Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: 1850s

Nineteenth-century scrip issued by the company store at the Indiana Iron Works (also know as Baker Furnace ), which was located near Cramer in East Wheatfield Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. For more information, see G. Robert Ganis, "Iron-Mining Store Scrip in Pennsylvania," Pennsylvania Geology vol. 19, no. 3 (June 1988) : 2-5. The Store at Indiana Iron Works Will pay to bearer ten cents on demand in dry goods & groceries. Ind. Iron Works. Jan. 1st, 1856. Ten cents. 10. 10.

"Eighth Annual Pic Nic of the Philadelphia Assembly. Lady's Invitation. Strawberry Mansion. Monday, Sept. 1st, 1856." A lady's embossed ticket or invitation for the annual picnic of the Philadelphia Dancing Assembly that was held at Strawberry Mansion in 1856. See also the similarly named Lady's Invitation, Reliance Fire Company, 15th Annual Ball, Jan. 1, 1879 .

A ticket or invitation for a "Universal Ball" held in Keene, New Hampshire, on March 5, 1852. As listed on the ticket, musician S. K. Conant played both the violin and the "Kolquearougion," an instrument he invented. Although a newspaper article in 1859 called his invention the "Kolquearougion Bells," I haven't been able to uncover any additional information about it. Universal Ball Your company, with ladies, is respectfully solicited at the Town Hall, in Keene, on Friday evening, March 5, 1852. Music by Hall & Conant's Celebrated Lowell Brass Band. D. C. Hall, cornet and bugle; S. K. Conant, violin and Kolquearougion; B. Hall, clarionett and piccolo; G. P. Kittredge, violin and prompter; W. Bennett, bass. Tickets, $1.50, to be obtained of authorized agents, and at the door. Dancing to commence at seven o'clock.

According to folklorist Don Yoder, who included an example of this song broadside in his book The Pennsylvania German Broadside: A History and Guide (2005), p. 11, "The Great Know Nothing" song "is a clever takeoff on the political party of the 1850s known as the ' Know-Nothings ,' who ran against both Whigs and Democrats. The song adroitly transfers the 'Know-Nothing' cry of politics to the courting of Philadelphia's young people and the relation of husbands and wives, fathers and children. To get out of work, they all 'know nothing.'" As Yoder mentions, the setting of this amusing political song is Philadelphia, which was also called Quaker City for its association with William Penn and other Quakers . I like the distinctive ornamental border that the printer used on this piece. The Great Know Nothing Song, "I Don't Know." By Francis F. Eastlack, Air--Bow, Wow, Wow. Of all the many mighty things in this here Quaker City, Of dark, and brown, and blue-eyed girls, with cheeks so plump and pretty; Of all the wonders of the day that's horrible or shocking, The greatest question of them all is who are the know nothings? Chorus--I don't know; Nor you don't know, Then don't you ask me any thing, For I don't know. These men wear white hats all turned up, and at you boldly stare, sir, They only speak with nods and winks, and never comb their hair, sir, They beat both Whigs and Democrats, wherever they may go, sir, And if you ask them any thing they'll answer, I don't know, sir. I don't know, &c. The ladies, too, God bless their hearts, I cannot help but love them, For who with all their nods and winks, can ever be above them, No, they know their tricks, their signs, their grips, from head to heel and toe, sir, And should you ask a girl her name, shall answer, I don't know, sir. I don't know, &c. You dare not tell your wife be still, or say she's always squeeling, Or you'll find a great big three legged stool around your head come reeling, And the other day I asked my wife, only to mend my stockings, Now not an other word, she cried, I'm a feminine Know Nothing. I don't know, &c. The other day I came from work, with heat was almost smothered, Says I unto my youngest son, Ho, Sam! where is your mother? Then he turned his fingers on his nose, and with a voice half mocking, Why, dad, says he, why don't you know that I'm a young Know Nothing? I don't know, &c. We took this same smart son of ours one day to a public dinner, And into corn, and pork, and beans, he pitched in like a sinner, Says the lady, Now of all these men, your father to me show, Sam; Then he looked me right straight in the face, and answered I don't know, ma'am. I don't know, &c. Young men, now marry from this lot of pretty girls around you, And when your settled down in life, and family cares surround you, Take the advice of one poor man, who's suffered deepest wo, sir, Don't teach your little ones to say, why really, I don't know, sir. I don't know, &c. Now, ladies, don't you think 'tis hard, and don't you think it's shocking, That we in free America, should all of us know nothing; And don't you say with all your heart, I do believe it so, sir, Or can you say, like all the rest, Why really I don't know, sir? I don't know, &c. Published by H. J. Kehr, Central Hall, Frankford Road and Master Streets, And for sale at all the book stores. Copyright secured.

Inscription on the monument: "The Lost Children of the Alleghenies were found here, May 8, 1856, by Jacob Dibert and Harrison Whysong." For more information, see the cropped version of this real photo postcard.

A memorials photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Inscription on the monument: "The Lost Children of the Alleghenies were found here, May 8, 1856, by Jacob Dibert and Harrison Whysong." See also a detail showing the inscription and the full version of the real photo postcard (below). The Lost Children of the Alleghenies monument stands as a memorial to the sad story of George and Joseph Cox, ages 7 and 5, whose bodies were discovered at the site on May 8, 1856. The boys wandered away from their home in the Allegheny Mountains of northern Bedford County , Pennsylvania, on April 24. The boys' parents sought help when they were unable to locate their children, and hundreds of people eventually came to help search through the mountainous terrain during the following days. After two weeks of searching, however, the boys still had not been found, and the freezing cold weather in the higher altitudes was a cause for concern. A man named Jacob Dibert, who lived some distance away and had not participated in the search, dreamed that he was out in the woods looking for the boys. He dreamed for three nights in succession that he saw a dead deer, a little shoe, and a tree that had fallen across a stream. After crossing the stream, he found the boys' bodies. He sought the help of his brother-in-law, Harrison Whysong, who was familiar with the area where the boys had gone missing. After Jacob described what he saw in his dream, the men attempted to locate the site. They noticed a dead deer, found a boy's shoe, and spotted a tree that had fallen over a stream. They crossed over, and discovered George and Jacob's lifeless bodies. The poignant story of the boys "found by a dream" circulated widely in newspapers and books and by word of mouth. The monument was built and dedicated on May 8, 1906, fifty years after the sad event. For more information, see the Wikipedia article about the Lost Children of the Alleghenies . The boys' story was also the subject of Alison Krauss's 2007 song, "Jacob's Dream."

For more information, see the cropped version of this real photo postcard.

"Canandaigua, Elmira, and N.Y.& E. Rail Road. From Jefferson to Howard, Oct. 25, 1853. Good this trip only. No. 962. P. Donnelly."

"Independent Order of Cadets of Temperance. We educate to love truth & temperance. This is to certify that ________ is a member in regular standing in ________ sect., no. ____, I.O. of C.T. ________ G. ________, 18____. Elliott, printer, cor. 4th & New, below Vine." For a similar membership card, see Theodore K. Young, Independent Order of Cadets of Temperance, 1858 .

"Independent Order of Cadets of Temperance. We educate to love truth & temperance. This is to certify that Theodore K. Young is a member in regular standing in Crystal Fount Sect. No. 15, I.O. of C.T. Geo. King, G. Sep. 15th 1858." For a similar membership card, see Independent Order of Cadets of Temperance .