John Gruber and His Famous Almanack Part 8
Opposite the calendar pages, regional weather forecasts were provided for that month (in 2007, regional weather forecasts were placed in the center-most pages making them hard to find).
In 2011, it was decided to return to regional distribution of the Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack and create a entirely separate, new publication exclusively for national distribution. Entitled, J. Gruber’s Garden and Farm Almanac, it contained the same dead-on accurate weather regional forecasts, astronomical data, and useful information as its famous sister publication. Despite a promising first year, it was decided in 2013 not to continue J. Gruber's Garden and Farm Almanac.
RECOGNITION OVER THE YEARS
The Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack has also received recognition and awards for its significant contribution to the steady development and success of colonial agrarian society as well as most recently, for making a significant contribution to our national pride.
Hagerstown Celebrates Star Spangled Banner's 200th Anniversary!
On October 9th, 2014, The City of Hagerstown held a celebration honoring the 200th Anniversary of The Star Spangled Banner and to also honor John Gruber and The Maryland Theater for their 200+ years of contribution to the arts and humanities to the region.
The celebration commemorating Gruber’s significant cultural and historical achievements was held at the site of Gruber’s first print shop on South Potomac Street (now, coincidentally the site of the Maryland Theater!). The honors included the unveiling of a historical marker, speeches by officials, and certificates of special recognition issued by city Mayor David S. Gysberts.
It was John Gruber, along with partner and son-in-law, Daniel May, who first published The Star Spangled Banner (the originally poem titled "Defence of Fort McHenry’) in his National Songster - 1814, printed at his print shop on South Potomac Street in Hagerstown, Maryland.
For additional local media coverage of this significant recognition and ceremony, click here to go to The Herald-Mail website.
In 2012, The Maryland State Arts Council's Maryland Traditions Program recognized The Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack as one of the state's most enduring traditions with their Achievement in Living Traditions and Arts (ALTA) Award. For more information about the Maryland Traditions Program and their prestigious ALTA Award, click here. To view the video created for presentation at the ceremony honoring the winners at awards ceremony and concert at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center on the Montgomery College Takoma Park – Silver Spring campus on December 1, 2012, click here.
For more on JOHN GRUBER AND HIS FAMOUS ALMANACK, click here
