[Editor’s note: In 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a congressional act establishing several federal holidays, including Thanksgiving. As a result, most residents of Petroleum Centre were off work from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. that day—plenty of time for hijinks to ensue.]

Thanksgiving day was quite generally observed by our citizens, and with one or two exceptions the day passed off quietly. Business was nearly suspended by 11 o’clock and most of our businessmen enjoyed the balance of the day with their families and friends. Consequently the kingdom of turkey suffered fearfully, and numerous pumpkin pies, etc., were demolished. In the evening the Rev. David Patton, of the Presbyterian Church, delivered a very able and eloquent thanksgiving sermon.

During the day a very disgraceful shooting affair took place on the street, several shots being fired, one of which very nearly hit a small boy who was standing in M. Greenthal’s store at the time. The shots were fired into the crowd. It is almost a miracle that no one was shot. The most astonishing part of the affair is that no arrests have been made as yet. If we remember rightly there is a heavy penalty attached to acts of this kind, and the law should be rigidly enforced.

It is disgraceful instances of this nature that give our town the name of being the worst place in the region. It is also apparent to the most careless observer that there is a large number of men in this place who have no visible means of support and do not hesitate for a moment to carry out any and every scheme of rascality that may enter their heads. Just so long as they are allowed to commit crime with impunity will strangers give the town a wide berth.