NEWSPAPERS

      The following is a sketch of the newspapers of the counties; the names of the live papers being printed in SMALL CAPITALS. 

      PEACHAM --The first newspaper published in the county, was at Peacham, about 1805 -07, but under what title, or who the publisher, we are not informed. 

      LYNDON --  The VERMONT UNION was established in Lyndon, Vt., in February, 1863 by C. M. CHASE, the present editor and publisher. Mr. CHASE is son of Gen. E. B. CHASE, who died in 1867 and for a quarter of a century was widely known in the state as a general business man, merchant and railroad builder, being a leading pioneer of the Passumpsic road. C. M. CHASE graduated at Dartmouth college in 1853, went west, spending three years in Cincinnati, O., teaching music and studying law. He moved from there to Sycamore, Ill., where he was admitted to the bar in 1857, from which time he engaged in practice of his profession, editing the DeKalb County Sentinel, and performing the duties of police magistrate, till 1861, when he enlisted in the 13th Illinois Infantry, and spent three months in Southwestern Missouri, mainly at Ralla. On his return he remained a year in Sycamore, and in 1863 went to Kansas, spent several months traveling over the state with Adjutant-General Ed RUSSELL, and writing up for the Sycamore Republican the history of the bloody days of 1856 and 1861. Returning to Leavenworth he was employed by Governor CARNEY, who owned the Daily Times, as state editor on that paper. In June, 1864, he returned to Vermont for a visit, but in consequence of the sickness of his father he concluded to remain, for a time at least, and at the request of many friends started a paper. The material and list of the Newport News were purchased from C. C. SPAULDING. Those who purchased and owned the paper were Gen. E. B. CHASE, G. H. and J. M. WEEKS, C. M. CHASE, L. P. BROWN, C. W. MCKAY, D. N. TRULL and G. B. WALKER. Mr. CHASE, as part owner and editor, started with 800 subscribers, struggled along between three and four years, editing an intensely Democratic paper, without gaining in list or business. It was not favorably soil for unadulterated Democracy. As this became apparent to the editor and the owners an arrangement was made by which Mr. CHASE purchased the entire interest and became sole owner and manager. He then took the road, made the personal acquaintance with men throughout the county, and kept the paper Democratic, but made a local paper in its leading feature. The UNION was the first paper in the United States to adopt the practice of giving each town, within the circuit of its subscription list, a town heading and placing all the news from that town under its own name. It was a most successful stroke, as it gave every town the impression of having a local paper of its own, and also stimulated the editor to gather news every week from all the towns, and have them represented in his paper. Under this feature and the thoroughness of gathering items which happened, and other items, which never happened, advocating improvements, exposing iniquity, and thus keeping, something going from all the towns, the UNION list began to grow, and soon ran up to 3,000 copies, or the largest list on the east side of the state. And this was done with politics unpopular in the county, and in a town less favorable than some others for gathering the news. The UNION is a large folio of eight columns to the page, and is in all respects well executed. 

    The Mercury was the name of a bright little amateur paper, in size a four column folio, published at Lyndon Center by Charles T. WALTER during 1880-81, while he was a student at the Institute. It was discontinued when he left for college. 

      THE INSTITUTE CHIMES was first put forth during the winter term of 1883-84, edited and published by the students of Lyndon Institute. It is designed to be issued six times in the year -- twice during each term, at six cents per copy. The contents are made up of essays, locals, school notes and advertisements; its size is twelve two-column pages. 

    The Lyndonville Comet, "Vol. I, No. I," was issued from the job office of' B. W. FARR, bearing local news, pithy paragraphs and advertising, three-column folio form, as an advertising sheet. The size of its orbit is undetermined, as it has appeared but once in range of vision. [We are not informed when this luminous visitor made its one visit.-ED.]

      ST. JOHNSBURY -- The Farmers' Herald, the first paper published in St. Johnsbury, was established in July, 1828. It was a four page, twenty-four column weekly, of strong Whig politics, published by Jewett & Porter, and edited by Dr. Luther JEWETT. Continued three or four years. 

