USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 1 > Part 37
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Westfield's famous old Academy, whose graduates have gone forth over the world, to reflect honor upon themselves and their alma mater, was the center of publication, at different times, of various papers of a literary and patriotic tone; and the publish- ing impulse lives to this day among the students; and none will say it is not a most helpful and worthy addition to the routine of regular school work.
In October, 1845, the Westfield Standard was started by Hiram A. Beebe. At the end of two years, it was discontinued, and after a short interval, was revived by J. D. Bates, who was succeeded by William W. Whitman. Joseph M. Ely soon after purchased the establishment, and continued the paper for some three years, having as editorial associates Asahel Bush and Henry C. Moseley. In January, 1852, Gilbert W. Cobb bought the Standard, which lived until August, 1854, and on the 7th of October of the same year, the Wide Awake American was started, to further certain political interests ; and like the other branches of the journalistic family tree, soon decayed and fell to earth.
Henry C. Moseley, in taking editorial charge of the Stand- ard, the office of publication being in Hull's building, east side of the Green, says: "Very often since the establishment of this paper, has a new spirit been called to control its destinies, and so
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often has a long Prospectus been issued, accompanied by prom- ises and pledges, too often unfulfilled and unredeemed. We deem it unnecessary to follow in the footsteps of our illustrious predecessors, but as we make our editorial bow to the patrons of the Standard, we would assure them that so long as its columns are under our control, they will be devoted to the advancement of the great and glorious principles of Democracy." The same lack of local news characterizes the Standard.
Meantime, in February, 1841, the Westfield News Letter had been established by Elijah Porter. The paper was Whig in politics, and its editor is well remembered by many still living, as a man having firm convictions and certain peculiarities, with a goodly allowance of the self-confidence and faith that are indeed important factors to success in any enterprise. Mr. Porter was assisted in his work, for some time, in the late 40's by a bright young journalist, Samuel H. Davis, son of Dr. Davis, who later took a position on the Springfield Republican. In 1851, P. L. Buell became a partner with Mr. Porter, and the following year, A. T. Dewey, was admitted to the firm, remaining about two years, when he left the concern. Mr. Buell, who was an able phrenologist as well as a literary man, in more recent years was librarian at the Westfield Atheneum, and is pleasantly remem- bered by the patrons of that institution. Mr. Porter went West, and engaged in newspaper work there, and the News-Letter con- tinued under varying management until merged with the Times in 1873.
The initial issue of the Westfield News-Letter and Farmers' and Mechanics' Journal bore at the head of its editorial column a banner on which was inscribed "Harrison and Better Times," and President Harrison's inaugural address was printed in full, in that issue. An item also states "Our paper is furnished from the mill of Cyrus W. Field & Co. of this town," which recalls the interesting fact that the enterprising Cyrus, destined to become world-famous and wealthy, was at that time a part of the local industrial life. Another item refers to a revival at "Hooppole," in the western part of the town, the district destined later to be known as "West Parish," and eventually to bear its present more
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romantic appellation of "Mundale." A department is devoted to "Prices of Farmers' Produce, " and the cattle market.
