Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-06-10
THE FIRST NEWSPAPERS.

iNG'' ~ ~ 1''S'
We take the following extracts from
an able address upon the History of
journalism in West Virginia delivered
by Hon. Virgil A. Lewis at the recent
meeting of the West Virginia Edito-
rial Association at Weston:
The first white settlement in West
Virginia was made in the Eastern Pam
handle, and here, as might be expect
ed, begins the History of Journalism
in our State.
The first newspaper that published
the local happenings in any part of
West Virginia, was not itself printed
within the limits of the State. 1t was
the Virginia Gazetteer and Winchester
Advertiser, the first issue Of which ap-
peared on Wednesday, July II, 1877,
Willocks & Co., publishers. This was
the first newspaper printed in the far
famed Shenandoah Valley. a file
Of it covering the first twenty-one
months of its existence has been pre-
served, and it contains much interest
ing and curious matter pertaining to
the condition of affairs, as then exist
ing, in what is now Berkeley, Jefferson
and Hampshire counties, in West Vlr-
ginia,
The first newspaper published in
West Virginia was the Berkeley Intel
ligencer and Northern Advertiser, the
publication Of which began at Martins
burg in March, 1898, date extend
ing back to within ten months OF a
hundred years. John Alburtis, who
had previously been in the newspaper
business at Winchester, published this
paper at two dollars per year-one-
half to be paid at the time of subscrlb-
ing. Advertisements were inserted
for "three- fourth of dollar per square,
for three weeks to subscribers to non
subscribers the common price of one
dollar" This is the only discnmina-
ton of the kind which | have noted
among the early newspapers. The adj
vertisements exhibit view of the busl-
ness of the town at that time, and
business men then understood the val
ue of printers ink fully as well as the
wisest of them do now.
The second newspaper published in
West Virginia was the Gazette, which
made its appearance in Martinsburg
in May. 1899, the editor and publish
er being Nathaniel Willis, father of
the renowned poet, Nathaniel Parker
Willis. 1t continued through many
years of usefulness. 1t chronicled fully
the events of the war of 1872, publish
ing extended accounts of the historic
achievements on the banks of the Maui
NEE. in Western Ohio, within twenty
days after their occurrence. In Jan
uary, 1911, John Alburtis succeeded
Willis as editor and proprietor and as
such continued until October, 1922,
when he in turn was succeeded by
Washington Evans. How long Mr..
Evans continued his connection with
this paper does not appear, but in 1888
Edmund P. Hunter became proprietor
of the Gazette and changed its name
to that of the Martinsburg Gazette and
Public Advertiser. On the 1st day of
December, 1884, the shrill scream Of
the locomotive was heard at Harper S
Ferry for the first time, and the Ga
zette in its issue Of three days later,
contained the first railroad schedule
ever printed in newspaper west OF
the Blue Ridge Mountains. From 1t
we learn that the time of passenger
trains to and from Harper's Ferry to
Baltimore, distance OF eighty-one
miles, was eight hours.
At the close of the Civil War, Mr.
Nelson Wisner began the publication
of the Berkely Union, Of which he was
editor until 1878. In 1866, the New
Era, a Democratic paper, began its ex-
istence at Martinsburg, with Schater
and Logan as proprietOrs, and was con-
tinued until April. 1873. For three
years it was published daily and week
", but at the end of that time the
daily edition was abandoned. Wisner
and Logan were the publishers. The
Union and The Independent were both
III D.-.,ll;a,, ,,onnr- Tie