USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 2 > Part 57
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A religious journal that received considerable favor and lived about fifteen years was The Hopkinsian Magazine, published by Hugh H. Brown and edited by Otis Thompson, from 1824 to 1840. The Free Will Baptist Magazine was established in May, 1826, as a quarterly ; it was made a monthly in May, 1828, and suspended in 1830. It was printed at different periods by Barzillai Cranston, James B. Yerring- ton, and Marshall & Hammond; Zalmon Tobey was the editor. The Religious Messenger was established July 2, 1825, with Origen Bach- elor, editor, until January, 1826, and then by a committee of the Rhode Island State Convention to August 12, 1826. James N. Seaman then took charge and was followed the next year by William Goodell. The paper was a weekly and was discontinued in 1828.
The Gospel Preacher had an existence of a year, beginning Decem- ber, 1827, with David Pickering, editor, and John S. Greene, pub- lisher ; it was a Universalist journal. One number only of The Union Conference Magazine was issued in August, 1829, by Rev. Ray Potter, Free Will Baptist. During 1831 Rev. David Benedict published and edited The Rhode Island Journal and Sunday School and Bible Class Advocate, taking the honors in competition for extended titles. One
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number only of the Sunday School Herald was issued April 26, 1832. Joseph A. Whitmarsh published The Light in 1835, but it was very soon extinguislicd. A rival of this journal was called More Light, by Jacob Frieze, which also soon flickered out. The Samaritan, a temper- ance paper, had an existence of about two years, first as a weekly and then semi-monthly, beginning November 10, 1841; Samuel S. Ashley and Thomas Tew were editors.
The Gospel Messenger, devoted "to theoretical and practical religion and morality", was established November 28, 1840, and edited by Zephaniah Baker until January, 1842. He was associated with S. P. Landers from that date to January, 1843, and they were successively followed by A. A. Davis, Harvey Bacon and D. B. Harris; it was a weekly journal, supporting Universalist doctrine. A religious paper called John the Baptist was started in 1840, edited by John Tillinghast and published by Benjamin T. Albro, advocating the Six Principle Baptist creed ; three years later it was removed to Pawtucket.
The Christian Soldier was a fortnightly publication started Febru- ary 18, 1842, with J. Whittemore and T. H. Bachelor, editors, and Hugh H. Brown, printer. It was a Free Will Baptist advocate, and in November, 1842, was issued from Pawtucket as well as from Provi- dence. J. W. Holman and W. Colegrove became associate editors. In September, 1843, Providence and Boston are given as the publication offices, and in December of that year the title was changed to the Rose of Sharon and Lily of the Valley. It is not known how long the paper continued. Another paper of similar character, called the Free Will Baptist Quarterly, was published from 1835 to 1856, in Providence, and was later removed to Dover, N. H.
A Catholic religious journal, of greater permanence than any of the foregoing, was established in 1875 by Rt. Rev. Thomas F. Hendricken, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Providence, and named The Weekly Visitor. It was at first a small three column folio, but it soon gained a large circulation in this and adjoining States. At the close of the first year it was purchased by Dr. Michael T. Walsh, of the Morning Star staff, was enlarged, and its scope was broadened to include cur- rent topics of importance. The circulation rapidly increased, and within a few years a plant was purchased and two editions printed- The Weekly Visitor going chiefly outside of Providence, and the Sunday edition into local circulation. In 1881 The Visitor Company was formed, and subsequently the two editions were amalgamated under the title, The Providence Visitor. The paper is now published by the Providence Visitor Publishing Company, of which the Very Rev. T. F. Doran is president ; Rev. T. L. Kelly, editor and treasurer ; Rev. J. C. Tennian, secretary ; W. F. Kenefick, business manager.
The Voice of the Truth was started in 1864 by J. H. Lonsdale and was continued nearly ten years. The publisher announced that it
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would be supplied gratis unless the reader was anxious to pay 50 cents per annum for it. The Living Christian had a short existence in 1873, with D. Schindler, editor. The Church Union was published during the year 1875 by Edward E. Nickerson. The German Evangelical Church Messenger served the interests of that religious sect in 1895-6.
The Black Board and Crayon was the original title of a quarterly publication which was first issued April 1, 1879. In January, 1881, the name was changed to the Sunday School Superintendent. It is published by the Providence Lithograph Company, chiefly as a guide to Sunday School teaching. E. G. Taylor, D. D., was editor from April, 1879, to March, 1887, when Miss L. O. Ordway assumed the posi- tion. The Missionary Helper was published during a part of 1885 by Mrs. M. M. Brewster. The Association Notes is a monthly publication issued by the Young Men's Christian Association of Providence.
