The year 2020 is winding down and 2021 is right on the horizon. On February 9, 2021 Greene County will begin its 226th year of existence. Over the course of the last two centuries our county has experienced a lot of interesting history and milestone years have always been a chance to celebrate!
1896 was our centennial and every local newspaper at the time created a special edition to commemorate the occasion. Throughout the year, the Women’s Centennial Paper, the Waynesburg Independent, and the Waynesburg Republican used their platforms to share the highlights of local history through Greene’s first century.
This month’s artifact is an original copy of the Waynesburg Republican, Centennial Edition published by L. H. Knox, editor, for the dates of August 26 and 27, 1896. This paper is a treasure trove of historical and genealogical information and provides a wonderful snapshot of what life was like in Waynesburg and Greene County in 1896. Over the course of 24 pages, we see a wonderful presentation on the founding and early history of Greene County, profiles on the businesses of the day, banks and local institutions such as Waynesburg College (now Waynesburg University).
Perhaps most fascinating and important are the profiles on prominent local residents. Biographies such as these are extremely important to historians and genealogists because they give life to someone who otherwise may be just a name with an associated series of dates and events. These articles provide personality to local historical figures and make them feel more real during historical research.
The Greene County Historical Society Museum archives several copies of the Waynesburg Republican Centennial Edition, as well as the centennial editions of the other local papers of the day. Combined, these newspapers provide a great historical resource.
Researchers need not leave the comfort of their home to enjoy reading these articles and stories from over a century ago. The Greene Connections Archive Project has digitized the Waynesburg Republican and several others; they are available to peruse on the Greene Connections website, https://greeneconnections.com/. The website is full of information on Greene County’s history and heritage.