Welcome to our blog, where we embark on a captivating journey through time, exploring the rich tapestry of history and genealogy.
In this edition, we'll delve into the treasure trove of historical news articles dated May 15, unearthing stories that resonate with genealogists and history enthusiasts alike.
From local happenings to global events, we'll uncover the stories that shaped the lives of our ancestors, providing valuable insights for those on a quest to discover their roots.
So, grab your magnifying glass and step into the past as we unravel the May 15 historical headlines that may hold the missing pieces of your family's history puzzle.
Haverhill, New Hampshire, USA
Haverhill, May 11.--A boy, apparently 15 years old, crushed beyond recognition, but breathing, was discovered at the bottom of an elevator well at the A. B. Arnold sole leather factory early this afternoon.
Dr. F. W. Anthony, who ordered the boy's removal to the Hale Hospital said he had probably been struck several times by the elevator, which had been running during the day, the youth having lain unconscious at the bottom of the well from the time he was first struck and crushed each time... Read MORE...
Portsmouth Herald - Portsmouth, New Hampshire - May 15, 1917
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1917 - BOY CRUSHED BY ELEVATOR AT HAVERHILL . BELIEVE LIFT DESCENDED ON HIM MANY TIMES--DYING AT HOSPITAL.
Haverhill, May 11.--A boy, apparently 15 years old, crushed beyond recognition, but breathing, was discovered at the bottom of an elevator well at the A. B. Arnold sole leather factory early this afternoon.
Dr. F. W. Anthony, who ordered the boy's removal to the Hale Hospital said he had probably been struck several times by the elevator, which had been running during the day, the youth having lain unconscious at the bottom of the well from the time he was first struck and crushed each time... Read MORE...
Portsmouth Herald - Portsmouth, New Hampshire - May 15, 1917
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The Parker Games
For Merry Winter Evenings
Parker-Brothers, Salem, Mass, USA
The Ladies' Home Journal
November 1898
Visit Salem, Massachusetts, USA!
1940 - May 15 - Women's stockings made of nylon are first placed on sale across the United States. Almost five million pairs are bought on this day.
Women Crowd Stores as Nylons Go on Sale
Curious Line Counters Two and Three Deep To Buy and Inspect New Synthetic Hosiery
By KATHERINE BLANCK
Brooklyn women today joined their eager sisters throughout the land in greeting the event they have awaited for more than a year.
Nylon stockings are on the market!
Shopping crowds were increased considerably as women flocked to the stores where the new synthetic hose, made of yarn, chemical fibre, coal, air and water, went on sale.
As soon... Read MORE...
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle - Brooklyn, New York - May 15, 1940
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1800s Cooking Tips and Recipes
Cooking Chickens - A new way of cooing chickens is to parboil them and then drop them into hot lard, a la doughuts, and fry a few minutes. This will serve to make variety in the bill of fare, but will not wholly take the place of the favorite ...Read MORE...
The Willimantic Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn., September 29, 1880

The Idea Food Cutter
The Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co.
Southington, Conn.
The Ladies' Home Journal
November 1898
Visit Southington, Connecticut, USA (Plantsville)!

1800s Advice and Etiquette for Ladies
A social philosopher has said "Women need more amusement, a broader companionship than is possible in the isolated home. To the isolated household with its debilitating and multifarious labors can a large part of woman's ill health be...Read MORE...
Advice for Ladies - The Southbridge Journal, Southbridge, Massachusetts, December 25, 1885
Lexington, Kentucky, USA
Lexington, Ky., May 14. - Fire broke out in the attic of the court house here at 9:45 a.m., and in a few minutes the upper story and dome were in flames. Hart's statue, "Woman Triumphant" bought by Lexington women for $5,000 was in the rotunda. The court house was completely burned, and in an hour nothing remained but walls. Hart's beautiful masterpiece was destroyed in an attempt to remove it. Many of the loose records were carried out and others are in a steel vault in the basement. The court ... Read MORE...
Logansport Journal - Logansport, Indiana - May 15, 1897
Comments
1897 - COURT HOUSE BURNED. BUILDING DESTROYED BUT RECORDS WERE SAVED.