The Beulah Items was established in September, 1888. by Rev. F. A. Hillery, as a religious paper, aiding also the cause of Prohibition. In May, 1892, it was consolidated with the Bible Christian, whichi was published in New Hampshire by Rev. E. B. Pike. The new journal was given the name, The Beulah Christian, and Mr. Pike acted as associate editor. The paper was issued by the Pentecostal Printing Company from 1898, of which Mr. Hillery was treasurer and manager.
Faith and Works was started as a four-page weekly on November 21, 1896, with G. G. Fraser, business manager ; John H. Larry, editor ; and J. O. Randall, associate editor. In September, 1899, Mr. Randall be- came editor, with G. W. Hope, associate.
The official organ of the Young People's Societies of Christian En- deavor is the Church Messenger of Rhode Island Christian Endeavor. It is now in its eleventh year of publication and is edited by Miss Cora A. Wells.
A number of newspapers devoted to the cause of temperance have been started, but few of them had long life. The Rhode Island Tem- perance Herald was established October 13, 1838, and claimed to be edited and published "by an association of gentlemen". It was a weekly, and on October 30, 1839, the name was changed to The Olive Leaf and Rhode Island Temperance Herald. In May, 1840, it was consolidated with the New York Weekly Messenger. Charles Jewett, Lorenzo D. Johnson, and Abel Stevens succeeded each other as editors. During 1838-9 the Providence Temperance Herald was issued. The Cold Water Gazette was started March 21, 1840, edited by Wyllis Ames ; it was a political campaign paper and suspended after election.
Of papers that may be classed as literary, educational, or scientific, there have been a large number, but none that have attained much prominence and permanence in those vast fields. As far back as April, 1814, Martin Robinson and Benjamin Howland (Robinson & How- land) had the temerity to start the Rhode Island Literary Repository,
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which was edited by Isaae Bailey. In those days illustrations were almost impossible for such a magazine and the contents were mainly selections from other periodieals and books. It was an oetavo monthly and lived only one year.
Origen Bachelor was the editor of the Juvenile Gazette, which was printed a few months in 1818; he was sueeeeded by William H. Smith. The Ladies' Magazine, "edited by a lady", as announeed, printed by John Miller, was established in Mareh, 1823 ; only a few numbers were irregularly issued as a monthly. The Ladies' Museum, Eaton W. Maxey, editor and publisher, was published from July 16, 1825, to July 22, 1826. The Juvenile Gazette was the title of a small weekly pub- lished by O. Kendall, jr., in 1828; it was sold to Smith & Parmenter, who began the publication of the Literary Cadet July 29, 1826. The literary eulture of Rhode Island was further upheld by one of the long- named publications, The Toilet and Ladies' Cabinet of Literature which was established January 5, 1828. It was first published by Josiah Snow until August, 1828; by W. A. Brown to November, 1828; and finally by Smith & Parmenter. The first editor was Owen G. Warren, who was sueeeeded in November, 1828, by Samuel M. Fowler. On January 24, 1829, the name was changed to The Saturday Evening Gazette and Ladies' Toilet. It was a weekly quarto and suspended soon after the change of title.
Two monthly numbers of The Original were published in 1829 by Marshall & Hammond, Franees H. Whipple, editor. A few numbers of The Olla Podrida were irregularly issued, probably in 1830, by John Bisbee ; also a few numbers in that year of The Juvenile Repos- itory, by Samuel S. Wilson. The Literary Subaltern was established January 1, 1829, edited by Sylvester S. Southworth ; it was a semi- weekly during the first year and a weekly thereafter. It had several different publishers, and suspended in Deeember, 1832. On June 8, 1833, Albert G. Greene took the editorial control of the Literary Jour- nal and Weekly Register of Seienee and Fine Arts, which was pub- lished by Knowles & Vose. At the end of the first volume le expressed his regret that there was not in Rhode Island a sufficient degree of literary spirit to sustain sueh a publieation, and it was suspended. This paper was sueeeeded by the New England Family Visitor and Literary Journal previously mentioned.
On February 1, 1853, Mrs. Pauline Wright issued the first number of the Una ; it was editorially announced that it would be "devoted to the interests of women as long as such a paper shall be needed". It was a monthly and possibly fulfilled its mission. It was removed to Boston in January, 1855.
The New World was originally a temperanee advocate, started in 1870 by T. A. Carpenter, but it subsequently changed its character to an advocate of women's rights, with two women as editors. It did not
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long continue. The New England Register was established in 1871 by T. A. Carpenter, in the interest of mill operatives who were striving to obtain a ten-hour day of labor. The paper was suspended when the object was accomplished. The Temple of Honor, a temperance jour- nal, was published monthly during a part of the year 1876 by H. F. Ferrin.
