HAGERSTOWN, Md. — What is a Bagheera Kiplingi spider? Did Johnny Cash take singing lessons? Have you heard about the volcano in Colorado? These are just some of the interesting questions that can be answered in the 2026 Almanack.
Veggies only for this spider
“The Bagheera Kiplingi spider was discovered in the 1800s and is the only species of spider that has been classified as vegetarian.”
The first movie soundtrack
“The first movie ever to put out a motion picture soundtrack was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
Chastity belt? I think not
“Medieval chastity belts are a myth. A great majority of examples now existing were made in the 18th and 19th centuries as jokes.”
One of the most distinctive voices in music history
“Johnny Cash took only three voice lessons before his teacher advised him to stop taking lessons and to never deviate from his natural voice.”
Don’t cut down that cactus
“If you cut down a saguaro cactus in Arizona, you could be charged with a class-4 felony and be penalized with some significant jail time.”
Volcano in the Rocky Mountain State
“In Colorado, USA, there is still an active volcano. It last erupted about the same time as the pyramids were being built in Egypt.”
Elvis’ natural hair color
“Elvis was originally blonde. He started coloring his hair black for an edgier look. Sometimes, he would touch it up himself using shoe polish.”
It’s all about the money
“Nowadays, millionaires with just $1 million aren’t considered wealthy anymore by most Americans. Now, the typical American sees at least $2.4 million as wealthy.”
Fact-finding is a fun exercise that can educate and astound. A good place to start looking is in the pages of The Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack. LocalNews1 has partnered with The Almanack to bring you a story every week taken from current or past editions.
First published in 1797, it’s the second-oldest almanac in the United States, has been in continuous publication for 230 years and remains the only U.S. almanac still published by the founders’ direct descendants.
