USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 36
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The twenty-fourth paper started there was known as the Light- house, printed at the Gazette office, and "edited by an Association of gentlemen", the object of which was to represent the sentiments and espouse the interests of liberal Christianity." It was recognized as the antagonist of the Landmark, and continued from June until October 31 of 1835.
The Essex County Democrat removed from Gloucester in the autumn of 1888, to sustain Joseph S. Cabot and the Democratic party, especially the wing of that party to which he belonged. It was edited and published by Joseph Dunham Friend. Its first number was issued November 2. At first it was a semi-weekly, but after a short time was cut down to a weekly. This publication, like most campaign papers, only lasted about three months.
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The twenty-sixth paper of Salem was known as the Harrisonian, an- other campaign organ removed from Gloucester in the 1840 campaign. It commenced its career February 22, and continued until the election, and each issue aided the Whig nominees.
The Whig was another organ started for campaign purposes in 1840. It was printed at the Register office to further on the election of General William Henry Harrison, as President. The subscription price for all these campaign papers was nominal, and of course freely circulated.
Two "papers," both published under the same direction by Rev. A. G. Comings for two years, were the Genius of Christianity and the Chris- tian Teacher, the date of their career being 1832 for the last-named and 1841 for the former.
What was styled the Locomotive, an independent journal, was established in April, 1842, by William H. Perley, at Lynn, but later moved to Central building, Salem, in December, 1842. It was issued there each Saturday until July, 1843. It was humorous and miscellaneous in its general character.
Among the earliest temperance organs in this county was the Essex County Washingtonian, printed during a portion of the year 1842 at both Lynn and Salem. Among its editors was Rev. David H. Barlow, of Lynn. What was known as the "Washingtonian Movement", in tem- perance campaigns, was of the moral suasion character. Its Salem office was in Washington Hall. It was there edited by Charles W. Deni- son and published by Theodore Abbott. In 1843 it assumed the New England Washingtonian, and was published in Boston for a number of years.
In chronological order, the thirty-third newspaper in Salem was the Independent Democrat, started in 1843, by reason of a split in the Democratic party. This paper worked for the election of David Pin- gree for a seat in Congress against Robert Rantoul, Jr., It commenced in March, and continued for only a few weeks. Even back in those days the people, especially political workers, had much faith in the "power of the press."
The Voice of the People was established in May, 1843, by Sylvanus Brown (who was at that time languishing in the jail at Salem for dis- turbing public worship), and continued to run a small sheet for a time. Mr. Brown belonged to a sect known as "Comeouters", then quite numerous, and thus named on account of their protest against the pro- slavery tendencies in the pulpits generally at that time.
Another unique and short-lived publication recalled by the older citizens of this section of Massachusetts was known as the Voice Around the Jail. It had its birth in 1843, when its founder, Henry Clapp, Jr., editor of the Lynn Pioneer, was in jail at Salem under a sen- tence for libel. The Voice was in favor of radical reform. Mr. Clapp was a Garrisonian Abolitionist, and a man of much ability and courage
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in defending what he believed to be right. Later he became a well- known journalist in New York City.
The second attempt to establish a Universalist periodical in Salem was in August, 1843, in way of a small weekly paper, issued each Satur- day. Its editors were L. S. Everett, J. M. Austin and S. C. Bulkeley, pastors in Salem and Danvers. It was styled the Evangelist and exist- ed only about six months.
The Essex County Reformer was the thirty-seventh paper estab- lished in Salem, the same being started in the fall of 1843 as a supporter of the Washingtonian temperance movement. T. G. Chipman was its editor. Its story was told in less than four months.
The Temperance Offering by Rev. N. Harvey, of the Free Church, was established in Salem in February, 1845, and continued until 1846 as a monthly, 12 months, periodical. It was printed at the Gazette office. Later, it was published in Boston and then styled the Youth's Cascade. Subsequently, parts of this paper were published in neat book- form.
Another paper of brief duration was the Salem Oracle in 1848, by Henry Blaney.
The Essex County Times was a Democratic weekly journal, pub- lished in the autumn of 1848, by E. K. Averill. It began in Marble- head, where ten numbers were printed, then moved to Salem, and ended its career in about one month. The chief writer for this paper was E. K. Averill, later known as a writer of "yellow-covered literature" for Gleason's publishing house in Boston.
