USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 2 > Part 58
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ful; its handsome building was crected in 1895-6, and is fully equipped with modern web presses, type-setting machines, etc.
A second one cent daily was established September 15, 1888, by Martin Murray, called The Evening Tribune. It answered for a time in an able manner the demand for a Democratic organ and received fair support from the first ; but a combination of circumstances and political conditions caused its suspension in 1899.
A small monthly publication, called the Pawtucket and Central Falls Real Estate Record, was started by H. H. Sheldon, a real estate dealer in Pawtucket. In a few months the title was changed to the Pawtucket Real Estate Record, and at the beginning of the second volume it was made a weekly. In December, 1886, I. A. Kearns was employed as assistant editor and a little later took full editorial charge. In May, 1887, the Pawtucket Record Company was formed, consisting of Mr. Sheldon, David J. White, and P. C. Sheldon, the paper was enlarged and its character broadened. In November, 1890, Mr. White became sole owner, and in the following year he purchased the Central Falls Visitor and consolidated the two under the name of the Record- Visitor. The paper was stopped in 1895.
The Pawtucket Commercial Bulletin was established in December, 1892, by J. D. Hall & Co., of Providence. J. D. Hall, jr., was editor for about a year when C. H. Bosworth assumed control of the paper. It was subsequently absorbed by the Providence Journal of Commerce.
A Democratic daily paper was established in Pawtucket on Decem- ber 11, 1893, with the title of Pawtucket Evening Post, by the Post Publishing Company. It was an eight-column folio, but later was changed to an eight-page sheet. While there was editorial ability shown in the columns of the paper, as well as mechanical attractive- ness in its make-up, the business was unprofitable. In November, 1897, the establishment passed under management of L. B. Pease and the name of the paper was changed to the Sun. It suspended in a few weeks.
A newspaper printed in the French language called Le Jean Bap- tiste, was started on January 1, 1897, by J. B. S. Brazeau, who is editor and proprietor. He has made the business a success and his publica- tion creditably reflects the life of the French clement of the population of Pawtucket and Central Falls. Another French paper, named L'Esperance, was started in March, 1891, by J. M. Authier, and con- tinucd a few weeks as a semi-weekly.
Pawtucket and Central Falls have had several ephemeral publica- tions that gained little influence or patronage. Among them were the Pawtucket Free Press and the Sunday Ledger, both issued in 1894, and the Central Falls and Blackstone Valley Argus Advertiser, the Central Falls Weekly Herald, 1875, and the Family Guest, 1881.
The first newspaper established in Woonsocket was The Weekly
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Patriot, a family journal, started in 1833 by Sherman & Wilder, which has survived the usual newspaper fatality and is still in prosperous existence. A short time after the paper was founded Mr. Sherman purchased his partner's interest, Mr. Wilder retiring to become one of the firm of Hapgood & Wilder, who, in 1835, established the Rhode Island Advocate as the second paper in the town. This publication ccased after about nine months, leaving the Patriot substantially the whole newspaper field during several years.
About May 1, 1836, I. Robinson began the publication of the Rain- bow, which, in its fifth number ( April 16), claimed to have 1,000 sub- scribers. It was devoted to "literary miscellany and the arts", and it is not strange that it was discontinued at the end of a year. N. Robin- son was its editor.
During the Dorr political excitement, in 1842-3, a free suffrage advocate, called the Independent, was removed to Woonsocket from Providence, and published only a few months by Walter Sherman. In 1842, also, the first issue of the Woonsocket Sentinel and Thompson- ian Advocate made its appearance, dated February 16; it aimed to reform the practice of medicine according to the theories of the Thompsonian system, and to provide reading upon subjects of hygiene and health, temperance, miscellany and news. It was a weekly, pub- lished by Mason & Vose, the editors being William Vose and Dr. G. W. Davis; Josiah Perkins had charge of the Washingtonian temperance department. An associate editor, Dr. J. M. Aldrich, was added to the staff in December, 1842, and in March, 1843, a new editorial force took the paper, but it was discontinued before the close of that year.
In 1850 Erastus Fisher began publishing the News Letter, a weekly, which survived less than a year. The next Woonsocket journal was a semi-monthly devoted to agriculture, called The Farm and Fireside ; it was started January 5, 1867, and published from the Patriot office, by S. S. & G. W. Foss ; this also was discontinued at the close of a year.