The business life of Westfield in the year 1841 is indicated by the News Letter's ads., which bear the names of Samuel C. Smith, dry goods, crockery, shoes, etc., east side of the Green; Jere Hitchcock, boots and shoes, third door east of the post-office ; John F. Comstock, fashionable hair dresser, J. Taylor's building ; Rand & Johnson, wrapping paper; Misses Parsons & Parker, dressmak- ers, north side of the Green; A. G. Chadwick & Co., dry goods, wagons, soda biscuit, flour, fall and winter oil, etc .; Joseph Sib- ley, gaiter boots and slips ; Samuel B. Rice & Co.'s store on the bank of the canal, wholesale produce, groceries, etc .; John H. Starr, jr., tailor, Jessup's building, west of the Park; William Hooker, jr., flour ; Lyman Lewis, hardware; and H. B. Smith, who kept a general store on the north side of the Green, and who throughout a long life, was closely identified with the town's business interests, was also an advertiser in the first issue of the News-Letter. As indicating the trend of local life in the early 40's, a few extracts are made from the first year's issues of the News-Letter, whose files unfold to the reader the typical village journalism of sixty years ago. These refer to the New Haven and Northampton canal which "offers great facilities for trans- portation of passengers, goods, etc .; " "wood and farmers' pro- duce wanted at the office of the editor;" notice of the death of President Harrison, on which occasion the News-Letter appeared in the conventional mourning garb of inverted column rules, bold and black. Under a bold heading "Postscript," the paper prints the very indefinite but important item, "By a passenger from Worcester, who left this morning, we learn that it was reported that a messenger from Washington passed through Worcester, Monday night, with a message or an address from the President of the United States." The above was, no doubt, considered at the time as important as is the most consequential Associated Press dispatch of to-day. At least, one cannot but commend the enterprise of the editor in making the most of the matter. Fre- quent "canal" notices appear, with the antiquated cut of a canal boat drawn by a couple of horses, the arrival and departure of
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boats being noted, etc., etc. The canal, the then important water- way that put Westfield in touch with the country's metropolis and the world generally, furnished much in the way of news for the News-Letter, viz., items from up and down the country, inci- dents and accidents connected with boating life, and occasionally a reference to the disreputable brothels and "taverns" in, the towns along the course of the canal, to which Westfield was no exception. The records of the Court of Common pleas in town showed that the people of old Westfield were but mortal, and the sentences imposed proved that "the way of the transgressor is hard." And so, on through the succeeding years, Elijah Porter put the Woronoco Valley's life in type, with the motto, under the paper's heading, "I come, the Herald of a noisy world-News from all Nations lumbering at my back." And here and there may be found spicy hits at his contemporaries, reprimands of local misdemeanors, suggestions for local public improvements, and the like. The editor and publisher of a country paper was not above receiving the prosaic firewood and farm produce, in ex- change for subscriptions, and periodical calls for the same are printed in the columns of Mr. Porter's paper. And the historian of to-day, who seeks material, may well turn to these files, a half- century old, where will be found long and most interesting arti- cles by the then "oldest inhabitants," under the heading of "Sketches of Westfield."
With the issue of August 19, 1871, the News-Letter was en- larged. It was then published by P. L. Buell, and from a town of something like 4,000 inhabitants, when the paper was started, the population had grown to about 6,000, or one-half its present population and the news field was considerably broadened in con- sequence. The paper's motto had been changed to "Independent in all things, neutral in nothing." The growth of the business interests of the town is well indicated by the liberal advertising patronage. With the issue of December 23, 1871, the News- Letter passed from the hands of Mr. Buell to the ownership of Sherman Adams, who had seen his apprenticeship days on the same paper, some twenty years previous. The editorial column of that issue contains the valedictory address of the former, and
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the salutatory address of the latter, and the motto under the paper's heading was changed to "For the people, with the people, and of the people." Advertising and local items took a boom, and the need of more space led to the frequent issuing of a sup- plement, and with the issue of August 23, 1872, the paper was enlarged.
The Western Hampden Times was established in March, 1869, and the News-Letter found itself with a rival. The Times was published by Clark & Carpenter, in Morand's block, Elm street, and was in general make-up similar to the News-Letter, and between the two papers, the local news field was more than ever closely culled, and a friendly editorial "spat" enlivened matters occasionally. With the issue of April 6, 1870, the Times passed into the hands of a new firm, Clark & Story, Mr. C. C. Story having bought an interest in the concern, and assuming the business management.
With the issue of Wednesday afternoon, July 8, 1874, the two papers appeared as one, having been consolidated under the name of the Western Hampden Times and Westfield News-Letter, with Clark & Story as publishers, the Times absorbing the News- Letter, job department and all.
In August, 1875, Sherman Adams started the Woronoco Advertiser, a small paper of four pages, each 6x9 inches in size, with two columns to the page. The paper was printed on a Globe job press, with a very modest mechanical equipment, all contained in the front room of the editor's home, where, with the assistance of the members of his numerous family, it was issued weekly. In a few months, the paper was doubled in size, and the name changed to the Westfield Advertiser, and after a more or less struggling existence of a few years, expired. Mr. Adams re- moved to Florida, where he died.
