USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 25
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ALTOONA PUBLICATIONS.
In the spring of 1855 William H. and J. A. Snyder began the publication of the first news- paper ever publshed in Altoona. They used the equipment of the Standing Stone Banner and their paper was called the Altoona Regis- ter. After some four or five months it was discontinued, and the materials of the office were purchased by E. B. McCrum and Wil- liam H. Allison, who commenced the Altoona Tribune, Jan. 1, 1856. On the Ist of May, 1858, Mr. Allison disposed of his interest to H. C. Dern, and July 19, 1875, the interest of Mr. McCrum passed into the hands of Hugh Pitcairn, who, with Mr. Dern, con- ducted the paper until Mr. Dern's death in September, 1905.
The Daily Tribune was first issued by McCrum and Dern, April 14th, 1873, which,
W. H. SCHWARTZ
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after an existence of just two years, was discontinued. On the 28th of January, 1878, Dern & Pitcairn resumed the daily edition, which with the weekly, continues to be published. The Tribune has always been an advocate of the principles of the repub- lican party, and long regarded as the official organ of the party. Adam J. Green per- formed editorial work on the Tribune for a number of years. On the first of February, 1881, he was succeeded by W. H. Schwartz, who in an editorial capacity had been con- nected with the Altoona Sun and the Al- toona Tribune for some years prior. Mr. Schwarts is a native of Williamsburg, Blair county, and is incomparably the most versa- tile writer the county has ever produced. His editorials have served to place the Tribune in the front rank of Pennsylvania journals, and as his active service antedates that of all others now in the field, he is the dean of the profession in the county.
Following the death of H. C. Dern in 1905, the company was reorganized, the in- terest of Mr. Dern being retained by his family. The company is called the Altoona Tribune company, with Hugh Pitcairn as president, Henry C. Dern, treasurer, Alonzo D. Houck, general manager and secretary. E. Warren Everhart has been the city edi- tor of the Tribune for many years. Others who have long been connected with the staff of the Tribune are J. Virgil Taylor, chief of the reportorial staff; W. M. Withe- row, circulation manager, and Parson H. Crawford, advertising manager.
The Altoona Vindicator was established by James F. Camblell May, Ist, 1868. In February, 1869, the office was practically destroyed by fire. New material was at once secured, but on the 10th day of Decem- ber, 1869, Daniel W. Moore became its owner, who changed the name to Altoona Sun, June 2nd, 1870. It was then variously managed, Moore & Son, Moore & McKin- ney and again by D. W. Moore alone. John W. McKinney entered the firm February Ioth, 1871. The Daily Sun was first issued
May 2nd, 1870, and was continued seven months. W. H. Schwartz was its first city editor.
On the Ioth of May, 1874, the office was purchased by the brothers, N. C. and Cyrus N. Barclay, who enlarged the paper Janu- ary 1, 1879. In November of that year a joint stock company was organized, com- posed of a large number of the most active democrats of Blair, Cambria, Huntingdon and Somerset counties, for the purpose of establishing a daily democratic paper in Altoona in connection with the Weekly Sun.
The organization, under the title of the Sun Printing and Publishing company, was completed Nov. 25th, 1879, by the election of the following board of directors: An- drew J. Riley, Esq., John P. Levan, George W. Good, N. C. Barclay, S. M. Woodcock, M. Fitzharris, F. D. Casanave and R. W. Guthrie This board of directors at a subse- quent meeting elected A. J. Riley president, N. C. Barclay treasurer and business mana- ger, and R. W. Guthrie clerk. William P. Furey was elected managing editor, John M. Furey city editor and C. N. Barclay su- perintendent of the printing department.
Under this management the first number of the Altoona Daily Sun was issued Dec. IIth, 1879. On the 17th of March, 1881, however, the property of the Sun Printing and Publishing company was sold at public sale, when Messrs N. C. and C. N. Barclay purchased the same and continued the pub- lication of the Daily and Weekly Sun.
The publication of the Daily Sun was dis- continued after a few years, and the weekly was continued up to 1892, when the Ga- zette company was formed, and the equip- ment was sold to that company, the Bar- clays retaining an interest for a few years in the Gazette company.
The Altoona Evening Gazette, the youngest of the four daily newspapers at present occupying the field in Altoona, was organized in March, 1892, the first edition appearing on April 5th. A stock company was formed, the chief of whom were the
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Barclays, who had conducted the Sun, and Rev. P. G. and James M. Bell, and the equip- ment of the Sun was purchased. The paper's first home was located at No. 1012 Green avenue, where it remained three years, and then removed to 1327 Eleventh avenue. It remained at this location until the completion of the magnificent four-story brick building at IIIO Fifteenth street, which has since been its home, the plant occupying the first and fourth floors and the basement of the building.
