USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a history, Volume I > Part 19
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Some Present Papers-In response to a set of information blanks mailed to members of the newspaper craft of this county, data has been forwarded to the writer from which he is enabled to give the following account of the papers that replied to such blanks :
The Weekly Advertiser, of Royersford, was established February 22, 1890, by Jacob S. Johnson, who conducted the paper from 1890 to 1910, and from the last date to the present the proprietor has been L. E. John- son. It is a four-page seven-column paper, all home print. Its day of issue is Friday. Politically this paper is independent in its policies. It is printed in a two-story brick building sixty-five by thirty-five feet, erected in 1915. Its equipment includes cylinder presses, golder, stitcher, paper cutter, etc. The paper circulates mostly in the vicinity of Royersford and Spring City. It is an excellent example of what a local paper should be.
The Independent, at Collegeville, was established on June 4, 1875, by its present owner and editor, E. S. Moser, who commenced his labors as a newspaper man when only seventeen years of age and has stuck by the tripod during all of these years, he now being the oldest in service in this portion of Pennsylvania, if indeed not in the entire commonwealth. The Independent is issued each Thursday. In size and form it is a 26 by 40 eight columns to the page journal, full of interesting and valuable news with every issue. It is an all home print, with a few columns of plate. Mr. Moser owns his own office building, a two-story frame structure. The office is equipped with modern machinery, including cylinder, paper and job presses capable of executing all kinds of com- mercial job work. The community in which Collegeville is situated should and probably does appreciate the efforts of this veteran editor who has sought to give all the clean desirable local news within his ter- ritory for the last forty-seven years.
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Public Spirit is published semi-weekly at the village of Hatboro, and was established in 1873 by Dr. W. T. Robinson. It has never been out of the family and is to-day conducted by the Robinson Publishing Com- pany, comprising O. E. C. Robinson and Penrose Robinson. It is a seven- column to the page publication, having from twelve to sixteen pages weekly, issued on Thursdays and Fridays. The equipment consists of duplex newspaper press (web), two cylinder presses, three jobbers, three linotypes, bindery, and fully equipped for newspaper and periodical work. The subscription rate is $2.50 per year. The building is owned by O. E. C. Robinson. Politically, the paper is independent. Of its circulation it may be said that it goes mostly to the firesides and business places of Lower Montgomery county and suburbs of Philadelphia. The Glenside News is also issued from this office, and sent to Glenside for distribution.
The Glenside News is published by the Robinson Publishing Com- pany. It has a circulation of 1,800 per week, and is edited by William C. Faust, with offices in the Patane building, Easton road, Glenside. This paper started early in 1923. It has been printed as an eight-page paper, except two issues which had only six pages. The publication day is Wednesday. It is separate from the Public Spirit publication, but is owned by the Robinson Publishing Company and printed at its offices in Hatboro, but is entered at the Glenside post office and mailed there. It . has a yearly subscription rate of two dollars.
The Conshohocken Recorder was established December 6, 1869, by Charles Jones, and he was succeeded in order as follows: Haywood & Davis, Mark H. Wrigley, William L. Prizer, George Evans, Harry B. Heywood, and the Recorder Publishing Company. It is an all-home print local journal of the semi-weekly type, being issued on Tuesday and Friday of each week. In size it is an eight page or more, seven columns to the page, size 17 by 22 inches. It is printed in a building erected in 1909, a two-story brick with basement. Politically, it is independent and circulates in the vicinity of Conshohocken and West Conshohocken. The office equipment includes perfecting press, linotypes, cylinder presses, saw-trimmer, job presses, casting machines, and other modern appliances. The present owners have conducted the Recorder since 1890.
The Hatfield Times was established in 1893 by Jonas S. Moyer, who was succeeded by C. R. Addison, Messrs. Brunner, Hacker, and Harry E. Brunner. It is a seven-column four-page newspaper issued every Thursday. It circulates mostly in Hatfield borough and township; its subscription rate is $1.25 per year. It is printed on a Country Campbell power press and the office is equipped with modern machinery including two Chandler & Price jobbers, stitcher and paper cutter. The building in which this local paper is printed is part stone and part wooden mate- rial, and in size is 30 by 40 feet. It should be stated that originally the name of the publication was the Hatfield Invincible. It is now an all-
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home print, except occasionally when a few plate columns are used. Politically, the Times is independent. Prior to January 1, 1923, the paper was conducted jointly by Harry E. Brunner and L. F. Hacker, but on that date it passed into Mr. Brunner's hands solely.