The Sun was started as a weekly on December 4, 1873, by Lester E. Ross, who continued it to November 20, 1876, after which date it was issued a short time as a daily and suspended.
In 1874 James E. Hanrahan began the publication of the Providence . Evening Chronicle, but it survived only a short time. In the same year the Sunday Dispatch was started by P. D. & E. Jones; they were succeeded by P. D. Jones alone, and he by W. B. W. Hallett. Soon afterwards C. C. Corbett and Orville Remington became the owners, and the Dispatch Publishing Company was formed. During the period of their control they issued the Daily Dispatch. About the year 1890 the establishment passed to ownership of E. A. Corbett, who still continues it as a weekly.
In 1875 S. B. Keach began issuing a weekly family paper called Town and Country, which was continued until 1879. The Weekly Visitor was started in October, 1876, but was removed to Central Falls soon afterward. The Item was first issued in 1886 from the office of the Press as a one-cent daily, but its career was brief.
Brown University has contributed to the literary life of the com- munity by the establishment of The Brunonian, in July, 1829. It con- tinued until March, 1831, and in March, 1868, was revived by the undergraduates. The first competitor of the Brunonian was The Brown Magazine, started as a monthly in April, 1890. A year later the Brown Daily Herald was added to the list of college publications; it appears every morning during the term period. In September, 1898, the Brunonian and Brown Magazine consolidated and the publication continues to the present time as a monthly.
In July, 1900, the Brown Alumni Monthly made its first appear- ance ; it is conducted by an advisory board of the alumni, with Henry R. Palmer, of the Providence Journal, editor; Prof. J. N. Ashton, associate editor; Robert P. Brown, treasurer; Theron Clark, business manager. In April, 1901, the students at Pembroke Hall organized a magazine, known as the Sepiad.
In 1855 the senior department of the Girls' High School began publishing The Gleaner, which lived about two years. The High School Magazine was issued a short time in 1858 by the English and Scientific departments of the Providence Boys' High school.
The Rhode Island Educational Magazine was published from 1852 to 1854, with E. R. Potter, editor. This periodical exerted great influ- 38
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enee in State educational affairs, which were about that time under- going rapid change and development. It was the predecessor of The Rhode Island Sehoolmaster, another very influential and able journal, established in 1855 by Robert Allyn; this was a monthly and was edited from 1858 to 1860 by William A. Mowry. During the sueceed- ing deeade a board of editors was in charge, and in 1870 was followed by Thomas W. Bieknell and Thomas B. Stoekwell to 1874. It was then merged. with the New England Journal of Education.
The students in the elassieal department of the High School started, . on November 1, 1862, a paper ealled the Delphie Oraele. In 1877 they published the High School Budget, and during the school year of 1882-3, they issued The Hypophet. A paper ealled The Sentinel is now published by the University Sehool.
As facilities for engraving and electrotyping became loeally aeeessi- ble and at less eost than formerly, a futile attempt was made to estab- lish in Providenee an illustrated periodieal, which was named, "Ours Illustrated". It had a brief eareer about 1870 under management of Webb Brothers & Co.