Warner H. Bell was the managing editor of the paper from the time of its establish- ment until 1902. He was one of the most able and fearless editors that ever wielded a pen in the county. When he had anything to say he said it in a manner that admitted of no dispute. Under his management the Gazette soon came to be recognized as a power in the community. The Gazette is republican in principle and throughout its history has taken an active part in all political campaigns.
In 1901 the Gazette company was reor- ganized and James H. Craig, Esq., at the present time deputy secretary of internal affairs of the commonwealth of Pennsyl- vania, acquired a controlling interest in the paper and became the editor in chief, a po- sition he still holds. Upon the retirement of Mr. Bell from the position of managing editor, this position was assumed by David H. Myers, who had previously been the city editor. Mr. Myers was one of the most virile of the younger class of newspaper edi- tors in the state, and what promised to be a brilliant career was cut short by his un- timely death in 1904. He was succeeded by Jesse C. Sell, Esq., a member of the Blair county bar, who has held the position ever since.
The business manager of the paper for a number of years was H. Mack Fair. He re- tired in 1902, since when the business inter- ests and general management of the paper have been in the hands of William B. Swayne, who has been identified with the
Gazette from the beginning. Arthur B. Clark, the present city treasurer of Altoona, was advertising manager up to the time of his election in 1905, and recently has ac- quired a financial interest in the paper. Among those who have at one time or an- other been members of the editorial staff and have contributed a share in bringing the Gazette to the front rank of Pennsyl- vania dailies were Frank Bell, Edward Banks, George Herring, Harry Reilly, Arthur S. James, Bayard W. Gable, R. Max Lewis, Harry P. Hays and Charles B. Sha- ver. Mr. Shaver is the present city editor.
The Altoona Baptist, first a folio, but afterwards changed to a quarto, and pub- lished in the interest of the First Baptist church of Altoona, was established in No- vember, 1873, Rev. William Codville, edi- tor. It was published by Harry Slep for about one year, when it was discontinued.
In 1874 D. B. Ream commenced the pub- lication of a temperance paper in Altoona, called the Living Age, but notwithstanding its title, it survived by a brief period, and the material being purchased by George J. Akers, he established a Sunday paper called the Globe, which after a couple of months, or in the beginning of the year 1877, was converted into a daily. The paper was con- tinued by Mr. Akers for some time, but lacking support, it was discontinued. It was purchased by John Tomlinson and was run as a greenback paper, but this enterprise also failing, its publication ceased.
The Home Base, a baseball weekly, was published during the season of 1876 by Frank E. McCullough at the Mirror Print- ing House.
The Gospel Trumpet was established in 1878 by T. B. Patton. It was printed at the Mirror office and was circulated gratuit- ously.
The Altoona Advance was issued by Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Rynder, May 3, 1879. It was devoted to commercial purposes, and temperance, and politically advocated the principles of the greenback party, also labor
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reform, high tariff, high wages and cash payments. It was delivered free to every home in the city. It was first printed by Harry Slep, but later on at the Call office and soon after was discontinued.
In August, 1879, E. J. Slep commenced the publication of the Youth's Mirror. It was at first issued monthly, but in course of time it was changed to a semi-monthly. It has long since ceased to exist.
The Altoona Mirror was born June 13, 1874, on the second floor of the original Bowman block, at the corner of Eleventh avenue and Twelfth street, it being started, as Altoona's first penny newspaper, by the firm of Slep & Akers, consisting of Mr. Harry Slep, who previously had come here from Harrisburg and was conducting the Mir- ror Printing House, a job printing establish- ment, and Mr. George J. Akers.
The paper was a four-column, four-paged edition, which at once met with popular favor, and the paper soon had to be en- larged, the price being then raised to two cents. Mr. Akers withdrew from the firm in 1877, and was succeeded by W. J. Flem- ing, who retired shortly after, and Mr. Slep conducted it alone until December 11, 1878, when he was forced to retire on account of ill health, and it passed into the hands of his editor and business manager, W. K. Buck- ingham and W. S. Nicodemus, respectively, who conducted it under the name of Buck- ingham & Nicodemus.
The name was changed to the Democra- tic Call, but the new firm failed to prosper and their attorneys, Alexander & Herr, had to take it over to protect themselves. In 1879 E. B. Haines purchased it, changed the name to the Evening Call and in 1885 was forced to suspend the publication and move the Call to Harrisburg.
