Public Domain Historical News

U.S. newspaper articles and issues published before January 1, 1930, are in the public domain and free from copyright restrictions, as works older than 95 years are no longer protected. They can be freely copied, digitized, and used without permission.

Key details regarding newspaper copyright:

Pre-1930: As of Jan 1, 2026, all newspapers published in 1930 and earlier are in the public domain.
1930–1989: Materials from this era may still be under copyright if it was renewed or if a copyright

Irish in Cheshire, Connecticut

Irish settlement in Cheshire accelerated with construction of the Farmington Canal, built between 1825 and 1848 to link New Haven with the Connecticut River. Hundreds of Irish men supplied the muscle that carved the channel by hand. They lived in rough, one-room wooden huts—“shanties”—clustered along the route. Dirt floors, minimal ventilation, and seasonal exposure defined daily life. At the same time, Irish labor sustained Cheshire’s copper industry, including operations su

Richard Smith

Feb 255 min read

This transcription covers the first three columns of the article "Cheshire's Celebration" from The New Haven Morning Journal and Courier, dated July 5, 1894.

THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN’S SETTLEMENT OBSERVED.

The Morning Ball Game, Wallingford 13, Cheshire 2—E. R. Brown’s Historical Address—Oration by Hon. H. E. Benton—Poem by Professor Paddock—The Afternoon Game, Cheshire 10, Meriden 8—A Gala Day for Cheshire. Yesterday was a big day in the history of the town of Cheshire in more ways than one. It not only celebrated in a most fitting manner the ever-glorious Fourth, but chief of all was an anniversary celebration of the two hundredth settlement of the town.

Richard Smith

Feb 2412 min read

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

CHESHIRE’S CELEBRATION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Yesterday was a big day in the history of the town of Cheshire—a day more than any other. It was and constituted in a most fitting manner the semi-centennial celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the first church, although a town-growth, but not a town-name. A half moon in the morning and sun in the afternoon, with a grand display of fireworks in the evening furnished amusement for all. An interesting historical and patriotic meeting in the town hall in t

Richard Smith

Feb 247 min read

"An Erickson Propeller on the Farmington Canal,"

Richard Reggie Smith Research/Editor Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 The New Haven Morning Journal and Courier, dated Thursday, March 22, 1900 Read by Hon. F. J. Kingsbury Before Historical Society. Hon. F. J. Kingsbury of Waterbury read an interesting paper entitled "An Erickson Propeller on the Farmington Canal," Monday night before a meeting of the New Haven Colony Historical Society. The paper was as follows: This boat was on the east side of the basin a few rods

Richard Smith

Feb 246 min read

Public Domain Historical News

Irish in Cheshire, Connecticut

THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN’S SETTLEMENT OBSERVED.

CHESHIRE’S CELEBRATION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

"An Erickson Propeller on the Farmington Canal,"

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