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100 Years Ago - 1910
The Overland Electric Theatre will be in Middleburg evenings this weekend. This same theatre appeared at the county seat last year and gave some excellent exhibit of moving pictures. It will appear on Mrs. VanZandt's lot near the Cut bridge.
John Meiser, freight agent at Meiser, Snyder county, was placed on the PA Pension list. With his retirement, the freight agency will be abandoned and thereafter freight to arrive from that station will be under the agencies of Kreamer and Middleburg. Mr. Meiser is a veteran of the Civil War and now will be drawing two pensions.
Pearl Bolig, two year old daughter to William N. Bolig and wife, Tuesday morning upset a washer full of hot water over herself and was badly scalded.
Mrs. John Hughes of Freeburg tried to kill a duck. While trying to cut off the creature's head, the duck struck the axe with her wing, causing it to hit Mrs. Hughes, causing a large gash.
75 Years Ago - 1935
Midd-West High school enrollment: seventh grade, 34 pupils; eighth grade, 16 pupils; freshmen, 27 pupils; sophomores, 21 pupils; juniors, 25 pupils; seniors, 17 pupils.
Beauty Advt.--A charming permanent wave (reg $6.00) specially priced at $4.00 during month of September. LaPomp-adour Beauty Salon, Middleburg. Phone 16-W.
The plastering from the ceiling became detached at the home of Arthur Snook, East Decatur, and in its fall fell upon the foot and chest of Mrs. Snook, who is an invalid confined to a lounge and injured her somewhat.
50 Years Ago - 1960
Midd-West High School enrollment: seventh grade, 148 pupils; eighth grade, 136 pupils; freshmen, 147 pupils; sophomores, 109 pupils; juniors, 78 pupils; seniors, 91 pupils.
35 Years Ago - 1975
The Middleburg Post will have a subscription booth at the McClure Bean Soup this year, continuing a custom originated many years ago by the McClure Plain Dealer. The booth will be manned by Post employees for the convenience of hundreds of McClure area residents and Bean Soup visitors who annually renew their subscription in our booth.
The Overland Electric Theatre will be in Middleburg evenings this weekend. This same theatre appeared at the county seat last year and gave some excellent exhibit of moving pictures. It will appear on Mrs. VanZandt's lot near the Cut bridge.
John Meiser, freight agent at Meiser, Snyder county, was placed on the PA Pension list. With his retirement, the freight agency will be abandoned and thereafter freight to arrive from that station will be under the agencies of Kreamer and Middleburg. Mr. Meiser is a veteran of the Civil War and now will be drawing two pensions.
Pearl Bolig, two year old daughter to William N. Bolig and wife, Tuesday morning upset a washer full of hot water over herself and was badly scalded.
Mrs. John Hughes of Freeburg tried to kill a duck. While trying to cut off the creature's head, the duck struck the axe with her wing, causing it to hit Mrs. Hughes, causing a large gash.
75 Years Ago - 1935
Midd-West High school enrollment: seventh grade, 34 pupils; eighth grade, 16 pupils; freshmen, 27 pupils; sophomores, 21 pupils; juniors, 25 pupils; seniors, 17 pupils.
Beauty Advt.--A charming permanent wave (reg $6.00) specially priced at $4.00 during month of September. LaPomp-adour Beauty Salon, Middleburg. Phone 16-W.
The plastering from the ceiling became detached at the home of Arthur Snook, East Decatur, and in its fall fell upon the foot and chest of Mrs. Snook, who is an invalid confined to a lounge and injured her somewhat.
50 Years Ago - 1960
Midd-West High School enrollment: seventh grade, 148 pupils; eighth grade, 136 pupils; freshmen, 147 pupils; sophomores, 109 pupils; juniors, 78 pupils; seniors, 91 pupils.
35 Years Ago - 1975
The Middleburg Post will have a subscription booth at the McClure Bean Soup this year, continuing a custom originated many years ago by the McClure Plain Dealer. The booth will be manned by Post employees for the convenience of hundreds of McClure area residents and Bean Soup visitors who annually renew their subscription in our booth.