Publication number 41 in Salem was the Free World, a spirited, political campaign paper, run during the Presidential contest in 1848, in support of Van Buren and Adams, Free Soil candidates. George F. Cheever was its editor and it was printed at the Observer office.
Salem Daily Chronicle was the title of the first daily publication in Salem. It was by Henry Blaney, who in 1848, on March 1st, commenced the publication of the above named daily. It was printed in Bowker's building, and published every afternoon at one cent per copy. It took no part in politics and was of necessity short-lived.
A young folks' paper was launched in August, 1848, in Salem, by William H. Hutchinson, a job printer, who named his paper the Asteroid, meaning star-like. It was designed for entertainment of the youth. Subsequently it was removed to Boston.
Essex County Freeman, a free-soil organ, was established in Salem in 1849, by Gilbert L. Streeter and William Porter. Its design was to further the cause of anti-slavery. It was published Wednesday and Saturday each week, at three dollars per year, from an office in Hale's building. November 25, 1850, Mr. Streeter withdrew from the paper financially, but was still its editor. Mr. Porter continued this paper until February, 1852, then turned the plant over to "Benjamin W. Lan-
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der for the proprietors." It was then that George F. Cheever associated himself with the former editor as joint conductor of the publication. In 1853 the paper was purchased by Rev. J. E. Pomfret, who retained the former editors for a few months. After another year had passed the paper fell into the hands of Edwin Lawrence, of the Lynn Bay State. He issued a weekly until June 14, 1854, when the publication ceased, after a term of five years.
Of all short-lived organs in Salem, may be recalled the prospectus or specimen sheet of the National Democrat, May 24, 1851, by James Coffin. It was another unsuccessful attempt at running the politics of a county.
The Union Democrat was more successful as an anti-coalition Dem- ocratic paper. This paper lasted nearly eleven months. It was com- menced by Samuel Fabyan, a printer from Boston, July, 1852, and closed in the autumn of the same year. It was a semi-weekly.
The forty-seventh newspaper venture in Salem was when the Mas- sachusetts Freeman, a tri-weekly free-soil paper was established, and run for a short time, by J. E. Pomfret, commencing June, 1853. Really, it was made up from the columns of the Essex County Freeman. Mr. Pomfret had published the Amesbury Villager. He was a minister of the Universalist denomination, and subsequently settled in Haverhill.
The People's Advocate was begun in Marblehead in November, 1847, by Rev. Robinson Breare, a Universalist minister, and then bore the name of The Marblehead Mercury. In 1848 it was sold to James Cof- fin and Daniel R. Beckford. A year later it was the People's Advocate and Marblehead Mercury, and that season it became the sole property of Mr. Coffin. In 1853 the policy of the paper changed from a neutral paper to a Democratic organ. In October, 1854, the office was moved to Salem and the paper's title changed to The People's Advocate. It was discon- tinued in 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War.
The Salem Daily Journal, the second attempt at running a daily in Salem, was started by Edwin Lawrence in 1854. He issued the first number of his daily July 24, that year. It was published in the after- noon, as had been the Chronicle in 1848. After a trial of over one year, the paper was discontinued. At first the Journal was neutral, but later favored the Native American Party, and in the autumn of 1855 approved the Republican platform. This Mr. Lawrence was the same gentle- man who had previously published the Newburyport Union, Lynn Bay State and Essex County Freeman.
Salem's fiftieth newspaper venture was the establishing of the Es- sex Statesman in 1863, in the middle of the Civil War period. It com- menced by issuing January 17, 1863, publishing Wednesdays and Satur- days, under Edgar Marchant, and later by Benjamin W. Lander. It was announced as "conservative" and mildly opposed the national adminis- tration, under President Lincoln. After four years of struggle, it went down to rise no more.
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The next paper publication was in 1872 in the month of July, when came forth fresh from the press a weekly entitled The City Post, by Charles H. Webber. It was also named the Salem City Post, and the Salem Evening Post. Before Mr. Webber sold out, he had made it into a semi-weekly paper. The next owner was Charles D. Howard. In 1885 the paper was sold to the Telegram Publishing Company, a new penny daily. Politically, the Post was in reality Democratic, although it posed as a neutral paper.
