The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-10-15
EARLY JOURNALISM IN WALDO
COUNTY.


Winterport 1t is a copy of the Peoples
Advocate and Independent Democrat for
March %. 1874: being No. of Vol. of
that newspaper 1t has for motto:
''Truth our weapons; democracy, our
shield. The paper was published for
the proprietors by Lewis Richardson
1t contains the notice of an election to be
held April ], when a representative to
Congress is to be chosen. There is no
tice of the steamer Charter Oak running
from Portland to Bangor, and procla-
nation for the annual day of fasting and
PRAYER, by Hugh J. Anderson, for April
is, 1874 which makes exactly one-Eaf
column in length. The paper also con-
tains notice of the death in Augusta OF
''JoseDh Drummer, ESQ.,, father-in- law OF
Gov. Anderson, aged 81 years. Bangor
Commercial.
The Journal has bound files running
back to 1929, when it was first published,
and will soon complete its S0th year and
volume During that time many Of its
once esteemed contemporaries have
passe5 away. Some We're started to fill
fanci4d long felt want, but which was
fol,,, rot to exist: others arose from
faction fights, and others were brought
INTO being with the sole end in view Of
"sil,ins The jour- aI.' But spite, even
if SUPPLEMENTED bv cash, is a very poor
working capital il any business, and
especially SO in newspaper promotion.
The FIRST newspaper enterprise in Bel
fast Was the publication in 1920 of the
weekly Hancock Gazette, which later
assumed the additional title of Penob-
scot Patriot. There Was no regular edi-
for hut Alfred johnson, Jr., and William
c. Crosby were frequent contributors.
With the beginning Of the seventh vol
ume the paper took the name OF the Bel
fast Gazette, and in 1928 it was succeeded
bv the Waldo Democrat, which did not
conlp,ete a wear. The plant was sold to
Robert White and Cyrus Rowe, who on
the 9Th of February, 1929, established
The Republican Journal. The next news
naner established in Belfast was The
Maine Farmer and Political Register. The
first number appeared April g. 1929, and
the last in October of the following year.
Another weekly, the Maine Working
men s Advocate, began publication Nov.
3. 1880. With the beginning of the fifth
volume it took the name Of the American
Advocate. It was discontinued April %,
1895. The first number of the Belfast
InteIligencer. a rival Of The Journal ap-
Deared in $50. Joseph Williamson was
its editor and principal proprietor. At
the expiration Of q year the paper was
removed to Frankfort, now Wnterport,
where uH1cr the name of The lnteIll-
g.rcsv il Continued until Janu 4ry, 1899.
Thu f.er nua.ber Of the Waldo Patriot, a
V-h;g- aauer, appeared Jan. l, 1888, and
At tie close of the first volume it was
u~ir-- wiki the Kefne5ec journal at
Au.lsta. On the 18th of October, 1910,
thu, 7ry+ number Of the Waldo Signal,
WING paper. appeared. Later the name
was changed to State Signal, then to
Signal and Planet, then to State Signal
and later to Belfast Signal. 1t was dis
continued Feb. 8, 1854. In March, 1874,
the PEOPLES Advocate and Independent
Democrat, appeared as rival of The
journal, but did not reach second vol
uYne. Nehemiah Abbott was the editor.
The Progressive Age was established
July /. 1854, to advocate the principles
of the then new Republican party, and
was at first intended only as campaign
organ. But it grew with the Republican
party and under the able editorship OF
Hon. VIM. M. Rust became successful
and influential newspaper. After his
death it changed hands twice and after
fire which destroyed the plant few years
ago was discontinued. On June 10, 1854,
the Maine Free Press was established by
f. K. Smart. collector Of customs, who
edited it. In 1857 it Was transferred to
Rockland and merged IL the United States
Democrat under the name OF Democrat
ard Free Fress. The Belfast Advertiser
was first published as monthly IN 1871
and two years later was changed TO
weekly under the editorial charge OF En-
erv Boardman, who resigned after two
wears and was succeeded by George &.
Bracket. Not proving profitable 1t was
discontinued after a few years. The
heated local contest over the railroad
question led to the starting Of the Bel
fast City Press, an excellent local news
paper and ably edited by Emery Board
man, Esq. After sinking, as reported,
$4,000 in the enterprise the paper was
discontinued and the plant sold to the
Progressive Age. For few months
Wayland Knowlton, ESQ.,, published
weekly newspaper whose name we 90
not now recall. Later came the Waldo
County Commercial, printed and edited
in Waterville, which did not complete the
second volume. Several monthlies are
to be included in this mortuary list-one
called the Union Banner, of which Luclus
H. Murch was editor, proprietor and pub
Usher, and which had an existence OF one
year; and later, Cream, which lasted
about the same time.