Saturday, November 4, 1775: Two hundred and fifty-one years ago today, “At the onset of the Revolutionary War, America had no navy. Some colonies kept armed vessels, but the Continental government had no fighting ships. As the war got underway, Congress launched a small Continental Navy, voting to purchase and equip eight ships of war. On November 4, 17…

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Sunday, November 3, 1793: On this day, two hundred and thirty-three years ago, Stephen Fuller Austin was born. “A principal founder of Texas, for whom its capital city was named, Austin was born at Wythe County, Virginia. He first visited Texas in 1821 and established a settlement there the following year, continuing a colonization project started by hi…

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(Source: Chase’s Calendar of Events, 2026.)

Monday, November 2, 1936: Ninety years ago today, the Johnson City Press gave voters a listing of polling locations. “Following is a list of the six places where Johnson City residents will cast their votes int eh presidential election tomorrow:

“First ward – South Side School.

“Second ward – Old West Side School.

“Third ward – New Columbus Powell School.

“Fourth ward – Old Martha Wilder School.

“Fifth ward – Junior High School.

“Sixth ward – Annie Wilder Stratton School.”

Sunday, November 2, 1941: Eighty-five years ago today, the Sunday Press-Chronicle reported that “It must have been almost two years since the Sunday Press-Chronicle published a photograph of a family gathering, taken many years ago, and asked if readers could identify it. The picture turned out to be one made in the late 70’s, at the golden wedding celebration of Colonel and Mrs. Telford after whom the Telford community was named.

“Now comes an interesting ‘follow-up’ in the guise of a letter from the Rev. Bob Gillespie of Englewood, Tenn., who writes to the newspaper:

“’A few months ago, you published a picture taken from an album which your paper said had been purchased by a member of the Press-Chronicle staff from a second-hand store in Johnson City. You published it to get information concerning what the picture might be of.

“’Someone gave you the information that it was the golden wedding anniversary scene of Col. and Mrs. Telford. I am a great-great-grandson of Col. and Mrs. Telford. This couple had 12 daughters. These children gave their parents a family Bible on that occasion.

“’A little more than a year ago, I saw this Bible. A few months later, I found out that the Telford’s had said that this Bible was to go to the first preacher of the Gospel in the family. One young man had prepared to preach but never got to because of having to take care of a sick member of the family. Another had gone into the ministry but had died without leaving a family.

“’I learned that I was the one to receive this Bible. Just a few months ago, I came into possession of the valued copy of God’s Holy Word. I have it here in my home. What I am interested in now is getting in touch with the member of your staff who has the picture that was published in the paper. I would like for him to write to me very soon, letting me know if it is possible to buy the picture, and just what the price would be. I am very anxious to get in touch with this person and, if possible, secure the picture from him.’

“Thus, has come to light another interesting ‘angle’ of the effort to identify the ancient photo, picked up by a newspaper staff member merely because it had the name of a Jonesboro photographer on the back.

“Last night the newspaper man said he preferred to retain the old photo, but would be glad to lend it to Mr. Gillespie, for him to have a copy made, or would have a copy taken for him in Johnson City, if the minister prefers.”

Telford is a community in rural Washington County.

Jonesboro was spelled that way in 1941.

Saturday, November 2, 1946: Eighty years ago today, the Johnson City Press-Chronicle reported the following news items in a column entitled “The Press-Chronicler”:

“Several persons received first aid treatment yesterday at Appalachian Hospital and were released. They included Jack Teague, 18-year-old foundry worker, living on route (sic for Route) 5, city (Johnson City), who cut his hands on a shaft, Elmer Putnam, 41, of Buladeen, N. C., who was struck in the back by a piece of lumber, and J. W. Lewis, 19, rayon mill worker of Johnson City, route (sic) 1, who injured his right leg in a fall.

The Appalachian Hospital was as forerunner to the former Memorial Hospital, which was a forerunner to the current Johnson City Medical Center.

Buladeen, North Carolina is about 24 miles from Johnson City. It lies south, and slightly to the east, of Johnson City.

“Three grass and leaf fires occupied city firemen yesterday afternoon on East Main street (sic for Street), 100 block West Watauga avenue (sic for Avenue), and near Oak and East Millard streets (sic), involving Companies 1, 3 and 4, department officials said. There was no damage.”

“Bicycle stealing appeared on the increase yesterday when three youths, George McMilller, Billy Joe Long and Richard Parker reported to headquarters their bikes had been taken.”

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Friday, November 1, 1765: Two hundred and sixty-five years ago today, “The much-despised Stamp Act goes into effect, a measure that American colonists view as taxation without representation.”

