In J. Perry Wood’s 1901 paper on Publicity in Carlisle for his Dickinson Sociology Class, he discusses the history of newspapers in Carlisle. He recognizes that the “‘Carlisle Weekly Gazette'” was the first newspaper in Carlisle as well as “the first newspaper printed west of the Susquehanna.” It was initially published in July 1785 on small, blue paper. The paper survived until 1815. How has the presence of a newspaper in Carlisle distinguished the town from others in the region?
ES
In a 1901 sociology paper titled, “A Study of the Alumni of Dickinson College,” Harry E. Crow discusses former Dickinsonians and notes their current placements within the workforce – as professionals, teachers, diplomats, and many more. He explores the interests of the College and highlights Alumni support. He notes, “The advancement of the interests of the College means that advancement of the Alumni.” This past weekend, Dickinson hosted one of its Capital Campaign events catered to wealthy alums. They decorated the campus, delivered interesting speeches, and served the best food and drink. Is the advancement still solely based upon the alumni network of Dickinson or has Dickinson diversified its funding options?
MO.
Robert H. Humphreville, a student in a 1901 Dickinson College Sociology class, wrote a paper entitled “Charities of Carlisle.” In his paper, he discusses the various insitutions that provided services to Carlisle residents. Stating that the “present facilitites ofr taking care of the sick and the needy in this locality are…a Hospital, an Old Ladies’ Home, a Children’s Friend Benevolent Society, a Ladies Benevelent Society, and the County Poor House and Insane Asylum,” Humphreville acknowledges that these facilities are “exceptionally fine.” In comparison to the five organizations that provided charitable services in Carlisle, the town currently seems to support a diverse and larger number of charitable institutions than it did in 1901. Why is Carlisle home to such a multitude of charitable services? How does the religious presence, Dickinson College and the economy in Carlisle impact the charitable services offered by Carlisle?
ES
In a 1901 sociology paper,”Leaders in Social,Business, Manufacturing, Religious, Medical, and Political Affairs of Carlisle” , Joseph P. Lord explains that Carlisle officals made a valid effort to assist those who are poor or disabled. According to Lord, “The duties of a [town director] are to provide suitable buildings for the poor and insane and levy taxes…” However, Lords explained that “when a director is unable to provide support for the poor [or disabled] with money in his district, he issues a certificate to such indigent person[s] who [are] then admitted to the county poorhouse.” “The poor, the lame, the halt and the blind are thus apparently well provided for.”
Question: Are the poor and disabled satisfied with the assistance they are given and has the assistance improved over the years?
S.T.
In a 1901 sociology paper, “The Churches of Carlisle”, Dorsey N. Miller acknowledges that the overwhelming majority (75%) of church goers are women.
He poses the following questions: “Why is it that more men ar enot found at church? Is it because he is not so great a need for its influence? Is he laboring under the delusion that man does not need the cultivation of a spiritual, moral nature?”
Are these questions this relevant today?
M.O.
According to a paper written by E.F. Hann for a Dickinson College Sociology class in 1901, there were a multitude of retail establishments in Carlisle in the early 1900s. The author portrays the diverse services offered by the 149 merchants in Carlisle. While many of the retailers provided food, clothing and basic needs, there were also speciliaty stores. For example, there were 22 grocers, 15 “gents furnishings and tailors,” and 11 coal and wood dealers. Specialty stores included “agriculural implements,” “stationers” and “tobacconists.”
In addition to these smaller retail stores, there were also two large department stores in Carlisle at this time. They were Behney and Snyder and the Imperial Dry Goods’ Company.
It is interesting to me that Carlisle was able to support 149 merchants while also sustaining two large department stores. For the revitalization of Downtown Carlisle, would it be useful to consider how and why Carlisle sustained small merchants as well as department stores in the early 1900s?