Meanwhile Harry Slep and his eldest son, W. H. Slep, had continued the job printing office in the former's own one-story build- ing in the rear of 1122 Eleventh avenue, and in February, 1881, they moved the Mirror Printing House into a new two-story build-
ing they purchased for a permanent home, at 1012 Eleventh avenue.
The Mirror was re-established June 16, 1888, with W. H. Slep as publisher, and was issued from his father's plant, the volume and number being taken up where they had been left off when the Call had been started. The younger Slep was not long in discovering that he needed a guiding hand, and the man for the place was the elder Slep. So the news- paper and job offices were consolidated, and the firm of H. & W. H. Slep was formed July 4, 1890.
Prosperity attended the new firm. The price was again placed at one cent, while the other city papers were charging two, and the circulation boomed from the start. More commodious quarters became neces- sary, and on May 21st, 1892, was issued the first paper from the new three-story build- ing erected on the lot adjoining 1012 Elev- enth avenue. For a time the paper then stood still, during the panic of 1893, but, the effects of that past, boomed rapidly and, on June 13, 1896, the old method of printing a paper was abandoned and the first copy is- sued printed with the use of the Mergen- thaler linotype, the Mirror being the first paper in central Pennsylvania to install these modern machines.
Prosperity again brought a demand for larger quarters and the corner lot, 1000 Eleventh avenue, was purchased and a fine three-story brick building, with basement, erected for a permanent home. On Nov. 7, 1899, flames swept the old building, se- riously crippling the plant, but the paper only missed one issue, and, in March, 1900, moved into its present home.
'A serious blow to the Mirror was the death, on December 8, 1906, of W. H. Slep, following which, on June 13, 1907, the Mir- ror Printing company was incorporated, this corporation now owning and publishing the paper. The stock is all in the Slep family, there being no outside interests. The offi- cers of the corporation are: Harry Slep, president ; J. G. Humes, secretary-treasurer :
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Edward J. Slep and Daniel Neff Slep, H., E. J., D. N., A. M. Slep and J. G. Humes are directors.
The present editorial force of the paper is: Harry L. Johnston, editor; Elmer C. Ake, city editor; R. Max Lewis, John N. Tillard and Edward E. Murphy, reporters.
The Altoona Times .- The Times is the expounder of democratic principles in the city of Altoona and possesses an influence which is felt over a wide extent of territory. The Times was founded in the year 1882 by a company of which Henry A. McPike was the head, and was conducted as an evening paper. In 1884 it became a morning publi- cation, under the proprietorship of the Times Publishing company, Frank E. Mc- Cullough and George F. Fresh being among those identified with the ownership and management. On November 26, 1891, the Times Publishing company transferred its interest in the paper to Potter Stahl & Co. A year later the firm name was changed to Potter, Lawyer & Stahl, and a little later Potter, Greer & Kelley. In 1905 Messrs. Potter and Kelley retired from the firm and a stock company, known as the Altoona Times company was formed, with Charles A. Greer as general manager and editor in chief. Mr. Greer retired in 1908 and the po- sition is now held by Charles M. Kelley. W. J. Heinsling is the president of the com- pany and William Hahman treasurer. The Times is a member of the Associated Press and the official organ of the municipality of Altoona.
Identified with the business management of the Times from the day it was estab- lished to the present time, has been Homer F. Coon. For a period of sixteen years, ending in 1903, Charles J. Wehrle was the editor. Harry L. Johnston was the city editor from 1892 to 1899, and Elmer K. Rupp held this position from 1899 to 1904, when he was succeeded by Charles M. Kelley. Mr. Kelley, John S. Borring and William Stonebraker constitute the present editorial force.
When established the Times was located in a building at Eleventh avenue and Four- teenth street. After a few years it was movd to the Alexander block at Eleventh avenue between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, where it remained until the com- pletion of the present handsome four-story brick structure on Eleventh avenue between Eleventh and Twelfth streets, which was erected by the Times company in 1905.
SUNDAY NEWSPAPERS.
In May, 1881, Dr. M. J. Buck and Messrs. F. A. Ward and George J. Akers originated the Sunday Morning Publishing company, limited, and on Sunday, May 27th, the Sun- day Morning, a paper to be published every Sunday morning, made its first appearance. Mr. Akers was city editor and business man- ager, while Mrs. M. E. Furey became the editor. In November, Mr. Akers retired from the company, his place being taken by W. H. Slep, of the Mirror, as stockholder and business manager. In the fall of 1882 Homer Vaughn was employed as city editor and business manager, Mr. Slep retiring.
