The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-05-12
The Press Of Somerset County
(1872)

| world, 1t Will be seen Inat clViiiZd-
| ton advanced by almost imperceptible
| degrees until the age of printing, and
that rapdity, with which it afterward
spread, was in proportion to the in
crease of printing power.
the first newspaper printed in Som
erset County was issued at Norridge-
wock. May Is, 1923, and was called the
Somerset Journal. 1t was published
by Edes and Copeland at $500 year
The senior member of this firm was
George Valentine Edes, who was born
in Boston, Feb. ID, 1899. The firm of
Edes & Copeland was dissolved in
September 1924, Mr. Copeland purchas-
ing the interest of his partner for the
sum OF s400 After dissolving the
partner Mr. Edes continued to
print the paper for Mr.. Copeland I'M
l December. 1898. He then went into
trade, continuing in the business two
or three years. In 1889 he established
the Piscataquis Herald at Dover,
changing the name to the Piscataquls
Observer. Mr.. Edes set the first type
ever set in Penobscot county ton the
| Bangor Weekly Register) in 1915, ana
the first in Somerset and Piscataquls
counties as above stated. At the age
of 70 years he worked at the case
every day, and set the smallest type
without the aid of glasses. Thomas j.
! Copeland, the junior member OF the
firm of Edes & Copeland. was prac-
4 tical printer. In 1887 he sold out $
business at Norridgewock and removed
| to Calais and engaged in trade. In
that place he held several responsible
local offices, and had been several
times a member of the State Legisla-
ture.
Norridgewock, being the shire town,
was naturally the headquarters OF the
| public men and politicians, ana IN
1923, and for many years after, was
the chief place of business in Somer-
set County. It's population IN l81z
wass something over one thousand, al
though the returns showed but 144
votes polIed for Governor. For many
years after the establishment OF the
Journal there were only two northern
mails week at Norridgewock never
more until 1910. The mail for many
years was carried on horseback be-
tween Augusta and Norridgewock by
Peter Gilman, who was ire first mall
carrier between the two places, and
his arrival at the latter place was al
WAYS duly announced by the blowing
of tin horn At the time Mark ).
Blunt, afterward County Treasurer
] was postmaster. Mr. Blunt died In
1866 at the age of so years AS a
curiosity, and as showing the limited
amount of mail matter carried at the
time the following advertisement Is
given from the Kennebec Intelligence
of Oct. 20. 1898: "Stolen from the
horse of the Subscriber. on the eve
ming of the 18th instant, at the post
office door in Augusta pair OF sad
die Bags containing red morocco
rocket book, in which were two let
ters. one directed to Gage e Vose,
and the other 10 George Crosby and
number of notes and accounts, and
an execut on in favor of the Subscrib-
err Whoever will apprehend the thief
and give information. so that the
property may be recovered, shall re-
ceive generous reward.
Peter Gilman,
Post Rider"
Oct IA, 1898.
The Somerset Journal was first
printed in the third story of Preston S
br elk store The size of the paper
when first started was IL "a IN,
five columns each. 1t was printed
npon what was then known as a Ram
age press, machine of American
manufacture. The paper upon which
il was printed was manufactured at
Gardiner and cost $500 per ream, de-
livered at the office.
The Somerset Journal was estab'
lished az neutral paper but II very
soon espoused the cause OF the Wh gs
and became the organ of the WING
party in that section of the State. Mr.
Copeland always performed the part
of the editor until he sold 1t in 1897 +;
although many of the selections were
made by Mr.. EdeS. as well as by the
compositors Among the writer's OF
its pol teal articles were William AL
len, Esq, author of the Histories oil
Norridgewock and Industry; John Da-
yid Kidder, a native of Dresden, rep
resentative to congress from 1823-1827 +;
Hon. John S. Tenney a native OF By
field. Mass, late chief of Justice OF
the Supreme Jud cial court OF Maine
deceased. DR.. James Bates, representa-
tive to congress from 1881 TO 1893, and
other prominent politicians of the time
After one months suspension the
Somerset Journal reappeared July D.
1887, published by Henry Paul Pratt.
He published this paper until Dec. 81,
1899. when the name of 3. F. d 'mock,
brother-in-law to Mr.. Pratt, APP
peared as its publisher In 1S43 the
name of the paper was changed to
the Workingman. and after few
months 1t was called the Workingman
.and Peoples Press. About this time
Mr.. Pratt. having again assumed its
phil cation In his own name. he asso-
ciated with himself in its editorial
management William d. Gould, a ma
tive Of Norridgewock admitted to the
Somerset Bar in 1916.
skowhesan gaining the ascendancy
over Norridgewock as place of bust
ness. it afforded wider field for a
printer. especially in the department
of lob work. and in 1S45 Mr.. Pratt
removed his establishment to the for
mer place, occupying the old DER
building. upon the second floor, and