USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 1 > Part 35
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The Hampshire Chronicle was commenced two months later by John Russell, the paper rising from the ruins of its predeces- sor. The spirit of the press was not destined to remain long dormant, and amid the hardships of early publishing and fre- quent suspensions, the editorial star of hope ever shone brightly, leading to new ventures. The office of the Hampshire Chronicle was located on Ferry street. Its equipment, like that of all the American printing offices of its time, was modest. The crude hand press, whose operation called for no mean degree of physical strength, and producing, at best, an impression none too clear ; the modest assortment of Roman letter, more or less battered with use : the primitive method of inking the forms by means of the large and unwieldy ink balls, were in vogue. The pioneer pub- lisher was a man of great versatility. He was a scholar-mechanic, a worker with brain and brawn, content, for small material com- pensation, to guide his fellow citizens in the way of right and keep them informed, as well as the slow means of communication allowed, of the world's great events as well as of the country, state, and the town's growth and progress. In less than a year
after its initial number was issued, the Chronicle passed into the hands of Weld & Thomas. Their printing office stood on the ground now occupied by the Chicopee bank near the south-east corner of Court square. The immediate vicinity was for many
years the center of the town's printing industry. The popula- ion was small, and Main street, then a mere residence street, bor- lered with farms, and here and there a modest shop or store.
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In December, 1790, the Chronicle appeared, bearing the im- print of Mr. Weld alone, and two years later the name of the sheet was changed to the Hampshire and Berkshire Chronicle, and, as its name might imply, purporting to be the representative newspaper of the territory of Western Massachusetts. Follow- ing the order of frequent changes, one year later, in 1793, the name of Edward Gray appeared as publisher.
In 1793, the monopoly of the newspaper field, long enjoyed by the Chronicle, was disturbed by the advent of the Federal Spy, which started with the new year, James R. Hutchins being the proprietor, he having grown up in the business under the guid- ance of a former local journalist, Isaiah Thomas. With the ad- vent of an "esteemed contemporary" in the field, the Chronicle weakened, and soon after died, its proprietor some time later con- ducting a newspaper, the "American Intelligencer," published over the river on the West Springfield side, which also expired at a tender age, after the many trials and tribulations peculiar to struggling young journalism.
The founder of the Federal Spy left the town soon after the paper was started, being succeeded by Messrs. John Worthington Hooker and Francis Stebbins. In May, 1796, the firm dissolved, and Mr. Stebbins continued as sole proprietor until September 26, 1799, when he sold to Timothy Ashley, who stood at the helm and guided the journalistic craft safely into the new century. In 1801, Mr. Henry Brewer was taken into partnership and two years later, became sole publisher, continuing until 1806, when he sold out to Mr. Thomas Dickman, a native of Boston, and a man of considerable previous experience in the newspaper field. He at once changed the name of the paper from the Federal Spy to the Hampshire Federalist. Mr. Dickman continued the paper until 1819, having been its proprietor continuously for some thir- teen years, a remarkable record for those days of frequent changes in the business.
In this connection, it may not be amiss to take a passing look into the files of these early papers, and it may be suggested that of all the historical treasures of the country's towns and cities. none is more worthy of jealous care and preservation than these
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same files, giving as they do, the only detailed history of local events available, and whose destruction would prove a most seri- ous and irreparable loss. And it is a source of much pain to the sincere historian to note the inadequate care given some of these files, none too numerous at best.
Among other valuable material in the upper room of the Chicopee library were found files of the early Springfield papers, among them, yellowed by time, with frayed edges, and faded print, being the fruits of the labor of editor Dickman, the Hamp- shire Federalist. Regarded mechanically, one sees the evidences of the old-time process of wetting the paper and the resultant deep indentation of the types into the sheet when subjected to the pressure of the hand press. A small, modest sheet it is, though well up to the meagre mechanical facilities of its time. Like its contemporaries, the country over, most of its space was given to heralding events of foreign fields, by no means recent; and the "scoop" was no doubt an unknown term in the press parlance of the Federalist. Local events were touched upon occasionally. In the issue of Jan. 7, 1807, appears this :
"Important Item :- On Friday last, the mail stage, in attempting to pass the Connecticut river on the ice, about a mile below the bridge in this town, broke through. As the sleigh, as well as the horses, were plunged in six feet of water, it may be considered a happy circumstance that there were but three passengers in it. They escaped their danger without injury by jumping on the ice. Had the stage been crowded with passengers, as is often the case, it would have been hardly possible for those seated in the back part of it to have saved their lives. The horses and sleigh were got out without injury, though not without great difficulty and risk. This breaking in happened at a small distance from the spot where the ice gave way and let in a cutter about three weeks ago, by which accident, a young woman was drowned."