The Salem Evening News, established October 16, 1880, was the fifty-fourth newspaper started in the city. It was also the third daily, and it stands today, in the forty-second year of its existence, the most successful and profitable journalistic enterprise in the history of the community. The principals at the outset were Charles H. Cochrane of New York, and Robin Damon, formerly of Middleton. At the lapse of about a year, Mr. Cochrane disposed of his interest to his partner and returned to New York. In November, 1881, Benjamin F. Arrington of Lynn, formerly of the Lynn Reporter and the Lynn Bee, took editorial charge. With the exception of one year, while absent in Springfield, Massachusetts, as editor and general manager of the Springfield Demo- crat, he served continuously as editor of the News, retiring, May 29, 1920, the dean of Essex county editors, with a record of rising thirty- seven years in the service of the paper. Early in July, 1920, Mr. Damon, while motoring to his summer camp in Farmington, Maine, was in collision with another automobile, the accident occurring near Row- ley common. He was conveyed to the hospital in Ipswich, where he succumbed, a few days later, to his injuries. During his funeral, one of the largest in local history, business was generally suspended in Salem. Mr. Damon possessed marked executive ability. Harry E. Flint, a nephew, had long been trained in the business department of the daily, and he duly succeeded, following the untimely death of his uncle, to the responsibilities of publisher. The News possesses a fine plant, all the departments being complete in every requisite, and is ranked as one of the most progressive dailies in its class in New England. The first loca- tion was in a small office on Central street, but for many years it has occupied its present commodious quarters in the Peabody building, Washington street.
In June, 1881, the Salem Daily Argus was established, later called the Post, and still later the Salem Evening Post; it subsequently passed into the hands of the Evening Telegram Publishing company.
The Salem Times was established in March, 1887, but only survived until February, 1888.
The Evening Telegram was established February 9, 1885, as a penny daily to rival the News. Its first number was printed by the Telegram Publishing Co., and it continued until March, 1887, when for financial reasons it was sold to the publishers of the Daily Times.
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The Salem Public, a weekly newspaper started Saturday, April 23, 1887, with Charles F. Trow as proprietor, had a subscription rate of $1.50 per year. This paper was devoted largely to the interests of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Trow had formerly been associated with the Methuen Transcript and Salem Telegram.
The Salem Daily Sun was started by Charles E. Trow, April 16, 1888, survived until the end of two months, and was discontinued.
The Evening Telegram was the name of another daily paper. It was founded April 2, 1888, but lasted only a short time.
October 10, 1890, William H. and Charles H. Cochrane established the Daily Call, which ran until July 5, 1891.
In 1889 the newspapers of Salem were: The Mercury, by Foote & Horton; the Gazette, by Horton & Son; The Fireside Favorite, a com- mercial publication, by John P. Peabody; the Salem News; the Salem Gazette, by N. A. Horton & Son; the Observer, by George W. Pease & Co .; Salem Register, by Palfrey & Walton. About a decade later, the newspapers of Salem were reduced to the Evening News, Salem Daily Gazette (by the Gazette Publishing Co.), the Saturday Evening Observer, by Newcomb & Gauss, continuing until about 1919.
In 1909 Salem's papers included the Evening Gazette, Salem Even- ing News, Saturday Evening Observer, the Salem Dispatch, Pilgrim Leader, Willow Budget, and Le Courier de Salem (French paper), and these publications were all being conducted in 1914. In 1915 the papers had narrowed down to the Salem News, Salem Sunday Mercury, Satur- day Evening Observer, Willow Budget, and the French publication, which is still conducted, but its place of publication is now at Lowell.
The last daily to be started in Salem was the Dispatch, listed in the foregoing paragraph, by Arthur Howard of New York. It was pub- lished intermittently at the outset, small in size and crude in make-up. In time, however, it managed to acquire sufficient impetus to appear regularly. It was successively increased in size, its most generous pro- portions marking the period when it was printed, by contract, in Lynn. Financial difficulties continued, and finally the Dispatch, unique in the later annals of journalism in Salem, was forced to submit to the inevit- able. Mr. Howard, the editor and publisher, was not a trained news- paper man. He ran his paper on "original lines," and through the repu- tation thus acquired, both as a free lance and as a "champion of reform," he bore off the mayoralty honors in an exciting election. After his de- parture from Salem, he edited a Vermont daily for a while, later dying in New York.
