Excerpts and summaries of news articles from the Old Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster New Era, and Sunday News highlighting notable, newsworthy, or just plain weird events from the county’s past.
25 years ago
The food section of newspapers usually contains recipes for attractive and delicious ingredients. The April 7, 1999 issue of the Intelligencer Journal featured a collection of reader concoctions that literally pushed the boundaries of delicious taste, but that wasn’t the case.
Readers were asked to submit their “secret” bizarre desires, and they responded.
Some suggestions seemed perfectly reasonable, like deep-dish puff pastry sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and baked like giant cookies. Or a sandwich with rye bread, corned beef, horseradish, onions, and coleslaw.
More questionable items included white bread, peanut butter, grape jelly, Miracle Whip, and Swiss cheese sandwiches. Or a mixture of Meyer’s Italian bread, sour cream, and brown sugar, said to taste just like cheesecake.
Finally, there were some who, at least to this writer’s mind, seemed completely unfazed. These included an omelet made with spaghetti and dill and a glass of buttermilk with olives meant to be eaten with sour cream potato chips.
Good appetite!
The heading looks like this:
Two Libyans charged in Pan Am bombing
New Intel gadget lets users link computers to home networks
Comedy Central proves kids love sarcastic sarcasm
Check out the April 7, 1999 issue of Intelligencer Journal here.
50 years ago
In April 1974, fireflies were about to be officially designated Pennsylvania’s state insect following a campaign started by Upper Darby elementary school students.
humble person Photuris pennsylvanica, The bird, also known as the firefly, lightning bug and glowworm, officially earned the designation on April 10, likely thanks to Governor Milton Shapp, persuaded by a campaign of student letters, petitions and bumper stickers. I will do it. This caught the attention of several state legislators.
Just before this momentous event, on April 7, the Sunday News published an exclusive “interview” with lightning bug mascot J. Howard Firefly about his race and the role he would soon fill. .
Topics ranged from firefly style to political leanings to biology. Author Paula Darlington summed it up by saying that this notable bug “proved political parity with other state representatives in voicing opinions in the face of impending fame.” Stated.
The heading looks like this:
Israel opens fire on Syrian troops
Nixon’s 1968 tax return was inaccurate
Mrs. Ford runs the art train
Check out the Sunday News for April 7, 1974 here.
75 years ago
The controversial apple tax made headlines in April 1949, and Lancaster County’s four state legislators were divided on the issue.
The once-defeated bill is up for a second vote in the state House of Representatives and, if passed, would impose a 1-cent-per-bushel tax on apple growers who produce more than 500 bushels a year.
The tax revenue will be used to promote the state’s apple industry.
Lancaster County state legislators were split 2-2 on the issue, with Norman Wood and Baker Royer opposed and Walter Bomberger and Paul Murray in favor.
The bill was expected to pass on a second vote.
The heading looks like this:
The surprising witness of the Red Trial
President Truman believes the atomic bomb will never be used again
British lawyer plans legal services for the poorest people
Check out the April 7, 1949 Intelligencer Journal here.
100 years ago
In April 1924, two train robbery suspects from Philadelphia were being held in Lancaster.
The men are accused of breaking into a freight car while it was traveling on the county’s low-grade railroad tracks and stealing merchandise valued at more than $100 (currently valued at more than $1,800).
The two were arrested in Westchester on suspicion of illegally riding a train and then taken to the State Police barracks in Lancaster County, where they were charged with felonies related to the train robbery.
The heading looks like this:
24 Klansmen detained after deadly riot
Actress dies mysteriously
Check out the Lancaster Agent of April 7, 1924 here.