Lexington, Ky., May 14. - Fire broke out in the attic of the court house here at 9:45 a.m., and in a few minutes the upper story and dome were in flames. Hart's statue, "Woman Triumphant" bought by Lexington women for $5,000 was in the rotunda. The court house was completely burned, and in an hour nothing remained but walls. Hart's beautiful masterpiece was destroyed in an attempt to remove it. Many of the loose records were carried out and others are in a steel vault in the basement. The court ... Read MORE...
Logansport Journal - Logansport, Indiana - May 15, 1897
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Pasadena, California, USA
Special State News.
PASADENA, May 14. - The Misses Elsie and Christina Peterson came here from Los Angeles shortly after noon to visit Mrs. Chris Larson of 800 Magnolia avenue. They were met at the car by Mr. Larson. When the carriage turned down Raymond avenue below California street a portion of the harness gave way. The horses became frightened and whirled, overturning the carriage. The two young women were hurled to the ground, Mr. Larson clung to the reins and succeeded in stopping the... Read MORE...
San Jose Mercury - San Jose, California - May 15, 1907
Comments
1907 - HURLED FROM CARRIAGE.
Special State News.
PASADENA, May 14. - The Misses Elsie and Christina Peterson came here from Los Angeles shortly after noon to visit Mrs. Chris Larson of 800 Magnolia avenue. They were met at the car by Mr. Larson. When the carriage turned down Raymond avenue below California street a portion of the harness gave way. The horses became frightened and whirled, overturning the carriage. The two young women were hurled to the ground, Mr. Larson clung to the reins and succeeded in stopping the... Read MORE...
San Jose Mercury - San Jose, California - May 15, 1907
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Whitestown, New York, USA (Whitesboro)
Morning Herald Office.
UTICA, May 12. - A frightful Railroad accident occurred this morning at 6 ½ o,clock, on the Central Railroad, by the crushing of a bridge over the Saquoit Creek, some 3 ½ miles west of this city, near Whitesboro.
Seven or eight persons are already dead. Five or six others are barely alive, and the injured number forty or more. The killed are, A. MOORE of Rising Sun, Ind, head crushed, since died; two children of ABRAHAM MACK, of Cincinnati; an unknown man lying in... Read MORE...
The Erie Observer - Erie, Pennsylvania - May 15, 1858
Comments
1858 - Dreadful Railroad Accident!
Morning Herald Office.
UTICA, May 12. - A frightful Railroad accident occurred this morning at 6 ½ o,clock, on the Central Railroad, by the crushing of a bridge over the Saquoit Creek, some 3 ½ miles west of this city, near Whitesboro.
Seven or eight persons are already dead. Five or six others are barely alive, and the injured number forty or more. The killed are, A. MOORE of Rising Sun, Ind, head crushed, since died; two children of ABRAHAM MACK, of Cincinnati; an unknown man lying in... Read MORE...
The Erie Observer - Erie, Pennsylvania - May 15, 1858
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Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Indianapolis, May 12. – While William PHELPS of Richmond, Ky., and James STAPLEBURY of this city were cleaning the inside of an eight-foot upright boiler at the Cerealine mills today, an enploye turned on the steam, thinking the cock was tight. It leaked and the scalding steam poured in on the two men. The only exit was up a ladder. Both jumped for the ladder. PHELPS reached it first, took one step and stopped. He jumped aside and shouted, “You go first, Jim; you are married.”
STAPLEBURY... Read MORE...
Butte Weekly Miner - Butte, Montana - May 15, 1901
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1901 - Met A Horrible Death Heroic Deed of William PHELPS, a Colored Man – Gave Up His Life That A Married Friend Might Make His Escape.
Indianapolis, May 12. – While William PHELPS of Richmond, Ky., and James STAPLEBURY of this city were cleaning the inside of an eight-foot upright boiler at the Cerealine mills today, an enploye turned on the steam, thinking the cock was tight. It leaked and the scalding steam poured in on the two men. The only exit was up a ladder. Both jumped for the ladder. PHELPS reached it first, took one step and stopped. He jumped aside and shouted, “You go first, Jim; you are married.”
STAPLEBURY... Read MORE...
