USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I > Part 65
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The Beacon Light began March 11th, 1829, by W. A. Brown, and was continued but a short time. In May following the same publisher started The Little Genius, which also had but a brief existence. Ilie Literary Subaltern was at first a semi-weekly, commencing January 1st, 1829. At the close of its first year it became a weekly paper. William Marshall, its first publisher, continued it until October 2d. 1829, when he transferred it to John W. D. Hall and Brown Simmons. The latter soon became sole publisher, and so continued till Novem- ber 30th, 1832, when he sold it to Sylvester S. Southworth, who con- tinued it but a short time. This was a literary and political, but independent paper, and was edited from the beginning by Mr. South- worth. The Providence Free Press, having for some time been pub- lished in Pawtucket, was first issued in Providence in April. 1830. It was published but a single year, and was the organ of the anti- Masonic party in the state. The Chronicle of the Times was first issued September 18th, 1831. Its editor and proprietor was Bennett H. Wheeler, and its existence extended to only a few numbers. An occasional publication, of a peculiar character, called The Scourge, was issued in the year 1810. Its contents were personal and offen- sive, and it bore no responsible name.
The Daily City Gascite was established February 2d, 1833. It was edited and published by Sylvester S. Southworth and Stephen G. Holroyd. After issuing it nine months the name was changed to the City Gasette, and it was issued weekly for a time, but soon after was discontinued. The Voice of the People was issued for a short time
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
in 1834, by a Mr. Doyle. The Evening Star was started in April, 1834. It was edited and published by Charles Haswell for a few weeks, then by Nathan Hall and Cornelius S. Jones. The name was subse- quently changed to Daily News, under which title it was issued until August, 1836, when it was discontinued. The Commercial Advertise was established as a daily in June, 1834. It was published by Knowles & Burroughs, every evening, until September of the same year, when it was suspended. The New England Family Visitor was a weekly reprint from the Advertiser. The Penny Post was established in January, 1835, being edited and published by Samuel S. Wilson .. In the following July its name was changed to the Weekly Visitor. Under this name it continued till November, when it was discontin- ued. The Morning Courier was established in June, 1836, by William G. Larned. It was issued weekly until January. 1840, when it was absorbed in the Daily Journal. The Gaspee Torchlight was a campaign paper, edited by William B. Watson, and published from the Journal office for three months preceding the presidential election of 1840. It was devoted to presenting the claims of Harrison. During the same time the opposing candidate was championed by another paper -The Extinguisher- issued from the office of the Herald during the campaign.
The New Age, established February 19th, 1841, was published suc- cessively by the Rhode Island Suffrage Association, by Millard & Brown, composed of Samuel M. Millard and John A. Brown, and by. Millard, Low & Miller, Samuel Low and William J. Miller having joined Millard in the firm. The paper, which was issued weekly, was discontinued March 1st, 1842. From the same office The Daily Express was started on the 18th of the same month, but it was of short duration. The Evening Chronicle was established March 30th, 1842, edited and published by Joseph M. Church. It did not live through its first year. A weekly edition associated with it was entitled 7/c Varragansett Chief. In 1844 The Daily Transcript and Chronicle was. started by L. Amsbury. It was issued at one o'clock in the after- noon. In July, 1847, the name was changed to Daily Evening Tran- script, and it was published after that till June 18th. 1855, by Greene. & Shaw. The name was then changed to the Daily Transcript and it was edited by A. Crawford Greene, and was discontinued December 19th, 1855. The Independent was published weekly for a short time in 1844, by W. S. Sherman. The Tribune of the People was established in 1846, and discontinued during the same year.