The Ambler Gazette was established by Col. Bringhurst in 1883, suc- ceeding the Ambler Times about 1885. It is published every Wednes- day, and is all home print. In form and size it is of the eight-page six- column type of local paper, and is printed in the proprietor's own build- ing, erected in 1897 by A. K. Thomas, and is a brick structure. Here one finds two linotype machines, power press, folder and three jobbers. The following have owned the property : Col. Bringhurst, A. K. Thomas, Joseph M. Haywood, the last named purchasing the plant in 1898. It is strictly an up-to-date local journal, filled each week with such local news as the intelligent community demands and fully appreciates.
The Times-Chronicle is published in the borough of Jenkintown, and was established January 1, 1895, by William L. Clayton and Levi Clay- ton, and is now owned and conducted by Mrs. Gertrude Clayton, wife of William L. Clayton. It is printed every Saturday ; is Republican in politics; and circulates mostly in the towns along the Old York road. It has been conducted by its present owner since 1918. The office build- ing is a stone structure erected in 1898, and is of brick and stone. The publication is a twelve-page seven-column paper, and is all home print, with about fifty per cent. local news. The equipment includes a good Campbell power press for the paper, and for the jobbing department four modern jobbers are in action most of the time. In all that is good and clean in way of local news items, this paper has its full share weekly.
The Schwenksville Item was established in 1877 by Rev. N. B. Grubb, and he was succeeded by Irvin H. Banham, who took the paper as proprietor in May, 1883, and has conducted it ever since. Politically, it is an independent paper, and in form and size is an eight-page seven- column paper all printed at home. Its publication day is Thursday. The building occupied as an office for this printery is a brick and frame structure erected in 1897. The office equipment includes a Cox duplex cylinder power press and two Chandler & Price jobbers, with two lino- type machines, paper cutter, etc. This local paper has a good circula- tion in Montgomery county, and is a reliable paper that voices the opin- ion of the community in which it is published, is thoroughly progressive, and well edited.
Town and Country is the name of the local newspaper in the borough of Pennsburg. It was established April 1, 1899, by Charles Q. Hillagass and Robert L. Singer. About three years after the paper was founded, the former named gentleman became owner of the entire plant and has conducted it ever since. It is printed each week in the year, on Friday. It is a seven-column twelve-page paper, all home print. It has a good circulation in Montgomery, Bucks, Lehigh and Berks counties. The
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office occupies a three-story building in which there is a fully equipped printery including linotype machines, one duplex flat-bed press, one Cot- terell press, three Chandler jobbers, etc. Politically, Town and Coun- try is an independent Democratic newspaper, edited and owned by Charles Q. Hillagass.
The following list of newspapers have at one time or another been published in Pottstown: Pottstown Times, founded July 1, 1819, by John Royer ; Lafayette Aurora, founded February 25, 1825, by Glackens & Keeley; Pottstown Journal, another name for the Times; Montgom- ery Ledger, started November 10, 1843, by J. C. Slemmer. The Daily Pottstown Ledger was founded October 1, 1873, by Lewis H. Davis and William J. Binder ; Pottstown Advertiser, founded by David A. Geiger, October, 1873; The Chronicle, founded by A. R. Saylor, June 29, 1879, merged into the Advertiser; Pottstown Daily News, started by P. Elm- wood Baum, then owner of The Chronicle, October 1, 1887; The Potts- town Blade, founded by L. R. Saylor in 1890; Weekly Advocate, founded by Thomas Taylor, October 21, 1893. Early in the nineteenth century a number of papers were launched here, including the Anti-Abolitionist, Rural Visitor ; The Advocate, by John Royer, published in German, in 1826; Friend of the People, 1826; Gazette, 1834; Democrat, Pottstown Tariffite, 1842, Cottage Visitor. At present (1923) Pottstown has three . newspapers-the Ledger, News, and Blade.
The Pottstown Ledger represents the second oldest newspaper pub- lication in Montgomery county. It is the only afternoon daily news- paper in Pottstown, its service extending through the upper end of Montgomery, northern Chester and lower Berks counties. In its present status it is making rapid advancement. Being aggressive, Republican in politics, and aiming to give all the news which is news, gains the publi- cation many friends. The Pottstown Ledger Company is officered: P. Quinn Roth, president, treasurer and manager; H. E. Roth, vice-presi- dent ; Earl R. Roth, secretary and editor. These three also comprise the board of directors, and are the sole owners of the publication and printing plant, the latter being located at High and Charlotte streets, Pottstown.