      In July, 1832, Samuel EATON published the Weekly Messenger, similar in size and political faith to its predecessor. It survived but a short time. 

      In August, 1837, Albert G. CHADWICK began the publication of THE CALEDONIAN, which is still published, being the oldest paper in the county, except the NORTH STAR. When first published it was a four page, twenty-four column paper, but has been enlarged, first in 1850 to twenty-eight columns, and in 1867 to thirty-two columns, its present size. In politics, originally Whig, it advocated the principles of the Free Soil element and became an early adherent and unswerving supporter of the principles of the Republican party. For eighteen years it was edited and published by its founder until July, 1855, when it passed into the hands of George D. RAND and Charles M. STONE. After nearly two years -- in April, 1857?Mr. STONE became the owner, editor and publisher, as he still continues. The original office of publication was in a frame building nearly opposite the present bakery of G. H. Cross & Co. on Main street, where it was printed for twelve years. Since that time it has been issued from two or three different offices near its present location, Eastern Avenue, opposite Monument square. Since 1859 it has occupied an office upon the same site. The CALEDONIAN, or ST. JOHNSBURY CALEDONIAN, as its heading reads, presents a neat mechanical make-up, and furnishes a pleasing weekly vehicle of local and general news at $1.50 per year. 

    The St. Johnsbury Times was started by Arthur ROPES, D. K. SIMONDS and E. L. HOVEY, in July, 1869. It professed Republican principles. During the four years of its existence it was published and edited by various parties. It died in 1872. 

      THE ST. JOHNSBURY ADVERTISER was established in July, 1871, by L. W. ROWELL. It is issued monthly, about the 20th, and daily during the annual fair, besides occasional extras. It is a five column folio, and the average edition is 5,000. It is circulated gratuitously, being published as an advertising medium, rendered attractive by news and selected reading. 

    The Vermont Farmer, formerly published at Newport, was removed to St. Johnsbury in 1872. It was published by Royal CUMMINGS and Thomas H. HASKINS, and existed until 1877. 

    The St. Johnsbury Index, a thirty-two column, patent inside, weekly, came into being in 1880, under the auspices of A. B. HOWE, who sold to John E. BARNS in 1883, and he sold out the office, material and lists, in the fall of 1884. "The editors were Democrats, but did not work at it much." 

      THE ACADEMY STUDENT is published as a monthly during term time, by the senior class of St. Johnsbury academy. It was first published in April, 1880, an eight page, three column publication; size of page 7x9½ inches, made up of literary essays of the students, and carrying some local advertising. THE ACADEMY STUDENT is now two-column, twelve pages. 

      The ST. JOHNSBURY REPUBLICAN was established by the "Caledonia County Publishing Company," in the spring, of 1885, and the first number issued March 26. The company is incorporated with an authorized capital of $10,000, and its affairs are managed by a board of directors, consisting, of Sumner S. THOMPSON (president), of Lyndonville; Elmore T. IDE (vice-president), St. Johnsbury; Charles ROGERS, Wheelock; Isaac M. SMITH, McIndoes; John H. GEORGE, East Hardwick; Charles T. WALTER (manager), St. Johnsbury; John C. CLARK (secretary and treasurer), St. Johnsbury. The REPUBLICAN, issued every Thursday, is a four page, thirty-six column paper devoted to local, state, and general news. Its office, conveniently located on Railroad street, corner of Eastern avenue, is well appointed, and the paper presents a clean and tasty appearance. Edward JOHNSON, editor. The REPUBLICAN has a growing circulation, Subscription price, $1.50 per year. 

