A column entitled “Quarter Century Back,” as published in the Elizabethville Echo, July 31, 1903, refers to the predecessor of the Echo, published in 1878 at Washington Square by J. A. Ettinger, and known at the time as the Weekly Democrat. 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. 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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QUARTER CENTURY BACK
News of twenty-five years ago, from the Weekly Democrat, published at this place [Washington Square].
William Hoke, the landlord, shot a fine red fox this morning, on Berry’s Mountain, a short distance west of this town.
In accordance with the proclamation of Gov. Hoyt, the good citizens of this place and vicinity assembled in Salem’s Church last evening, to listen to an appropriate Thanksgiving sermon by Rev. R. S. Wagner. The attendance was not as it should have been, and a close observer remarked that there was “nary” a supporter of the government in the audience.
At the Grant reception at Harrisburg on the 15th instant, the pocket of Eli Swab was picked of about $60 cash, besides several checks.
After being idle for a number of years, the limekilns at Elizabethville are about to be started up again by P. S. Bickel and Company of Georgetown. This is an enterprising firm and no doubt they mean to do a large business in lime. They propose to take railroad ties in exchange paying whatever the Railroad Company allows for the same.
A MYSTERY – On Wednesday while Jacob Klinger, of Washington Township, was engaged in hauling corn-fodder from one of his fields, he found a 25 pound sack of flour under one of the shocks. The flour was manufactured at Mattis Mill, or at least, the bag has his imprint. The person who placed it there can have it by calling on Mr. Klinger.
A member of Salem’s Union Sunday School of Elizabethville, writes: “Our school has of late received a number of letters from friends who are, it seems, interested in the success of our school. Our officers frequently receive letters of encouragement, but when additional encouragement is offered in the shape of books, money, etc., it shows at once that the school has faithful friends. There have been few so encouraging as the one received by the Superintendent last week. The letter was written by our esteemed friend, Mr. John Keiper, of Philadelphia, and had enclosed a check for $10, as a donation, to be used for the purchase of books for the library of the school. Mr. Keiper has frequently presented the school with books, periodicals, etc. I venture to say, that every member of the school feels that he owes a debt of gratitude to this gentleman, which he can but feebly repay.
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