The Daily Sentinel was established in 1846. It was published during its short period of existence by S. M. Millard, C. Webster, G. W. Danielson, and James A. Miller. The General Advertiser. an ad- vertising sheet, then as now issued weekly, and circulated gratui- tously, was established in 1847. It is issued at the present time at 33' Canal street, by A. Crawford Greene & Son, the title being General Ad-
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
vertiser and Weekly Gasette. The Day Star was published during 1849 and 1850. The Morning Mirror was published a short time in 1849, by Rowe & Co. The Providence Daily Tribune was established June 13th, 1853, by A. Crawford Greene. It was afterward published by L. Ams- bury, and later by Colby & Amsbury, and was discontinued October 4th, 1859. From the same office was issued The United States Free- man, an abolitionist paper, for a short time edited by Dunbar Harris, Reverend A. Redlon, and others. The Providence Plaindealer was published during 1855, by Howard Meeks. Bangs' Trumpet was pub- lished weekly, by N. Bangs Williams during 1857 and 1858. The Evening Telegraph was published by N. Bangs Williams and Henry L. Tillinghast, during a short time in 1859. The Providence Evening Press was established by Cook & Danielson, March 14th, 1859. It had an existence of about a quarter of a century, during which time it passed through many hands, and at some times was in a prosperous condition. After coming through many vicissitudes it fell at last a victim to unsuccessful management, and was discontinued Septem- ber 30th, 1884. The large printing office which it owned and em- ployed is still in successful working in the hands of Messrs. Snow & Farnham, who employ a large force and do a great range and quantity of job, pamphlet and book printing, including the reports and other work of the city government. The Rhode Island Press was estab- lished in 1861, as the weekly edition of the Evening Press and Morning Star. It was continued after the suspension of the Evening Press, but was suspended in 1886. In recent years it was published by Messrs. Z. L. White & Co., who also published the Providence Morning Star, which also suspended in 1886. The Star was started December 9th, 1869. The Sun was established December 4th, 1873, and was edited by Lester E. Ross. It was issued weekly until November 20th, 1876, and afterward daily for a short time, when it was discontinued. The Providence Evening Chronicle was issued for a short time in 1884, by James E. Hanrahan. The Sunday Dispatch was established in 1874. It was first published by P. D. & E. Jones, then by P. D. Jones, and then by W. B. W. Hallett, until about 1887, when it was suspended.
Town and Country was established in 1875. It was issued weekly by S. B. Keach until 1879. The Weekly l'isitor was established October 6th. 1876, and subsequently removed to Central Falls. The Sunday Telegram was established in 1876 by C. C. Corbett & Bro., and was afterward published by Corbett & Spear, Corbett & Black, and now by David O. Black. The Rhode Island Democrat was established June 14th, 1879, by A. N. Merchant. It is still issued as a weekly, by J. H. Schofield, at 64 North Main street. A German weekly paper, An- seiger, was established in 1876. It is now published by Gustav Saacke, at 70 Ship street. The Providence Evening Times was published a short time during 1877 by the Times Publishing Company. The Cosmopolitan was established March 16th, 1878. It was published weekly, by An-
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gell Hammond & Co., but was discontinued January 11th, 1879. The Evening Telegram was started and continued by the same publishers as the Sunday Telegram, and is now published daily by David O. Black at 7 Weybosset and 50 Peck street. The Sunday Transcript was estab- lished in September, 1879. It was issued by F. & E. C. Corbett, by Alonzo Spear, and later by the Transcript Publishing Company, ficm the office of the Rhode Island Democrat, till its suspension, about 1886. The Providence Herald was established November 1st, 1879, by Brown & Corbett. It was later published by Corbett & Sawin, and was dis- continued in 18SS. The Sunday Star was established in 1881, and is- sued in connection with the Morning Star, and was suspended about 1886. The Mail was issued daily from the Democrat office in 1884 for a while. The Evening News was established October 1st, 1884, by Z. L. White. It was discontinued March 7th, 1885. The Sunday World was started in April, 1886, by C. C. Corbett. It was afterward pub- lished by F. E. Corbett, and suspended in 1888.
Corbett's Herald, established in 1879, is published by E. A. Corbett at 14 Westminster street. The Sunday Republican, of recent origin, is also published from the same office. The Independent Citizen is pub- lished by J. H. Larry, at 81 Westminster street. The Sunday Courier is published by A. D. Sawin, at 14 Westminster street. Buker's Illus- trated Monthly and Household Magasine is published at 19 Westminster street by D. P. Buker. Jr. The Evening Call is published by Frank E. Jones at 21 Eddy street. The Manufacturers' and Farmers' Journal is published weekly from the Journal office. The Providence Visitor is published by M. A. Walsh at 27 North Main street. The Rental Guide and R. I. Business Journal is published weekly at 37 Weybosset street by B. S. Lake & Co. The Sunday School Superintendent is issued monthly by the Providence Lithograph Company at 31 Pearl street. The Freemason's Repository is issued by E. L. Freeman & Son at 3 West- minster street. The Manufacturing Jeweler, established in September. 1884, is issued monthly by Walter B. Frost, in magazine form, at 183 Eddy street. The Tiden is a Swedish-American newspaper, issued by Doctor J. F. Haller weekly at 215 Broad street. The Weekly Com- mercial Bulletin is issued by D. P. Buker, Jr., at 19 Westminster street. These last mentioned are all of recent establishment.