The Art Folio was established by J. A. & R. A. Reid on June 1, 1883, as a handsome illustrated periodieal, but it survived only a year or two.1
Outside of Providenee and Newport, in the various eities and vil- lages of the State, are maintained a number of excellent newspapers,
'In addition to the newspapers of Providence, of which more or less extend- ed account has been given in these pages, there have been a large number of short-lived publications, of which little is now known aside from the mere mention of their names in directories or elsewhere. . These are briefly men- tioned here with such dates as are accessible. The Bibliomaniac was a publi- cation, the character of which may be inferred from its title, which was first published by S. S. Rider & Brother in 1867. The Rhode Island Lantern was published in 1870 by the Rhode Island Lantern Association. Three Links, an Odd Fellowsjournal, wasissued in 1871 by George T. Bradley and John C. Keer. A paper called Yours was published in 1873 by Trumpler & Birchfield. W. G. Comstock published The Record in 1875. The Jeweler was a trade paper issued in 1877 by W. J. Pettis. The Parrott was a military paper established in 1878; it absorbed The Echo, started in January, 1879, and soon passed out of existence. The Cosmopolitan was established in March, 1878, and was sold to the Echo Publishing Company in January, 1879. The Confidential Report- er was published in 1880 by J. C. Gooding. The People was issued in 1881 by J. F. Smith. A German paper, called the Rhode Island Wochenblatt, was puh- lished in 1883 by William Alden Kirchen. The Comet was a paper that blazed for four numbers in 1883. The Outlook was a fortnightly publication issued by the Rhode Island W. C. T. U. in 1885, and subsequently became a monthly; it continues to the present time. The Helper was the name of a paper pub- lished in 1885 by D. P. Buker. The Providence Labor Tribune was founded in September, 1886, by the Providence Tribune Company. The Rhode Island Farmer was published by F. E. Corbett during 1886-7. The Rhode Island Citizen was published for a short period about 1885, by Benjamin F. Evans. The Sunday Courier was established by A. D. Sawin and E. A. Corbett about 1887 and lived less than two years. D. P. Buker published Buker's Illustrated Monthly and Household Magazine a few years, and later issued The Commer-
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some of which have been in existence many years and have attained extended influence and gained the confidenee of the publie. The first issue of the first newspaper published in Pawtucket appeared Novem- ber 12, 1825, with the title, The Pawtucket Chronicle and Manufae- turers' and Artisans' Advocate. It was edited by John C. Harwood, and was located in a wooden building on the south side of Main street west of the bridge. The paper was a weekly with four pages of five columns each. A November issue of 1826 gives the name of William H. Sturtevant as editor, but soon after this it passed to Carlile & Brown of Providence, and was discontinued January 27, 1827. Three weeks later, on February 10, the paper was revived by Randall Meaeham, who purchased the plant of Carlile & Brown. On Septem- ber 22, 1827, Mr. Meacham purchased his, then, only newspaper rival, The White Banner (published in the interest of Masonry), which had been started a short time before. In July, 1829, S. W. Fowler became associated with Mr. Meaeham, and January 1, 1830, Mr. Fowler's name appeared as editor. Beginning with the issue of August 6, 1830, the publieation day was changed from Saturday morning to Friday evening and so continued while the paper lived under that distinctive title. On February 11, 1831, Mr. Fowler purchased his partner's interest, but his health failed, and in the summer of 1832 he went South, leaving his business in charge of John H. Weeden. Mr. Fowler died of consumption August 26, 1832, and in the following October the
cial Bulletin from 1886 to 1890. The Rhode Island Military Journal was a monthly publication, the character of which is indicated by the title, which was established in November, 1889, and continued a few years under manage- ment of Colman Wells and the Military Publishing Company. The Forester's Repository was issued by F. N. Shaw in 1888. The Financial News was estab- lished by the Financial News Company in June, 1890; in the company were H. K. Stokes and O. B. Munroe; Mr. Stokes acquired sole control in May, 1891. The New England Wine Merchant and Brewers' Gazette was published several years beginning with 1890, by F. E. Corbett. J. W. Henderson published the New England Torchlight from 1890 to 1896. The Home Guard was estab- lished in 1891 by Mrs. E. J. Smith. The World was published in 1891 by Louis G. Phillips. A French paper, called Le Courrier du Rhode Island, was published in 1892 as one of the several journals that supported the Democratic party. The Evening Record was issued in 1892 by J. J. Monaghan. A paper called About Town was published in 1892-3 by W. W. Spencer. In 1893 was established The Greater Providence Magazine by P. W. Lovell. A Swedish paper, called Framat, was published in 1893 by M. Hulting & Co. The Rhode Island Israelite was a paper printed in the Hebrew language from August, 1894, edited by Samuel Mason. The Narragansett Observer was printed in Providence in 1894, under management of H. E. Lewis. Justice was a labor organ published in 1893-5 with George E. Boomer, editor, a part of that period. The Pointer was published from September, 1895, to September, 1897, by John H. Larry. A Swedish paper was published during 1895-6, with the title, Fol- ket's Rost, by John Charholm. An Italian paper, called L'Aurora Novella, was started in 1896 by Collano & Evans. The Providence Herold was a Ger- man paper, issued in 1898-9. Club Life was established in 1898 by A. A. Fraser. The Rhode Island Picket is a monthly publication, established in May, 1900, in the interest of the Sons of Veterans; F. E. Carpenter is editor.
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printing and publishing business was sold by Mrs. Fowler to Henry and John E. Rousmaniere, of Newport. They were unsuccessful, and in October, 1835, offered the establishment for sale. As no purehaser appeared, John E. Rousmaniere retired in November, 1836, while the brother continued alone until April 19, 1839, when he announced a sale of the business and plant to the proprietors of the Gazette, and the consolidation of the two papers under the name The Gazette and Chronicle was effected.
