he Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack was established in 1797, making it the second oldest almanac in the United States. It began in a modest print shop on South Potomac Street in Hagerstown, Maryland and was the creation of colonial printer John Gruber and his partner and son-in-law Daniel May. Gruber is considered by many to be one of Hagerstown's "favorite sons" right along with Jonathan Hager, the town's founder and namesake. Gruber's almanac has been published continuously for 226 years and is the ONLY almanac that is still published today by direct descendants of its founder.
The Almanack, as it soon became known, grew in popularity, quickly becoming an integral part of everyday Early American life. For many years hence, it was THE primary source for agricultural, meteorological and astronomical information vital to an agrarian community's survival. The highly accurate weather forecasts (made over 16 months in advance) were first derived using centuries-old methods but over the years, the method has been advanced, incorporating newer, more reliable techniques. And it still contains favorite folk remedies, useful hints and tips for everyday living, and other forms of traditional community wisdoms. Millions of copies have been sold and it has been said that the
The Almanack has made Hagerstown widely-known throughout the U.S. and has given Maryland an ‘epicenter’ of farming and agricultural life.
Throughout its long history,
The Almanack has been recognized countless times for its contributions to the steady development and success of colonial agrarian society (see
Maryland Traditions' 2012 ALTA Award for Tradition as well as for making a significant contribution to our national pride (see
Hagerstown Celebrates Star Spangled Banner's 200th Anniversary!).
Gruber's Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack Company has been recognized by Wikipedia as the 54th oldest company in the United States (
the full list) and 1509th oldest in the world
(the full list).
October: Fall Finally Arrives!
Almanack Weather Prognosticator/Meteorologist, Chad Merrill, outlines
The Almanack's forecast for the month of October in his monthly column for The Cumberland Times-News.
Click here for the article content.
Cumberland Times-News Looks to The Almanack for Expected Rainfall in the Mid-Atlantic
The Cumberland Times-News turns to Almanack Weather /Meteorologist, Chad Merril, for his take on expected rainfall in the Mid-Atlantic Region over the coming weeks.
Click here to view the full article.
Almanack to Host Weekly Weather Reviews on Zoom
The Gruber Almanack, LLC’s Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack is excited to announce that beginning September 8, 2021, Almanack Weather /Meteorologist, Chad Merril, will begin conducting weekly Zoom events, continuing every Wednesday, to review weather conditions in the Mid-Atlantic Region and what to expect in the coming weeks.
Click here to view the full press release that includes event sign in information.
Almanack Presents First Zoom Event Reviewing Impact of Hurricane Ida
On August 31, 2021, Almanack Weather Prognosticator/Meteorologist, Chad Merrill, hosted The Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack's very first live Zoom event, an update on the impact of Hurricane Ida in the Mid-Atlantic.
Click here to view the recorded event on The Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack Channel on YouTube.
Almanack Prognsoticator on Tropical Fred's Impact on Regional Drought
Almanack Weather Prognosticator/Meteorologist, Chad Merrill, weighs in with his asessment of Tropical Storm Fred's impact on regional drought conditions in this latest Cumberland Times-News article that appeared on Monday, Augst 16, 2021.
Click here for the full article.
Almanack: Snowy Winter, White Christmas Ahead
Almanack Weather Prognosticator/Meteorologist, Chad Merrill, shares his 2021-2022 Winter Preview with The Herald-Mail's Dave McMillion in this detailed article that appeared in the Herald-Mail on August 5, 2021.
Click here for the full article.
Snowy Winter Season Predicted by Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack
The Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack is forecasting a snowy winter season for Allegany and Garrett Counties and the Potomac Highlands. Click here for the full Cumberland Times-News artcle that appeared on August 1, 2021. The Gruber Almanack, LLC’s Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack is the very first almanac to present its preview of the coming 2021-2022 Winter! Almanack Weather Prognosticator/Meteorologist, Chad Merrill, outlines The Almanack's official winter outlook for the U.S., pointing out sticking points for the coming winter. Click here to tune in!
The Gruber Almanack, LLC proudly announces the release of the 2022 edition of J. Gruber’s Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack and availability for sale, almost 2 months earlier than in past years! This popular regional favorite, famous for both its 226 years of continuous publication and its impressive track record predicting the coming year’s weather, will be available for purchase at grocery, pharmacy, hardware, book and other popular retail stores beginning the week of July 19th. For a complete list of retailers and their locations, click here. But why wait? Click here, order a copy today, and have it delivered right to your front door!
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