The early and remarkable success of the Weekly Patriot was chiefly due to the energy and ability of Samuel S. Foss, its editor. He was a native of Boylston, Mass., born in 1821, and began his apprenticeship in the Patriot office in 1837. Three years later he became associate editor, and in 1841 purchased the establishment from William N. Sherman. At that time the circulation was down to 500 and the plant was in poor condition. Mr. Foss at once improved the paper and gradually added to the material until the office became one of the best in the State. The circulation ran as high as 9,000 in some years prior to 1873. He removed the office to the Waterman block in 1855 and ten years later purchased the building, after which it was known as the Patriot building. Mr. Foss died August 16, 1879. He was a man of great public spirit and made his paper instrumental in advancing all local public projects that merited his favor. Upon his death his twin
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brother, German W. Foss, took charge of the paper and condueted it until his death in 1880. Herbert E. Holmes was then engaged to edit the paper for the Foss estate until 1881, when The Patriot Printing Company was formed, of which William H. Goodale, George B. Arnold and Elmer Ray were the principal members and directors. T. H. Mann and Warren Lee Goss entered the concern at a later date. On August 4, 1886, George B. Arnold became proprietor of the establish- ment and L. B. Pease purchased the business and plant and since that date the paper was continued as the weekly edition of the Daily Even- ing Reporter, retaining the old familiar title. The Daily Patriot was started in 1876 by S. S. Foss, the first issue bearing dated April 3; it was a small four-page sheet and sold for one cent. The new venture was fairly patronized, and with his usual enterprise Mr. Foss, at his own expense, constructed a telegraph line to Providence in order to get his news promptly. On April 3, 1878, the daily was enlarged and improved. On March 15, 1881, it was sold to L. B. Pcase, who merged it with the Evening Reporter. The latter was the first daily news- paper established in the place, the first issue being dated October 1, 1873, with Mr. Pease editor and proprietor. It was only a four- column folio and sold for one cent, but it was ably managed, and on March 20, 1876, was enlarged by four columns. Further enlargements were made in 1879, 1883, and 1884, one column to each page, in each of those years. In October, 1889, the paper assumed the eight-page formn. On December 16, 1884, a morning edition was added, but only four numbers were issued.
The Reporter met with remarkable success, and in 1901 had a circu- lation of about 7,000. Mr. Pease remained sole proprietor until 1890, when he organized the Woonsocket Reporter Company. He withdrew from this connection and from the conduct of the paper in the fall of 1897. The active conduct of the paper since that date has devolved upon George A. Smith as editor, and Henry E. Whitney as business manager, both of these men having been connected respectively with the editorial and business departments of the paper during a long term of years. Besides the men named there have been engaged on the editorial force of the Reporter, J. W. Smyth, F. W. Thurber, B. R. Somes, Thomas Steere, Henry De Wolfe, Edw. P. Tobie, jr., F. M. Lally, and J. F. Kennedy. Among Mr. Whitney's predeecssors as business manager have been Geo. A. Nason, E. B. Condon, and Arthur S. Pease.
A file of one volume (III) of the Ladies' Mirror is preserved by the Rhode Island Historical Society. Number 1 of this is dated November 3, 1832, which will indicate approximately the date of its beginning. It was published at Woonsocket Falls, semi-monthly, by Sherman & Wilder. In the number just mentioned the name of G. W. H. Fisk is given as publisher, but it was taken out before the close of the year.
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An editorial begging for payment of subscriptions appears in the last number of the volume.
The Valley Republican was a short-lived two-cent daily, started April 26, 1886, by Goss & Mann and printed in the Patriot office. The paper was discontinued when the Patriot was sold to George B. Arnold in August of that year.
The first Sunday newspaper in Woonsocket was the Sunday Journal, started May 3, 1885, with Edward B. Condon and Maxime L. Bouret, proprietors. At the end of four weeks Condon sold to his partner and four weeks later the paper was discontinued.
Newton's Textile Gazette, devoted to the interest of mill owners, was established in July, 1883, as a monthly. In April, 1885, it began as a semi-monthly and after October, 1888, was issued weekly. Charles M. Newton is editor and publisher and the paper has gained a large circu- lation and influence ; its title is now the Textile Manufacturers' Labor Weekly.
The Evening Call was established on May 30, 1892, by the Evening Call Publishing Company, Samuel E. Hudson, business manager, and Andrew J. McConnell, editor. It is an independent Democratic paper and has attained permanent success.
