The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-08-09
GOODBYE, OLD HOME, GOODBYE

GOODBYE, OLD HOME, GOODBYE
The Star is leaving the house of its
birth and the editor is leaving tae
building which has been mis- work
shop for twenty-five years and his
home for more than half that time
We both go to quarters far better
adapted for both work and comfort,
but we can't help feeling a wrench
at the heartstrings at leaving the
walls that have sheltered us so long.
This building was erected by Rev.
J. c. Porter in 1894, the contractor
being 0. L. Burdick. Mr.. Porter in
tended 1t to be the permanent home
Of a great Baptist state paper, and
only one person beside the writer
knows the hard work and sacrifice
required to raise the funds to build
ia. OLD Man Burdick was a sturdy
Baptist deacon. and always carried
ont his principles in his contracts.
There are many better-iooking build
ings in Ocala, but not one more
strongly put together.
Here in 1894 Mr.. Porter brought
his paper, the Baptist Witness, and
here 1t lived until failing health
compelled him to relinquish it; and
it is monument to his work that at
ter the Witness passed from his
hands it became shadow of itself.
In 1895 the Daily Star was estab-
hshed. Mr.. Porter and a gentleman
from Missouri named Harding were
the proprietors. Mr. r. r. Carroll,
now president of the Star Publishing
Company, was local reporter and ad
the Witness type and press. 1t had
rather hard shedding at first. 1t was
started right after the big freeze of
1886, when Florida looked like des.
ert. There was one time when it
was about to quit. 1t had barely
enough money to pay outstanding
bills. and no more in sight, and Mr..
Harding, who was editor and man
ager, told Mr.. Porter he was thru.
Mr.. Porter thought for a minute or
two, then he said: This paper has a
future" He went out and raised
money, enough to tide over the emer-
gency and the Star has never thought
of quitting since.
Mr. Harding, an honest, genial and
Industrious man, but accustomed to
the comforts and conveniences of a
big town and rich country, soon be-
came tired of Florida Journalism and
went back to Kansas City. Mr.. J. R.
Mellon, man of some prominence IN
Pennsylvania journalism, for short
while, took his place, but did, not fit,
and soon passed on.
Meantime, Mr. Carroll was increas-
ing the paper by constant work and
his great faculty for making friends,
in which no man in ,Ocala has ever
exceeded him. Then the genial,
broadminded Bittinger breezed in
He did not pay much attention to the
daily, but established. the Weekly
Star and went out in the country to
build Its up He succeeded well, and
made for the paper friends that it has
held for twenty years.
Mr.. Porter's health broke down,
and after months of suffering he. went
to his well earned reward. Mr.. Car
roll bought his interest and he and !
Mr.. BittingeE' went on making the
paper bigger and better.
The present editor took situation
with the Baptist Witness in 1893, and
as printer, foreman and virtually
managing editor remained with the
paper until it was sold. AS foreman
OF the entire force, the mechanical
part of the Star was always under
his control, and it wasn't long before
the editors were glad to let him fit
the rough ends of their work to-
gether. He succeeded Mr.. Bittinger |
as editor when that good mans fail |
ing health compelled him to give up
work, and what he has done the |
readers of the paper know.
Some half dozen year ago, Mr. P |
v. Leavengood joined his fortunes
with the Star. Later the Star Pub
fishing Company was formed and the |
names Of the officers are at the head |
of this page, if you don't know them
already.
We did not know how much the pa |
per had grown until we started to
move. When the Baptist Witness
moved In here twenty-five years ago,
its entire outfit except the press was
loaded in two double-teams. We have
had a firm of contractors moving US
all this week, and it will take part of !
another week.
Il