Genealogical Gems

Today we can run to a grocery store without a second thought. But in 1730, if you did not live on a farm, where would you have gone? To the newly opened 120 square foot open air lot now known as Lancaster Central Market, of course! Over the years, the Market has seen many changes. It does however have the distinction as being the oldest continuing operating farmer’s market not just in the state but in the nation! The current building, located just off Penn Square , at 23 North Market Street , was built in 1889. There are over 60 vendors at Central Market. My girls and I went Shopping on this cold January Saturday (hence the Shopping Saturday!) at the Market. One or two stands were closed due to the New Year holiday but the majority of the stands were bustling. You can get everything you need – food wise – from Central Market. For those who pop in on their lunch break, some vendors sell coffee, teas, sandwiches, and snacks. For those who do their fresh shopping at Market, t...

My sister asked me recently what books I would like for Christmas. Normally I really do not like when people ask what I want because then it’s always a let down when I’m expecting something and it never comes. However, I decided it may be useful to create a “genealogy wish list” for myself. So, in no particular order, my list includes: Barry, John M. The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History . Penguin Books, 2005. Caldwell-Crosby, Molly. The American Plague: The Untold Story of Yellow Fever, the Epidemic that Shaped Our History . Berkley , 2006. Aizic, Anna. The Circles of Life: My Ukrainian Family’s Odyssey of Secrets, Love and Survival from Pre-War Odessa to the Promised Land from America . 2014. Levi, Primo. Survival in Auschwitz . Touchstone, 1995. Rees, Laurence. Auschwitz : A New History . Public Affairs, 2005. Steiner, Jean-Francois. Treblinka . Plume, 1994. Pakula, ...

Baking powder is something we kind of take for granted today. Baking powder itself actually dates back to 1843. The Royal Baking Powder Company was founded in 1866 by brothers Cornelius and Joseph Hoagland. In 1873 two investors were brought on and the company took off at that point. On 11 February 1873, the Royal Baking Product was mentioned in a drugstore ad on the front bottom right of the Charlotte Democrat ( Charlotte , NC ). Wilson & Black’s Drug Store simply mentioned the product by name. There was little description.   By 1891 the Royal Baking Powder Company was advertising across the nation. Today, being Shopping Saturday (a GeneaBloggers prompt), I thought we could take a look at some of their ads. I first saw their ad in the Evening Herald ( Shenandoah , PA ).   The Shenandoah Evening Herald printed a 2x2 ad for Royal Baking Powder at the top middle of page three. Other papers displayed larger advertisements.   The Frankfort Roundabout ...

Shopping Saturday is a GeneaBlogger topic focusing on ... shopping! Many families – especially busy working families – would perform their weekly shopping on Saturdays. Shopping was not necessarily only a Saturday thing since mom did not work outside the house. Her idea and my idea of shopping however did not often match. Mom owned her a wholesale craft business - Stitched With Love - and so shopping for her was the Flower & Craft Warehouse or some shipping store or even wood and tools. I think the most exciting store I went to with her on a regular bases was ... Fisher's Store in Georgetown! I have to admit I still like shopping there on occassion. For those of you reading this who are not familiar with Fisher's ... first let me say Georgetown is a small village in Bart Township, Lancaster County, PA. It has fabric - which is why mom liked it - and household items and some books and other items. It is a variety store. The store uses gas lanterns for both light and hea...