Snyder County Post History -- Rolling Green Park
Snyder County Post History -- The Biff Burger
Snyder County Post History -- The Notorious Victoria Woodhull
Snyder County Post History -- Historical Tidbits I
Snyder County Post History -- Soldiers War Memorial(s)
Snyder County Post History -- Beavertown's 200 Year History
Snyder County Post History -- New Berlin, Original County Seat
Snyder County Post History -- Electricity in Snyder County
Snyder County Post History -- The Biff Burger
Snyder County Post History -- The Notorious Victoria Woodhull
Snyder County Post History -- Historical Tidbits I
Snyder County Post History -- Soldiers War Memorial(s)
Snyder County Post History -- Beavertown's 200 Year History
Snyder County Post History -- New Berlin, Original County Seat
Snyder County Post History -- Electricity in Snyder County
From the Archives of
The
Middleburg Post
The
Middleburg Post
To help celebrate the Beavertown Bicentennial, candy and clothing items with the special logo will be available for purchase at the Beavertown Borough Office. The Susquehanna Bank in Beavertown will have items on display in their lobby.
Beavertown Items
Made Available
For Bicentennial
Made Available
For Bicentennial
Clothing is available to be purchased or you can place an order by contacting the Beavertown Borough office at 570-658-2482 or by calling 658-7205 weekdays from 6 to 9 P.M. or Saturdays noon to 9:00 P.M.
History of the
McClure Bean Soup
McClure Bean Soup
The present day Bean Soup is a far cry from its humble beginnings, the first Bean Soup Celebration of 1891. What began as a tribute to the memory of a Civil War staple, has blossomed into a tradition in the small Snyder County town of McClure.
Published copies of The Middleburgh Post tells of various encampments in the area that would be attended by Civil War veterans. However, these accounts do not mention bean soup being served.
One of these encampments was held in McClure in the former P.L. Hassinger woods. Organizers even hired a special train for those attending, paying $40 for the special train to bring visitors.
When plans for a 1891 encampment came up for discussion, the veterans reminisced of the old army style bean soup. This soup had been a staple during the war, since food being scarce, it was easily made using a collection of the soldiers' meat allotments, and adding water to make the soup.
Ner Middleswarth was appointed chairman of a commitee to arrange for the celebration. Henry Kahley was appointed to be the chief cook and turned out a kettle of the soup, made with "hard tack" that Ner Middleswarth acquired from the US Army.
Story goes that Middleswarth was so busy with the day's activ-
Published copies of The Middleburgh Post tells of various encampments in the area that would be attended by Civil War veterans. However, these accounts do not mention bean soup being served.
One of these encampments was held in McClure in the former P.L. Hassinger woods. Organizers even hired a special train for those attending, paying $40 for the special train to bring visitors.
When plans for a 1891 encampment came up for discussion, the veterans reminisced of the old army style bean soup. This soup had been a staple during the war, since food being scarce, it was easily made using a collection of the soldiers' meat allotments, and adding water to make the soup.
Ner Middleswarth was appointed chairman of a commitee to arrange for the celebration. Henry Kahley was appointed to be the chief cook and turned out a kettle of the soup, made with "hard tack" that Ner Middleswarth acquired from the US Army.
Story goes that Middleswarth was so busy with the day's activ-
ities that he never got a taste of it for himself. The affair was so successful that it was decided to hold a similar event every year. It quickly became a community day, with friends and businesses wishing inclusion.
An old Bean Soup poster, year unknown.
Families and children of area families who had moved out of the area would make annual visits home to Snyder County at Bean Soup time. As noted in the poster above, it even became a "Homecoming" event.
When the first kettles of soup were made, the veterans paid all the expenses. Soon the cost became too great and they decided to charge five cents per bowl. Later changed to 10 cents.
Soon, the affair grew too large for its location. A committee that had formed purchased land of Cold Springs Grove from C.A. Wagner. They cleared the trees and fenced in the grove. The dining pavilion and a cookshed were built in 1927 along with eight two-kettle furnaces.