The paper gives an insight of the mercantile life of Spring- field, in the first decade of the nineteenth century. Byers & Bliss, dry goods merchants, give a list of the quaintly named fab-
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rics of the time-"Swanskin, Baizes, Serges, Calimancoes, Durants, Bombazetts, Shaloons, Rose Blankets, Dimoties, Cam- brics, etc., also, Irish Linens, Chambray, Crapes, Pelong, Sattin, Chintzes, and Callicoes." Groceries were also a part of the mer- chandise, the list leading off conspicuously with-St. Croix Rum, French Brandy, Holland Gins, Sherry, Lisbon and Malaga Wines, and winding up with the commonplace commodities of Lump and Brown Sugar, Tea, Coffee, Tobacco, Powder, Shot, Codfish, Pickled Salmon, 4d, 8d and 10d nails, etc.
Warriner, Bontecou & Co. advertise Muffs and Tippets.
The publisher of the Federalist, himself advertises for Cot- ton and Linen Rags in any quantity, which rags were in turn offered to the paper dealer, as part payment for the stock sup- plied to the printer.
The Springfield Bookstore, "next door north of Justin Lom- bard's store," advertises Books on Divinity, Law, Physic, His- tory, Voyages, Travels, etc.
Daniel Lombard, P. M., advertises list of letters uncalled for, said list including many of the names of Springfield's represent- ative families.
The Federalist was evidently the accepted advertising medium of the western part of the state, as in its columns are found the "ads" of merchants and others in the various towns hereabouts.
Farnam & Hastings of Westfield advertise 30 barrels of cider brandy.
The Monson Academy advertises for pupils from abroad, stating that board may be had in good families near the academy.
Isaiah Thomas, Jr.'s Almanack for 1807 is offered for sale at the office of the Federalist.
Wells & Bliss advertise Shoes.
J. & H. Dwight advertise Lime per cask or bushel.
Thomas Sargeant advertises Watches, Military Feathers, Sword Knots, Epaulets, Tassels, &c.
Justin Ely, West Springfield, offered for sale Geese Feathers.
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E. Grant, Westfield, advertises his Cabinet Making estab- lishment, "100 rods east of the Meeting House."
Root & Brewster sold Garden Seeds.
A. & P. Bartlett advertise Military Guns. Muskets by the chest, dozen or single.
Roswell Lombard advertises for any number of mink and cat skins-black, brindle and gray being the colors wanted.
Silas Noble, Jr., of Blandford advertises that he has repaired his machines and is prepared to do Wool Carding, Oiling and Picking.
The above are given as a part of the legitimate history of the press of this section, for it shows the general tone of the advertis- ing columns, admittedly, at all times, a most practical and impor- tant part in a newspaper's life. Besides these, there may be noted the calls on the part of various tradesmen for bright lads to become indentured; and occasionally a notice of "One Cent Reward" or "One Mill Reward" for the capture of runaway apprentices, one being spoken of, by way of identity, as, “17 years old, black eyes, dark hair, and is very bold and saucy."
It appears that lotteries, for the promotion of causes of more or less merit, were conducted early in the century, and the pro- prietor of the paper, Thomas Dickman, who, by the way, con- ducted a bookstore in connection with his newspaper, also sold lottery tickets in behalf of the Hatfield bridge.
A more important lottery advertisement was that of the Harvard College Lottery, with 20,000 tickets at $5.00 each, giv- ing a list of graduated prizes, from one of $15,000 to 5,572 of $7.00 each. A paragraph of the ad reads :
"The managers solicit the patronage of the public in general, and of the friends of literature and the University in particular ; and considering the object of the lottery, anticipate their liberal assistance. It will be pleasant to reflect that by adventuring in this lottery, they will combine the prospect of gain with the cer- tainty of benefitting the University, and by lending their aid to the means of education, will promote the best interests of their country."
