On this date 100 years ago the Pantagraph took note of a cache of historical Bloomington newspapers found in an old trunk. The lucky owner of this treasure trove was R W Phillips of Clinton Blvd. He obtained the papers in a round about way from the son of JW Richardson who lived in Bloomington before and after the Civil War.
Of special interest was the old 1837 announcement of Ashael Gridley offering a reward for anyone who could compel his debtors to pay up. A copy of the Republican Advertiser from October 11, 1870 was a curiousity to Mr. Phillips because it did not reveal the names of the editors or publishers, and he was interested in learning more about them.
The Daily Evening Echo was represented with a copy from July 6 1863. That paper was edited by CP Merriman, a man who would later edit the Pantagraph. This paper was filled with war news, especially of the surrender of Vicksburg, which had occurred just two days prior. There was also a Fourth of July speech by Col. ER Roe. Colonel Roe was instrumental in the establishment of Illinois State Normal University and in raising two of the companies from ISNU that fought in the Civil War. He received severe injuries during the War and left his company November 1863. He was a professor of natural sciences and wrote editorials for the Pantagraph.
The oldest paper in the collection was a Bloomington Observer and McLean County Advocate of February 18, 1837. This paper had many business card advertisements including those of David Davis, Franklin Brattan and WP Brown. Lewis Bunn advertised as a blacksmith and merchants Withers and Haines also advertised. There was very little news in the paper, as most of the articles were literary. This was of course the paper that printed the infamous reward by Ashael Gridley.
An unspecified paper from July 6 1853 reported that a Wesleyan oration featured the question of "Female Education" by Adlai Stevenson. A debate asked "Do the Signs of the Time indicate the Perpetuity of Our Union?" A debate at Major's Hall on May 14, 1857 featured the question: "Resolved, that the present rapid accumulation of wealth by the American people is prejudicial to their moral and intellectual development." The musical program included performances by Miss Larrimore.