The SNYDER COUNTY POST History Page

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From the Archives of
The
Middleburg Post

113 Years Ago - 1898

JANUARY
1. 3879 school children in Snyder county of compulsory age.
1. Penn Telephone line extended from Middleburg to McClure.
1. Snyder County Historical Society organized.
FEBRUARY
3. Middleburg Post Printing office moved from david Ocker building on Market Street to the new Post building near the county jail.
17. Sunday newspapers first sent in by freight trains.
28. Snyder County Historical Society incorporated.
MARCH
3. County tax rate for this year is 3 mills.
19. Second meeting of the Snyder County Historical Society.
APRIL
7. Editor of The POST visits Governor Hastings and gets order to have Penna. Archives sent to Snyder County Historical Society.
10. Moses Fry hangs himself.
17. Big freight wreck near Kreamer.
24. Row's Church at Salem, dedicated.
JUNE
2. Roy Heck, of Freeburg, accidently shot Clarence Moyer.
14. Two hams and three shoulders were stolen from Elmer Zechman. Howard Jones was arrested and charged with the crime.
20. Accident at Zion's Church; timbers fell striking Abner Hackenburg on the abdomen.
JULY
16. Three masked men rob Captain Lewis Miller.
25. Wm. and Daniel Kehler and Wm. Snyder, of Shamokin, lodged in jail charged with the robbery of J.P. Kantz in Monroe twp.
AUGUST
17. Frank Spotts and Adam Herrold crushed to death by traction engine at Shadel's Mill.
18. POST publishes list of Snyder County soldiers in the Spanish-American war.
NOVEMBER
2. Levi Luck was accidently shot and Killed by Wm. H. Ewing, in Spring twp.
DECEMBER
6. Middleburg Post Office was burglarized and robbed of $80.

   George “Pete” Washington was a unique character who roamed the county seat of Middleburg in the early 20^th century. It is unclear where he originated from but the memory of his existence surely has remained in the minds of many a Snyder Countian.
    He was a single man and the only man of African-American descent who became a familiar figure in the county for about forty years. It is evident he went by an assumed name, his real name probably never to be known.
    Rumor had it that he had a sister residing in Lewistown. In his early years, Pete was known in Juniata, Mifflin, Center and neighboring counties, but spent his later years in Snyder County, particularly in the borough of Middleburg.
    He possessed considerable musical ability and sang spirituals to the tune of rhythmical percussion using a stick of wood upon a box. It was said he was fond of money but he wasn’t much inclined to work and would only do so at times when charity failed.
    His work which consisted of shoveling snow, cleaning gutters and odd household jobs which were far from perfect but earned him a meal or two. His little luxuries were ice cream and a pipe of tobacco.
   Pete was known to wear as many clothes as he possibly could and tied a string or belt around his waist to hold everything together. He also had a fondness for hats and would wear two or three at a time. He simply despised good clothing and when people would give him better clothing he would purposely rip them to pieces so he could look as poverty-stricken as possible.
    He usually slept in barns and in abandoned buildings.
    He was known as a watchman of sorts for the Middleburg Tannery building making use of the boiler room for lodging, creating a bed of newspapers and old quilts on the concrete floor. He liked the way he lived and he was never known to steal or be a nuisance to anyone; however, he was

A Profile Of George "Pete" Washington

By Jane Kessler, Snyder County Historical Society

obsessed with a fear that whenever items would become missing that he would be blamed for it. In his later years, some dementia had taken over Pete’s mind and statements made by him were becoming more and more unbelievable.
By October 11^th, 1937, Pete was found sick and lounging on the steps leading to the courthouse mumbling to himself, possibly in a feverish stupor. The next day he was found on the floor in the corridor next to the radiator, a deathly sick man.

He consented only to lie in a cot in the jail hall where they gave him care. By Sunday, October 17^th, Pete was moved to the Mary Packer Hospital, Sunbury and sadly by Wednesday morning, October 20^th, 1937 George “Pete” Washington, at the age of 85 years, passed away.
The news of Pete’s passing brought sadness among the many residents of the community as well as the entire county.

They quickly gathered funds for funeral expenses and flowers. The Middleburg Tannery employees bought him a fine suit. It was determined that there would be a public funeral so that old Pete could be duly honored and a fine service could be given.
Hundreds from all parts of the county attended his funeral and many eulogies were given. George “Pete” Washington is buried in the south-east corner of the Glendale Cemetery in Middleburg…… 72 years ago.

    Do you have cabin fever and are you missing the fun of finding yard sale bargains? Come to the Northumberland County Histor-ical Society’s Indoor Yard Sale on February 17, 18, and 19 at the Hunter House, 1150 North Front Street, Sunbury. Sale hours for Thursday and Friday, February 17 and 18 are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday, February 19 from 8 a.m. until noon.
    The Indoor Yard Sale Committee has gathered a variety of interesting items but is still looking for additional donations of clean and gently used books, glassware, china, kitchenware, toys, games, craft and hobby items, holiday decorations, seasonal items, videos, CDs, DVDs, and items of local interest until Tuesday, February 15.
    No clothing, pillows, bedding, stuffed animals, small electrical appliances, or encyclopedia sets will be accepted. Donations may be dropped off at the Hunter House, 1150 North Front Street, Sunbury from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
    In the event of inclement weather, the Society will hold the sale the following week, February 24, 25, and 26.   The Society will use proceeds from the sale to enhance services and programs for the society’s members and visitors.
    For more information, please call 570-286-4083.

Northumberland Co.
Historical Society
Holds Indoor Sale

Presented by Emily Johnson, VP Snyder County Historical Society and the Simon Snyder of Pennsylvania: Citizen and Governor
1759-1819 exhibition committee