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Franklin Repository: May 09, 1866 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Treatment of Cholera
(Column 7)

Summary: With the cholera epidemic currently sweeping across Europe and expected to arrive in America in the summer, the article prepares local residents for the worst, providing them with a treatment used in Constantinople to fight the scourge successfully.

Union Organization
(Column 1)

Summary: The editorial urges Union men to organize themselves because they will face a "horde of corruptionists, under the lead of Andrew Johnson and Senator Cowan" in the next election. These two men, it avers, "are in constant consultation with our foes and their chief aim is to overthrow the organization that called them to official station." "Having saved the Republic from the deadly grasp of treason," it declares, "let us not shrink from the duty of preserving it from the same fatal grasp in the struggles of peace."

The Cholera
(Column 2)

Summary: Hoping to avert a repeat of the terrible outbreak of cholera that ravaged Chambersburg, Mifflintown, Columbia, and Williamsport (Md.) in 1852, the piece exhorts readers to take heed of the treatments listed in the front page article on the disease and "to be fully prepared."

[No Title]
(Column 3)

Summary: A report issued by the Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau for the State of Alabama indicates that whites have received the vast majority of the relief provided by that organization. In January 5,245 whites received aid compared to 2,246 blacks; in February the ratio was 13,083 whites to 4,107 blacks; in March 17,204 to 5,807. Consequently, the article sarcastically challenges the Democrats' charge that the "substance of the Government will be eaten out by hordes of worthless, idle negroes"

[No Title]
(Column 3)

Summary: Announces that a national cemetery is being constructed in Winchester, Virginia, which will contain the remains of the Union soldiers buried in the nearby portion of the Shenandoah Valley. About 500 bodies have already been interred there.

The Normal School
(Column 4)

Summary: The authors of the letter urge residents to consider the establishment of the Normal School as a sound investment that will spur the local economy.
(Names in announcement: Andrew McElwain, P. M. Shoemaker, J. W. Douglas)

Full Text of Article:

To the People of Chambersburg:

At a convention called by the citizens of the School District last winter, for the purpose of locating a Normal School in this district, a resolution was passed that each county, if it thought proper, should send to the Superintendent of Public Schools at Harrisburg, on or before the 5th of June, 1866, the amount that either county would subscribe for the purpose, and that county subscribing the largest amount was to be designated as the place where the Normal School should be located. The time for sending our proposition to the Superintendent at Harrisburg agreeably to the above resolution, is drawing to a close, and the day for final action on your part is before you. By the liberality of the Legislature, a large sum of money is thrown into your midst, and you must draw upon your good judgements and wise discretion for its profitable investment. It may be stated in general terms that no investments will pay in this locality, that requires the constant and large use of coal, because as we are now situated the cost of transportation to this point no large establishment could pay profitably. While minor objects may engage the attention of a few, your true object should be to invest in such an undertaking as will increase the population of your town and neighborhood, enlarge the demand for country produce and draw to your various stores, trades, occupations and public houses a new and outside population, now foreign to our town, and further, it should be a permanent establishment, for it must be apparent to every intelligent mind, that to support and maintain successfully the extensive and expensive new buildings erected here by the enterprise of our capitalists, we must greatly enlarge our trade and business relations or we go down and languish as a town. We think the requisites above mentioned will all be met in case you are successful in getting the Normal School of this district located near this place.

Your only rival is in Cumberland County, and some of her capitalists, with commendable enterprise, are subscribing largely to have the school located near Newville. Now, in the first place, in the erection of the buildings necessary to entertain all these scholars and students, a large amount of mechanical labor and material will be needed; and in this way the very money you may subscribe for this purpose will be returned to many of you before many days. In the second place, this institution would bring into our midst in a short space of time nearly one thousand people from different parts of the district and State; these persons will have to be fed, clothed, boarded; their friends and relatives will visit them during their stay here, and thus go to swell the numbers in our midst. This, on an investment of fifty thousand dollars, would, we are fully convinced, pay better and longer than any other enterprise that has yet been suggested to you from any quarter.

