HIJINX: ‘Twas such a harrowing and dangerous pastime taking place on the streets of Bradford in July 1886 that a notice was printed in The Era imploring law enforcement to turn attention to it.

The scourge? Children playing ball.

“The attention of the authorities is called to the violation of certain ordinances that prohibit baseball playing in the streets. Young America along Mechanic street and Jackson avenue have converted those thoroughfares into baseball grounds. They break windows and impede travel. Let the nuisance be squelched.”

OK we can understand the problems that playing ball in the streets could cause, even back in 1886. We would hope that law enforcement would opt to send those “Young Americans” in question to a nearby vacant field instead. Of course, the road would be much smoother and easier for a game.

Mechanic Street and Jackson Avenue have another downside we thought would discourage baseball games — a pretty big hill. Maybe the youth were playing in both locations, and it was not a game centered on both streets.

The majority of page 2 of The Era back then focused around two industry sectors — oil drilling and train transportation. Rather than photos, the advertisements featured drawings of drilling wells and pumping rigs.

Other advertisements throughout the pages were for coal, boiler tubes, glycerine — at owner’s risk of course — torpedoes, various oil well supplies, petroleum brokers, petroleum real estate, grain and provisions, hotels, livery and of course, whiskey and cigars at N.R. Collins & Co. at 4 and 6 Chestnut St.

There was a section listing physicians, dentists, mining engineers and insurance, too.

Other needs, like clothing and items for making a home, were relegated to the last page.