A large number of religious periodicals have had existence during long or short terms in this city, though many of them have, like their secular sisters, had but short periods of active life. Some of these we shall notice. The first, it is said, was the Religious Intelligencer or Christian Monitor. This was a quarto in form, and was published weekly at the American office. The first number was dated May 13th, 1820. It was published by James D. Knowles, but at the expiration of six months he discontinued it for want of support. In May, 1821. this paper was revived by Barber Badger, under the name of the Religious Intelligencer. After a few numbers it assumed the name of
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
The Rhode Island Religious Intelligencer, being issued weekly, and from the same office as before. In May, 1823. it was enlarged to a folio, anl became a half newspaper, with the title of Religious Intelligencer and Evening Gasette. In this form it was published one year. The Rhode Island Baptist was published in monthly numbers from October, 1823, to September, 1824. Allen Brown was the editor and publisher and John Miller the printer. The Christian Telescope, a weekly quarto. commenced August 7th. 1824. It was edited by Reverend David Pickering, of the First Universalist church, and published by Bar- zillai Cranston for one year. Later it was published by John S. Greene. In August. 1826, it was enlarged to eight pages, and the title changed to The Christian Telescope and Universalist Miscellany. In December, 1826, F. C. Swain became associated with Mr. Greene in the publication of this paper. From December, 1826, to September, 1827, it was printed by Cranston & Marshall, after which it was printed and published solely by Mr. Greene. In November, 1828, it was changed to the folio form, and the name was changed to The Christian Telescope and Friday Morning General Intelligencer. Jacob Frieze was also associated with Mr. Pickering in the editorship. The paper was discontinued during the following year. The opponent of the last named paper was the Anti-Universalist, which was com- menced in 1827. Origen Bacheler was its publisher and editor. It was removed hence to Boston in December, 1828, and afterward died. The Hopkinsian Magasine, edited by Otis Thompson, of Rehoboth, and printed by Hugh H. Brown, was published from 1824 to 1840.
The Free-will Baptist Magasine was begun in May, 1826, Zalmon Tobey being its editor and Barzillai Cranston the printer. The ven- ture was undertaken by several elders of the Rhode Island quarterly meeting, but after the first volume the quarterly meeting assumed its publication, which extended to May. 1830. It was at first published quarterly and afterward monthly. The Religious Messenger was com- menced July 2d, 1825. Origen Bacheler was its editor and publisher. and it was issued weekly. In 1826 and 1827 it was issued as The Rhode Island Religious Messenger by James B. Verrington and Verring- ton & Ellis, edited by a committee of the Rhode Island state conven- tion, under the patronage of which body it was published. August 12th, 1826, James N. Seaman became the editor. In 1827 it was en- larged, and William Goodell became its editor. It was discontinued about the year 1828. The Gospel Preacher, David Pickering, editor, and John S. Greene, printer, was begun in December, 1827, and published for about one year. It was a monthly, octavo in form, and each num- ber contained two sermons by Universalist ministers. The Union Conference Magasine, a paper devoted to the interests of the Free-will Baptists, issued its first number in August, 1829, and then suspended. The Rhode Island Journal and Sunday School and Bible Class Advocate was published semi-monthly by Reverend David Benedict during the
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
year 1831. The Sunday School Herald was issued once, April 26th, 1832. The Light was published by Joseph A. Whitmarsh in 1835. It was devoted to moral reform, but was of short life. A rival was started under the title More Light, and published a short time during the same year.
The Rhode Island Temperance Herald was established October 13th, 1838. It was published by an association and issued weekly. Octo- ber 30th, 1839, its name was changed to The Olive Leaf and Rhode Island Temperance Herald, and it was then edited by Charles Jewett, Lorenzo D. Johnson and Abel Stevens, successively. In May, 1840,
it was merged into the New York Weekly Messenger. The Providence Temperance Herald was issued during 1838 and 1839. The Cold Water Gazette was established March 21st, 1840. It was edited by Wyllis Ames, and published only for a short time, as a campaign paper in the state election. The Samaritan was started November 10th, 1841. at first as a weekly and afterward as a semi-monthly. It was edited by Samuel S. Ashley and Thomas Tew. It was discontinued after
about two years. The Gospel Messenger was commenced November 28th, 1840. It was edited by Zephaniah Baker till January, 1842, then by Baker and S. P. Landers till January, 1843, and afterward by A. A. Davis, Hervy Bacon and D. B. Harris. It was Universalist in tone, and was suspended previous to 1847. A paper was started in behalf of the Six Principle Baptists, in 1840. It had the title John the Bap- tist, and was edited by John Tillinghast and published by Benjamin T. Albro. In its third year it was removed to Pawtucket. The Chris- tian Soldier was started February 18th, 1842. It was printed by Hugh H. Brown and edited by J. Whittemore and T. H. Bacheller. Its sentiment was Free-will Baptist. It was soon removed to Pawtucket. The Battle Are was a temperance campaign paper, issued a short time in 1852, by Howard Weeks. The Rhode Island Temperance Pledge, a weekly issue, was published in 1847 and 1848, by Amsbury & Lin- coln, from an office at 9 Market Square. The Frec-will Baptist Quarterly was issued here from 1853 to 1856, when it was removed to Dover, N. H. The Temperance Advocate was published in 1852, at 24 West- minster street, edited by Clement Webster. It was a weekly, and was continued three or four years. The Providence Preacher was issued in 1859 by Reverend Thomas Williams. It contained sermons and other religious matter, and was issued monthly. The Weekly Visitor was established in 1875, and is now published under the title of the Providence Visitor. It is Catholic in sentiment.