ES190
In Sanitary Conditions of Carlisle, an essay dating back to 1901, former Dickinson College student Geo. Cisney describes Carlisle’s sanitary conditions. He writes:
“While the sanitary condition of Carlisle is not ideal in many respects yet the people are steadily progressive and make many efforts to keep the town in a healthful sanitary condition. The streets are kept clean and orderly. The streets are abundantly supplied with beautiful shade trees… Civic clubs have been organized which have also done much to further the sanitary needs of the town.”
Times have changed within the last century. Have Carlilian’s attitudes toward the town’s sanitary conditions changed too? What are the financial effects of maintaining high standards of sanitary conditions for a small town?
The town strives to preserve it’s rich historical heritage which surely requires cleanliness and order and may very well influence how Carlisle’s sanitary issues are addressed. Is more effort made to maintain the downtown area clean or do sanitary standards apply to all areas of the town? Are “civic clubs” still involved with the development of Carlisle’s sanitary conditions?
-C. Nally
(Cisney, archived with the Special Collections Library, Waidner-Spahr Library)
One of the joys of living in Carlisle has always been the ability to buy fresh produce from local farmers markets. The markets date back earlier then the 1900’s and have been providing fresh produce to the Carlisle community and others nearby for many years. A Dickinson student in 1901, Edwin F. Hann, in a paper for Sociology class [Housed at the Special Collections Library, Dickinson College] discussed the local markets in Carlisle: “The good natured farmer man, the jolly farmer wife, the bashful farmer boy, and others are all merchants at this famous Carlisle market; rich man, poor man, doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief, are all buyers at this famous Carlisle market.” Over one hundred years after the writing of this paper, the markets continue to make strides and grow.
The Carlisle Central Farmers Market recently opened in mid-September with a potential for further growth. “We’d like to improve downtown Carlisle and provide organic food in walking distance,” said Jason Fortney, who sold organic produce with CCFM board member Nancy Grim. The need for local fresh produce is still highyl apparent in the community. “I want it to succeed. I dont have my garden anymore, and I still want fresh things,” said local Carlisle resident Mary Harter. In an era of “big box” companies, the local farmers markets of Carlisle continue to support the economy of the town and provide the community with fresh produce.
-G.M.
The Special Collections library at Dickinson College The Sentinel, Carlisle, PA, Sunday, September 16, 2007
www.downtowncarlisle.org/…/61/Default.aspx
The Special Collections library at Dickinson College has a collection of student papers from a 1901 Sociology class, which describe various aspects of Carlisle at that time. According to a paper by William H. Ames, Carlisle boasted the following industries:
Factories: 4 shoes, 2 carpets, 1 paper box, 1 wrapper and ladies wear, 4 candy, 6 cigars, 1 axle, 4 carriage, 3 harness, 1 ice
Works: 4 brick, 2 frog and switch, 2 marble, 1 chain, 2 pump
Mills: 2 silk, 1 planing, 2 flour, 4 bottling, 2 machine shops, 2 hide and leather finishing establishments, 3 lime kilns.
According to Ames, Carlisle also featured 3 banks (Carlisle Deposit Bank on North Hanover Street; Farmer’s Bank on West Main Street, and the Merchants National Bank on South Hanover Street); 10 hotels (including the Mansion House on Main and Pitt and the Wellington on East Main, now known as High Street); and 19 churches.
A paper by Dickinson student John Bieri cites the existence of several liveries in Carlisle, “the largest of which is owned by W.H. Bretz who has about 34 horses.” Bieri adds, “the carriages and cabs of these companies were probably used here before the introduction of the railroads, and they very likely will still be here after we are sailing to New York and London in air-ships.” Not exactly prescient.
The Masland Corporation probably qualifies as one of the oldest businesses in Carlisle. Answers.Com provides an encyclopedic history of the Masland Corporation at this site: http://www.answers.com/topic/masland-corporation?cat=biz-fin
According to the article, Masland started as a yarn dye business in 1866, but gradually 1 transitioned to carpet and car interior manufacturing.
,– C.C.
