Announcements
History Mystery Clue #20 – July 23
“Bloomsburg Lodge No. 436 of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks was founded in 1898, and in 1909 the Elks bought a local landmark building, using the second and third floors for lodge and club purposes, while renting out the first floor to various retail businesses.…
History Mystery Clue #19 – July 22
“A fire company, then a grocery store once occupied this same location, now vacant after another long-standing business has closed. Where is this building?”
History Mystery Clue #18 – July 21
“Weary travelers stopped here, along with those just wanting a drink. It was convenient to those coming from Berwick because it was on the edge of town. What colorful metal building is near where it used to be?”
History Mystery Clue #17 – July 20
“What was the original site of the Baker Funeral Home around 1898? The building still stands.”
History Mystery Clue #16 – July 19
“In 1901, T. L. Gunton Marble & Granite used a horse-drawn wagon to transport their heavy loads after removing them through a large garage door right on Main Street. What business is there now and what’s the address?”
History Mystery Clue #15 – July 18
“This small unassuming two-story off-the-beaten-path brick building was once home to the Gem Steam Laundry. Later it was a small grocery store, and more recently, it was home to an ethnic restaurant. What is this building’s address?”
History Mystery Clue #14 – July 17
“Although Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876, Bloomsburg didn’t have a telephone exchange until 1882 when a group of local investors bought a franchise from the Bell Telephone Company. Initially, the Bloomsburg exchange had only 20 subscribers. What building was the first home of…
History Mystery Clue #13 – July 16
” Bloomsburg’s first library was organized in 1889 and shared quarters with the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Later it moved into the YMCA. It was semi-public and not free. In 1903 it was completely reorganized and renamed as the Bloomsburg Free Public Library. What building was…
History Mystery Clue #12 – July 15
“This building was once the place farmers went to buy feed for their livestock. It was near David Waller’s house and across the street from the Sanitarium building (both buildings now gone). Fire took the top half of the building, but the bottom remains. Today it…
History Mystery Clue #11 – July 14
“This building began as a family-owned furniture factory and store. Like many furniture or cabinet makers, a big part of their business was making wooden coffins. So they also established themselves as undertakers for a time. Around 1913 the owners latched onto the new fad of…
History Mystery Clue #10 – July 13
“Where was the bottling works and beer storage facility for Charles D. Kier Brewing Company?”
History Mystery Clue #9 July 12
“Late notable historian and columnist lamented the loss of her family home by eminent domain to build the post office. Where was her family’s pharmacy located?”
History Mystery Clue #8 – July 11
“This building was the first home of the Bloomsburg Hospital. Take a close up/tight shot of yourself near the front doorway and provide the current address.”
History Mystery Clue #7 – July 10
“Harry Magee’s radio station first went on the air January 18, 1948. Originally its call letters were WLTR. Harry wanted to use his initials HLM, but another radio station already had those call letters. After several years of negotiating and waiting, Harry got what he wanted,…
History Mystery Clue #6 – July 9
“Electricity first came to Bloomsburg with the establishment of the Bloomsburg Electric Light & Power Company in 1889 The company supplied power to Bloomsburg’s first electric street lights in 1891. The building still stands. Where is it?”
History Mystery Clue #5 – July 8
“In modern days hotels have been replaced by motels located far beyond town limits, but in the old days visitors to Bloomsburg had 18 hotels to choose from, right in the downtown. This one was a centrally located narrow three-story building tucked in between others. There…
History Mystery Clue #4 – July 7
“This building was originally a hotel, which also held many small shops on the ground floor, including a barber shop, a cigar store, and Samuel R. Bidleman’s store, where he sold books, stationery and wallpaper. It was remodeled after a fire. Its restaurant was once THE…
History Mystery Clue #3 – July 6
The Forks Hotel was torn down in front of this central lot that once held the town’s horse watering trough (along with a hand pump). At one time there was also a farm implements store on the site. Go snap a selfie in front of the…
History Mystery Clue #2 – July 5
“The impressive Victorian home of this prominent citizen filled the entire lot now occupied by a public building. He was a minister and philanthropist who helped bring the railroad lines to Bloomsburg and was the guiding force behind the founding of Bloomsburg University. Who was he…
History Mystery Clue #1 – July 4
The caption under the photo in this morning’s Main Street Beat was in error. The photo has nothing to do with the first clue. Please disregard. Here is Clue #1 for July 4: “Before malls and supermarkets, a nationwide department store chain and a local grocery…
History Mystery Photo Scavenger Hunt coming soon!
It all starts on Monday, July 4th! Listen to WHLM daily and click here for the official contest rules!
Independence Day Holiday
The Society will be closed Saturday, July 2nd, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.
Special Membership Bonus
Just wanted to let you know about the membership incentive we’re offering the month of June. We’re excited to share the wonderful benefits of belonging to the CCHGS: quarterly newsletter, discounts on publications and photos, and free access to our extensive research resources! Anyone who joins…
Holiday Closing
The Society will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday on Saturday, May 28th.
Tax Assessment Records
This week over 1700 records from the early 1800s tax assessments were added to the Deeds database. You can search this data in Land Records under the Search Databases Tab, Search by Name. Remember the Grantor Field = Occupant and the Grantee Field = Owner.