Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1959-05-27

/ tE0tOrS NOte. Inc IOliOw-
ing article Is reproduced in full
from The American Press, an
independent m a & z inc for
] home town newspapers. Ii tells
!, the story of community
where a 90-year-Old publication
/, closed its doorsJ
BY Franklin Brown
|, What happens to people, bust
ness and events in a town where
the local newspaper has vanish
ed?
Recently, it was this report
er's pleasure to spend a few
. days talking with people in diff
ferent walks of life. in such a
town.
This town appropriately
named Friendship - is a pros
, porous town in south western
, New York. primarily supported
: by an agricultural economy. The
industry consisted of few
plants. but the greater part OF
the buying power of the COM
munity came from general farm
income However, the Scant in
dustrial payroll has been since
decreased. as its most modern
plant. the one that the former
newspaper publisher helped To-
cate In this town. has closed its
; doors. AS one of the towns
1. leaders stated mot strongly.
If our paper had still been pub
fishing. that plant wouldn't have
|, closed Our town just doesn't
have any public voice. The vital
spark is gone. ="
AS more and more townspeo-
pie talked. this same basic
phrase kept popping up in their
conversations 'the vital spark
/ has gone
Newspaper Founded in 1868
/ Friendships local newspaper
was founded in 1868. nearly 100
years ago. 1t was published week
" up to a few months ago. In
1927. it was purchased by its
last owners. Mr.. and Mrs.
team. that truly made a lasting
I impression on the community.
! Unfortunately the male member
/ of the team died in 1916. His
widow. well-liked, aggressive, and
farsighted. continued publishing
right up to the end When the
local ownership ceased. near
by publisher acquired its cir
). Culation assets. name and good
will. He continues to attempt
to cover this town and its news
in column. but 1t isn't the
same. Try as he does. most peo-
pie talked TO refer to 1t as, that
out of town paper" The former
published tried to secure local
ownership and community par
ticipation? The publisher met
with the leaders of the COmmun-
ity. particularly the officers and
directors of the Chamber of
Commerce. explaining that her
health was not up to continuing
the paper. and that it was now
available for other local owner
ship.
However. either lack of vision.
leadership or any of the other
intangiblcS so basic to the growth
of communities we're lacking. for
no genuine interest was CVidCnC-
ed by the community leaders.
After the sale of the ncwSpap-
cr's assets. many people told the
former publisher that they felt
that there was no hurry for 9th
or action. or that they didn't be-
liCvc that the newspaper would
be disposed of. Thus. this town
formerly having a weekly news
paper of about 1900 paid cir
culation at $500 per subscriber
is now without that vital spark.
That being the case. just what
is il like to live in town where
time stands still" Trying to be
as objective as possible. your re-
pOrter talked with many differ
cnt people from many Scgments
of community life. The opinions
of most seemed TO be definitely
on the pcssimistic side. For rs
one leading businessman said
I'VE are just drifting nc
direction no enthusiasm
no public leadership posi-
|, bly, no future"
4 farmer said now who
knows what's going on anyplace
around town. or what the stores
have to offer? I don't even know
what friends are still alive. OF
when the GLF. or the Coop has
meeting. and when they do
what happens. Sure. the city
daily tells me what's happening
all over the world. but | don
now anything about my owr
friends and ncighbors.'
a housewife said out
side of t''c usual bacSdoor Cos
In r-hn lnnNus whats happen