The Federalist printed, under its heading, as a sort of declaration of principle :
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"What I know to be true, that I will declare-and what I feel it to be my duty to represent, that I will have the boldness to publish."
In its typographical make up this paper followed the style of the time. Entire pages were set in type as large as pica ; long primer was considered small, and brevier used in some of the no- tices, and probably regarded as the limit of minuteness in type. No uniformity was observed in choice of type, one class of matter being set in any size type that came handy.
Publisher Dickman should not have suffered from a lack of good "copy" for his paper, for his active life was in the early years of the nineteenth century, when the world in both hemi- spheres was making history in abundance; and to his credit be it said, the opportunities were not slighted.
Napoleon Bonaparte, in the Old World, was then exerting his wonderful power, and an item in the Federalist states:
"A member of the American 'Legislation' at Paris is arrived in London and confirms the report we have heard that Bona- parte demands, peremptorily, that the American government shall break with England or with France. He leaves no alter- native."
Another item of the period states :
"A French Paragraph :- The little King of the Romans is cutting a tooth ! His gums are without inflammation, and the joy of the Parisians is beyond expression !! "
In our own national affairs thrilling accounts are given of the Indian depredations in the then wild section, now known as the thickly-populated "Middle West."
In the issue of June, 15, 1809, an editorial states :- "The manner in which Mr. Madison has commenced his presidential career, while it exhibits one strong point of resemblance to the commencement of that of Jefferson, may be contrasted with it much to the disadvantage of the latter."
In the issue of June 9, 1814, is given an account of the attack on Oswego and the invasions and raids by the British in New York and along the Canadian frontier.
March 9, 1815, the Federalist notes that the President will immediately propose to Congress to declare war against Algiers.
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The issue of March 16, 1815, contains the official report of Commodore Decatur to the Secretary of the Navy, regarding the work of our fleet in the naval engagements of the period.
In 1819 Mr. Dickman sold his paper to Frederick A. Pack- ard, a lawyer, and soon after Mr. Abraham G. Tannatt a printer from Boston became a partner in the concern, and the firm name was A. G. Tannatt & Co., the name of the paper being changed to the Hampden Federalist, to accommodate the change of county lines.
In 1818 the Hampden Patriot came into existence at the hands of Dr. Ira Daniels. Politically the Patriot was opposed to the Federalist. About two years after its first issue, the Patriot passed into the hands of a company, with Justice Wil- lard, Esq., as editor. In 1822 Mr. Tannatt left the Federal office and became proprietor of the Patriot, which was abandoned two years later, the material being added to the outfit of the Federal- ist, and Mr. Tannatt again casting his lot with that paper, and becoming joint proprietor with Mr. Packard.
Available copies of the contemporary papers, the Federalist and the Patriot, show them to be identical in size and general make-up save in style of heading, the former having a most ornate letter of the Old English style for a title, while the Patriot's heading was set in a severely plain black-face Roman.
The name of the Federalist was changed to the Hampden Journal, as being a name more pleasing and more in keeping with the ideas of the publishers.
On the first of January, 1829, Mr. Tannatt bought out Mr. Packard, and continued the Journal in his own name for six years, until January 1, 1835, when he relinquished the establish- ment to Mr. Packard.
The Springfield Republican, which was established on the 8th of September, 1824 by Samuel Bowles, who came to Spring- field from Hartford, proved to be a very active competitor of the Journal, that outgrowth of a long line of worthy journals gone before, and eventually, after losing its hold on the field so long enjoyed the Journal was bought by Mr. Bowles, and merged with the Republican, the combined issue being styled the Republican and Journal.
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The mechanical equipment of the printing offices of the county, about this time, began to be improved. The inking roller, that very simple device, which alone revolutionized the art of printing, and made machine presses possible, was introduced, it is said, by Mr. Bowles, and the cumbersome and filthy ink balls, relics of the very days of Gutenberg, the father of printing, were laid aside.
On the 24th of February, 1830, John B. Eldridge, com- menced the publication of the Hampden Whig, a paper which supported the administration of General Jackson. Five years later Mr. Eldridge sold his establishment to E.
