Hertzler's store was set for rebirth as part of Central Market Mall in 1974 [Lancaster That Was]

Excerpts and summaries of news stories from the former Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster New Era and Sunday News that focus on the events in the county's past that are noteworthy, newsworthy or just strange.

In October 1999, seniors at Millersville University were worried about their graduation plans as a statewide strike of college faculty loomed.

The association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculties was mulling a strike, which would encompass all 14 state-owned universities, including Millersville.

The issue at stake in the strike were faculty pay as well as a state proposal to take half of the first $100,000 in profits made from any book published by a professor at a state university.

The concern for students was whether they would be able to complete their courses in time for graduation the next spring. Faculty union representatives said that any missed class time due to a strike would be made up on Saturdays or, if necessary, by cutting short the winter break. Many students who worked part-time, however, said that plan would be difficult for them.

In the headlines:

Teen admits hacking into AOL

Gas mileage worst since 1980

Apple touts new iMac that's even easier to use

Check out the Oct. 6, 1999, Lancaster New Era here.

A one-month timetable may seem a bit rushed to convert a former downtown store into an indoor shopping mall, but just such a plan was announced by a partnership of several local businessmen at the beginning of October 1974.

The former Hertzler's Store at 52 N. Queen St. was set to be revamped into what would eventually become the Central Market Mall, with a plan for the first phase of the mall to open Nov. 1.

The mall would be constructed in three phases, at the end of which it would connect Queen and Market streets and have up to 19 retail shops on two floors, as well as spaces for a restaurant and a nightclub.

In the headlines:

Terrorist bombs kill five, injure 54 in English inns

Daily lottery starts Oct. 30

Washington's 'Metro' to go into partial service in 1975

Check out the Oct. 6, 1974, Sunday News here.

Newspaper and hospital telephone switchboards were "swamped" on Oct. 6, 1949, with callers fearing a major disaster had befallen Lancaster, as inky black clouds of smoke cast a pall over the city.

The culprit was a large fire at the Armstrong Cork Co. dump, located about a quarter mile east of the end of East Chestnut Street.

A "two months' accumulation" of linoleum, rubber, felt, oil and other materials had caught fire - the cause was unknown - and the nature of the burning materials made for an especially dark and noxious smoke.

No buildings were at risk from the blaze, Fire Chief Harry Miller said.

In the headlines:

Navy suspends officer for leak

Truman hopes to avoid arms race

Expanded Social Security bill is sent to Senate

Check out the Oct. 6, 1949, Lancaster New Era here.

A Lancaster County woman drowned in floodwaters while working as a Pentecostal missionary in China, the Intelligencer reported on Oct. 6, 1924.

Mary Buckwalter Lewers, a Paradise native, had been living in China for 10 years. She met her husband, Alfred Lewers, while there. He was a London native and a fellow missionary.

Mary's sister, Ada Buckwalter, also was a missionary in the same area and had nearly been swept away into floodwaters when a rope bridge she was crossing broke.

Though details of Mary's death had not yet reached Lancaster County, her family said they suspected a similar occurrence had caused her drowning.

In the headlines:

Chinese war may drag in other nations

Giants take lead as Marberry weakens