John Baer's Almanacs: English as a Second Language
John Baer (Johannes Bär) didn't care which language you spoke. He wanted to sell you an almanac regardless of your accent. So he published two almanacs: one in English and one in German.
The first almanac John printed in Lancaster was English-language. He began publishing that Agricultural Almanac here in 1825.
Six years later, in 1831, John began publishing his German-language almanac, the Neuer Gemeinnütziger Pennsylvanischer Calender.
I would like to be able to say that the Baer almanac is "the oldest continuous U.S. almanac" in the history of the galaxy. But that pride of place goes to The Old Farmer's Almanac, the oldest continuous periodical in the U.S. It is published in Dublin, New Hampshire.
It's not the First American Almanac, but it's No Spring Chicken.
Even though Baer's almanac isn't the oldest American almanac, we Lancastrians are always quick to point out that we have set many (United States) longevity records. We have:
- ...the oldest publicly-owned continuous farmer's market (Central Market)
- ...the oldest continuous theater house (Fulton Theater)
- ...the oldest continuous pretzels (Sturgis Pretzels)
- ...the oldest continuous Fourth-of-July celebration (Lititz Springs Park)
- ...the oldest continuous blogger about Lancaster printing (Me, Lee Stoltzfus)
(Click Calender for Enlarged View)
John Baer's Neuer Gemeinnütziger Pennsylvanischer Calender (New Popular Pennsylvania Almanac)
(Above) John Baer calls for "Virtue, Liberty & Independence" on Nord Quienstraße (North Queen Street).
"...auf der Ostseite der Nord Quienstraße, vier Häuser nördlich von Courthaus."
(...on the east side of North Queen Street, four houses north of the Courthouse. )
This courthouse was in the center of Lancaster's Penn Square, where the Soldiers and Sailors Monument is now. So John Baer's print shop was located near today's Isaac's Restaurant. (Isaac's owner Phil Wenger did not tear down John Bear's print shop. Unfortunately that building was long gone.)
The 12 Months of Pennsylvania Farm Life:
12 Woodcuts in John Baer's 1835 Pennsylvanischer Calender
Every month is a work month on a Pennsylvania farm. John Baer printed these hard-working cuts in numerous editions of his German-language almanac.
Jenner hat 31 Tage. (January has 31 Days.) To Spin Flax for Linen Cloth.
Hornung hat 28 Tage. (February has 28 Days.) To Cut Firewood.
März hat 31 Tage. (March has 31 Days.) To Scutch and Break Flax for Linen Cloth.
April hat 30 Tage. (April has 30 Days.) To Plow and Make Fence.
May hat 31 Tage. (May has 31 Days.) To Shear Sheep.
Brachmonat hat 30 Tage. (June has 30 Days.) To Harvest Hay.
Heumonat hat 31 Tage. (July has 31 Days.) To Harvest Grain.
Augustmonat hat 31 Tage. (August has 31 Days.) To Spread Manure.
Herbstmonat hat 30 Tage. (September has 30 Days.) To Plow.
Weinmonat hat 31 Tage. (October has 31 Days.) To Sow Seed.
Wintermonat hat 30 Tage. (November has 30 Days.) To Make Apple Cider.
Christmonat hat 31 Tage. (December has 31 Days.) To Flail Grain.