In July, 1883, the office of the Sunday Morning was entirely destroyed by fire. In the spring the paper had passed into the en- tire ownership of Dr. Buck, who then sold out to Jacob Smith. Mrs. Furey remained with him as editor, and Mr. Vaughan en- gaged in a newspaper enterprise for himself, starting a Sunday paper called The News. In 1887 Mr. Vaughn purchased the Sunday Morning from Mr. Smith, who had in the meantime changed its title to The Graphic and consolidated the two papers into The Graphic News. Mrs. Furey was still re- tained as editor under the new regime. Mr. Vaughn died in August, 1889, and in Sep- tember of the same year the plant was pur- chased by Walter J. Hamor. Mrs. Furey remained as editor until January, 1891, and was succeeded by T. S. Fettinger, who had previously been identified with the Sunday Morning.
The Graphic News ceased to exist as a
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Sunday newspaper in 1895, since when there has been no Sunday newspaper in Altoona. In that year Mr. Hamor, who had been elected city clerk, sold his interest to J. D. Hicks and J. S. Elway, who formed a com- pany and started the Daily News. William B. Hicks, son of J. D. Hicks, was installed as editor and business manager. The News was a morning newspaper and it was issued for about one year, when it ceased to exist. The Graphic News was independent polit- ically, while the Daily News supported Re- publican principles and candidates.
Rev. W. W. Dunmire came to Altoona in 1886 and established the Daily Independ- ent. The Independent flourished for a number of years, either as a daily or as a weekly, subsequently becoming, as a weekly, an organ of the American Protect- ive association, the editor waging constant warfare against the Catholic church. In the later years of its existence it was called the Independent Loyal American. Its pub- lication ceased in 1900, and the equipment of the office passed into the hands of Rev. Dunmire's son, Harvey C. Dunmire, who has since conducted what is known as the Franklin Printery, issuing no publication. Associated with Mr. Dunmire in the busi- ness is Mr. L. P. Levan.
GERMAN NEWSPAPERS.
Altoona has two German newspapers. The German People's Leader was issued by Harry Slep, March 28, for the benefit of the German people, it being the first Ger- man paper issued in the county. In March, 1881, Mr. Slep sold it to L. G. Lamade, who has since conducted it. Mr. Lamade afterwards changed its name to The Deut- cher Volksfuhrer. It is issued weekly from the office, which is located at Ninth avenue and Thirteenth street.
On June 6, 1901, G. H. Hemminger began issuing The Deutche Wacht, a German weekly, which he has issued regularly since. Mr. Hemminger has a well equipped plant, located at Sixth avenue and Twelfth
street, it being the only German newspaper office between Pittsburg and Philadelphia equipped with a type-setting machine.
Altoona also has an Italian weekly news- paper, the L'Operaio Italiano. The paper had been issued for two years in the town of Windber, Somerset county, and was moved to Altoona on January 22, 1910. The proprietors are Michael S. Paretta and Giacomo Fusco, while G. Gesari acts as ed- itor. It is a four-page paper and is called a newspaper of instruction and working- men's interest. The establishment is lo- cated at 605-7 Ninth avenue.
The Yellow Dog, afterwards called The Critic, was started by Jacob Kinsel about 1897 and issued monthly for a number of years. It was devoted to the interests of the workingmen. It was at first issued at the Mirror office and later the proprietor established his own office. It was discon- tinued in 1905.
The Brown Booklet, established by Harry L. Johnston and Bayard W. Gable, was first issued April 3, 1901, and continued until August of the same year. It was is- sued monthly from the Mirror office and was an iconoclastic and literary magazine. It created quite a stir in the community during its short existence.
The Musical Advocate, a monthly publi- cation, was started in July, 1877. R. B. Ma- haffey was the editor and proprietor. It survived only a few years.
Our Work, a monthly, was established in February, 1880. It was published by the Young People's Christian association of the Second Presbyterian church. It was printed at the Mirror office and was discon- tinued in June, 1881.
The Bookkeeper and Penman was started in August, 1880 by J. F. Davis, editor and proprietor. It was soon discontinued.
The Sunday Morning, a weekly eight col- umn folio, was established by George J. Akers in June, 1881. It was printed at the Mirror office, and was discontinued in about a year.