On January 1, 1899, L. B. Pease, who was long associated with the Patriot and Reporter, started the Evening Sun, a one cent daily paper ; but the local field was already fully occupied and the paper suspended on March 17 of that year. The Evening Star was started by a corpo- ration early in 1899, with John R. Martin, editor, and continued until the ensuing fall.
New England Siftings was a weekly journal, established in 1882, with Charles A. King, editor ; its career was short.
There is a large French element in the population of Woonsocket and its vicinity, for the benefit of which several papers have been published in that language, only one of which now survives; this is named La Tribune, and was founded in April, 1895: it has been pub- lished by an incorporated company since May, 1896, and is the only French-Canadian daily paper in the State. In February, 1897, it ab- sorbed another paper, named Le Progres, which was established in the previous year. Charles C. Gauvin is general manager of the Tribune.
Other French papers that were unsuccessful were the Courier Cana- dien, established in 1880 by Gagnon & Archambault, and suspended at the end of six months, and the business was transferred to Worcester. La Reveille was started in 1876, with Joseph Daignault, editor, and continued until 1897. The Courier de Woonsocket was established in 1822 by Belanger Brothers and was subsequently removed to Wor- cester. Le Foyer Canadien was started in 1892 and lived less than a year. La Cloche du Dimanche, established in September, 1899, by
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G. Vekeman, suspended in Deeember of the same year. A paper ealled La Travailleur had a short existenee also.
The first newspaper claiming Burrillville as its field was started in 1880 by Smith B. Keaeh, of Harrisville, and ealled the Burrillville Gazette. Mr. Keach sold it in about six months to Whittemore Brothers, who, after an unsueeessful effort to profitably print the paper there, established a job printing business in Providenee and issued the paper from that plant. The Gazette was continued thus until the fall of 1892, when they consolidated with the Burrillville News, which had been started eight months earlier by Edgar A. Math- ewson, also of Harrisville. This was Mr. Mathewson's second attempt in this line, he having started the first Burrillville News in 1880, soon after Mr. Keaeh began publishing the Gazette; the first News lived only a few months. After the consolidation of the two papers the title was made The Burrillville News-Gazette. In 1895 the patronage of the paper had deelined until it was unprofitable, and the title and about 160 subseribers were sold to the publishers of The Paseoag Her- ald. The latter paper was started by Arthur S. Fitz, in April, 1892, at the request of the business men of the town. Mr. Fitz had been eondueting The Pomona Herald at Providence, but resided in Burrill- ville, whenee he removed to Paseoag, established a job printing busi- ness and newspaper offiee and continued the Pomona Herald; this paper he made the only sueeessful agricultural journal in Rhode Island. With two competitors in the local field, the Herald had a hard struggle, but finally outstripped them, and the consolidation resulted as just deseribed. Mr. Mathewson started his third newspaper in Burrillville in 1895, ealling it The Star, but it survived only a few months. In 1893 Mr. Fitz made a elose corporation for his business, taking into it some of his employees, and F. L. Sayles aequired a small interest and was chosen president of the company ; Mr. Fitz assumed the office of treasurer, manager and editor ; F. H. Potter, foreman and seeretary. The plant and business was gradually largely inereased, and an extensive printing patronage obtained from a wide field. To more effectively earry this on, a reorganization took place under the name of Herald Syndieate, with A. S. Fritz, president and manager; T. W. Steere, treasurer ; F. E. Fritz, secretary ; E. P. Metealf, auditor ; and a board of directors, consisting of these and K. K. MeLaren, John J. Watson, jr., and Daniel D. Waterman. A Providenee office is kept open for convenience of eustomers in the city.
Little Rhody is the name of a paper which is published at North Seituate; it was started February 6, 1891, by N. A. Angell, who still continues it. The Telephone was issued during 1885-6 at Coventry by G. G. Cutting. During the years 1880 and 1881. Frank Potter published the Chepachet Weekly. A paper ealled the Woonsocket
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Union, bearing the imprint of Georgiaville (Smithfield), was started February 23, 1894, by J. Frank Masterson ; it did not long exist.
A paper named the Blackstone Valley Argus was established in Lonsdale on December 1, 1882, by Thomas W. Schurman and William H. Brown. It lived a little more than two years.
