A letter from Thomas J. Hoffman, of Enders, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and printed in the Elizabethville Echo of June 17, 1943, provided a glimpse of an old issue of The Independent Monthly, published on September 20, 1879, at Washington Square, by John A. Ettinger. Mr. Hoffman found the edition of The Independent at the bottom of an old chest.
Ettinger was the owner of the Victor Printing Company located in Washington Square along the railroad tracks in what was Elizabethville’s first railroad depot building. The stop on the Lykens Valley Railroad was then known as the Cross Roads Station. In 1893, the various entities, Elizabethville, Cross Roads, and Washington Square, were all incorporated into a single borough, thereafter known as Elizabethville.
Ettinger published his newspaper under several different names between 1878 and 1882. In 1878, it was known as the Weekly Democrat. After 1878, the paper was known as The Independent. Most of what we know about what was published in the Ettinger newspapers is from other sources which re-printed excerpts. Very few of the original copies have survived. The Library of Congress has no copies and the paper is not listed in its U. S. Newspaper Directory, 1690-present.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE HIGHLIGHTS OF 1879
The following items were taken from the September 23, 1879 issue of The Independent Monthly, a newspaper printed at Washington Square (now Elizabethville). The late John A. Ettinger was the Editor. The items were copied from the publication and furnished The Echo by Thomas J. Hoffman, of Enders, Pennsylvania.
Home News
The chestnut crop promises to be heavy this year.
Farmers are engaged in seeding and cutting corn.
Mr. Daniel Collier is the championship fisherman of this place. A few days ago Dan returned from a trip to the river with fourteen fine bass, one of which weighed 2 lbs. and 11 ounces.
Our local agent, William M. Hoke, took a fine lot of Mowers and reapers for exhibition at the Gratz Fair.
Mr. Adam Wert brought us the dimensions of seven Rambo apples growing to maturity on a twig only 7 3/4 inches long. The apples measured an average of 2 3/4 inches in diameter.
Mr. I. E. Matter of Washington Township raised a potato of the Peerless species that weighed 2 1/4 lbs. Who can match this?
While James Hoffman Esq. was in the act of shifting a number of coal cars, preparatory to unloading them on Monday last, he was accidentally caught between two of the cars and severely hurt. We are pleased to learn that he is recovering and that no permanent injury is liable to result from his unfortunate mishap.
Married — On Thursday, September 4, 1879, by the Rev. H. E. Hackman, Mr. Jacob D. Polm and Miss Rachael Eberly, both of this place [Washington Square].
Married — at Berrysburg, September 23, 1879, by Rev. J. B. Light, Dr. H. F. Hackman and Miss Kate Ettinger, both of this place [Washington Square].
Died
In Elizabethville, on Saturday, September 6, 1879, Daniel T. Applegate, aged 74 years, 8 months, 12 days. Mr. Applegate was born in Philadelphia, December 24, 1804. Three years ago Mr. Applegate came to Elizabethville to live with his daughter and son-in-law, Rev. and Mrs. R. S. Wagner.
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The farmers are the favored ones,
Who breathe pure air each morn;
They sow, they reap the golden grain,
And gather in the corn.
They toil, they live on what they earn,
And more than this they do;
They feed the many millions, And gladly feed them too.
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Something In a Name
A public meeting was held in the school house on Saturday evening, September 13, for the purpose of adopting a new name to include both the town of Washington Square and Elizabethville, the post office and the railroad station in one name, since the existing situation is of a provokingly complicated nature.
Here we have a town called Washington Square and about 400 yards west of it another town called Elizabethville; while situated in Washington Square is the railroad depot called Cross Roads Station, and the post office called Elizabethville Post Office.
All of this is very perplexing to business men, who will have to order their goods somewhat as follows:
Washington Square, Pennsylvania
Please forward goods, etc., to Cross Roads Station, Post Office Address, Elizabethville, Post Office.
Here the goods is ordered from one place to be shipped to another and in case of correspondence the distant party is to address Elizabethville Post Office.
The conglomeration of names causes many vexations and annoying delays in the proper transportation of goods. A few months ago we ordered a new printing press from Meriden, Connecticut to be shipped to Cross Roads Station, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. That printing press, after more than six weeks delay was finally located in Cross Roads, York County.
While a gentleman of this place expected a very important letter from Ohio, that letter was wandering up and down on the face of this earth, trying to find a resting place. The letter had been directed originally to Cross Roads, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and for over seven weeks it was sent from one post office to another, until finally a Postmaster wrote on the only vacant place left on the envelope: “Try Elizabethville” — then it reached its proper destination.
We urge that a suitable name be adopted at once to meet the demands of business and convenience of all concerned, and we suggest that Elizabethville be the name for the station, the post office and the town of Washington Square.
Advertisements
Dr. H. F. Hackman, Surgeon, Dentist, Washington Square, Pennsylvania, P. O. Elizabethville.
J. B. Lebo, Saddle and Harness Maker, Washington Square.
Peter B. Lyter, Proprietor, Franklin House, Elizabethville.
Jacob Weaver, Tailor and Barber, Washington Square.
John P. Woland, Watchmaker and Jeweler, Washington Square.
Fred Weaver, Champion Fanning Mill, Washington Square.
James Hoffman, Lime and Coal, Washington Square.
William M. Hoke, Agent, Champion Mowers, Washington Square.
Jonas Swab, Manufacturer, Swab Wagons, Washington Square.
Lewis Zeigler, Stoves and Tinwear, Washington Square.
Daniel Collier and Sons, General Store, Washington Square.
Dr. N. W. Stroup, Physician and Surgeon, Washington Square.
James Miller, Scrivener and J. P. [Justice of the Peace], Elizabethville.
G. W. Uhler, General Merchant, Elizabethville.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
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