A number of literary papers have been started in Providence. They have also for the most part been short-lived. Among the first of these was the Rhode Island Literary Repository. This was a monthly publication, commenced in April, 1814, and was editorially conducted by Isaac Bailey. The publishers were Martin Robinson and Benja- min Howland. The Ladies' Magasine, a monthly, first appeared in
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
March. 1823. It had a precarious existence of only a few months .. It had a lady editor, and was printed by John Miller. The Ladies' Museum was commeneed in July, 1825. It was published weekly, for one year, by Eaton W. Maxcy, and then discontinued. The Toilet and Ladies' Cabinet of Literature was a small weekly, commenced Jan- uary 5th, 1828. It was published by Josiah Snow and edited by Owen G. Warren until November, and after that by Samuel M. Fowler ... From August, 1828, to November it was published by W. A. Brown, and after that by Smith & Parmenter. The second volume com- menced January 24th, 1829, under the title of The Saturday Evening Gascette and Ladies' Toilet. The Brunonian was started in 1829, by the students of Brown University. It commenced in July and was pib- lished monthly for one year. The Original was a monthly maga- zine, edited by Francis H. Whipple and printed by Marshall & Hammond in 1829. Only two numbers were issued. The Olla Podrida was published occasionally by John Bisbee. It was made up principally of original matter. Not more than three or four numbers were ever issued. The Literary Journal and Weekly Register of Science and Fine Arts was begun in 1832 and continued until 1834. It was edited by Albert G. Greene and published by Knowles & Vose. The Gleaner was published by the senior department of the girls' high school from 1855 to 1857. The High School Magasine was published by the boys' high school in 1858, for a short time. The . Rhode Island Educational Magasine was edited by E. R. Potter and pub- lished from 1852 to 1854. The Tea Leaf, a very small daily paper de- voted to gossip and witticism. was published for a few months in 1853 and 1854. The Rhode Island Schoolmaster was established by Robert Allyn in 1855. It was issued monthly. From 1858 to 1860 it was edited by William A. Mowry, then by a board of editors until 1870, then by T. W. Bicknell and T. B. Stockwell until December, 1874, when it was merged in The New England Journal of Education. Ours Illustrated was issued monthly for a short time about 1870.
The Ornithologist and Oologist was published monthly for a while in 1875. The High School Budget was started in 1877, and published monthly by the pupils in the classical department of the high school. The Parrott, a military semi-monthly publication, was published awhile about 1878, but had a short life. The Echo, started January 18th, 1879, was soon merged in the Parrott, and shared the fate of that paper. The Hypophet was published by the high school boys during the school year 1882-3. The Comet, a school paper, was issued a few times in the summer of 1883. The Indicator, a theatrical paper, was started in 1883. It was edited by Claude DeHaven and issued weekly. It was continued until about 1888. The Household Magasine was started in 1883, issued monthly, and had but a brief existence. The Art Folio was started in 1883 and had but a brief existence. The People, started in December, 1885, was published weekly for a short time, in the in-
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terest of the workingmen. The Temple of Honor, a monthly, was pub- lished at 49 Weybosset street by H. F. Ferrin, in 1876. It enjoyed a brief existence. The Record was published by W. G. Comstock for a short time in 1876. The Opera House Programme was published by Porthouse & Carleton in 1879. The Public Records Reporter was pub- lished in 1880 by J. G. Gooding, at 57 Weybosset street. The Rhode Island Citizen was started about 1885 by Benjamin F. Evans. It had a brief existence. The Missionary Helper was published by Mrs. M. M. Brewster for a while in 1885. The Helper was published for a time in 1885, by D. P. Buker. The Shorthand and Typewriting Monthly was is- sued from 55 Westminster street awhile in 1885. The Weekly Commer- cial Bulletin was published by I). P. Buker in 1886, and continued to the present time.
