Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-03-05
MILLIONAIRE PUBLISHER
ONCE AUGUSTA RESIDENT

. From telegraph operator TO MIL
lionare publisher is the synopsis
Of the life story Of Frank A. Mum
sey, who. at one time was employed
in this city as telegraph operator at
the Augusta House during legisla-
tive session, and whose recent plunge
into the New York. newspaper field IS
hailed as an achievement Of more
than passing interest.
III he keeps on, Munsey will have
a syndicate Of North American news
papers" said local merchant who
remembers him when he lived in Au-
gusta.
At the time Mr.. Munsey was en-
ployed at the Augusta House he re-
ceived the princely salary of SIS per
month and board. Charles Milliken
was then proprietor Of the Augusta
House and it was while Mr.. Munsey
was employed at the popular Augusta
hosiery that he got to chatting over
the keys with Charles H. O'Brien of
Hallowell, who was then also an op-
orator. At that time O'Brien was but
10 years Of age ana was the young
est telegraph operator in Maine. Mr..
Munsey went to Hallowell to meet
MMr. O'Brien, and they soon became
fast friends.
Sometime later Mr.. Munsey be-
came manager Of the Augusta Office
Of the Western Union, the Office be-
ing located where the Beane & Cross
store is now situated. Fred r. Neal
of Hallowell. who is now engineer
at the Augusta postoff1ce building,
was Munsey's messenger boy and
some Of the older residents say that
Neal was 'swifter than tightening"
in marked contrast to the proverb-
ial present day winged Mercurys
who are prone to go astray on the
first trip out.
When Mr.. Munsey assumed the
management of the Augusta office
Mr. O'Brien became the night oper-
ator, taking The Associated Press
dispatches and was stationed for a
time at the State House in celebrat-
ed count out" days and he distinct
ly remembers the establishment dis
played by Mr.. Munsey, who called to
relieve him. at the hustle and turmoil
that was much in evidence on all
sides.
Mr.. O'Brien. still a resident Of
Hallowell, is at present working on
Ia photograph patent and has been
an inventor for several years. While
rummaging through trunk a year
or SO ago he came across an old
tintype showing Mr.. Munsey and
himself standing in front of the Au-
gusta telegraph Office. He sent the
photo to Mr.. Munsey who highly
prizes the token.
e. c. Allen, the pioneer mail or
der publisher of Augusta. and who,
had he lived, would be worth a bill
lion according to predictions, was a
frequent caller at the telegraph Off
ce when Mr.. Munsey was in charge.
Mr. Allen made it a practice to drop
in before the Office was closed for
the night to smoke and chat with
Mr.. Munsey. In this manner Mr..
Munsey became possessed Of the mail
order fever and went so far as to
make preparations for the publica-
ton Of a paper but his funds were
exhausted before the project was
fully developed.
During his sojurn in Augusta Mr..
Munsey. however, wrote many stories
for papers and magazines which
were published in other states.
New York City was always Mum
sey's goal" says Mr.. O'Brien. "He
kept talking Of going there. I could
see that he would give all he pos
sessed to land in New York and get
a grip on the publishing business"
Mr.. Munsey's ambitions were re-
warded