There have been other publications in Salem, but they were not, strictly speaking, newspapers. Many were issued by merchants, fairs and societies. The Essex Institute Publication appears quarterly. The historical publications of one kind and another have been printed since 1859, and are now highly prized by those interested in historical af- fairs.
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Another series of publications, of a scientific character, should here be listed in brief, as being a part of the literary products in Salem. Benjamin Lynde Oliver was a distinguished contributor to scientific works before the Revolution, and his "Essays on Comets" was published in Salem from pioneer Hall's printing office. The names of Count Ben- jamin Rumford, John Pickering, Nathaniel Bowditch, Edward A. Hol- yoke, and Charles L. Page should be included in a list of able authors. The Essex Institute and Peabody Academy of Science have both been prolific in their publications in recent decades. The Journal of the Es- sex County Natural History Society, from 1838 on through the Civil War period, published many collections of historical sketches, now of invaluable use to students and lovers of historic and scientific lore. The American Naturalist, an illustrated journal of natural history, had its origin in Salem, but later was transferred to New York and Philadelphia. The original editors of this periodical were, commencing in March, 1867, A. S. Packard, Jr., Edward S. Morse, A. Hyatt and F. W. Putnam.
Coming down to the autumn of 1921, we find three publications only, the Salem Evening News, the Essex Antiquarian and Little Folks magazine.
Lynn Newspapers - September 3, 1825, was the date of the first newspaper published in Lynn. It was known as the Mirror, and was founded and conducted by Charles Frederick Lummus. The event was one of great importance to the community, although the paper was not especially well edited or mechanically handsome. There was no greeting to the public, nor allusion, in any shape, to the prospects, plans, or executions of the publisher. An original tale occupied five of the little columns, and an original poem filled another. Probably Mr. Lewis wrote both of these. The third page contained three advertisements, and the remainder of the space was taken up by news items and short extracts. The four pages of the sheet were a little less than nine by eleven inches. The type was much worn, the ink poor, the paper course and dingy. Long primer was used, save one page, which was set in brevier. The proprietor continued to run a page or two in large type, saying editorially, that it was to please his older readers, whose eyesight was poor. This paper was published in a small wooden build- ing, on the west side of Market street, but after four years was moved to the west end of the common, where the most active business of Lynn was then being conducted. In March, 1832, this paper was sold to James R. Newhall, that is, the printing plant was sold to him for $200, the publication having ceased to be issued longer than March, 1832. The founder, Mr. Lummus, became involved, and his paper failed to support him. In the summer of 1832, he published Lynn's first business directory ; it contained seventy pages and was paper-covered. April 20, 1838, Mr. Lummus passed from earth's activities. Thus ended the
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career of Lynn's first weekly newspaper founder.
The next paper here was the Star, later called the Mirror, which was succeeded by a long list of weekly papers, most all being short-lived. These included the Record by Alonzo Lewis, poet, author and historian, and his partner, Jonathan Buffum; the Pioneer, by Henry Clapp, Jr .; The Lynn Saturday Union, of which Samuel Foss, the noted local poet, was editor; the Bay State, the Lynn Transcript, the Reporter, second Record, and the Little Giant (first Lynn daily). Other newspapers re- called are the long-since defunct publications known as the Essex Demo- crat, the Weekly Messenger, the Lynn Chronicle, Lynn Focus, the Ban- ner, the Lynn Democrat, the Puritan, Freeman and Essex County Whig; the Democrat-Sentinel, the Republican, the Protectionist, the Voice of the People, Essey County Whig, which was later known as the first Lynn News, the Essex County Washingtonian, later called the Pioneer. The last named was a radical of radicals, and because it assailed a local judge its editor spent three months in the Salem jail, where he edited his paper from his cell; on his release, was looked upon as a hero, and a parade was gotten up in his honor. Subsequently, he went to Europe and the tour was paid for by his many admirers. Smaller publi- cations in Lynn included these: A Pebble Against the Tide, the True Workingman, the True Friend, the Forum, the Old Rat, the Tattler, the Sizzler, the Free-Soil Pickaxe, Freedom's Amulet, the Lynn Dew- drop, the Spectator, the Grindstone, the Temperance League, the Organ, the Kite Ender, the New England Mechanic, the Banner, and the Old Time Vendor, all of which were of brief duration, but each had its "Day in Court."