Butte Weekly Miner - Butte, Montana - May 15, 1901
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Scarborough, Maine, USA (Scarboro)
125 Routed As Recreation Hall Burns; Stored Furniture Worth Thousands Lost
Scarborough, May 15. (Thursday)- A spectacular general alarm fire which started late Wednesday night swept through the recreation building of Danish Village, former deluxe tourist camp and present housing project, causing damage estimated at $50,000 to the building and additional thousands to a quantity of stored furniture.
At press time today Scarborough firemen had the stubborn, smoky blaze under control, but not ... Read MORE...
Portland Press Herald - Portland, Maine - May 15, 1947
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1947 - $50,000 Fire Destroys Danish Village Building
125 Routed As Recreation Hall Burns; Stored Furniture Worth Thousands Lost
Scarborough, May 15. (Thursday)- A spectacular general alarm fire which started late Wednesday night swept through the recreation building of Danish Village, former deluxe tourist camp and present housing project, causing damage estimated at $50,000 to the building and additional thousands to a quantity of stored furniture.
At press time today Scarborough firemen had the stubborn, smoky blaze under control, but not ... Read MORE...
Portland Press Herald - Portland, Maine - May 15, 1947
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Milton, Vermont, USA
MILTON, Vt., May 15 - (AP) - Five persons, four of whom were school children, were killed today when an automobile used for transporting the children to school collided with a train two miles south of Milton.
The dead were John C. Vasseur, 37, driver of the car; Rene Larochelle, 11, and her brother Howard, 13; Earl Murray, 10, and Earl Fuller, 14, all of Milton.
The children were en route to school on Saturday to make up for time previously lost.
Investigators said the driver... Read MORE...
Ogden Standard Examiner - Ogden, Utah - May 15, 1937
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1937 FIVE DIE WHEN TRAIN HITS CAR
MILTON, Vt., May 15 - (AP) - Five persons, four of whom were school children, were killed today when an automobile used for transporting the children to school collided with a train two miles south of Milton.
The dead were John C. Vasseur, 37, driver of the car; Rene Larochelle, 11, and her brother Howard, 13; Earl Murray, 10, and Earl Fuller, 14, all of Milton.
The children were en route to school on Saturday to make up for time previously lost.
Investigators said the driver... Read MORE...
Ogden Standard Examiner - Ogden, Utah - May 15, 1937
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New Haven, Connecticut, USA (Westville)
Sixteen Men and Four Women Hurried from Temporary Home.
Woman Injured--Man Nearly Suffocated--Several Lose Valuables.
New Haven, Conn., May 14 - Passengers, including 16 men and four women had to flee in their night clothing, early Thursday, from a burning sleeping car at the Union station. The car was near the rear end of the N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroad train which left New York at 11 o'clock Wednesday night for Boston by way of Springfield. When the train reached here at 1 o'clock... Read MORE...
Daily Kennebec Journal - Augusta, Maine - May 15, 1903
Comments
1903 - Passengers Leave Burning Sleeping Car in Nightclothes.
Sixteen Men and Four Women Hurried from Temporary Home.
Woman Injured--Man Nearly Suffocated--Several Lose Valuables.
New Haven, Conn., May 14 - Passengers, including 16 men and four women had to flee in their night clothing, early Thursday, from a burning sleeping car at the Union station. The car was near the rear end of the N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroad train which left New York at 11 o'clock Wednesday night for Boston by way of Springfield. When the train reached here at 1 o'clock... Read MORE...
Daily Kennebec Journal - Augusta, Maine - May 15, 1903
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1718 May 15 - James Puckle, a London lawyer, patents world's 1st machine gun
www.onthisday.com
May 15, 1718
Visit London, England!
1901 Ran Into Trolley Car - Pleasure Party Comes to grief on Long Island. Two Men Carried Home Dead
Five of the Party in the Hospital and the Remainder of the 26 Merry-Makers Were More of Less Bruised - The Motorman Under Arrest.
New York, May 12. - Of 26 young people who started from College Point, L.I., last night on what is locally known as a “starlight ride” two were carried home this morning dead, five are in the hospital after having their wounds dressed, and every one of the remainder was more or less bruised. A collision with a trolley car caused the accident. The dead...
Read MORE...
Butte Weekly Miner
Butte, Montana
May 15, 1901
Visit Jamaica, New York, USA!