P. Quinn Roth, as a member of a widely known family of newspaper workers of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was one of the small group who became identified with the Allentown Item when it was founded as one of the first daily papers in that city in 1881. Mr. Roth became identified in 1896 with the Norristown Times, and with his practical experience as a printer, writer, circulation builder, and his executive ability, aided in bringing The Times to the front rank, where it was leading all others in Montgomery county, when he retired therefrom in October, 1921, to assume the management of the Pottstown Ledger. He finally acquired the Ledger in September, 1922. Mr. Roth and his sons have long been identified with the Bucks-Montgomery Press League.
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Earl R. Roth, one of the three sons of the president of the Pottstown Ledger, is directing the editorial work of the Ledger as one of the young- est men in editorial charge of a daily newspaper. He is a protegé of the Norristown Times, having gained his early experience under the tutor- ship of his father. He was selected to place the Bristol (Pennsylvania) Courier on the progressive road, and in three years established it in a new and ideal printing home. Later he was selected to place the affairs of the Ridgefield Park (New Jersey) Review on the road to success. Assuming the editorship of the Ledger in November, 1921, he has gained a host of friends for himself and the Ledger by his aggressive writings and splendid newspaper work. He is an active Rotarian and Elk, and regarded as an authority on music, and a critic of marked ability.
Raymond W. Roth, editor and publisher of The Call, of New Cum- berland, Pennsylvania, was also a protegé of the Norristown Times under his father's tutorship. Upon his discharge from the United States army service he became identified with the Bristol Courier and in 1921 he acquired The Call. In due time he, too, will be actively identified with the Ledger.
The first newspaper in Pottstown was started in 1819 by John Rover, under the name of the Pottstown Times. The first issue bears date July I, 1819, a four-page paper, four columns to the page, and these copies are in a good state of preservation. February 5, 1825, Daniel Glackens and Joshua Keeley established the Lafayette Aurora, a twenty-column weekly. In 1826 Jacob S. Yost purchased Mr. Keeley's interest in the Aurora. The political proclivities of both newspapers were Democratic. Later, John Royer started a German paper, called The Advocate, and Mr. Yost another German paper which he named The Friend of the People. For a period there were four newspapers in Pottstown. When J. C. Slemmer finally purchased the Pottstown Times, he changed the name to the Pottstown Journal. Finally, on November 10, 1843, Mr. Slemmer merged the publication with the Montgomery Ledger, a publi- cation that for many years thereafter was the only newspaper published in Pottstown. On April 16, 1845, Andrew H. Giffen and Jacob D. Streeper became the editors and publishers. In 1849 Mr. Streeper became the sole editor and publisher. On April 1, 1854, Lewis H. Davis became associated in the editorship, and a year later (April 1, 1855), he became one of the owners. Colonel W. L. Williamson, on April 1, 1857, acquired Mr. Streeper's one-half interest, and William J. Binder, on April 1, 1866, purchased Colonel Williamson's interest in The Ledger. On October I, 1873, Messrs. Davis and Binder established the Daily Ledger. In 1879 L. H. Davis sold his interest in both the Montgomery Ledger and the Daily Ledger and printing plant to Mr. William J. Binder, the latter becoming sole owner and publisher. In 1890 Hilton S. Binder, oldest son of the publisher, became associate editor, a post he held for thirty-one
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years. On April 5, 1920, William J. Binder sold The Pottstown Ledger to Paul L. Diefenderfer, Mr. Binder retiring after an uninterrupted period of over fifty-four years. The Pottstown Ledger Company then became incorporated with these officers: President, James H. Morris; vice-president, William M. Bunting; Paul L. Diefenderfer, secretary, treasurer and manager. On October 10, 1921, Mr. Diefenderfer's inter- ests were acquired by P. Quinn Roth, who became the treasurer and manager. On September 8, 1922, P. Quinn Roth, H. E. Roth and Earl Roth, acquired all the interests in the Ledger, and became the owners and publishers.
