JED REINERT | Digital Staff
Excerpts and summaries of news stories from the former Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster New Era and Sunday News that focus on the events in the county’s past that are noteworthy, newsworthy or just strange.
25 years ago
For Lancaster barber Forrest Long, a job he took in 1950 with the intention of staying for 3 months turned out to be a 49-year stint from which he retired in April 1999.
Long moved to Lancaster from Shamokin in 1948, and started working for the former Schilling's barbershop at 5 1/2 N. Duke St. two years later. He intended to stay at the shop for only as long as it took him to open his own barbershop - but he liked it so much he stayed there, eventually buying the business in 1974.
In its heyday, the shop served judges and attorneys, as it was located across the street form the county courthouse. It was one of three barbershops in in the first block of North Duke Street, which had 10 barbers between them.
City records show that a barbershop occupied that address - which for many years was next door to the former Red Rose Restaurant (now Silantra) - as early as 1869.
By 1999, thanks to suburbanization, Long was the only barber left on the block, and the shop closed when he retired.
In the headlines:
'Who's ready to die?' 15 killed at Colorado school
For young people, home ownership loses its luster
Eagles will pay McNabb big bucks
Check out the April 21, 1999, Lancaster New Era here.
50 years ago
In April 1974, the Lancaster County Council of Churches was preparing to open Conestoga Cottage, the county's first home for delinquent girls.
Located on Wheatland Avenue in the city's West End, the facility was meant to be a sister house to the Horizon House, a home for delinquent boys.
The council of churches first proposed the idea of a home for girls in 1971, after state and local data indicated the need for such a facility. The Wheatland Avenue property was purchased the next year, and two years were spent renovating it to comply with state codes for institutional facilities.
Conestoga Cottage would house up to 12 girls, age 13 to 17, and five staff.
The facility remained open until 1981, when a lack of funding resulted in its permanent closure. The building is now the home of feminist bookstore Pocket Books.
In the headlines:
Iron ore plant shut down for polluting Lake Superior
Jumbo jetliner burns in Boston
'Star Trek' creator coming back to Earth in new series
Check out the April 21, 1974, Sunday News here.
75 years ago
Though the official dedication of the newly expanded Lancaster Airport wouldn't happen for another couple of months, in April 1949 TWA was ready to begin airline and frieght services to and from the airport - and would christen a new airliner "The City of Lancaster" for the occasion.
A ceremony hosted by Lancaster Mayor Dale Cary would serve to inaugurate TWA's service here and also christen the airliner, a DC-3 that was one of a fleet of planes set to serve the new airport.
Before its chrisening, the plane would arrive in Lancaster bearing several Lancaster County residents as passengers, as well as cargo destined for the Armstrong Cork Co.
In the headlines:
Fourth British ship shelled by Chinese
Shock treatments made safer with drug that relaxes muscles
Birthday party on tap for Princess Elizabeth today
Check out the April 21, 1949, Lancaster New Era here.
100 years ago
In the 1920s, Easter was an occasion for Lancastrians to get out and promenade or "strut" their finery around the city. But in 1924, a rollercoaster of unruly Easter weather interfered with their plans.
The early morning temperature was 43 degrees before jumping to 70 by noon - and dropping to 34 by 2 p.m.
The massive temperature shifts were accompanied by high winds, rain and large hail. As the Lancaster Intelligencer put it, "corsage bouquets were concealed in fur coats," but the storms "could have no adverse effect on the Easter bunny, who found all the children well-supplied with nests and Easter toys.
In the headlines:
Bobbed-hair bandit caught, her baby dead
Crew of alcohol ship in mutiny
