Cranberry Genealogy Club

11/02/2026

The 1930 census listed a question asking if the household owned a radio. Did you family listen regularly to the radio?

11/02/2026

Why do we vote on Tuesdays?

Originally, election days varied by state, but in 1845 a law was passed to set a single election day for the entire country. (At first, it applied only to presidential elections, but it was later extended to congressional elections as well.) At that time, the United States was still a largely agrarian society. For farmers, who made up a majority of the labor force, much of the year was taken up by the planting, tending, and harvesting of crops. Early November was a good time to vote because the harvest was over but the weather was still relatively mild.

Still, some days of the week were better than others. Two days were definitely out of the question. Most Americans were devout Christians and thus set aside Sunday as a day of rest and worship. Wednesday in many areas was a market day, when farmers sold their crops in town. In addition, a travel day was sometimes required. In rural areas, the nearest polling place might have been several miles away, and, in an era before automobiles, getting there could take a while. If people couldn’t use Sunday or Wednesday as their travel day, then that meant election day couldn’t be on Monday or Thursday, either. And so Tuesday was perceived as the best option.

The reason that election day was specified as the Tuesday “after the first Monday” was to prevent it from falling on November 1. That day was considered unfavorable because some Christians observed it as All Saints’ Day and also because merchants typically took the first day of the month to settle their books for the previous month.

Although Tuesday was chosen as a matter of convenience, voting on that day is now more commonly seen as a hindrance. Less than 2 percent of Americans today are employed in agriculture, and many people work on Tuesdays throughout the year. As voter turnout rates declined over time, some people proposed that elections be moved to the weekend. Others suggested keeping election day on Tuesday but making it a federal holiday. While those particular efforts have not been successful, increased opportunities to vote early and by mail have had the effect of making election day less central to the voting experience than it once was. Source: Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/story/why-are-us-elections-held-on-tuesdays

10/31/2026

Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, November 1, at 2:00 AM. Remember to turn your clocks BACK one hour before going to bed. Enjoy that extra hour of sleep!

🍁 A little reminder: Hawaii, most of Arizona, and U.S. territories don’t change their clocks.

10/31/2026

What’s your favorite??

Before the trick-or-treating begins tonight, let’s unwrap a little Pittsburgh candy history! 🍫

In 1886, Irish immigrant David L. Clark began selling sweets from a horse-drawn wagon on the streets of Pittsburgh. His D.L. Clark Company eventually became a candy powerhouse, producing nearly 150 varieties of treats and earning an international reputation for its chocolate bars.

Happy Halloween! 🎃

10/29/2026

What was your favorite candy? Costume?
Halloween in the 1950s was a magical time for American children. Dressed as ghosts, witches, cowboys, princesses, and their favorite television characters, youngsters roamed their neighborhoods carrying paper bags, pillowcases, or plastic jack-o’-lanterns to collect treats. Children traveled in groups, eagerly knocking on doors and shouting, “Trick or treat!” Neighbors handed out homemade popcorn balls, caramel apples, cookies, pennies, and an assortment of candy. Favorite sweets included Tootsie Rolls, Mary Janes, Bit-O-Honey, and candy corn. Hershey bars, Milky Ways, Snickers, and Baby Ruth bars were favorites. At the end of the evening, children spread their loot across the living room floor, counting and sorting their favorites. It was a simpler Halloween, filled with neighborhood traditions, sweet treats, and childhood memories. (content and image generated by ChatGPT)

10/24/2026

Every ancestor has a story and you can be the one to share it. Join us for this free session on Wed., Oct. 28. Register for the Zoom link on our website, CranberryGenealogy.org

10/23/2026

Curious to learn more about your ancestry?

The "Good Old Days" might not have been so good for some of our ancestors.
Economics, illness and social changes might have been factors in the decisions your family members made in the past. Learn how to explore how those decisions influenced the person you are today and how to preserve that history for the future at our monthly Genealogy meeting. Genealogy Group is open to anyone, whether you are a beginning researcher or an experienced one.
https://libraryaware.com/3F257E

10/19/2026

Not too late to register. Cranberry Public Library

There are just a few spots left for Cemetery Tales: Pittsburgh's Buried Art and History - register today!

https://cranberry.librarycalendar.com/event/cemetery-tales-pittsburghs-buried-art-and-history-34561