The Pottstown News really had its birth in the establishing of the Pottstown Advertiser, by David A. Geiger, in October, 1873. Mr. Geiger died in 1877, and the plant passed to A. R. Saylor in June, 1879. He changed the name of the paper to The Chronicle, which it was called until it became the Pottstown Daily News, by P. Elmwood Baum. This change was made in October, 1887, when Baum took the paper and con- tinued to conduct it five months, when he was found dead in his office, with pen in hand and close to his unfinished editorial; he was in the prime of his manhood. He it was who changed the name of The Chron- icle to the Pottstown Daily News. Thomas Taylor conducted the paper then until 1902, after which it was the Pottstown Daily News Publishing Company. In 1913 the word "Daily" was dropped from its head, making it simply the Pottstown News. Great changes in this newspaper since A. R. Saylor and his "tramp printer" used to run on a Washington hand- press five hundred papers and then take them out and deliver the most of them around town, and these days when it takes a troop of seventeen boys and men to deliver the 3,900 papers in Pottstown and Stowe every morning. It now has a regular circulation of 7,230 copies daily. It was started as a four-page four-column paper, and now appears as a twelve- page seven-column daily paper. It circulates in a territory covering one hundred square miles, including five rural routes, with almost 1,700 papers daily. This modern plant is housed in a three-story brick building 20 by 60 feet, all used for the extensive printing business carried on. Polit- ically, it is independent. As to its equipment, all that needs to be said is that all is modern and up-to-date machinery, including five linotypes, casting machines, trimmers, paper-cutters, job presses and a duplex flat- bed press for a twelve-page paper. Anything demanded from a modern printery can here be obtained.
The Pottstown Blade was established on December 13, 1890, by L. R. Saylor, and was conducted later in the following names: L. R. Saylor Estate, L. R. Saylor Sons, L. R. Saylor Sons, Incorporated. The presi- dent of the company is George H. Saylor, who is also the editor. It is published every Saturday morning ; is a six-column per page (sometimes seven), four or more pages ; it is all printed at home, and has a good local
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circulation. The company owns its own building at III High street, a three-story brick structure. Politically, The Blade is independent. It is well equipped with modern printing machinery, including one linotype, four jobbers, two cylinder presses, power cutter, two steel make-up tables, power punch and perforating machine, power wire stitcher, job folder, with other useful, up-to-date appliances for executing the best of printer's work, even up to that high up in art. As a clean, news-full local newspaper, The Blade stands for all that is good in the community.
The Souderton Independent, in the borough of Souderton, was estab- lished in 1878 by W. F. Goettler, and has been conducted by this gentle- man together with his son. In size and form this newspaper is an eight- to twelve-page paper, with seven columns to the page. It is an all- home print, and issues on Friday each week, though really printed on Thursday afternoons. Its subscription rate is $1.50 per year. The Inde- pendent circulates mostly at Souderton, Telford, Hatfield borough and Franconia township, Montgomery county, and in Hilltown township and Silverdale in Bucks county. The proprietors own their own office build- ing, which is a one-story brick structure with a deep basement 35 by 72 feet in size. The paper is a live local organ, with modern equipment, including job printing machinery-three cylinder presses, three rotaries, two linotype machines, a stitcher, folder, cutter and all that makes up a first class office to-day.
The Ardmore Record, of Ardmore, Lower Merion township, was established in 1892, and is published every Thursday and has a circula- tion of 1,500. It was founded by James Dougherty, Haverford, and taken over by Senator Algernon B. Roberts. Its present owner is Fanny M. Hawkins, who has conducted it as a live, clean local newspaper for the last seven years. It has eight pages of seven columns to the page; is Republican in politics, and is equipped with a cylinder press, five job- bers, paper cutter, folder, stitcher, and near three hundred fonts of Moser faced type.
Bucks-Montgomery Press League-No history of the newspapers of Montgomery county would be complete without the story of the organ- ization and the past of the Press League of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, these counties constituting the Eighth Congressional District of Pennsylvania, for in a sense the history of the League is a history of the newspapers and their editors and publishers. The organization is now twenty-six years old, and throughout its existence has been most valuable in promoting the business and social interests of the publica- tions, and their managers and writers.
The following brief sketch of the League was written by one of its veteran members, E. S. Moser, of the Collegeville Independent, and printed in the souvenir menu card on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary dinner at the Bellevue-Stratford :
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In approaching the task of formulating historical data relating to the Press League of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, I am conscious of a defective memory. This deficiency excludes the presentation of numer- ous notable incidents that contributed no small measure of gratifying interest to all who participated in the winter and summer meetings of our League. Therefore, my effort in large part must comprehend only facts of record found among the official notations of the secretary.