We have spoken thus far of remuneration in a pecuniary way; but there is another aspect to this enterprise of a far reaching and grander aim--an argument that will come home to the head, and heart, and conscience of every parent and lover of education in the country; we mean that it will afford a cheap and thorough education to all the children of the town and neighborhood. It will make our town the focus of all the educational interests of the counties that form our district, and exert a healthy moral influence over our community at large. If these suggestions do not move you to act promptly in the matter, we have nothing else to offer, but we trust your own good sense will suggest more potent reasons, if any are needed, and that with one voice you will exclaim "Let the building go up, let it rise, let it rise, let the earliest rays of the morning sun smile upon its proud proportions, and the latest gleam of departing day linger and play upon its summit; let its gates be thrown wide open and the children of the Commonwealth throng its aisles, to seek amidst its hallowed precincts that which neither riches, nor family, nor pomp, nor power, can give nor take away!"
ANDREW McELWAINE,
P. M. SHOEMAKER,
J. W. DOUGLAS.

Trailer: Andrew McElwain; P. M. Shoemaker; J. W. Douglas

The Normal School
(Column 5)

Summary: A copy of the resolution unanimously adopted by the School Directors at their late Convention. The resolution casts the Directors' support behind the efforts to secure the location of the Normal School within Franklin county's limits.

Full Text of Article:

To the Editors of the Franklin Repository:

At the late Convention of School Directors the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

"Resolved that this convention heartily approves of the efforts that have been made to secure the location of the Normal School of the 7th district within the limits of Franklin Co., and that the directors of each School District are hereby appointed solicitors to procure the subscription of stock in said school in their respective localities, and to report to the committee, J. W. Douglass, P. M. Shoemaker and A. M'Elwain; the amount of stock subscribed on or before the 1st day of June next."

We are highly gratified with the action taken by this convention, representing as it does the educational interests of the county, and trust that no effort will be spared to consummate the noble project.

For the information of all concerned, we would say, that of the counties of Cumberland, Adams, Franklin, Fulton, Bedford, Huntingdon and Blair, which compose the district, none except Cumberland are competing with Franklin for the location of the school. Franklin is more central and is likely to command a larger patronage than any other county. The Railroads now completed and those about to be made make it easily accessible from all points. Healthful and pleasant, rich in agricultural products and blessed with good water, it will attract to its towns, villages and rural districts a much heavier population than they have at present, provided it has good schools. This increase of population will enhance the value of property, swell our revenue and promote business of all kinds. If the Normal School be located in our midst these results must follow, and in addition to this it will bring some 600 or 700 students to spend yearly the cost of their tuition, boarding and a great part of their clothing in our county.

The school will be a permanent source from which to supply our county with good teachers, a convenient institution in which to educate our sons and daughters, and will exert a wholesome influence on our literary and social condition.

These are some of the advantages presented to our people to induce prompt attention in this matter. Some will inquire what is the design and what is the nature of a Normal School? Its primary province is to educate teachers for our Common Schools, but it will also afford a more substantial education to other students than can be had elsewhere. It will be at all times under the strict supervision of the School Department, its own trustees, and the Co. Superintendents of the Counties composing the district.

Its Principal and professors will be elected by the trustees, and the trustees by the stockholders, and will be a corporate body and sole owners and proprietors of the property of the school. The State,--if the buildings, grounds and arrangements come up to the requirements of the law (which can be seen in the school laws) will recognize the school as a State Normal School, which, according to law, can receive donations, legacies and appropriations which inure to the benefit of the stockholders. To the schools already established, the State has appropriated some $15,000 each, and this school will doubtless receive the same favorable consideration. The school will not be a source of expense but of profit to the County, and at the same time a permanent and convenient resort for our own teachers and children.

The stock subscribed to this school will be in shares, say twenty dollars per share, and any person holding a certificate of one or more shares will be entitled to vote for trustees. We would now say that active measures will be taken in Cumberland Co. to secure the school, and as the committee must be in possession of full information from all parts of the county in order to make their proposition of bona fide subscription before the 5th of June--all Directors should be prompt in discharging their duties in this matter.

For the benefit of Directors, and others interested, we append a form to be signed by those desiring to subscribe to the stock:

"We the undersigned, for and in consideration of the benefits that will accrue to us from the location of a Normal School in our county, hereby bind ourselves, our heirs and assigns, to pay to the Trustees of the Normal School, located in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, the several sums of money put opposite our respective names, to be held a stock in said institution, for our benefit and use."

