Museum Corner March 2020
Kelsie Buhr came to the museum to search for details about her relative, Francis E. Fowler. By using the new newspaper database, she discovered information about him and other relatives. One item she found was a small notice in The Bedford Weekly that on May 10, 1911, her relative had come to Bedford from Leesville. (Courtesy photo
Work Station opens view to the past
By Becky Buher, Guest Columnist, Times-Mail Newspaper
When Carol Sanders’ 82-year-old father handed her old documents that included a 1930s newspaper clipping about a horse that his mother (her grandmother) had received from her stepfather, Dick Little, it changed the way she viewed herself.
All the records she had discovered before stated that Dick Little was her grandmother’s biological father. Sanders said, “It wasn’t until the newspaper clipping stated otherwise that I began to truly understand who I am today.”
And so her family history search brought her to the museum, the only county facility to store copies of local area newspapers on microfilm.
But, using a microfilm reader and looking blindly through un-indexed newspapers is difficult and cumbersome. Without knowing the exact date of what is to be searched, it is nearly impossible.
Sanders saw a need. She intended to resolve that need. With the whole-hearted approval of the museum, she applied for and the museum received a grant from the Lawrence County Community Foundation to create a digital searchable newspaper database.
Sanders, first a volunteer, and now a museum board member, was enabled by the LCCF grant, to set up a public workstation at the Edward L. Hutton Research Library on the second floor of the museum.
She has created a simple user manual — and librarian Joyce Shepherd is ready to assist patrons in getting started. The only fee involved is a print cost of 20 cents a copy if you choose to print the results of your research.
The work station is a treasure trove of information — through Newspapers.com, 390 newspaper microfilm reels have been converted into a digital database that is indexed and searchable by name, date or keyword. Newspapers.com provided the online access portal for use onsite (at the museum).
There are 43 newspapers, including the Bedford Times-Mail and the Mitchell Tribune, as well as rare copies of early newspapers from the 1800s such as The White River Standard (1849-1855) the May 1884 edition of the Hobson’s Reporter, the 1846-47 Bedford Sun, and the 1836 Bedford Transcript.
Just imagine: Andrew Jackson would have been president of the United States in 1836 when that paper was first read. Through the newspapers, we can almost visualize life in those early times. A few 1852-53 examples follow:
In 1853, The Standard was published every Thursday by E. D. Pearson two doors down from the northwest corner of the public square.
Grocers — The Bedford Market advertised bacon hams 10c [cents], shoulders 7c, sides 10c, lard 9c a lb., flour $4 per bol., corn meal 50c per bushel (scarce), wheat 50c per bushel, oats 25c, flaxseed per bushel 75c, potatoes 50c, butter 10c a lb., eggs 7c a dozen, dried apples $4 a bushel, peaches $2.50 (scarce), beef three at 4c per lb., feathers 30c per lb., chickens $1.00 and $1.25 a dozen.
Health — D.D. Talbot, M.D. announced he would be at Bedford’s Union Hotel, and he was prepared to perform operations in Mechanical and Surgical Dentistry. He could insert the best incorruptible mineral teeth, either on pivot or plate.
“Scientific wonders” were advertised — Dr. J. S. Houghton’s Pepsin cure for dyspepsia was prepared in Philadelphia from rennet, the fourth stomach of the ox. W. W. Owens promoted the healing virtues of Sloan’s family ointment.
D.R. Dunihue advertised he had fitted up his house and premises at Indian Springs, 18 miles southwest of Bedford in Martin County, and he promoted the medicinal qualities of the waters for the treatment of many diseases.
Mr. Fitz died from an overdose of chloroform during an operation. Drs. Moore and Ruter amputated the fractured leg of an Irish railroad worker.
Building projects — Alfred Hamm was looking for good, skillful and sober carpenters to build new houses in Bedford. S.F. Irwin wanted 30,000 good yellow poplar shingles.
Bridge contractor Thomas Grant advertised for workers on the White River Bridge south of Bedford. Stonework was to be finished soon and carpenters and workmen in wood and laborers to aid in putting together heavy timbers were needed. Paid every Saturday night.
Agriculture — A sample plough was on view at McClane & Bryant — orders filled within a month or six weeks. Local farmer, Mr. Allen Walker had three ploughs on the Steve Younger farm and was willing to demonstrate.
The workstation is ready and set. Come enjoy a look into the past.