July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
A birthday for local institution
Back in the Saddle
Tuesday was a birthday.
Sixty years ago, on Nov. 17, 1949, the first edition of a weekly newspaper called The Graphic hit the streets in Jay County.
The paper - launched by my parents, Hugh and Sara Ronald, and a handful of friends - was in direct competition with The Commercial Review. It would be for nine years, until the weekly bought out the daily paper in 1959.
Today, for much of Jay County, turning the pages of an old copy of The Graphic is an exercise in nostalgia, complete with rose-colored glasses, a trip down memory lane when life seemed simpler.
The Jay County Historical Society's book of vintage Graphic photos by Frank Kenyon captures that feeling perfectly.
So what was in that first issue of The Graphic? And were times really that much simpler back then?
The cover - The Graphic adopted a magazine-style design with a full page photo on most front pages - was a high school basketball action shot with players from Pennville and Redkey battling for control of the ball. That's no surprise. High school sports coverage has always been a staple for community journalism and continues to be today.
But turn the page, and you find not so much has changed.
A murder was in the news; a local man who ran a concession with a carnival had been found beaten to death in Louisiana. So much for nostalgia about the good old days.
The Portland City Council, meanwhile, was trying to pass an ordinance controlling "privies" in town.
That's right, we're talking about outhouses. It seems that in 1949 indoor plumbing hadn't completely taken hold in the county seat. At least there's been some progress on that front in the past 60 years.
And the changes are indisputable.
Among the advertisers who have since disappeared are names that resonate in the memories of local readers over a certain age: Weilers, Smith's Department Store, Ramsey Men's Shop, Shambarger's Restaurant, the Hines, the Princess, Armstrong Book Store, Haffner Hardware Store, Hart's Music Shop, Mi-Lady's Shoes, and on the back page Aunt Molly's Bread.
On the editorial page, which featured a half-page "photo editorial" about a downtown traffic accident, The Graphic attempted to introduce itself to readers.
"Based on the wisdom of the old Chinese proverb to the effect that a single picture is more effective than ten thousand words, The Graphic will feature pictures and news of Jay County people and places," that first editorial said.
"Editorially your new publication will be pledged to those causes which will assist and promote good schools, good churches, good business and good government here at home. We will be outspoken in our support of these things which will contribute to a better community and a better county, and just as outspoken in our opposition to those things which are contrary to the best interests of the community and county."
Art Graham, the first editor, probably wrote those words. But I detect my father's fingerprints on them as well.[[In-content Ad]]
Sixty years ago, on Nov. 17, 1949, the first edition of a weekly newspaper called The Graphic hit the streets in Jay County.
The paper - launched by my parents, Hugh and Sara Ronald, and a handful of friends - was in direct competition with The Commercial Review. It would be for nine years, until the weekly bought out the daily paper in 1959.
Today, for much of Jay County, turning the pages of an old copy of The Graphic is an exercise in nostalgia, complete with rose-colored glasses, a trip down memory lane when life seemed simpler.
The Jay County Historical Society's book of vintage Graphic photos by Frank Kenyon captures that feeling perfectly.
So what was in that first issue of The Graphic? And were times really that much simpler back then?
The cover - The Graphic adopted a magazine-style design with a full page photo on most front pages - was a high school basketball action shot with players from Pennville and Redkey battling for control of the ball. That's no surprise. High school sports coverage has always been a staple for community journalism and continues to be today.
But turn the page, and you find not so much has changed.
A murder was in the news; a local man who ran a concession with a carnival had been found beaten to death in Louisiana. So much for nostalgia about the good old days.
The Portland City Council, meanwhile, was trying to pass an ordinance controlling "privies" in town.
That's right, we're talking about outhouses. It seems that in 1949 indoor plumbing hadn't completely taken hold in the county seat. At least there's been some progress on that front in the past 60 years.
And the changes are indisputable.
Among the advertisers who have since disappeared are names that resonate in the memories of local readers over a certain age: Weilers, Smith's Department Store, Ramsey Men's Shop, Shambarger's Restaurant, the Hines, the Princess, Armstrong Book Store, Haffner Hardware Store, Hart's Music Shop, Mi-Lady's Shoes, and on the back page Aunt Molly's Bread.
On the editorial page, which featured a half-page "photo editorial" about a downtown traffic accident, The Graphic attempted to introduce itself to readers.
"Based on the wisdom of the old Chinese proverb to the effect that a single picture is more effective than ten thousand words, The Graphic will feature pictures and news of Jay County people and places," that first editorial said.
"Editorially your new publication will be pledged to those causes which will assist and promote good schools, good churches, good business and good government here at home. We will be outspoken in our support of these things which will contribute to a better community and a better county, and just as outspoken in our opposition to those things which are contrary to the best interests of the community and county."
Art Graham, the first editor, probably wrote those words. But I detect my father's fingerprints on them as well.[[In-content Ad]]
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