Take a look back at Franklin County’s history through news and photos that appeared in local newspapers 25, 50, and 100 years ago on Dec 13th.
25 Years Ago
December 13, 1996 – Friday
Celebrations From Around the World
“Holiday Cultures Studied”
Local students learn how others celebrate Christmas
- African-Americans celebrate family, community and culture with Kwanzaa from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. The holiday, began in 1966, focuses on seven principles: purpose, faith, cooperative economics, creativity, unity, self-determination and collective work and responsibility.
- People of the Jewish faith celebrate Hanukkah, an eight-day holiday that evolved when the Syrians invaded Israel more than 2,000 years ago. When the Jews reclaimed their temple, it had been vandalized by the Syrians, who left only a small amount of oil to fuel the eternal flame. But the oil kept the flame burning eight days.
- In Mexico, people have Christmas parties and on Christmas Eve, many attend church. On New Year’s Eve, each person receives a plate with 12 grapes on it. They eat one grape for each of the last 12 seconds of the year. On Jan. 6, they celebrate another holiday in which the Three Kings bring more presents for the children.
- Many people who are Greek Orthodox attend church on Christmas Eve and Christmas. They keep decorated Christmas trees in their homes, but children do not expect to find presents on Christmas morning. St. Nick comes on New Year’s Day to bring children money.
- In Germany people decorate with round wreaths holding four candles that represent the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Children keep advent calendars with 24 doors that count down to Christmas. Each day they find a piece of candy behind each door.
50 Years Ago
December 13, 1971 – Monday
“Percentage of Older People in Franklin County Growing”
Research in connection with this year’s While House Conference on Aging shows that the percentage of older persons in Franklin County is on the increase, Franklin Countians in the 85-year-old and older bracket rose from 8,304 to 10,402 over the past decade, an increase of 26 per cent.
These figures showing the age trend of the 1960-1970 decade were compiled by the Community Service of Pennsylvania (CSP) on behalf of the Pennsylvania delegation to the White House Conference held during the past month.
Pennsylvania as a whole noticed a 12.7 percent increase in the 65-plus age bracket during the past decade. There were 1,128,525 Pennsylvanians in this category in 1960 compared to 1,272,126 ten years later; an increase of 142,601 older residents.
Also during this same time span, Pennsylvania noticed an increase in both the white and black segments of its population picture. In 1960 there were 10,454.004 white and 852,750 black residents compared to 10,737,732 white and 1,016,514 black residents a decade later.
In Franklin County comparable figures show 86,422 white and 1,716 black residents in 1960 contrasted with 98,829 white and 1,802 black residents ten years later.
As far as the remainder of the age picture in Franklin County is concerned, there were 34,291 individuals under 18 years of age (representing 34 percent of the County population) while in the 18-84 age bracket there were 56,080 persons (representing 55.6 per cent of the County population) according to 1970 figures.
This compares with 1960 figures in Franklin County showing 30,881 residents under 18 years of age (or 35 percent of the County population) while the 18-64 year column had 48,987 persons (or 55.6 per cent of the County total).
100 Years ago
December 13, 1921 – Tuesday
“Kennedy is not opening drug store here; Caufman will”
Chambersburg – The cutRate drug store that will be opened in the Stager block in Lincoln Way West will be conducted by W. Horace Caufman of Lancaster. He has no present connection with the Kennedy cut rate stores. Mr. Caufman is now here, supervising the construction of the room and getting ready for the coming of his stock.
William I. Siegfried, general manager of the H.. C. Kennedy chain of cut rate drug stores, writes Public Opinion from Harrlsburg office that his firm has no intention of locating a store in Chambersburg and that it is In no way connected with the store that will be opened here.