It was the "housewarming" of the Ambler Gazette that occasioned the inspiration that materialized in the organization of an association of editors and publishers. On March 22, 1897, representatives of a number of newspapers of Bucks and Montgomery counties met at Ambler to inspect the new home of the Gazette-an imposing building reared at the instigation of Arthur K. Thomas, owner, publisher and editor of that newspaper. Editor Thomas, then full of energy and enterprise, was foremost in effecting preliminary arrangements at the "housewarming" for the organization of what subsequently came to be known as the Press League of Bucks and Montgomery Counties. It was upon his motion that a temporary organization was there formed by electing B. Witman Dambly temporary president, and C. D. Hotchkiss secretary. After discussion, concerning the desirability of effectuating the purpose of the temporary organization, a committee of five editors and publish- ers from each county was appointed to take further action. This com- mittee, composed of Morgan R. Wills, E. S. Moser, J. W. Harvey, I. H. Bardman, B. Witman Dambly, of Montgomery county, and Fred Con- stantine, W. P. Church, C. D. Hotchkiss, George MacReynolds and S. R. Kramer, of Bucks county, met on Monday, April 26, 1897, at 3 p. m., at the Tremont House, Lansdale. Following the expression of unanimous sentiment in favor of the object of the meeting of the committee, upon motion of E. S. Moser a resolution was passed, extending to the editors and publishers of Bucks and Montgomery counties an invitation to attend a meeting at the Tremont House, Lansdale, on Monday, May 10, 1897, 3 p. m., to permanently organize an editorial association.
In response to this invitation a number of editors and publishers of the two counties gathered at the appointed time and place. Upon motion of H. M. Woodmansee, seconded by E. S. Moser, it was decided to effect a permanent organization, and the following officers were elected : President, A. K. Thomas; vice-president, Watson P. Church ; secretary, Clarence D. Hotchkiss; treasurer, B. Witman Dambly. The members of the first executive committee were: J. Clinton Sellers, Wilmer H. Johnson, E. S. Moser, George Harrison, William L. Clayton, George Fetterolf and A. K. Thomas. Upon motion of J. C. Sellers, it was decided to call the association "The Press League of Bucks and Mont- gomery Counties." A committee consisting of C. D. Hotchkiss, H. M. Woodmansee, Wilmer H. Johnson, A. K. Thomas and George MacRey- nolds, drafted the constitution and by-laws, which were adopted. The following members signed the constitution: A. K. Thomas, Ambler; C. D. Hotchkiss, Doylestown ; J. W. Harvey, Lansdale ; Elwood Harvey, Lansdale ; E. S. Moser, Collegeville ; Wilmer H. Johnson, North Wales; William L. Clayton, Jenkintown; H. M. Woodmansee, Lansdale; George Harrison, Hulmeville; Jesse Thomas, Bristol; Jesse Thomas, Jr., Bristol; J. Clinton Sellers, Doylestown; Fred Constantine, Doylestown ; B. Witman Dambly, Skippack ; E. E. Althouse, Sellersville.
Of the first signers, as named, of the constitution of the League, five
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have passed away, namely : Wilmer H. Johnson, J. Wilmot Harvey, H. M. Woodmansee, C. D. Hotchkiss and William L. Clayton. They are all remembered as having been loyal and helpful contributors to the uni- formly successful existence of the League. To A. K. Thomas, a most active member in former years, and who, because of impaired health, is no longer engaged in newspaper work, is here extended the sympathetic consideration of all who well remember his service and good will, as one of the founders and enthusiastic supporters of the League.
On Monday, May 24, another meeting was held, when arrangements were made to hold the first summer meeting and outing of the League at Ringing Rocks Park, near Pottstown, on July 14, 1897. The dates and places of all the annual meetings and summer outings of the League will hereinafter appear.
In glancing backward over the quarter of a century which marks the 25th anniversary of the Press League of Bucks and Montgomery Coun- ties, recollections of its activities and its helpfulness may well serve as impelling incentives to the present membership, and to those who in coming years will take our places, and continue its existence. But few relatively unimportant incidents during all the annual meetings and outings of the League provoked displeasure or aroused resentment, thus indicating a remarkable unanimity of purpose and sentiment, and gener- ous considerateness, one for the other, on the part of the League's membership.
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