In the public library in Lynn is a scrap-book collection of matters relative to the press of that city, including the list of publications, dates and proprietors' names ; the same here follows: 1825-The Lynn Week- ly Mirror, by Charles F. Lummus; 1831-The Essex Democrat, by Ben- jamin Mudge; 1832-The Messenger, by James R. Newhall; 1838-The Lynn Freeman, by Eugene F. W. Gray; 1842-The Essex County Wash- ingtonian, by D. H. Barlow; 1844-The Essex County Whig, successor to the Freeman; 1846-The Lynn News, by J. F. Kimball; 1849-The Bay State, by Lewis Josselyn; 1854-The Reporter, by Peter L. Cox; 1855-The Lynn Daily, by Lewis Josselyn.
The Lynn News was first established in 1846, as a weekly, and con- tinued until 1861. In 1889, a paper was started under the name of the Morning News, but it was of brief duration.
What was styled the Lynn City Item, a weekly, was established January 7, 1876, by Horace N. Hastings, who had labored first on a Woburn weekly, and subsequently came to Lynn, where for years he filled a responsible position on the Lynn Semi-Weekly Reporter, then un- der the proprietorship of Peter L. Cox. December 8, 1877, the Weekly Item was converted into a daily, under the name it now bears, Daily
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Evening Item. This was printed in the Sweetser building, at the junc- tion of Union street and Railroad avenue. The building was destroyed by fire, November 26, 1889. The Item next erected a new building on the old site, and this, with others, was demolished when the elevation of the tracks of the Boston & Maine railroad signalized the disappear- ance of grade crossings within the confines of the city. The present Item building, which not only houses the paper in manner second to none among the suburban dailies of New England, but also accommo- dates a large clientele of office tenants, was ready for occupancy in 1900. The Item did not miss an issue when its establishment was wiped out in the great fire of 1889; but aided by a job office in Lynn and the Boston Post, was able to continue regular daily publication. The Item is pub- lished by its proprietors, the Hastings & Sons Publishing Company, and is fully equipped in all the essentials that go to make up the modern daily. Harlan S. Cummings, who worked on the Lynn papers and sub- sequently was identified with the Salem News and the Salem Gazette, is the editor.
The Lynn Bee was established in June, 1880, by Eugene F. Forman, who met death by falling from the fourth story of the Sagamore Hotel building. This publication was burned in the great fire of November 26, 1889, and after collecting the insurance, the paper started up with a new outfit, on Market street, in a basement office room. But the paper was not a financial success and only continued to be published a little more than a year after the fire referred to above. The Bee was edited in rooms over the McGrane's department store building, on Market street, and many of the present day printers were employed there at one time, including Chet E. Morse, later reporter for the Boston Globe.
In 1897, Robin Damon established the Lynn Daily News, but later disposed of his interest. In 1912 the News came into the ownership of a corporation, which made it an independent paper, so called; and its officers were: Fred E. Smith, president; James H. Higgins, treasurer; Edward E. Hickey, secretary ; F. H. Druehl, business manager. On July 22, 1918, the publication was merged with the Lynn Telegram, under the name of the Telegram-News.
The Lynn Telegram was established in 1912, as a daily evening publication, Democratic in politics, with a Sunday issue-the only Sun- day paper in Lynn. It started out as a daily penny paper, which on Sunday sold at two cents. It is now the Telegram-News, as above stated, and is one of the two daily papers in Lynn at present, with an equipment fitted to its requirements. Frederick W. Enright is the edit- or and publisher.
Saugus-The Herald was founded in 1877. Its present size and form is a six-column from six to twelve pages per issue. It is all home-print, is issued each week on Thursday, at a subscription rate of one dollar and fifty cents per year. Politically, it is an independent paper and has
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for its motto at its head "An Independent Newspaper Devoted To The Interests of Saugus and Vicinity." The Herald is run by electric motor power. The plant has equipment including a linotype, cylinder, jobber, power presses ; also a paper-cutter and folder. The office has an excel- lent business in its job printing department. The paper circulates most- ly in Saugus and suburban places. This newspaper office is the property of the Mckay Publishing Company, Robert W. McKay, manager and publisher; A. E. Starkey, editor. It is one of the cleanest, news-full, family papers in the county. Its editorials are always to the point, up- to-date, and tinctured with good sense and editorial propriety.
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