Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Bit of History - February 24, 2021

Bit of History


Mercury Herald Volume 1 No 1 May 25, 1949 - Header


Not having much news this week, I thought you might like a bit of “news” from the past.  My in-laws gave me several issues of the Ridgeway “Mercury Herald” which was published in 1949 by Roger Anderson and Paul Johnson, two students at RHS.  Roger lived in the house I live in currently.  The illustrations and advertising were all hand drawn and well done. The first edition, published May 25, 1949, carried stories about a “near cyclone” storm that hit Mount Moriah, Cainsville and Princeton on May 23, causing extensive damage.


The Lions Club held a steak fry to initiate a new oven they had built.  The meal was cooked by their wives and a good time was had by all.  Shepard’s Locker advertised lard at $0.34 for 2 pounds, T-bone steak for $0.65/lb.  and hamburger for $0.45/lb. They also offered to pay “the highest possible market prices” for your cream and eggs.  In sports, Ridgeway lost to Brimson in a hard-fought baseball game with a score of 10-9.  “Buck Privates” starring Bud Abbot and Lou Costello was showing at the movies and everyone was asked to attend Memorial Day Services at the park. Single copies of the Mercury Herald were 5 cents or $1.75 for a year subscription.



Originally published in the Bethany Republican-Clipper on Feb 24, 2021 (with edits)