Today in Johnson City History, Saturday, January 10, 2026

Common Sense, The Comet has lots of news

January 10, 1776: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, Common Sense was published anonymously “in the American colonies, (it) argued for separation from, not reconciliation with, Great Britain. ‘The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, ‘TIS TIME TO PART.’ More than any other publication, this 50-page pamphlet influenced the authors of the Declaration of Independence. The author was revealed to be English Quaker Thomas Paine. His pamphlet sold 100,000 copies within a few months of the first printing.” (Source: Chase’s 2026 Calendar of Events.)

Thursday, January 10, 1901: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, The Comet reported a variety of short news items of interest to readers. Some of them were as follows: “E. D. Houston has been at home at Bluff City for several days on account of the illness of his mother.”

“A pleasant party of young people spent last Wednesday night at the country home of Mr. and Mrs. Sam O’Dell at Deltaville.”