1940 May 15 - The very first McDonald's restaurant opens in San Bernardino, California.
wikipedia.org
May 15, 1940
Visit San Bernadino, California, USA!
www.onthisday.com
May 15, 1718
Visit London, England!
1901 Ran Into Trolley Car - Pleasure Party Comes to grief on Long Island. Two Men Carried Home Dead
Five of the Party in the Hospital and the Remainder of the 26 Merry-Makers Were More of Less Bruised - The Motorman Under Arrest.
New York, May 12. - Of 26 young people who started from College Point, L.I., last night on what is locally known as a “starlight ride” two were carried home this morning dead, five are in the hospital after having their wounds dressed, and every one of the remainder was more or less bruised. A collision with a trolley car caused the accident. The dead...
Read MORE...
Butte Weekly Miner
Butte, Montana
May 15, 1901
Visit Jamaica, New York, USA!
1940 May 15 - The very first McDonald's restaurant opens in San Bernardino, California.
wikipedia.org
May 15, 1940
Visit San Bernadino, California, USA!
1928 May 15 - The animated short Plane Crazy is released by Disney Studios in Los Angeles, featuring the first appearances of Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
wikipedia.org
May 15, 1928
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1862 May 15 – U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signs a bill into law creating the U.S. Bureau of Agriculture (later renamed U.S. Department of Agriculture).
wikipedia.org
May 15, 1862
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1886 John C. Carr, of West Newbury, Mass., having for fifty-two years served as town clerk, absolutely refuses re-election. - Boston Herald.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
May 15, 1886
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wikipedia.org
May 15, 1928
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1862 May 15 – U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signs a bill into law creating the U.S. Bureau of Agriculture (later renamed U.S. Department of Agriculture).
wikipedia.org
May 15, 1862
Visit , United States (USA) (American Colonies)!
1886 John C. Carr, of West Newbury, Mass., having for fifty-two years served as town clerk, absolutely refuses re-election. - Boston Herald.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
May 15, 1886
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1869 A lady in Salem, Mass., recently lost about a dozen yards of velvet, which took fire from the rays of the sun passing through a globe of water.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
May 15, 1869
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1869 A three-year-old son of George Curtis, of Marblehead, Mass., was burned to death the other day in trying to run through a bonfire, in imitation of some larger boys.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
May 15, 1869
Visit Marblehead, Massachusetts, USA!
1886 Emmaline Prescott, of Hallowell, is one of the characters of Maine.
She is over fifty years old, and for more than twenty-five years has peddled pins and needles, and such small wares, from house to house through the country. She wears the bloomer costume, a full skirt reaching to the knees, with close-fitting trousers. She is modest, gentle and the soul of benevolence. She says that if women knew what a comfort the bloomer was, they'd all wear it. - Boston Journal.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
May 15, 1886
Visit Hallowell, Maine, USA!
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
May 15, 1869
Visit Salem, Massachusetts, USA!
1869 A three-year-old son of George Curtis, of Marblehead, Mass., was burned to death the other day in trying to run through a bonfire, in imitation of some larger boys.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
May 15, 1869
Visit Marblehead, Massachusetts, USA!
1886 Emmaline Prescott, of Hallowell, is one of the characters of Maine.
She is over fifty years old, and for more than twenty-five years has peddled pins and needles, and such small wares, from house to house through the country. She wears the bloomer costume, a full skirt reaching to the knees, with close-fitting trousers. She is modest, gentle and the soul of benevolence. She says that if women knew what a comfort the bloomer was, they'd all wear it. - Boston Journal.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
May 15, 1886
Visit Hallowell, Maine, USA!
1869 One hundred and fifty acres of woodland in Wenham, Mass., belonging to Mr. White, were burned over lately. Two thousand cords of hard wood ready for market were also destroyed.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
May 15, 1869
Visit Wenham, Massachusetts, USA!
1900 May 15, 1900: Rain and fish fell from the sky in Olneyville, Rhode Island. Most of the fish measured 2- to 4-inches long.
NOTE: Olneyville is a neighborhood in Providence, Rhode Island
The Old Farmer's Almanac www.almanac.com
May 15, 1900
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1889 A TACOMA BUILDING COLLAPSES. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED AND SEVERAL BADLY INJURED.