East Providence has had a number of newspaper ventures, but the town depends mainly on city newspapers for its daily reading. The first number of the East Providence Eagle appeared on June 14, 1882, with E. A. Corbett, editor and proprietor. It was a six-column folio, but another column was added in December of that year. The pub- lishers were Corbett & Sawin (A. D. Sawin) after 1886, and in Feb- ruary, 1887, A. D. Sawin assumed the whole business. After various other changes the paper passed under control of George L. Fritz, of Providence, who still conducts it.
The Rhode Islander, which was published a short time from an office in Providence by Benjamin W. Evans, was removed to East Provi- dence in 1896, where it is still continued under the present manage- ment of Mary Frost Evans.
The East Providence Record was established in October, 1885, by E. F. Sibley. In August, 1887, the firm of Sibley & Johnson was formed, who continued the publication until October, 1889. The paper was finally merged with the Olneyville Times, which is now published by Mr. Sibley.
The East Providence Mirror was started in April, 1896, and con- tinues to the present time ; it is published by the Franklin Press Com- pany, and Orland Freeborn is the editor.
The Cranston City Times was established May 1, 1895, by Thomas S. Hammond, who has a large printing establishment in Providence. The paper still continues to represent the affairs of Cranston and its vicinity. A paper called the Cranston Leader had a short career, beginning in June, 1889, with the Leader Publishing Company pub- lishers.
Olneyville had its first newspaper established on January 4, 1884, and called the Rhode Island Citizen. It was issued by the Citizen Publishing Company, with Cyrus Walker, editor, and Benjamin W. Evans, business manager. Litigation over an alleged libel caused the suspension of the paper after about a year and a half.
The Olneyville Tribune was started September 2, 1893, by David E. Parmenter, but it was short-lived.
The first issue of the Olneyville Times appeared in August, 1887, with Sibley & Johnson, proprietors. Since the death of Mr. Johnson in 1891, the paper has been published and edited by E. F. Sibley, and creditably represents the interests of that suburb of Providence.
In southern and central Rhode Island a large number of country journals have been offered to the reading people, meeting with differ-
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ent degrees of success, a few of them attaining prosperity and influ- enee in their respective fields. The first newspaper published in Westerly was the Literary Eeho, beginning in the spring of 1851, with George H. Babeock, editor and proprietor ; it was eontinned to 1858 by him, and by Edwin G. Champlin and James H. Hoyt sneeessively, its name being changed in 1856, to the Westerly Echo and Pawcatuck Advertiser, and was then merged in and suceeeded by The Narragan- sett Weekly, the first number of which appeared April 29, 1858. This journal was published and edited about one year by J. H. Utter & Co. (John Herbert Utter), when it beeame the property of J. B. & J. H. Utter, who inereased their facilities and continued the business nearly thirty years and to the death of J. H. Utter in October, 1887. His interest then passed to his partner, and by him was transferred to his own son, George H. Utter, the firm name being G. B. & G. H. Utter. In connection with this paper the firm began, in the fall of 1861, the publieation of The Sabbath Reeorder, a weekly Free Will Baptist advo- eate. This paper had been published in New York about eighteen years, chiefly under the direction of George B. Utter, who removed it to Westerly and there continued it to 1872; it was then sold to the Ameriean Sabbathı Traet Society and removed to Alfred, N. Y. Upon the death of George B. Utter the business was eontinned by the surviv- ing partner. On the 7th of August, 1893, was issued the first number of the Westerly Daily Sun, the Narragansett Weekly being continued in eonneetion therewith until Mareh, 1889, when it was suspended. For the publieation of this bright daily newspaper a modern plant was installed, including a web press, and type-setting machines. The Sun is independent in politics, with Republiean proelivities, and under Mr. Utter's management has acquired large influence.
The Westerly Enterprise was a monthly paper, established by T. A. Carpenter in November, 1867. It was distributed gratuitiously sev- eral months.
In 1884 The Rhode Island Telephone was removed from Wickford to Westerly and the name changed to The Westerly News and Rhode Island Telephone. It was edited and published by J. Warren Gardi- ner to January 7, 1888, when Alva C. Lowrey assumed charge and changed its title to The Westerly Tribune. The paper was continued as a weekly to September 6, 1888, when the first number of the West- erly Daily Tribune was issued, with the Tribune Company, publishers, composed of Thomas H. Peabody and Alva C. Lowrey. On January 3, 1889, Mr. Peabody purehased his partner's interest, and the paper continued to December, 1897. The plant remained idle a few months, when it was purchased by Brunner & Benson, who started the Westerly Herald, which lived nearly two years under their management, and that of the Herald Company.
