New Year’s Eve Tradition: “Firing off the Old Year.”

The Carlisle Weekly Herald reported in its January 5, 1859 edition that “On New Year’s Eve, the custom of “firing off the old year” was indulged in to the usual extent that everything that would make noise, from a Chinese firecracker to an old musket, was in requisition, and a continual fusillade was kept up through the night.” When guns and fireworks are used in a celebration, there are bound to be accidents. On that New Year’s Eve, a young man shattered his left hand when a pistol discharged prematurely, “and another barely escaped having an iron ramrod shot through his head.”¹

The old year was “fired off” in a spectacular way in Shippensburg in 1879. On New Year’s Eve a torchlight procession given by the firemen of the Vigilant and the Cumberland Valley Fire Companies of Shippensburg was held. Each of the 150 men were equipped with a coal oil torch and several Roman candles. The procession was headed by the Shippensburg Coronet Band. Showers of fire rained from the men’s Roman candles as the procession wended their way through town to the Vigilant Fire House where a fair was under way.

The Shippensburg News reported that “Notwithstanding, the sidewalks were covered with ice and sleet…everybody was out to welcome the firemen. The boys were cheered for their display, and they in turn returned the compliment with a three times three and a “tiger.” At Reddig’s corner a number of brilliant rockets were sent skyward. At the News Book Store, Altick’s drug store, and Geesaman Bros.’ dry goods store, colored lights were burned while the procession passed. W. T. S. Jamison had his store and dwelling brilliantly illuminated. John W. McPherson fired a tar barrel which burned with great brilliancy. The Vigilant Fire Company had the gas on while the procession passed their engine house, and the effect was quite imposing.”²

Although the fireman’s procession went off without any accidents, not so for some of the town’s residents. A group of people were firing off the old year on the Square on New Year’s Eve. Harry Walters 12-year-old son discharged his pistol, and the bullet entered the left leg of Eli Clough’s son George. George had a loaded pistol in his hand at the time, “and as he fell to the ground it was discharged and the contents struck the leg of George Speese, Sr.” The Clough boy was taken to Dr. Stewart’s office where his wound was cleaned and dressed. Although the shootings were accidental, the editor of the newspaper wrote “it clearly proves that fire arms should not be used by half-grown, careless boys.”³