Tacoma, May 14. - About 6 o'clock last evening a wind storm struck a building which was being constructed for a hotel. The structure collapsed, burying about twenty workmen in the debris. One hundred citizens and laborers just returning home from their day's work were soon at work endeavoring to rescue the imprisoned men. In a few minutes one body was taken out. It was that of WALTER BATES, who was building the hotel. The body of a working man named McCONNELL, and the bodies of two others,...
Read MORE...
Salt Lake Daily Tribune
Salt Lake City, Utah
May 15, 1889
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St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
May 15, 1869
Visit Wenham, Massachusetts, USA!
1900 May 15, 1900: Rain and fish fell from the sky in Olneyville, Rhode Island. Most of the fish measured 2- to 4-inches long.
NOTE: Olneyville is a neighborhood in Providence, Rhode Island
The Old Farmer's Almanac www.almanac.com
May 15, 1900
Visit Providence, Rhode Island, USA!
1889 A TACOMA BUILDING COLLAPSES. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED AND SEVERAL BADLY INJURED.
Tacoma, May 14. - About 6 o'clock last evening a wind storm struck a building which was being constructed for a hotel. The structure collapsed, burying about twenty workmen in the debris. One hundred citizens and laborers just returning home from their day's work were soon at work endeavoring to rescue the imprisoned men. In a few minutes one body was taken out. It was that of WALTER BATES, who was building the hotel. The body of a working man named McCONNELL, and the bodies of two others,...
Read MORE...
Salt Lake Daily Tribune
Salt Lake City, Utah
May 15, 1889
Visit Tacoma, Washington, USA!
1873 Another deposit of brown hematite iron ore has been found in South Shaftsbury, Vermont, near an iron furnace.
The Indiana Progress
Indiana, Pennsylvania
May 15, 1873
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1903 FIRE AT MANCHESTER. The Massabesic Hotel Destroyed - Probably the Work of an Incendiary.
Manchester, N. H. May 14. - The Massabesic hotel in this city was destroyed by fire tonight. The hostelry, was one of the landmarks of Manchester, situated on the shores of Lake Massabesic where it had been a public house ever since the old stage coach days.
The fire was doubtless of incendiary origin, all the circumstances tending to make significant a postal card message received at the office of the Manchester Union, this evening, to the effect that there would be at brilliant...
Read MORE...
Daily Kennebec Journal
Augusta, Maine
May 15, 1903
Visit Manchester, New Hampshire, USA !
The Indiana Progress
Indiana, Pennsylvania
May 15, 1873
Visit Shaftsbury, Vermont, USA!
1903 FIRE AT MANCHESTER. The Massabesic Hotel Destroyed - Probably the Work of an Incendiary.
Manchester, N. H. May 14. - The Massabesic hotel in this city was destroyed by fire tonight. The hostelry, was one of the landmarks of Manchester, situated on the shores of Lake Massabesic where it had been a public house ever since the old stage coach days.
The fire was doubtless of incendiary origin, all the circumstances tending to make significant a postal card message received at the office of the Manchester Union, this evening, to the effect that there would be at brilliant...
Read MORE...
Daily Kennebec Journal
Augusta, Maine
May 15, 1903
Visit Manchester, New Hampshire, USA !

America - Did you know?
The California grizzly bear is the state’s official animal. However, in 1953 when it was named, it had already become extinct. The last known California grizzly to have been seen was killed in 1922.
Quebec - Did you know?
When the Montréal metro was built, all the earth that was taken out was used to enlarge the Île Sainte-Hélène and to create the Île Notre-Dame for Expo 1967.
Picture of the Day
Visit Woodbury, Connecticut, USA (Hotchkissville)!
Discover the people who lived there, the places they visited and the stories they shared.

Methodist Church

The New Game
Conette
Sold Everywhere
Two Styles 25 & 50 Cts.
Milton Bradley Co., Springfield, Mass.
The Ladies' Home Journal
November 1898
Founded in 1860, Milton Bradley Company is the oldest game manufacturer in the United States. Over the years Milton Bradley has marketed such classics as The Game of Life, Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Twister, and Yahtzee. Since 1984 the company has operated as a division of the world’s largest toy company, Hasbro, Inc. encyclopedia.com
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