Westfield, in the year 1871, was passing from the village to town improvements, and one of the great accomplishments of the year was the bringing into use of the town's gravity system of water supply from Montgomery. The old-time custom of ringing all the bells in town, in case of fire, and creating virtually a panic, by the general uproar, was drawing the attention of the people
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to the desirability of a fire alarm system, and correspondents dis- cussed the matter in various issues of the paper, though it was many years before the system materialized.
In the issue of October 14, 1871, an account was given of the great Chicago fire, the great news event of that year. Westfield, in those days, was more or less lax in some ways, and certain forms of mischief, now effectually kept in check, seem to have prevailed unhampered, the town having very slight police protec- tion. The east side of Park Square was, in the early 70's, still honored by the name of "Rum Row," a name which had been applied to it in the many years of the sale of spirituous liquors. The frequent raids of the state constables into the town, in their quest of liquor illegally sold, were great exciting events of that period, as many will remember. The issue of July 6, 1872, notes the good work being done by the Westfield "Town Improvement Association," wherein mention is made of the new "Boulevard" just opened, now known as Western avenue. November 15, 1872, is noted the first edition of the Westfield Directory, then in press. The murder of Charles D. Sackett by Albert H. Smith, for which the latter was condemned and executed, was a matter of intense local interest in the early 70's. The Normal boarding-house was an important addition to the buildings of the town at that time. The "hard times" of 1873 furnish the theme for many an item for that year. Money was scarce, and the newspaper men felt the effect along with the rest.
In the issue of the Western Hampden Times and Westfield News Letter, announcing the consolidation of the two papers, we find these words, "We cherish no feelings of exultation that a rival has fallen. It has simply been a graceful yielding to fate." From that time on-July 8, 1874-for several years, the Times, as the combined papers came to be known for convenience, filled the local field alone, not only covering it thoroughly, but also devoting ample space to the outlying towns of Southwick, Gran- ville, Tolland, Russell, Blandford, Montgomery, Granby, etc., where live correspondents have worked for the proper representa- tion of their respective localities. Editor Clark now looks back over nearly a half century's service with the press of this section,
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and his work is a record of the development of the interests of the field, grown from small beginnings to recognized importance.
The Westfield Times and News-Letter has been published for many years at No. 11 School street, its offices being located in the second and third stories of the Colton building. In December, 1897, the firm name was changed, a corporation being formed under the name of the Clark & Story company. On account of the death, October 25, 1901, of Mr. Story, who for thirty years had had the business and mechanical management of the paper, the company was reorganized, with L. N. Clark president and editor-in-chief, L. N. Clark, jr., clerk, treasurer and business manager, and Joseph C. Duport, manager of the mechanical de- partment and associate editor. The senior Mr. Clark commenced his newspaper career in the office of the Gazette and Courier at Greenfield, fifty years ago, when that paper was published by Phelps & Eastman. He has since served on the Hampshire Ga- zette, the Springfield Union, of which he was the first local editor, and the Berkshire County Eagle, coming from Pittsfield to West- field, January 1, 1869, to start the Western Hampden Times, afterwards consolidated with the News-Letter. The Times and News Letter, the oracle of the Woronoco Valley, which has long been an important factor in moulding public opinion in the com- munity, and numbers in its constituency people in nearly every state of the Union, starts auspiciously under its present manage- ment, and is going on from prospering to prosper.
