Norfolk County, Massachusetts - Chapter 46: Norfolk County Press, 1918

Chapter 46: Norfolk County Press

The first newspaper in Norfolk County was the Columbian Minerva, which was located at Dedham. Concerning this paper Herman Mann, in his Annals of Dedham, says: "Columbian Minerva commenced in October, 1796. In December, 1797, the printing establishment was purchased by Herman Mann, Sr., who then became the proprietor and editor of the paper. It was discontinued September 4, 1804, when its editor in his valedictory address to the patrons of the paper remarks - 'Few persons of the present day are willing to labor, either with hands or head, without compensation, and, generally, what is called a handsome profit. While I am ready, and do, from my heart, lament my inabilities as an editor to make it (the Minerva) of the utmost utility - I have to deplore the want of encouragement to bring every latent spark of genius into its best exercise.' "

It is not definitely known who were the founders of the Minerva, but the credit has been given to Nathaniel and Benjamin Heaton. In the Minerva of June 12, 1800, was the following obituary notice: "Died, at Wrentham, Mr. Benjamin Heaton, formerly one of the editors of the Minerva," and the author of the Annals of Dedham thinks it probable that Herman Mann purchased the paper from the Heatons.

After the suspension of the Minerva in September, 1804, the county was without a newspaper for about seven months. On May 14, 1805, Herman Mann again ventured into the field with the Norfolk Repository. It was published regularly every week until September 17, 1805, when the "post-rider" suddenly absconded with a considerable portion of the funds belonging to the establishment and the publication of the Repository was "unavoidably suspended." It was revived on March 25, 1806, and was then published in an eight page quarto form until 181 1.

Jabez Chickering started the Dedham Gazette, with Theron Metcalf as editor. On January I, 1819, the outfit was purchased by Herman Mann, Jr., and William H. Mann, who continued the publication for about six months, when the Gazette gave up the ghost for want of adequate support, the owners devoting their time and attention to job printing.

The next newspaper in the county was the Village Register, the first number of which appeared on June 9, 1820. Asa Gowen was the proprietor and the paper was printed by the Mann Brothers. On September 15, 1820, Mr. Gowen soid the Register to Jonathan H. Cobb, who published it for about a year. Barnum Field was then the proprietor until October 18, 1822, when he sold to the Mann Brothers. The paper was discontinued in November, 1829.

About a month after the last number of the Village Register was issued, John B. Derby started the Norfolk County Republican, which was printed by the Manns. It lasted only one year.

On the last day of the year 1830 the Dedham Patriot made its appearance, published by H. & W. H. Mann. The latter soon afterward sold his interest to John B. Tolman, and the paper was published by Mann & Tolman until August 26, 1 83 1, when Herman Mann became the sole proprietor. By this time the population of the county had grown so that a local newspaper received better support, and the Patriot met with better success than any of its predecessors. On January 1, 1836, the establishment passed into the hands of S. C. & E. Mann, who employed John S. Houghton as editor. In October following the name was changed to Dedham Patriot and Canton Gazette. Other changes in ownership and name followed until in June, 1842, when it was called the Norfolk County American. Edward L. Keyes came into possession in May, 1844, and two years later the plant was removed to Roxbury.

In 183 1 L. Powers began the publication of the Independent Politician and Workingmen's Advocate, the first number appearing on New Year's day. Joseph H. Wilder was the editor. The following fall Ebenezer Fish purchased the paper, and in July, 1832, the name was changed to Norfolk Advertiser and Independent Politician. On April 2, 1836, it appeared simply as the Norfolk Advertiser. Elbridge G. Robinson became the proprietor on August 1, 1837, and on February 1, 1839, the name was changed to the Norfolk Democrat - or rather the Advertiser was discontinued and the Democrat commenced. In 1854 it was consolidated with the Dedham Gazette, then published in Hyde Park by Henry O. Hildreth.

On January 1, 1837, the Quincy Patriot entered the journalistic field. It was a small sheet, 20 by 30 inches, four pages, and was started by John A. Green and Edward A. Osborne. The latter remained with the paper only about three months, when Mr. Green became the proprietor and continued at the head of the paper until July 1, 1851, when he disposed of it to Gideon F. Thayer and George White, who increased the size of the sheet to 22 by 32 inches. Two years later the paper was repurchased by Mr. Green, who conducted it until his death in 1861. George W. Prescott then formed a partnership with Mrs. Green, under the firm name of Green & Prescott, which lasted for over a quarter of a century. The Patriot (now the Patriot-Ledger) is the oldest paper in Norfolk County. It is an independent paper and is published every afternoon except Sunday, with George T. Magee as editor and the George W. Prescott Company, publishers. The Wednesday and Saturday editions are issued as a semi-weekly.

The Quincy Aurora was started by Charles Clapp on January 1, 1843, and continued for about three years, and the Quincy Free Press, started in 1878, has also gone to join the "innumerable caravan."

