The story of Molly Pitcher of Monmouth, firing her cannon at the British over the body of her husband, was (and is) a popular part of the history of the War of the Revolution, as read by Americans after 1840. After the story had been repeated in one historical account after another and depicted in several well-known prints, it became widely accepted as an accurately recounted event.
Agricultural fairs of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries contributed significantly to the dynamics of American rural life. Of such fairs the one held at Williams Grove annually from 1873 through 1916 was among the most important not only regionally but nationally as well.
In 1754 and 1755, Great Britain suffered two humiliating defeats in North America at the hands of the French. First, Colonel George Washington faced the French at a hastily built fortification in western Pennsylvania named Fort Necessity. After a short skirmish, Washington conceded defeat and surrendered his predominantly provincial command to the combined French and Indian force opposing him.
In the heart of the very green and idyllic Cumberland Valley of Central Pennsylvania sits the town of Carlisle. Just like any other town, it has its old and historic buildings and people with their own backgrounds. Among these people of different ethnic backgrounds is the very prominent Greek community. There are forty-five families that reside in Carlisle that are of Greek descent. Fortunate for the writer who would examine the Greeks is that the patriarch, the original Greek to settle in the area is alive and very active in the Greek community.
To mark the 125th anniversary of the Hamilton Library Association Cumberland County History reprints here the Association's first annual report, for the year 1881, and a subsequent annual report, for 1900.
At the meeting of the Hamilton Library Association, Tuesday evening Jan. 15th, 1901, the reports of the executive officers were quite encouraging, and we here give them in full.
The first business at the annual meeting of the Association, has according to custom, been the reading of the reports of the officers of the Association.
According to custom, I beg to report as follows, the general operations of the Association for the year 1903 and its present condition. In the report of last year, on account of the large number of new members elected during that year, it was thought advisable to present a brief statement of the origin and work of the association.
The report of last year was brief and made verbally, and consequently not printed, so that the present report may include matters belonging to the previous year without calling especial attention to that fact.
The usual work of the Association has been carried on during the year, and the interest in all lines has been fully maintained.