The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-12-11
A CENTURY AND A QUARTER
Rutland Daily Herald Celebrates Its
125th Anniversary<,Iia Withstood
Much Stress and MANY Trials.

125th Anniversary>,Iia Withstoot
| Much Stress and Many Trials.
Today, December :, 1919, The Rut'
land Herald is 125 years old. Founded
in 1894 when there were u: 50 news
papers in the United ates, The Her.
aid has fought its way through the
troubled viclssitudes of political un-
rest, war ,and varying fortune to its
assured success of 1919. Throughout
the entire 125 years, the paper has
given its subscribers the best news
service available at the time and has
pursued politically consistent and
answering course. The history Of The
Herald through the changing fortunes
of these many years, century and a
quarter, presents tale of fascinating
interest to all Vermonters.
On December 8, 1894, when The
Herald observed its centennial cele-
bration, a 12-page supplement was is
sued giving detailed account Of the
history of The Herald, combined with
a history of the town Of Rutland dur
ing the 100 years preceding 1894. The
following facts are taken from this
supplement-
First Paper in 1894.
The first number of The Rutland
Herald appeared on December s, 1874,
during the administration of George
Washington At that time there were
but two weeklies published in Vermont
and only so newspapers in the entire
country. The Herald or Vermont Mer-
curry as it was then sometimes called,
was not pretentious sheet. 1t was
published on blue "dimy" paper, and
consisted of four pages Of four col
umns each. 1t was, however, on a par
with the weeklies of its time, mix
ture of grave and whimsical para
humor and homilies, and
scraps of Yankee wisdom entangled
with foreign news and local births.
The subscription rate was 8 shillings
per year, delivered.
At this time Rutland was built en-
,irely on the hill and what is now Mer
,hants row was little more than a
swamp. The first editor Of The Her
lid was Samuel Williams. He had
preached in Rutland several years, but
,e neither found this lucrative pro-
ession nor was he satisfied with the
,ublic's response to his efforts. He
vas sincere and devout man, but his
work. as pastor was not needed and he
esigned from the pulpit on December
!, 1894, the Sunday before the first
Herald appeared
Rates a Dollar Per Year
DR.. Williams edited the paper until
S05, keeping ii alive with difficulty
While he sought in every possible way
0 earn a living for himself. In 1903,
he publication day was changed from
ionday TO Saturday and the subscrip- -,
ion price was changed to one dollar
er year, payable at the end Of the /,
ear either in coin or in produce. The
rst home Of The Herald was on the
md owned by Judge Williams a few
IDS north Of the court house. :
In 1905, the paper appeared under !
lc editorship Of William Fay. Fay !,
az an ambitious young man who :,
rote well and who sought earnestly D
make his paper the best weekly in b.
e country II was with difficulty ri
al he made his expenses and was nj
reed to open store in connection n
nh the paper 70 exc out living
r. Fay was IN charge Of the paper u
It'll 1928, during which time The N
srald had an uDeventful career. III
,thing Of interest occurred with the Oh
ception Of several visits BY burglars ho
the Herald store. sh
In 1928, the paper was bought by tn