Twenty years from the start of the project, the last resident of the old cemetery was finally relocated on March 25, 1925. The oldest marker found was written in German and identifies Anna Margaret Dietriche, who was born in 1741. Anna lived to the age of 66 and would have been witness to the very beginning of the United States. As we look forward to wishing America a happy 250th birthday next year, it made me won- der what our humble beginnings were truly like. We read the letters and news articles that survived and see black and white photos of the generations before us. We know that these are glimpses of past everyday life, ordinary folk who may or may not be re- membered. The story of our country is full of George Washington and the Liberty Bell but there were a great many Anna’s along the way as well. It’s all part of the fabric of America, the quilt of many stories interwoven that connect us all. The folks at the Columbia County Historical and Genealogical Society have the knowledge and skills to find these historical snippets. It’s well worth your time to stop by their location at 50 West Main Street in Bloomsburg. They offer free tours of the ‘David Stroup Fountain’ exhibit and the ‘Covered Bridges of Columbia County’ exhibit. Programs and tours are available Tuesdays through Fridays from 9:00am to
“Morbid Curiosity” book available from the Columbia County Historical Society!
The book covers accidents, industrial accidents, children deaths, extra unusual or noteworthy deaths, and suicides from the 1830s-1920 in ALL of Columbia County and beyond. Compiled and edited by Rachel Shaffer. 8.5 x 11 soft cover, 195 pages with index and many illustrations! Purchase price of $25 includes tax and shipping. Visit: colcohist-gensoc.org/publications-shop
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