Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-03-27
PIONEER NEWSPAPERS.
Some Account Of Early Olympia Journal

the editor of this paper. and sever;
others, were honored guests, and b
request the writer gave some a,
count of the early local newspaper.
His remarks were is follows:
FRIENDS AND FELLOW CRAFTSMEN:
l hardly know how | happened I
consent so speak TO YOU to night, fo
l seldom attempt to make speec
and the only times | have found
impossible to refuse was when the RI
quest came from the newspaper or dra
matte fraternlties, who from their broa
intelligence and generous hospitality
with many other commendahle qualities
have found warm place in my heart
! addressed the Equality Club, the othe
night composed largely of women, an,
it was probably a combination of tIes,
qualities which caused me to deviat
from my custom then.
The COluI;bian was established Sep
tember 11th, 1852, by Thornton F.. Nc
Elroy and J. W. Wiley, and printed or
a Ramage press and some old type OBJ
tanned from the OregOnidn. 1t was a
decidedly primitive plant, consisting of
a couple of fonts of body letter and
half dozen of advertising display, all
OF which had seen extensive use
Its jobbing outfit consisted of these
fonts of body letter. long primer and
nOnpareil. and the letters composing
the words THE Columbian" which it
will be noticed enabled the printer to
assemble the word Notice" which
headed all announcements that ap-
peared from the job department as it
then existed.
The publication of the Column bian
was unique in one respect at least.
Mr.. McElroy lived In the publication
office. keeping batch" This fact be-
ing known to the ladies (and the fact
that he was a married man not being
known. many were the delicacies sent
| to his lonely table. In fact. he kept
permanent headline, which appeared
nearly every week in his paper, which
read Editors Table" under which he
enumerated the many delightful It'd
bits that found their way to his sup
posedly humble. but really epicurean
table. When his wife appeared. there
was a commotion. but nobody could
truthfully say that he had ever denied
having a wife.
The first issue of the Columbian was
from small building on the corner of
Second and Washington streets, i'm
mediately opposite the Office of the
WASHINGTON STANDARD, a small one
story structure that has long since dis.
appeared, but quite large enough to
hold and shelter the small outfit of the
first paper north Of the Columbia in
the then Territory of Oregon. The
Columbian was welcomed by the boom
ing of cannon. your humble servant
giving the signal for applying the
match.
| The Office of publication was subse-
quently moved to the second story Of
the old Mike Simmons" building. cor
ner of First and Columbia. which had
been used as the Custom House, under
Collector Simpson P. Moses. This build
Ing was afterwards used for founding
the first Masonic Lodge and also for
instituting the Ancient and Honorable
Order of U. F. of F. U. 1t was de-
strOyed by fire about two decades ago.
On December Sd, 1853, the name OF
The Columbian was changed to Wash
ingtOn Pioneer. as being more appro-
pirate. and probably at the instance OF
A. M. Berry, who became associated
with Messrs. McElroy aud Wiley In its
publication On February 4th, 1854,
the name was again changed and it
became the Pioneer and Democrat
This change was caused by the appear.
ance in the field of r. L. Doyle, with
6 Washington hand press and new type.
as prospective contestant for the
public printing, which was then a fat
plum, with the bill work set in long
primer with double plea reglets and
paid for at the rate of $3.50 per thou
sand. AS a three-line bill could, by
judicious division, be made into two
pages. counting some 5000 ems, it will
be seen that the margin for profit was
at least remrnerative. Messrs. Nc.
Elroy & Wiley. very iudiciousiy. we
think. took Mr.. Doyle into partner
ship; and thereafter the plant under
the successive management of Edward
Furste. George B. Goudy. and others,
enjoyed continuously the emoluments
Of the public printing until its final
suspension In July. 1861, six months
after the WASHINGTON STANDARD had
made its appearance
Probably few words regarding the
founders Of the first newspaper on
Puget Sound may not be uninteresting.
First. We note the personality Of
Thornton F. McElroy. He was man of
splendid physique, jolly companion,
of industrious disposition. and al
though kind-hearted and generous, was
a merciless joker. He had a keen
relish for anything and everything that
had a humorous side to It, He was
honest. but strict in all business mat
ters. Having the big profits of the
public printing under control for so
many years. united with habits of econ
omy. he soon accumulated a compe-
tency. which was no little enchanced
by the loan Of money at two per cent
per month interest. the then estab-
lished rate. There were no banks in
those days, and the two "Ms"-Mc-
Elroy and w. w. Miller-were public
benefactors in the way of affording a
ready means of exchange.