The Valley Echo, established at Huntington in February, 1885, was the first newspaper that had been published between Westfield and Pittsfield. It was started by two Holyoke men, V. J. Irwin and W. H. Way, who conceived the idea that a live local paper, free from partisan or private obligations, might be made to pay in the Westfield river valley. The first issue was heartily received, and the subsequent growth was very marked. Not long after. increasing business made advisable the starting of a separate edition at Chester, which likewise flourished. Early in 1886, an edition was started for Westfield, and was called The Valley Echo, while to the other two editions respectively were given the names of the Huntington Herald and The Chester
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Chronicle. When first actually located in Westfield, in the fall of 1887, the Valley Echo had quarters in the Spencer building, corner of Elm street and Crary avenue. Here it remained until 1889, when the first floor in the Atkins block on Elm street was leased and there the paper has since been published. Sometime later, the basement was utilized, and during the past year, the second floor of the block has been added, so that the concern now has three floors. When first organized, it was known as "the W. H. Way & Co.," and later as "The Home Newspaper Co.," but in 1889 it was incorporated at $10,000, and with a Massachu- setts charter, became known as "the Home Newspaper Publishing Co." It still continues its Huntington and Chester editions under their respective names. The plant is now equipped with ample room and power, and supplied with up-to-date jobbing material and facilities. The corporation is at present organized as follows: President, Charles M. Gardner ; secretary and treas- urer, James H. Dickinson ; directors, C. M. Gardner, James H. Dickinson, James A. Dakin. The policy of the paper cannot be better expressed than in the motto that appears at the head of the editorial column, "It is the people's paper, and is not run in the interests of any particular class or party. Independent and honest, it aims to serve in the best way the greatest number."
Aside from the purely local newspapers that have cultivated the news field of the Woronoco valley, those of Springfield have, for many years been represented by local reporters, among whom may be mentioned J. D. Cadle, whose work for the Republican, and later for the Union, has made him a recognized factor in newspaperdom, and Edward G. Clark (eldest son of L. N. Clark), who has been for more than a decade the daily Republican's cor- respondent in Westfield. The large circulation of Springfield's dalies in Westfield has been the means of deferring the publica- tion of a local daily. A movement was made some years ago in that direction, but the attempt was soon abandoned.
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THE PRESS OF HOLYOKE
The Hampden Freeman's first number gives these facts in its caption : The Hampden Freeman, a family newspaper, pub- lished every Saturday, at Ireland Depot (West Springfield), by William L. Morgan & Co .; office on Maple street, opposite the school house ; one dollar per annum. The motto of the paper was "Where Liberty dwells, there is my Country," and a coat of arms, worked into the heading, bore the words, "Constitution, Truth, Independence, People's Rights." The second issue of the paper contains an article on "Our New City," which speaks thus hopefully of Holyoke's prospects: "This infant giant of west- ern Massachusetts, destined to eclipse Lowell and other manufac- turing places in this country, is situated upon the right bank of the Connecticut river, about eight miles from Springfield." Then follows a detailed account of the development of the town's won- derful water power, its rapidly growing population, etc. The business section was then in the district near the dam, as the advertisements will indicate. Among the first advertisers was W. B. C. Pearsons, attorney and counsellor at law. Much space is given to advertisements and the general interests of Chicopee. The issue of Saturday, March 23, 1850, of the Hampden Freeman appears in a new dress of type, with a new heading and under new proprietorship, Morgan & Henderson, and for the first time does the name "Holyoke" appear in its date line, the name "Ire- land Depot" being permanently dropped. This issue contains an elaborate description and sectional plan of the wonderful dam, and in its leading editorial gives its platform and principles, stating: "To our Whig friends we offer our kindest wishes and zealous support, and we shall sustain, as well as we may, the principles of the great and national Whig party. We are op- posed to the extension of slavery into the new territories, and we are as much opposed to the policy of certain leaders at the north who style themselves the Free Soil Party. . As men, we extend the hand of friendship to our Democratic readers (and we have a very large number), and wish them all success in private and personal enterprises, but as partisans, we throw the gauntlet in their midst, and in our strength defy them."
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Saturday, September 6, 1850, William L. Morgan is named as sole proprietor.