[No Title]
(Column 8)

Summary: A copy of a report signed by 106 citizens of Staunton, Virginia, that was presented to the Senate. Among the list of signatories are several farmers and mechanics who were originally from Pennsylvania. The document calls on Congress to send troops to protect "loyal men" who face threats "from various quarters." Without adequate protection from the "civil courts or at the hands of the civil officers of the law," the Unionists insist that the only way to prevent bloodshed is for Congress to supply troops and a military court.

Local Items--Death of a Soldier
(Column 2)

Summary: James McGeehen, a resident of Chambersburg, died last Wednesday at the Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. Prior to his passing, McGeehen was a member of Co. K, 107th, Reg. Penn. Vols, and took part in many of the bloodiest battles of the early war. He escaped unhurt from the various encounters until July 1, 1863 when he was wounded in the thigh at Gettysburg. Initially, it was believed that his leg would have to be amputated, but his quick recovery pushed doctors to reconsider their decision. Soon after, the soldier was able to move around on crutches, leading them to think everything was fine. Unfortunately for McGeehan, his injury became infected, necessitating the removal of the limb. The soldier traveled to Philadelphia to undergo the procedure, but never recovered from the surgery. His remains were brought back to Chambersburg to be interred.
(Names in announcement: James McGeehen)

Local Items--Annual Meeting
(Column 2)

Summary: An announcement that the Annual Conference of the German Baptist Church will be held on May 19th at Price's, near Waynesboro.
(Names in announcement: Rev. D. F. Good)

Local Items--Proceedings of the Council
(Column 2)

Summary: At the last meeting of the Burgess and Town Council, members of the body decided to give Officer John R. Gelwicks a reward of $200 for his role in the apprehension and prosecution of Charles Skelly, who was convicted of arson during the last term of the court. Skelly torched Radebaugh's Barn. They also voted in favor of building a bridge over the Spring on Second Street; Messrs. Eyster, Palmer, and Hamilton were appointed to superintend the work.
(Names in announcement: Officer John R. Gelwicks, Charles Skelly, Eyster, Hamilton, Palmer)

Local Items--Southern Pennsylvania Railroad
(Column 2)

Summary: An enthusiastic report that engineers from the Southern Pennsylvania Railroad have been surveying possible routes in the southern portion of the Borough. Securing the connection, the editors maintain, "is a matter of great importance" to Chambersburg.

Local Items--The Woolen Factory Again
(Column 2)

Summary: With all but $1,000 of the $50,000 subscription purchased, John Middleton is contemplating increasing the capital stock on his woolen factory to $60,000.
(Names in announcement: John Middleton)

Local Items--Court House Bell
(Column 2)

Summary: Informs readers that the Court House Bell arrived last week and will be hung in a short time. The bell was manufactured in Philadelphia and is extremely large, weighing 1,000 pounds.

Local Items--Recovery of a Soldier's Body
(Column 2)

Summary: It is reported that the body of John Robinson, a member of the 2nd Reg. Penn. Heavy Artillery, was recovered and brought back to Greencastle to be interred. Robinson died on June 19th, 1864.
(Names in announcement: John Robinson)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On May 3rd, Wilson L. Stuart and Kate Miller were married by Rev. J. Dickson.
(Names in announcement: Wilson L. Stuart, Kate Miller, Rev. J. Dickson)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On April 23rd, Conrad Mueller and Margaretta Roeder were married by Rev. Dr. Schneck.
(Names in announcement: Conrad Mueller, Margaretta Roeder, Rev. Dr. Schneck)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On May 3rd, John A. Bergner and Mary B. Ackerman were married by Rev. Dr. Schneck.
(Names in announcement: John A. Bergner, Mary B. Ackerman, Rev. Dr. Schneck)

Died
(Column 4)

Summary: On April 14th, Mary E. Winter, infant daughter of S. M. and Mary B. Worley, died. She was 10 months old.
(Names in announcement: Mary E. Winter Worley, S. M. Worley, Mary B. Worley)