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The first Altoona city directory of any consequence was published in 1873 by Thomas H. Greevy. This was followed by a directory for 1875-6 by the same author. The directory for 1878-9 was published by William H. Renner of Altoona. Later on for a number of years C. B. Clark issued a directory, and since 1900 it has been pub- lished in alternate years by R. L. Polk & Co.
In the year 1875, George J. Akers com- piled The Mirror Hand Book and Compen- dium of Facts, a pamphlet of 47 pages. Harry Slep was the publisher.
In the early part of 1879, The First Ven- ture, a book of 60 pages, containing poetical quotations and other reading matter, was prepared by Harry I. Woods and was printed by Harry Slep.
During the year 1880 James H. Ewing and Harry Slep edited a history of Altoona and brief sketches of the chief towns of the county, besides a considerable amount of other important information.
St. John's Quarterly, more recently called The Quarterly, has been issued regu- larly during the past ten years by the Rev. Dr. Morgan M. Sheedy, rector of St. John's Catholic church. It is devoted to the inter- ests of religion, education and literature.
TYRONE NEWSPAPERS.
The Iron Democrat, a weekly paper, was established in 1856. The editor was D. A. McGheehan. After one year the pa- per suspended for want of patronage. The material was sold and removed.
The American Era was established by a stock company in Tyrone about the year 1856, with W. S. H. Keys as editor, after- wards Benjamin Jones. The project failed. After a period of suspension the Era was revived as The Tyrone Herald by Robert Stoddard, which paper was suspended in about a year thereafter. After lying dor- mant for some time the Herald was revived as The Tyrone Star by James Bell, but af- ter a year or two is passed out of existence, being next revived as The Herald by H. R.
Holsinger. After being issued for six months it was discontinued for want of pat- ronage.
The Western Hemisphere was estab- lished by a stock company about 1860 and had J. W. Scott and Cyrus Jefferies as ed- itors. The aim was to make it a high-toned literary paper, rather than a local news- paper. Its existence was brief. It failed for want of support.
The Christian Family Companion was es- tablished in 1864 or '65 by H. R. Holsinger as a church paper and was the first success- ful effort made in publishing a paper in Ty- rone. During the time of its publication, in August, 1867, The Tyrone Herald by Holsinger, and The Tyrone Blade by M. H. Jolly, entered the field sumultaneously. The Herald had the advantage of better equip- ment and succeeded and the Blade after a brief but ineffectual struggle ceased to exist.
Messrs. J. L. Holmes and Charles S. W. Jones became the owners of the Herald April 1, 1868. In 1869 Mr. Jones became the sole owner. In 1871 W. H. H. Brain- ard became a partner and Al Tyhurst in 1875. On the morning of July 8, 1880, the Herald building with much valuable ma- terial was destroyed by fire. However, through the perseverance of the publisher, the paper was issued regularly as though nothing had happened. It subsequently was issued as a daily and as such has been published to the present time. Since the death of C. S. W. Jones in 1905, its editor and publisher has been Claude Jones, at present register and recorder of Blair county.
The Tyrone Blade was established by J. L. Holmes, June 1, 1870. George Stroup became its owner, November 22, 1872, who changed the name to The Tyrone Demo- crat and continued its publication until July 8, 1880, when the office was destroyed by fire. This was the end of its existence.
The Tyrone, started as semi-weekly, June 1, 1880, was soon after changed to a weekly, and as such has continued until
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the present time. The first proprietors were J. N. Holmes and Mr. Wooden. It is now conducted by Harry A Thompson, who has been one of Blair county's repre- sentatives in the state legislature the past four years.
WILLIAMSBURG NEWSPAPERS.
Dr. J. P. Thompson commenced the pub- lication of The Temperance Vindicator in 1868. In 1870 he sold out to George F. Mc- Farland, who removed the office fixtures to Harrisburg and the press to Bedford.
The Williamsburg Independent was es- tablished by Rev. W. W. Dunmire in May, 1884. It was a seven-column folio. It was afterwards moved to Altoona.
BELLWOOD.
The Bellwood Bulletin was started by J. W. Elway, February 28, 1888, and was sold to W. F. Balsbach, January 1, 1901, who has continued its publication to the present time. It is an independent weekly devoted to the interests of the town.
MARTINSBURG.
The Cove Echo was established in 1874 by Henry and John Brumbaugh and was subsequently sold to B. F. Lehman. In 1885 the name was changed to the Martins- burg Herald and as such it has since been known. It is published by the Herald Print- ing company, limited, with H. S. Burket as president; H. W. Burket, secretary and general manager, and M. Z. Bassler, treas- urer and editor. It is an eight-page weekly.
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