Happy Birthday, Mr. Thomas
When I think back to my childhood, I have so many fond memories of the farm. I spent as much time as possible outside or in the barn. The air was fresh, the food was delicious and sleep came easily after a long day of hard work, or play. I also recall sitting in the living room every Saturday night to watch hockey with the entire family. Each one of us had our “place” in the living room. I sat at the end of the couch, next to the end table that proudly displayed the Old Farmer’s Almanac. During commercial breaks, or when Montreal was being badly outplayed, I would reach over and grab the Almanac. I learned so many things by flipping through our well-worn copy of the “Weather Bible”.
So today, I thought we should acknowledge the founder of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, Robert B. Thomas. He was born on this date in Grafton, Massachusetts, nine years before the start of the American Revolution. Not surprisingly, Robert was brought up on a farm in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. He was fascinated by science and at age 16 read Ferguson’s Astronomy, which he came across in his father’s library. He later wrote that “it was from the pleasing study of this work I first imbibed the idea of calculating an almanack.” With this dream in mind, he became a bookseller, taught school and studied astronomy in his spare time. In early 1792, he went to Boston to study mathematics under the tutelage of another almanac maker, Osgood Carlton, and that fall delivered the copy for the first edition of what he called The Farmer’s Almanac to the printers.
The tradition of giving and receiving the Almanac is still alive and well back on our family farm. Each Christmas, my father finds one in his stocking. Last year, my brother Ronnie bought me an “Old Farmer’s Almanac Engagement Calendar”. Every day, I look forward to opening it and reading the many gems inside!
Although Mr. Thomas died more than 150 years ago and 12 Almanac editors have followed him, no other name but his has ever appeared on the cover of The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Happy Birthday Mr. Thomas and thank you!