The issue of Saturday, January 15, 1853, appeared with the title changed to the Holyoke Freeman, with A. B. F. Hildreth as editor, and having as a part of the heading a vignette of the Holyoke dam and surrounding landscape, while the paper was considerably enlarged. The new editor took occasion to say, " As before intimated, our course will be free, frank and independent. In no other way can a press exercise its due influence, and com- mand that respect to which it is entitled. A truckling, time- serving public journal is of all things, most contemptible, and its influence must be deprecated. Therefore, as long as we shall have occasion to cater for the intellectual palate, we must do so, 'Unawed by influence, and Unbridled by gain.'"
The first issue of the Holyoke Weekly Mirror appeared Sat- urday, January 7, 1854, bearing the name of A. B. F. Hildreth as proprietor. For some time the town had been without a news- paper, and in his leading editorial the editor states : "The Mirror will be held up to nature, or in other words, it will seek to give a true reflection of men and things as they shall appear from week to week." The phenomenal growth of the town is repeatedly referred to, and in fact, the succeeding issues of all the papers Holyoke has ever had, teem with the subject, and very justly so, for where else in the county has there been greater reason to harp upon rapid and substantial growth? And where else could be found so prolific a news field as that offered by a town, with a growing and cosmopolitan population, with the accidents and incidents connected with canal digging, mill building, or occa- sional lively "scraps" between people of different nationalities, with the ever-present political strife? With mills rising on all sides, like mushrooms, and the facts incident to their growth, the town was a real news-incubator, although it must be admitted that, like all papers of the period, the Mirror appeared to make very little of the strictly local features.
With the issue of Saturday morning, November 24, 1855, the Holyoke Mirror appeared under the proprietorship of Lilley & Pratt, who, referring to their paper, say, "From being a 'straight
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Whig' it will become an independent journal. By this, we do not desire to have it understood that the Mirror will be a neutral paper. By no means ! On the contrary, it will plainly and bold- ly advocate all public measures which it shall deem essential to the interests of the community, and denounce those which may appear to have injurious features and tendencies, without regard to the party by which they may be originated or supported."
With the issue of February 2, 1856, the editors of the Mirror explain the adoption of a smaller form for their sheet, as follows : "We appear before you, this week, with a smaller sheet than we have been wont to do, and justice to our readers requires that we explain our motive for so doing, which we hope, when carefully examined will prove satisfactory to all. In the first place, the glory and honor of publishing a large paper we care nothing about. We publish a paper to make money, and the paper that pays best will be best, not only for the publisher, but for the sub- scriber. It is not the size of a paper that determines its worth, and we are among those who believe that a little, well done, is much better than a great deal poorly done. We have found, by trial, that the subscription list of the Mirror, although now good, and daily increasing, never has paid, and will not pay for the labor bestowed upon so large a paper, and pay us besides, a fair, living profit. What we mean now to do is, that while we shall give you less reading matter, we shall endeavor to embrace all the news in a more condensed form, and give choicer selections of miscellaneous reading. We wish to publish a paper that shall be at the same time, best for our patrons and ourselves."
Pratt & Wheelock succeeded Lilley & Pratt with the issue of August 9, 1856, and in that paper Mr. Lilley makes his editorial farewell bow. An editorial in the issue of December 5, 1857, dwells at length on the subject of the issue between the Catholics and Protestants of Holyoke, in the matter of the Bible in the public schools, taking sides very firmly with the Protestants, and winding up with a quotation from a speech of Mr. Choate : "What ! Give up the reading of the Bible in our common schools ? Never ! never! as long as a piece of Plymouth Rock is left big enough to make a gun flint out of !"
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Myron C. Pratt became sole owner with the issue of Novem- ber 20, 1858.
The Holyoke Transcript, established in 1863, Burt & Lyman proprietors, gives in its earlier issues the trend of Holyoke life during the Civil war. With the first issue of their second vol- ume, April 9, 1864, the editors say : "The year preceding the commencement of the Transcript was perhaps among the darkest that Holyoke has seen, and while our enterprise received liberal encouragement, there were many who looked upon it with doubt. as to its success." Thus, it will be noted, between the lines, that. Holyoke journalism was not a long, sweet dream, but severely and strenuously practical, with the expense account spectre ever haunting the publishers' domains.
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