J. E. & Edson Carpenter ran a paper called the Salmagundi Journal at Foxboro from November, 1849. to January, 1850. The Country Times, another Foxboro newspaper, was published by Henry C. Buffum from April 12, 1856, to April 5, 1857. In the latter year the Home Library was issued for about six months, under the editorship of John Littlefield. The Foxboro Journal was edited by Robert W. Carpenter and published by James M. Stewart from February, 1873, to September, 1878.

In March, 1873, the Foxboro Times was started by E. W. Clarke, R. W. Carpenter and others and ran with varying success until 1884, when it was succeeded by the Reporter, which is now published as an independent newspaper every Saturday by J. H. Alden, with G. M. Barron as editor.

Randolph's first newspaper - the Transcript and Advertiser - began its existence on March 14, 1857, with Samuel P. Brown as editor and proprietor. It was discontinued in August, 1862, but was revived until October, 1863, when it was again discontinued. On January 7, 1865, it was again resuscitated and the following October Mr. Brown sold the establishment to Joseph Jones, who kept it but a short time. After several changes in ownership, D. H. Huxford became the proprietor in March, 1873, when the name was changed to the East Norfolk Register. Mr. Huxford continued to publish the paper for several years, when he became interested in other enterprises and it was discontinued.

The Stoughton Sentinel, now the second oldest paper in the county, was launched on November 10, i860, by William H. Jewell. The first number was printed in the Town of Canton. At that time the country was in a state of turmoil over the question of secession. Mr. Jewell took the position that the Southern States ought to be allowed to withdraw in peace from the Union. A sentiment of that kind was not popular in Massachusetts and the Sentinel was soon forced to suspend for want of patronage. William W. & C. A. Wood then purchased the outfit and on November 7, 1863, the first number of the Sentinel under the new management came from the press. In October, 1864, when the call came for volunteers for one hundred days, both the editors enlisted and the Sentinel was suspended during the time they were in the service. In September, 1865, it was again suspended for a short time, when Pratt & Hasty purchased the paper and resumed publication, printing it in Randolph. In September, 1882, L. W. Standish took charge of the editorial department and later became the owner. He is still the editor and proprietor and the Sentinel is issued every Saturday as a Republican newspaper.

In 1867 C. G. Easterbrook began the publication of the Weymouth Gazette. Mr. Easterbrook's success induced others to enter the newspaper field and the Courier was started in 1876, in East Weymouth, by Jones & Company. It lasted only about a year, and in 1877 the Weymouth Advance was launched by C. F. David. Its office was in East Weymouth and it was continued for about two years. A paper called the Transcript was consolidated with the Gazette, and the Gazette and Transcript is now published every Friday as an independent newspaper under the editorial management of Frank F. Prescott, the Gazette & Transcript Publishing Company being the publishers.

Bradford Kingman issued the first number of the Brookline Transcript on October 15, 1870. The last number of this pape,r was dated May 31, 1873. On July 4, 1873, Dr. N. C. Towle started the Brookline Independent. It was published by a club, which had a special object in view, and lived but a short time.

The first newspaper in Franklin was the Register, which was started in October, 1872, by James M. Stewart, who continued its publication until his removal from the town in 1881. Three years before the suspension of the Register, R. E.

Norwood Press. Norwood Plimpton Press, Norwood

Capron began the publication of the Franklin Sentinel. In 1883 it passed into the hands of Houston & Lincoln, who greatly improved the appearance and contents of the paper. The Sentinel has maintained its existence through various ups and downs and is now published on Tuesdays and Fridays by Carl B. Johnson.

The Needham Chronicle has a history somewhat different from any other newspaper in the county. It was established in 1874 by George W. Southworth, who is still the editor and proprietor. When first started it bore the name of Needham Chronicle and Wellesley Advertiser. Mr. Southworth was a journalist of some experience, which doubtless accounts for the successful career of the Chronicle. When the Town of Wellesley was incorporated in 1881, the words "and Wellesley Advertiser" were dropped from the heading and a separate edition was published under that name for some time. The Chronicle is now issued every Saturday.

James M. Stewart, editor of the Franklin Register, published a paper called the Walpole Standard in the early '70s. It lived to start on its eighth volume, when it was discontinued. Other Walpole newspapers of the last century were: The Enterprise, started by E. H. Hosmer in March, 1878; the Norfolk County Tribune, which succeeded the Enterprise in June, 1881 ; the Walpole Star, started in June, 1882, by Charles J. McPherson, and the Standard and Enterprise which was published for a short time in the '80s. The Walpole Enterprise of the present day is an edition of the Foxboro Reporter.

The first newspaper in Braintree was called the Reporter and was started by Charles G. Easterbrook of the Weymouth Gazette. It lasted not quite two years and left but little history. The Old Colony Bulletin began its career in April, 1875, with the name of C. F. David at the head of the editorial columns. He sold the outfit in October following and it was removed to Abington. Mr. David later started the Weymouth Advance, which was not a successful venture and the paper lived but about two years, as already stated.

In 1878 Daniel H. Huxford, editor and proprietor of the East Norfolk Register, of Randolph, began the publication of the Braintree Observer, which is still in existence. It is now published every Saturday as an independent newspaper by the George W. Prescott Publishing Company of Quincy.

