March 3, 1949 Tri-Village Pennysaver

Harry G. Gleason published the first issue of the Tri-Village Pennysaver on March 3, 1949. For the next 65, almost 66 years, this weekly paper arrived in the mail or on our doorstep.

What began as a home-based business on Railroad Avenue soon grew, and he moved around the corner. He turned an old feed store across the street from the Lehigh Valley Train Depot into the home of the Pennysaver.

Railroad Avenue home of Harry Gleason where the Pennysaver was first produced.
Interlaken Historical Society Collection

The former feed store on Geneva Street purchased by Harry Gleason
for the Tri-Village Pennysaver
Interlaken Historical Society Collection

When the paper was preparing to close in 2015 the Interlaken Historical Society was given a number of old copies of the paper, including the one labeled, “Harry’s First.” It was duly accessioned, and then we made a point to add a copy of the final issue to collection as well.

Front page of Volume 1, No 1.
Collection of the Interlaken Historical Society

Detail from the back page of Volume 1, No. 1.
Collection of the Interlaken Historical Society

In his article on the Tri-Village Pennysaver for the Covert Memories 1950-2015 volume, Bill Irwin notes the four owners of the publication between 1949 and 2015. Harry Gleason, Bill and Kathy Irwin, a Sheboygan, Wisconsin publication, and Times Shamrock Publications. [Covert Memories page 84]

Detail: front page of the last issue of the Tri-Village Pennysaver.

A special thank you to Tammy Reynolds and the Pennysaver for the donation of the items noted above.

Dewitt’s Diary: 1949 and 1950

Thursday, March 3, 1949

Cloudy temperature 25. A few snowflakes and cool north wind. About an inch of new snow. Leland and Edna went to Seneca Falls. Leland tried for operator license to drive. I took some feed to town. Worked in the woods this afternoon. Drove over to Edna’s folks this evening. Clear 20 tonight.

Friday, March 3, 1950

Frost in the air and north breeze. It blowed fierce early in the night. Temperature 2 above this morning. Pheasants are sure eating corn I put out in front of the house. About a dozen every morning out there.

According to the Albany weather bureau it was the coldest day of the winter. Temperature zero tonight and still.