PALMER & CLARK"
J. MASTERS TAILOR
BOSTON CLOTHING, WARE SCUSE
The first home of the Springfield Republican
D. Beach, a lawyer, who became editor as well as pro- prietor. Some time after, David F. Ashley, a printer connected with the office, became a partner, and the name of the paper hav- ing been changed to the Hampden Post, the firm was known as D. F. Ashley & Co., until July 1, 1843, when the establishment was purchased by Alanson Hawley.
On the 26th of May, 1841, Apollos Munn, a printer reared in the offices of Springfield, and a man of much ability and activity, commenced the publication of the Independent Democrat. The
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paper had its headquarters on the Hill, away from the accepted center of printing, about Court square, but about two years later having been sold to a Dr. Ashley, the establishment was moved down to Elm street, under the hospitable shade of the Court square elms, where about a year later it was merged in the Hamp- den Post.
Mr. Munn, the founder of the Independent Democrat, after an absence from Springfield of about two years, returned and started a new paper which he called the Hampden Statesman, which, about two years later, was merged in the Hampden Post, Mr. Munn being retained as one of the staff of the paper.
In September, 1831, the Springfield Gazette was commenced by Callender, Kirkham & Briggs, with William Hyde, a lawyer, as editor. The Gazette was devoted to the interests of education, missions and temperance, and not given to politics. Later the Gazette was changed to a Whig newspaper, and one year from its establishment, by a change in the firm, Mr. Briggs and Josiah Hooker, a lawyer, bought out Callender and Kirkham, and con- tinued as joint publishers. In 1837, Josiah Taylor, a printer, bought out Messrs. Hooker and Briggs and became publisher, three years later being succeeded by William Stowe, who contin- ued as editor and proprietor, until the paper was merged in the Republican, in whose bosom, it would appear, many papers found a final refuge after the strenuous buffeting on the sea of journal- ism, guided by various pilots.
The Hampden Intelligencer was commenced in August, 1831, by J. B. Clapp, and was discontinued after an existence of about a year. It was anti-Masonic in its policy.
In January, 1842, Mr. Tannatt, the former publisher of the Journal, started a temperance paper, the Hampden Washing- tonian. This was continued for six years, when it expired for want of support. A reference to the files shows the general make up to be similar to Mr. Tannatt's earlier publications. The Washingtonian carried a fair quantity of advertising, its moral tone was high, and in every way reflected credit on its editor and on the journalism of Springfield.
The good name, "Hampden" seems to have borne special charm for the earlier publishers of the county, and to use a
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familiar typographical phrase, was "kept standing" most of the time.
Professional men seem to have been attracted to the field of journalism at the county seat, and doctors, lawyers, school mas- ters and the clergy have found time to wield the pen in moulding thought and shaping the action of their times.
On the 1st of January, 1847, the Bay State Weekly Courier was commenced by Dr. J. G. Holland. The paper lived for about six months, its editor becoming a very valuable addition to the staff of the Republican.
In 1847, The Springfield Sentinel, the outgrowth of a former Palmer paper, was started, it being both weekly and semi-weekly. After a period of shifting policy and ownership the Sentinel was discontinued, and its interests sold to out-of-town parties.
THE DAILY REPUBLICAN
The Springfield Daily Republican, the first daily not only of the city, but of the state, outside of Boston, was started on the first of April, 1844, under discouraging circumstances, and its first years of existence were those of rowing against the tide, but success came in time, and the Republican stands to-day, a jour- nal world-famous and of marked prosperity. For the first year and a half of its existence, it was an evening paper, but was changed to a morning issue, in 1845, and the following year was enlarged ; and successive enlargements followed, until on the 1st of July, 1851, it attained to seven columns to the page.
In April, 1846, a daily evening paper, the Gazette, was started, as a competitor to the Republican. Two years later, it was absorbed by the latter paper.
In 1850, Samuel Bowles, Jr., became associated with his father, in the ownership of the Republican, which owed much to his faithful work in the editorial management. In May, 1849, J. G. Holland became associate editor of the Republican, becom- ing later a partner in the establishment, which adopted the firm title of Samuel Bowles & Co. On the 8th of September, 1851, the elder Bowles died, and his interests in the concern were largely purchased by Clark W. Bryan, formerly of the Great Barrington Courier.