On February 20, 1885, E. Anson Stillman issued the first number
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of a semi-monthly sheet called Stillman's Idea ; it was devoted mainly to advertising and continued a number of years.
On June 19, 1888, the first number of the Westerly Journal, a weekly, was issued by Frank H. Campbell ; this paper was removed to Arctic, town of Warwick.
In Hopkinton, John Larkin established in October, 1890, a monthly called the Informant, which ran exactly one year, and was discon- tinued in favor of a weekly called the Hope Valley Free Press. This paper was first issued in July, 1891, has had as editors John Larkin and George H. Hadley, and is independent in politics. The Grange Visitor was a monthly established in Hope Valley by H. N. Phillips.
The Wood River Advertiser was started at Hope Valley on January 1, 1876, by Lyman W. A. Cole. He was an energetic and able editor and soon obtained for his paper a large circulation. In 1881 Mr. Cole died and the business was purchased by Herbert N. Phillips, then editor of the Shannock Sentinel. He removed his plant to Hope Valley and consolidated the two papers under the title, Sentinel- Advertiser. In July, 1894, he changed the name to Hope Valley Advertiser, 'as still retained. At the death of Mr. Phillips, E. T. Spencer became owner of the establishment in February, 1895, and so continues. The Advertiser is the official advertising medium for Hopkinton, Richmond, and Excter, and enjoys a large measure of prosperity.
The Narragansett Herald was established in April, 1875, by Dr. Irving Watson, who has continued in control of the paper to the present time. During about two years after he founded the Herald it was called the Narragansett Herald, Hopkinton Gazette and North Kingstown Courier. The Hopkinton Gazette had been previously started and was purchased by Dr. Watson, and the Wickford Tribune, which he established, were combined under the above title.
The Block Island Budget was established in 1885 by W. G. Craw- ford, of Boston, and was sold by him to John P. Sanborn, of Newport, where it has since been printed in the office of the Mercury, the name having been changed to The Mid-Ocean. Charles E. Perry has edited the paper from the first, excepting one year. The Island Home is a paper made up chiefly from reprint, started by the pastor of the Bap- tist church on Block Island a number of years ago. A paper with this title is now published by Littlefield & Lodge.
The Watch Hill Surf, a semi-weekly, was published in the season of 1888, by George G. Champlin, at Watch Hill. A weekly is now pub- lished with the title, Block Island Surf, by The Croke Printing Com- pany, Charles E. Perry, editor. The 1901 edition is called volume 1. The Narragansett Surf is published by the same company, with Charles B. Warren, editor. The Watch Hill Surf was succeeded July 12, 1894, by the Watch Hill Life, with J. C. Kebabian, publisher.
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It is issued only in the summer season, and still represents the interests of that popular resort.
The Wiekford Standard was established in August, 1888, by Cogge- shall, Gardiner & Co., and continued under their management one year, when the senior partner retired, leaving Claude Gardiner in charge. At a later date it passed to Chaee & Young and was published by then in 1893, when James H. Coggeshall, the founder again assumed the proprietorship. The Standard is a reliable weekly journal and is eir- eulated throughout the State.
The Portsmouth Chroniele was established at Portsmouth as a week- ly journal in October, 1885. It is Republiean in politics and is one of a number of similar journals published in various New England villages by S. E. Fiske, of Fall River.
Little Compton had a newspaper, which was published in 1882 by Isaae B. Cowen.
One of the very early attempts to found a newspaper in Rhode Island was made in Bristol, when Capt. Golden Dearth, in January, 1807, issued the first number of The Mount Hope Eagle. D. A. Leon- ard, then postmaster, edited the paper, which survived one year.
The Bristol Gazette was started in September, 1833, by Bennett J. Munro, editor and publisher, and W. H. S. Bayley, printer. In the following January Mr. Bayley purchased the entire business and continued the Gazette four years. A few weeks later he issued the first number of The Bristol Phenix, which is still published, its exist- enee eovering a period of more than sixty years. Mr. Bayley eon- tinned publisher until his death in November, 1862, when it was pur- ehased by C. A. Greene, who condueted the business until October 21, 1893, when he sold it to the Herald Printing Co., of Paseoag, and three months later it was changed from a folio to an oetavo. November 1, 1894, the establishment was purchased by Farrally Bros. (W. H. and J. F.), who at onee changed from an eight-page weekly to a four-page semi-weekly, which greatly advaneed the prosperity of the journal.
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