(Source: The American Patriot’s Almanac by William J. Bennett and John T. E. Cribb.)

Friday, November 1, 1776: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, the Mission Sa…

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Wednesday, October 31, 1860: On this day, one hundred and sixty-six years ago today, Juliette Gordon Low was born. “Founded Girl Scouts of the United States of America on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia. She passed away there on January 27, 1927.”

(Source: Chase’s Calendar of Events, 2026.)

Thursday, October 31, 1901: One hundred and twenty-five year…

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Sunday, October 30, 1735: Two hundred and ninety-one years ago today, John Adams was born. He was “born in 1735 in Quincy, Massachusetts. As this excerpt from his Dissertation on the Cannon and Feudal Law (1765) shows, Adams believed that the best way to guard the blessings of liberty is through education.

“Liberty cannot be preserved without a general k…

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Saturday, October 29, 1796: Two hundred and thirty years ago today, “The Otter of Boston, the first ship from the Atlantic coast to anchor in a California port, arrives at Monterey.”

(Source: The American Patriot’s Almanac by William J. Bennett and John T. E. Cribb.)

Friday, October 29, 1926: The Johnson City Staff-News carried exciting news a century ago…

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Thursday, October 28, 1926: One hundred years ago today, readers of the Johnson City Staff-News learned that “Commissioner C. B. Coe has completed his engineering estimate of the cost of paving west Highland road (sic for Road) between Buffalo and Hoover street (sic for Street), contract for which project was awarded some weeks ago and bonds issues. The…

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Wednesday, October 27, 1682: Three hundred and forty-four years ago today, “Two months after leaving England, William Penn arrives at New Castle, Delaware.”

(Source: The American Patriot’s Almanac by William J. Bennett and John T. E. Cribb.)

Thursday, October 27, 1728: On this day, two hundred and ninety-eight years ago, “English sea captain James Cook of…

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Tuesday, October 26, 1926: A century ago today, the Johnson City Staff-News reported “That the great results to be accomplished by members of the Business and Professional Women’s Clubs are those leading to homemaking and home building, as well as being an important factor in community and civic pro…

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Sunday, October 25, 1936: Ninety years ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle gave news of area churches in a column of the same name. Some of the news was as follows:

“First Church of the Brethren, Chilhowie ave. (sic for Avenue), and Elm st. (sic for Street). Merlin C. Shull, pastor.

“10:00 a. m. Sunday School, John Sherfy, superintendent. An efficient t…

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Wednesday, October 24, 1781: Two hundred and forty-five years ago today, “In Philadelphia, Congress hears a report of the American victory at Yorktown and processes to a nearby church to give thanks.”

(Source: The American Patriot’s Almanac by William J. Bennett and John T. E. Cribb.)

Thursday, October 24, 1901: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today…

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Saturday, October 23, 1926: A century ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported several short news items in a column entitled “Personals”. Some of the “Personals” are as follows:

“Master Jack Oliver, Jr., is improving after at illness at his home on the Jonesboro road (sic for Road).”

J…

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Thursday, October 22, 1936: Ninety years ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported news with a dateline from Greeneville and a date from October 21. Readers learned that “The body of Ancil Franklin, 25, missing since Sunday, was found at 9:30 a. m. today on a mountainside a quarter of a mile from Romeo on Highway Number 70. He had been shot through…

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Saturday, October 20, 1629: On this date, three hundred and ninety-seven years ago today, “In England, John Winthrop is elected first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.”

(Source: Chase’s Calendar of Events, 2026.)

Wednesday, October 20, 1632: On this date, three hundred and ninety-four years ago today, (Old Style date), Sir Christopher Wren, Englis…

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Saturday, October 17, 1711: On this day, three hundred and fifteen years ago, “America’s first published Black poet was born into slavery, probably at Long Island, New York. He learned to read, and as a trusted servant was allowed to use his master’s library. On December 25, 1760, Jupiter Hammon, then 49, published the 88-line broadside poem ‘An Evening…

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Friday, October 15, 1926: A century ago today, the Johnson City Staff-News reported that “Another landmark has disappeared – not such an old one, but one which has been relegated to the days when Johnson City outgrew townhood and not (several indecipherable words) of a city. The little yellow signal house on Fountain Square, sitting up on two big poles,…

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Thursday, October 14, 1926: A century ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported exciting news to readers. With a dateline from Bristol, and a date of October 13, readers were treated to the exciting news that “Of much social interest both here and in Johnson City was the marriage last evening of Miss Katherine Powers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh …

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