On August 3, 1838, two young men, Robert Sherman and Shubael Kinnicut, who had learned the printing business in the office of the Chronicle, began the publication of the Pawtucket Gazette, and within the following year purchased the Chronicle, as just stated. The young men received substantial encouragement in their efforts to make a good local paper, and they prospered. They did most of their own work in type-setting and printed their edition on a hand press in the old way. In March, 1841, the office was removed to larger quar- ters ; when Amos M. Read finished his brick block on the site of the old office, the plant was again removed into it and there remained until Mareh, 1866, when it located in its present quarters in Manchester Hall. Three enlargements of The Gazette and Chronicle have been made-the first on January 5, 1855; the second June 29, 1860, and the third July 1, 1870, giving it nine columns to the page. During a part of the Civil War period the number of columns was reduced to seven ; it now has eight pages of six columns each. The first cylinder printing press in Pawtucket was placed in the Gazette and Chronicle office and was first used on May 4, 1855; this was displaced for a larger one, which was in use until Deeember, 1886, when a new and improved machine was introduced. Steam power was first used in the office November 29, 1866. During many years prior to January 1, 1866, the imprint of the Gazette and Chroniele gave the name of Robert Sherman as publisher; on that date the firm name was changed to R. Sherman & Co., through the purchase of a one-fourth interest, on January 1, 1864, by Ansel D. Niekerson, an employee of the office since 1846. On January 1, 1870, John S. Sibley purchased Mr. Sher- man's half interest and Mr. Nickerson took Mr. Kinnieut's quarter interest, and from that date until April 1, 1875, the firm of Niekerson & Sibley published the paper. On this date Charles A. Lee, an em- ployec since 1863, purchased an interest from the senior partner, and the style was changed to Niekerson, Sibley & Co. Three years later, April 1, 1878, Nickerson sold out to Mr. Lee, and on the following January 1, 1879, the firm name took the form of Sibley & Lee. Mr. Sibley died in 1893, having previously sold his interest in the business to his partner, who eondueted it to January 1, 1894, when he became associated with Lester W. Upham (Lee & Upham), and so continued to Mr. Lee's death, May 16, 1900; since this date the paper has been pub-
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lished by The Chronicle Printing Co., consisting of L. W. Upham and George N. Burroughs. The semi-centennial of the Chronicle was becomingly celebrated November 12, 1875, when a fac-simile sheet was issued of the first number of the paper. The semi-centennial of the Gazette also was celebrated August 3, 1888, when a souvenir sheet of a historical and illustrated character was published.
Of the other weekly papers of Pawtucket the majority were short- lived and of little historical importance. The Mercantile Reporter appeared about 1829, and seven numbers were issued. The Battle Axe was published for a time by Benjamin W. Pearce, in the interest of temperance, and his condenmation of liquor-sellers was so bitter that they or their representatives broke into his office and threw his plant into the river. The Business Directory was published and gratuitously circulated by Alfred W. Pearce, brother of Benjamin, and after several years was absorbed by the Gazette and Chronicle. Other former weckly journals, several of them temperance advocates, were Truth's Advocate, Midnight Cry, the Pawtucket Herald, Rose and Lily, Sparkling Fountain, Temperance Regulator, and the Paw- tucket Observer; the latter was started in June, 1860, by George O. Willard, who had learned his trade in the Gazette and Chronicle office. It was a Republican paper, but notwithstanding that party won its first national victory in that year, the paper was not liberally sup- ported and it was discontinued in March, 1861. From that date during nearly a quarter of a century the local field of journalism was ably occupied by the Gazette and Chronicle.
On April 10, 1885, the first Pawtucket daily newspaper was issued from the Gazette and Chronicle office, with the title, The Evening Chronicle, Charles A. Lee, editor and proprietor. It acquired a fran- chise in the United Press Association and was ably conducted, but its public reception did not warrant its continuance and the last number was printed May 2, of the same year. On the 30th of April, of the same year, the first number of the Pawtucket Evening Times was issued, with George O. Willard, editor and proprictor. Mr. Willard had been connected with the Providence Press during many years, and when that paper suspended he went to Pawtucket, where he received encouragement in starting the Times. After a hard struggle of about two years he overcame his numerous obstacles and made his business prosperous. The paper was a one cent daily and it ultimately obtained a large circulation. William C. Sheppard was associated with Mr. Willard in the editorial management, with Scabury S. Tompkins, local editor. On January 31, 1890, the Times was sold to David O. Black, formerly owner of the Providence Telegram, and after March 26 of that year was issued by the Times Publishing Company, of which Mr. Black is the head, and Peter J. Trumpler, business manager ; Charles O. Black, treasurer. The Times is ably conducted and largely success-
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