Other publications having more or less reference to recurring periods of time have been published here. The first almanac was published by Benjamin West, in 1763. It was calculated for the meridian of Providence, and for a long term of years was a standard authority. " Abraham Weatherwise " also published an almanac for several years from 1769. In 1790 Bennett Wheeler began publishing his North American Calendar. The venerable Isaac Bickerstaff com- menced here his labors in almanac making, as early as the year 1781, which continued for a long term of years. The publication of the Rhode Island Register and United States Calendar was commenced in 1819, by Hugh H. Brown, and continued annually until 1832, by him and by the firm of Brown & Danforth. The first directory of Piovi- dence was published by Brown & Danforth, in 1824. The book con- tained 2,958 names, not including any names of colored inhabitants. A directory was published by the same firm or their successors in the years mentioned as follows: 1826, 1828, 1830, 1832, 1836, 1838, 1841, 1844, 1847, 1850, 1852. and from that time on to the present every year. In 1860 the directory came into the hands of Messrs. Adams, Sampson & Co., which about 1866 was changed to Sampson, Daven- port & Co., and in 1885 was changed to Sampson, Murdoch & Co., the present firm. A complete Rhode Island Business Directory was added to it in 1864; in 1869, a Rhode Island State Register; in 1870, a finely engraved copper-plate map of Providence, and in 1872 an improved street directory. The directory for 1889 is a volume of about 1,200 pages, and the city directory contains the names of 59,693 persons residing within the city and Johnston at some time during the year for which the directory is made up. The publication of a tax book, showing the names and assessments of all the tax payers of the city, was begun in 1826, and has with few exceptions been repeated every year. At the present time it is a volume of very respectable size, and is sold for 75 cents a copy.
The first theater in Providence was opened by Mr. David Douglass, a Scotchman, who, with his company, was visiting the towns of this
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
country. After playing at Newport, they came here and opened the "Histrionic Academy," on Meeting street, east of Benefit street, about July 1st, 1762. No license from the town had been obtained, and the popular indignation at taking such a liberty, increased by the idea that some political scheme lay beneath the surface, arose so high that the continuance of the play was forbidden by a public town meeting. This not being heeded, the general assembly was appealed to, and a very stringent bill was passed against stage plays, and this effected the object. Mr. Douglass and his company then left the realm of Rhode Island. In the fall of 1792, Joseph Harper brought his company here and, though the law was still in effect, yet he was successful in quieting popular prejudice to such an extent that the town council agreed not to prosecute him, on condition that one-fifth the proceeds of the performances should go into the town treasury. A theater was fitted up in the court house and the play had a suc- cessful season. Next. a part of the building known as the "Coffee House," which stood on Market Square, was fitted up as a theater, and on December 30th, 1794, it was opened with a double bill, " The Foundling, or Virtue Rewarded:" and " The King and the Miller of Mansfield." The doors were open at 5 o'clock, and the performance began at 6 o'clock. The price of admission to the boxes was 6s., to the pit 3s., and to the gallery, 2s., 3d. The season closed April 13th, 1795, when the " Beggars' Opera " was given in an altered version.
It was now determined to build a suitable building for a theater, and a joint stock company was formed for the purpose. The erec- tion of a theater was soon beguin. It was located on the corner of Westminster and Mathewson streets, on the site now occupied by Grace church. The building had three entrances at the front-one to the pit, another to the gallery and another to the boxes. The proscenium was 16 feet high and 24 feet wide, with a scroll above it bearing the motto, " Pleasure the means, the end virtue " The new theater was opened by Mr. Harper September 3d, 1795, with the plays, "The Child of Nature " and "Rosina, or the Reapers." The season ran to November 2d. In 1797 the season was not a successful one, owing to the ravages of yellow fever in the town. In 1798 the act suppressing theatrical performances was repealed, though it had been for several years ignored. The theater here was not, however, a profitable investment. In 1810 Mr. Harper withdrew from its man- agement, and was succeeded by Messrs. Powell & Dickson. In Janu- ary, 1812, the news of the burning of a theater at Richmond, Va., and the consequent loss of 71 lives, aroused a popular feeling against the play house, and a petition was strongly signed and advocated be- fore the assembly for the passage of an act suppressing the theater. Although arousing a high degree of discussion and much sentiment, it failed to secure the desired law. The theater programmes from year to year proceeded with varying success, and in 1827 the lease
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