It was fifty-two years ago yesterday that the word of the assassination of President Lincoln reached Bloomsburg, and following closely on the news of the surrender of Gen. Lee, came as a hock to the entire community. Only a few days before this county had celebrated the surrender which terminated the struggle between the North and South and when the news came that the President had been shot the flags that had been waving over all public buildings and homes were raised to half mast.

"Yes, I remember well the news being received in Bloomsburg," state Joseph Garrison yesterday. "I was working for my brother Henry on the Ralston farm –– now the Waller farm –– just below town. On the morning of the 15th my brother had an errand up town and only a short time after he left the bells began to tool and the whistles to blow. At the farm we were at a loss to know what had happened until my brother hurried home with the news that Lincoln had been shot.

"We had just completed the celebration over the surrender of Lee and the news of the attack on Lincoln came as a terrible shock. When the news became known, farmers left their teams standing in the fields and hurried to town to hear additional particulars. All forenoon on the day of the 15th the bells were tolled and for days after memorial services were held in the various churches. At that time D. A. Beckley was principle of the public schools and he was at the head of the public memorial services held here."

Others in Bloomsburg remember well the news of the assassination reaching Bloomsburg. The telegraph office was then located in the building where E. M. Savidge conducts his confectionery store. All that morning the little room was crowded with parties anxious to hear the particulars. The county was shocked and for two or three days after business was at a standstill. There were no daily papers in this vicinity and the news here was received by brief telegraphic bulletins and through the weeklies.

The Morning Press, April 16, 1917