In following years, in addition to the bean soup, beef dinners were served by the veterans and hot dog, hamburger, ice cream stands lined the grounds. War rationing later led to some of these stands not appearing some years. Free refreshments were served...it consisted of a tin cup tied to a chain next to the spring.
In later years, a parade was added and the theme of patriot-
When the first kettles of soup were made, the veterans paid all the expenses. Soon the cost became too great and they decided to charge five cents per bowl. Later changed to 10 cents.
Soon, the affair grew too large for its location. A committee that had formed purchased land of Cold Springs Grove from C.A. Wagner. They cleared the trees and fenced in the grove. The dining pavilion and a cookshed were built in 1927 along with eight two-kettle furnaces.
In following years, in addition to the bean soup, beef dinners were served by the veterans and hot dog, hamburger, ice cream stands lined the grounds. War rationing later led to some of these stands not appearing some years. Free refreshments were served...it consisted of a tin cup tied to a chain next to the spring.
In later years, a parade was added and the theme of patriot-
Donnie Wagner, of McClure, pours in dry navy beans in this photo from the 1970's.
The McClure Sons of Veterans Band was the official music organ-ization for the annual McClure Bean Soup. It organized in 1904.
ism filled the atmosphere with the mock battles, civil war encampments, and speakers
throughout the day. Many towns-people would go to the railway station to count the number of coaches and passengers arriving for the event.
As the years progressed, attendance climbed so that, by the 1930's over a quarter million attended the event during that decade. In 1936, a new record of 52 kettles of soup were cooked for the crowds who enjoyed the carnival shows, band concerts, baseball games, and even tennis matches.
After that, the Henry K. Ritter Camp #65 Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War and citizens of McClure, and from 1937 on, the McClure Realty Corporation have put forth the effort to present the Bean Soup Celebration.
Through the years, the event has gotten larger and became more and more a political event, and less a patriotic event. The Snyder County political parties would hold rallies and invite famous (and infamous) politicians to come to the Bean
throughout the day. Many towns-people would go to the railway station to count the number of coaches and passengers arriving for the event.
As the years progressed, attendance climbed so that, by the 1930's over a quarter million attended the event during that decade. In 1936, a new record of 52 kettles of soup were cooked for the crowds who enjoyed the carnival shows, band concerts, baseball games, and even tennis matches.
After that, the Henry K. Ritter Camp #65 Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War and citizens of McClure, and from 1937 on, the McClure Realty Corporation have put forth the effort to present the Bean Soup Celebration.
Through the years, the event has gotten larger and became more and more a political event, and less a patriotic event. The Snyder County political parties would hold rallies and invite famous (and infamous) politicians to come to the Bean
Soup to rally the voters. Governors, Senators, and Congressmen would give Saturday afternoon speeches while all of the festivities pro-ceeded on the grounds.
The making of the soup in large iron kettles is still done over a wood-fired battery of furnaces capable of handling the sixteen large iron kettles at one time. Each man stirs two of the kettles during two hours and twenty minute shifts.
This year's 119th Annual Bean Soup Celebration runs from September 11th to 19th. It is sure to bring out huge crowds again, bringing free stage entertainment, great food, and stirring memories of those who have faithfully attended the Bean Soup over the years.
There is a website devoted to the Bean Soup. On it, visitors will find a complete lineup of entertainment and meal specials throughout the week.
The making of the soup in large iron kettles is still done over a wood-fired battery of furnaces capable of handling the sixteen large iron kettles at one time. Each man stirs two of the kettles during two hours and twenty minute shifts.
This year's 119th Annual Bean Soup Celebration runs from September 11th to 19th. It is sure to bring out huge crowds again, bringing free stage entertainment, great food, and stirring memories of those who have faithfully attended the Bean Soup over the years.
There is a website devoted to the Bean Soup. On it, visitors will find a complete lineup of entertainment and meal specials throughout the week.
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