      DANVILLE -- THE NORTH STAR -- [By J. T. DURANT, M.D.] Ebenezer EATON came to Danville from Connecticut late in the autumn of 1806. He was a brother of General William EATON, of Tripolitan fame, who assisted him, pecuniarily, in purchasing his outfit for starting a newspaper. The printing-press, type, etc., were purchased in Connecticut and together with his "family and effects," were placed on an ox-sled and conveyed to Danville, passing through Ryegate and Peacham on the route. Danville had already been made the county seat of Caledonia county, and the business and population had been increasing rapidly for several years, and it was regarded by Mr. EATON as a very desirable place for his proposed newspaper. The citizens also were alive to the project, and a public meeting was held, and patronage and support were pledged to the new enterprise. The name to be given to the paper was also discussed, and several other names having been suggested, it was finally decided to call it "The North Star." The first number was issued in January, 1807 -- a small sized sheet, like all other papers of that period, but filled with reading matter and news. It adopted as its motto, "Where Liberty dwells there is my Country." Mr. EATON was about thirty years of age at the time, and he continued as principal editor about thirty-four years. During this period Danville was the largest and most important town in the eastern part of the state, and was the center for political conventions and mass-meetings, and THE NORTH STAR wielded a powerful influence in shaping the politics of the state. Mr. EATON was a man of sterling integrity, good natural ability, and had independent views, and was fearless in the expression of them -- he "possessed the courage of his convictions." An examination of the old files of THE NORTH STAR will show that he was in the habit of writing able and pithy editorials on all the leading topics of the times, both local and national. His courage, conscientiousness and honesty of purpose, were especially manifested in his renunciation of Free Masonry at the time of the “Morgan” excitement. But the denunciations of THE NORTH STAR were directed, not against men, but against the system, and were most bitter and scathing. The circulation of THE NORTH STAR in its best days -- which were also the days of Danville's greatest prosperity -- was the largest of any paper in this part of the state. But the CALEDONIAN (a Republican paper) was established at St. Johnsbury; and, subsequently the VERMONT UNION, at Lyndon. The latter paper being of the same politics as THE NORTH STAR (Democratic), and its editor and founder, C. M. CHASE -- a graduate of Dartmouth college -- being a man of wit and humor, and possessed of just the right kind of talent to build up a spicy and popular local newspaper, proved to be a powerful rival of THE NORTH STAR, and drew largely from its subscription list. In 1841 N. H. EATON, son of Ebenezer EATON, became editor and proprietor, and continued until his decease, in May, 1880, when his son, George E. EATON, became editor and proprietor. THE NORTH STAR, under N. H. EATON's forty years of editorship, was a model paper for fairness and courtesy, never admitting to its columns offensive personalities against any man. It also won the reputation of having the best selections of miscellaneous reading matter -- an item of no small moment to a rural population poorly supplied with readable books. The son, George E. EATON, sold out his interest in the paper, in January, 1881, to Anson B. HOYT and W. O. CASWELL. And thus the old NORTH STAR passed out of the EATON family, after having been in it for seventy-four years. George E. EATON dissolved his connection with the paper for the sake of engaging in a larger field, and associated himself with Mr. J. B. PARMENTER, as co-editor of the Troy Daily and Weekly Press, of Troy, N. Y. CASWELL soon resigned his editorship, and F. J. PRESTON was associated with HOYT, but soon went out of the concern. Mr. HOYT still continues its editor and proprietor, but the circulation is greatly reduced. It has appeared in various shapes -- has had “patent insides”, and “patent outsides” and has ceased to be the " power in the land " that it was once known and acknowledged to be. 

      This county has never been given to publishing papers. One number was issued from Island Pond, in 1860, and three numbers were issued from West Concord, by Alfred W. EASTMAN, who then sold his press and types to H. A. CUTTING, of Lunenburgh, where it was burned in his store, and no further numbers issued. January 1, 1872, the ESSEX COUNTY HERALD was started by John W. HARTSHORN, and printed by his sons at Lancaster, N. H., but published from Guildhall. After its start Emerson and Hartshorn owned and run it until January, 1876, when O. B. BOYCE, of Guildhall, edited it under the same owners, until April 1, 1877, when it was sold to N. A. BURNHAM, of Guildhall, who was editor and proprietor for one year, and then sold to W. H. BISHOP, of Island Pond, and removed to that place. It has a good circulation, and is a desirable local paper, well managed. Its subscription price is $1.50 per year. 
 
 
 

Transcribed and provided by Tom Dunn, 2003.

Source: 
Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex, Counties, VT., 1764-1887,
Compiled and Published by Hamilton Child; May 1887, Pages 5-124.