On April 29, 1882, Frederick P. Fairfield, a Boston man, issued the first number of the Milton News. Some six months later the paper was purchased by W. W. Woodward, who conducted it for a few years, when it went to the wall.

According to Ayer's Newspaper Directory for 1917, there are seven towns in Norfolk County that have no newspapers published within their limits, viz : Bellingham, Dover, Medfield, Norfolk, Plainville, Westwood and Wrentham. Of the newspapers in the other towns, the Braintree Observer, Foxboro Reporter, Franklin Sentinel, Needham Chronicle, Quincy Patriot-Ledger, Stoughton Sentinel, Walpole Enterprise and Weymouth Gazette and Transcript have already been described.

The Braintree Bee, an independent weekly, was established in 1894, and is now published every Saturday by the firm of Pratt & Pratt, editors and proprietors.

The Brookline Chronicle made its appearance on May 9, 1874, with the name of W. H. Hutcheson as editor and proprietor. In July, 1875, it was purchased by Wing & Arthur. In January, 1877, Charles M. Vincent became the owner, but sold it about a year later to Alexander S. Arthur, who in July, 1879, took Charles A. W. Spencer into partnership. The Chronicle is now published every Saturday as an independent newspaper by the Chronicle Publishing Company, with Arthur W. Spencer as editor.

In 1903 the Brookline Townsman made its bow to the public as an independent weekly. It is now published by the Brookline Press (incorporated) and the editor is V. G. Byers.

N. T. Merritt, a journalist of considerable experience in that line, established the Canton Journal in December, 1876. About four months later he sold out to D. S. Hasty of Easton. E. B. Thorndike became the proprietor in 1880, and in May, 1882, the office and printing establishment were removed to the "old school house," where commodious quarters were obtained and the paper was greatly improved. The Journal is now published by the Canton Publishing Company (incorporated), with Herbert Mosman as editor. An edition called the Easton Bulletin is issued every week for North Easton.

Cohasset has three newspapers, though none is published in the town. The Cohasset Citizen is an edition of the "East Wind," published at Hull; the Cottager is an edition published by the Abington Advertiser ; and the Sentinel is published by the South Shore Publishing Company of Boston, which publishes a number of newspapers for the small towns along the coast.

The Dedham Transcript was established in 1870. Some years later the business was incorporated under the name of the Transcript Press, which now publishes the Transcript as an independent newspaper every Saturday. An edition for local distribution is also issued by the Transcript Press under the name of the Standard.

An independent newspaper called the Holbrook Times began its career in 1889. It is now published every Saturday, following the original policy of independence, by John King, who is both editor and proprietor.

The only newspaper in Millis is an edition of the Milford Gazette, which is issued as an independent sheet every Friday, devoted largely to the local news of the town.

Charles F. Marden is the present editor and proprietor of the Milton Record, which was established in 1904. It is published every Saturday as an independent weekly. In Needham, besides the Chronicle already mentioned, there is a weekly independent newspaper called the Recorder. It was founded in 1895 and is now published every Friday by Ellis S. Tisdale and Robert Coupe, editors and proprietors.

Norwood has a live weekly newspaper called the Messenger. It was established in 1895 and is now published by Ambrose Brothers, A. N. Ambrose being the editor. The Messenger is issued every Saturday and is devoted chiefly to local news and matters pertaining to Norwood and vicinity.

In 1909 a second daily paper made its appearance in Quincy. It is called the Quincy Daily Telegram and is published every afternoon except Sunday. J. D. Smith is the present editor and the paper is published by W. G. Spargo.

Journal. It was founded in 1877 by the Granite Cutters' International Association and is published by that organization in the interests of the workmen in the granite industry. The present editor is James Duncan.

In 1914 the Randolph News Publishing Company began the publication of an independent weekly newspaper called the Randolph News. It is issued every Friday and has a good local patronage.

Sharon has two weekly newspapers - the Advocate and the News. The former was started in 1881 by William B. Wickes, who continued to publish the paper for several years. It is now issued every Saturday as an independent newspaper by the Sharon Publishing Company. The News was founded in 1914 and is also published on Saturday as an independent weekly by the News Publishing Company, with Mary A. Mahoney as editor.

The South Weymouth Times was founded in 191 1 and is now published every Friday by Sydney Rogers Cook. It is devoted chiefly to local news and interests. The South Weymouth Sun is an edition of the Abington Advertiser.

M. W. Hawley is the publisher and William H. Davis the editor of the Stoughton News, which began its career in 191 1. It is now published every Friday as an independent weekly.

The Wellesley Townsman was established in 1906 and is now issued every Friday by the Wellesley Publishing Company. It is purely local in character and devoted to Wellesley interests. The Wellesley Review is an edition of the Natick Bulletin and is issued weekly. In 1901 the students of Wellesley College began the publication of a paper called the Wellesley College News. It is issued every Thursday during the college year and is edited by the students.

West Medway has a weekly edition of the Milford Gazette that is devoted to Medway interests, but no paper is published in the town proper. The South Shore Newspaper Company of Boston issues a weekly called the Weymouth Enterprise, for circulation in that town.