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Samuel Bowles
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
The Republican's policy of thoroughly covering its field, which includes Western and Central New England, employing the best reportorial talent, and editors of recognized ability, has resulted in a large and well established circulation, resulting in a liberal advertising patronage, the two great factors much de- sired and none the less necessary to publishers. The literary and art departments are in charge of Mr. Charles G. Whiting, while Mr. Solomon B. Griffin is editor-in-chief and is surrounded by an efficient army of workers, all bending their best energies towards producing a perfect newspaper. Mr. Samuel Bowles, the efficient business manager, keeps his hand on the lever, and an ever watchful eye on the details of one of the best regulated and most systematically conducted newspaper establishments in New England. Every department is run with accuracy and clock-like precision.
In February, 1855, the weekly edition was enlarged, and changed to a quarto form. The Weekly is a carefully edited summary of the news, gleaned from the daily editions, and also enjoys a wide circulation. The Republican has, on two or three occasions, in recent years, in issuing anniversary editions of the weekly and daily forms of the paper, given to its readers well written and exhaustive historical sketches of its career, having of course, available a rich fund of material of undoubted authority, and liberal in quantity. In these, we find interwoven the career of Springfield's grand self-made man, the elder Samuel Bowles, founder and maker of the Republican, with the story of his earlier life in Connecticut, the incident that called him to Spring- field, to introduce another young man to fill a want in the news- paper field there, and how, unexpectedly, the task fell to himself. And from that day, September 8, 1824, when the first number of the Republican appeared, through all the succeeding years to the present time, its pages have recorded fully and fearlessly the events of the city, county, and of New England generally, and in a way that makes its files, wherever they may be stored, the most complete and valuable history of this section extant. News- papers have come and gone, rivalry has developed, attacks have been, and are being made, on this journalistic citadel of Hampden
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Dr. Josiah Gilbert Holland
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
county, but it has always stood the attacks, and stands firm, and there is a certain "tone" in every department of the paper, not to mention the evident completeness of its agencies of production, that win for it the attention and consideration of all, and where is there a town in Western New England that does not have ob- tainable at its news stands, the famous "Hampden County Bible ?''
An effort to establish a Democratic daily was made in 1856, when Elon Comstock came to the city, and, with ample backing, opened a well-equipped office on Sanford street, and the Spring- field Daily Argus started, but through inattention on the part of the managers, it died about a year afterwards. Between the years 1853-72, a large general printing business was conducted at the Republican office. In 1872 Mr. Bowles sold out the gen- eral printing department to his partners, Messrs. Bryan and Tapley, and himself retained the Republican. In 1878 the Republican occupied the present quarters at the corner of Main street and Harrison avenue. The equipment of the paper is very complete for quick and thorough work, and no sooner is a piece of machinery perfected, that facilitates the production of a newspaper, than it is adopted and installed.
Going back to 1846, we find the Post, formerly conducted by Mr. Hawley and sold by him to D. F. Ashley, changed to a tri-weekly. On the 1st of June, 1848, Mr. Ashley changed the paper from a tri-weekly to a daily with William L. Smith as editor. The Post was "published every morning (except Sun- day) in Byers' building, four doors west of the Post-Office, 3d story, at $3.00 per annum," making it practically a penny daily. Mr. William Trench leased the office of the Post on the 1st of August, 1851, taking as partner Henry W. Dwight of Stock- bridge. The latter retired at the end of 8 months, and Mr. Trench relinquished his lease on the 1st of February, 1853. Mr. Ashley again came in possession ; and the following year both the daily and weekly editions of the Post were discontinued. Mr. Ashley still lives on Spring street, a short distance from State street, Springfield, and among his attic treasures are the files of the papers, turned out by him a half-century ago. There are
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also galleys of type, partly reduced to "pi," and in a remote corner a complete form of the newspaper, with here and there an empty chase and the old-fashioned wooden quoins. At one time these relics were threatened with destruction by fire, the edges of the files showing the signs of a severe scorching, and it would seem that while the opportunity offers, these remnants of Springfield's early daily paper, should be safely housed and treasured for their historic value.
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