman then worked as a teamster for an ice company. He died October 16, 1936 in Baltimore. He is buried in Baltimore Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland. One has to wonder who carved his gravestone.

Union Outfitting Company Advertisement, The Omaha Sunday Bee (Omaha, Nebraska), August 23, 1931

The Union Outfitting Company was located at the southeast corner of 16th and Jackson streets in Omaha, Nebraska. The department store carried everything from baby carriages to record players to rugs to home furniture. They had it all. The building now houses the Union Plaza Apartments.

Girl Killed…, Port Angeles Evening News (Port Angeles, Washington), August 21, 1956

This is just tragic. Rose Mary’s death certificate says she died instantly of a crushed chest and fractured neck. Awful. She is buried with her parents, William Robert (1892-1964) and Lucy Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Stanley) Herring (1902-1960) at Chapelwood Memorial Gardens in Vivian, Caddo Parish, Louisiana. Fact: Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake, Grant County, Washington was active from 1942-1966. After the base closed, it became Grant County International Airport.

ButterNut Coffee Advertisement, Deadwood Pioneer Times (Deadwood, South Dakota), June 12, 1937

Do they still make Butter-Nut coffee (we don’t drink coffee here)? Google says that they are still in business and have been since 1913. That’s a pretty good run. Does anyone know how this coffee tastes? Let us know in the comments before.

The Fuller Brush Man Listing, Amarillo Daily News (Amarillo, Texas), November 5, 1948

The 1948 comedy film, The Fuller Brush Man, tells the story of a street cleaner named Red Jones(played by Red Skelton (1913-1997)) who becomes a murder suspect. (Laughs were had, I’m sure). Janet Blair (1921-2007) plays Red’s girlfriend, Ann Elliot. Fact: The Trail Drive-In Theatre, located on Route 66, had just opened about 7 months prior to this film being played. It closed in 1983 and was demolished. For it’s last 12 years of service, it screened only adult movies.

Man Shot Trying To Stop Fight, Knoxville Sentinel (Knoxville, Tennessee), November 16, 1926

It’s unclear what the full outcome of this altercation was, however Ben did live and was farming in 1930. Lingo and Marshall were all farming in 1940. We don’t know if any prison time was doled out. Anybody with knowledge of this incident, please let us know in the comments below.

Hilo Drug Company Advertisement, Hilo Daily Tribune (Hilo, Hawaii), June 23, 1900

At least a child could use it. Stop by and pick up a camera on your way to Mauna Loa. That’s what we would do. It begs to wonder about what kind of camera was one dollar. That’s a lot of money compared to today, but still on the cheap side. Maybe it was like the dollar watches from those days.

City Council Expenses, Dodge City Times (Dodge City, Kansas), June 8, 1878

Wyatt Earp accepts the job of Assistant City Marshall of Dodge City, Kansas. His salary of $75.00 (That’s about $2,275 in today’s money) was approved by the Dodge City City Council in June 4, 1878. It is unclear if that salary amount is per year or per month. Any historians have an idea?

The Dictator Listing, Bayonne Evening News (Bayonne, New Jersey), October 14, 1922

Wallace Reid (1891-1923) and Lila Lee (born Augusta Wilhelmena Fredericka Appel, 1905-1973) star in this 1922 comedy-drama silent film. The film was released on June 22, 1922. Sadly, Wallace Reid died on January 18, 1923 while recovering in a sanitorium from an addiction to morphine. He was 31 years old. His cremated remains are entombed at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, Los Angeles County, California. Unfortunately, this film is considered “lost”.

Toilet Talcum Advertisement, The Pascagoula Chronicle (Pascagoula, Mississippi), May 31, 1919

In Pascagoula, Mississippi, they use Jonteel Talcum for all their toity needs. At least they did in 1919. Not sure about now. Jonteel also marketed a line of cosmetics and perfumes, among other hygiene-related products.

Here we are at the conclusion, my friends. Thank you for joining us on our brief trip back in history. Be safe and remember to love one another.

During our genealogical research, CMS Research & Genealogy comes across many stories that have nothing to do with our current project. We have tons of them and will be sharing them all with you on this blog. All the more reason to come back and visit us again!

June 12, 2023

CMS Research and Genealogy

CMS Research & Genealogy