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That makes The Marshall Democrat-News 130 years old this year.
We chose today, Friday, Dec. 11, to begin our celebration of the newspaper's 130th anniversary because it is the day before another important milestone: The building that served as the newspaper's headquarters was destroyed by fire Dec. 12, 1957.
Why celebrate on the anniversary of a disaster? Because an edition of the The Daily Democrat-News was published that day, the newspaper's owners and staff apparently undaunted by the event. We celebrate the paper's resilience. The fire is only a dramatic example of how the paper has, with the help and support of Saline County's people, continued publishing for 130 years while adapting to each economic and technological change to come along.
"R.N. (Rosier) Hains, editor of the Democrat-News, and his son, Randall K. Hains, manager, announced that publication of the Democrat-News and the Saline Citizen ... will not be interrupted by the fire," reads the front page story dated Dec. 12, 1957.
The paper received help and offers of help from local businesses and other area newspapers, including the Slater News-Rustler, the Carrollton Democrat, the Lexington Advertiser-News and the Sedalia Democrat -- competitors who came to our aid in a time of need.
The news business has changed dramatically since that time, of course, but much remains the same in terms of the newspaper's mission -- to keep the community informed and entertained.
The Marshall Democrat-News still operates in the building the Hains family constructed on the site of the 1957 fire. We hope to live up to their standard of dedication and determination.
To mark the 130th anniversary of the newspaper, staff writer Kathy Fairchild provides us with a piece -- the first in a series -- that sets the birth of the paper in context with local, national and world events of the time.
Contact Eric Crump at marshalleditor@socket.net
Related story:
1879: Among the births 130 years ago -- The Democrat-News:
www.marshallnews.com/story/1594376.html
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The cage was hot in the summer and cold in the winter but some of the best times I remember happened there. Late 60's to early 70s were great. Does anyone remember Joe Lawernce, the printing pressman? We were kind of a family there and it was great.
Gray hair I folded a lot of papers in that caged in room it was just as hot in the early 70's
Having delivered the MDN in the early sixties, I remember the old flat bed press and later the tubular press that preceded today's offset press. Rosier and Randall Hains were both kind and decent men. I remember the room where the paper boys folded their papers (more on that "star" pattern later). It was hot in the back shop during the summer. The paper office had a 5 cent Coke machine in the front office and the paper boys (now carriers) were not allowed to use it. We petitioned the elder Mr. Hains and demanded the machine be put in the back shop where we could buty cokes while folding our papers. Mr. Hains approached us a few days later and let us know that we were not in a position to demand anything, but that requesting the machine to be moved might be considered. We, of course, dropped our demands and made a request. The pop machine was moved to the back shop shortly thereafter and one of the paper boys was given the responsibilty of seeing to it the machine was always full. A valuable lesson was learned by all the paper boys and one that has served me well to this day.
As to folding the paper here are the directions: fold the paper in half, then half again and then once more. Take the narrow folded paper and bend it at the middle in right angles. Repeat this step one more time. Then tuck the top unfolded part under the the bottom part that has previously been folded twice. The result was a wrinkled paper that the paper boy could throw like a frisbee to the yard or porch of the customer. This practice was stopped when Stauffer publications purchased the MDN as the publisher, Peter V. McCoy, did not like the appearance of the folded up paper. Instead, they were rolled and delivered with a rubber band around them. GH
Congratulations on your 130th!
I remember the fire, and the tragedy of the St. Bernard (Pups, I think, was his name) who died next door. I'm glad it didn't stop the Dem-News, and that you are still here for the community.
I've been reading for about 50 years. (I can remember the paper being delivered in the folded "star" manner...anyone out there have a good description of this method?) Though there have been many changes, most have been for the good. I especially appreciate the web access, and your willingness to post important stories at odd hours, not sticking to posting only at "print" schedule.
Here's hoping for at least another 130 years of service to the Marshall and Saline communities. Keep up the good work
Congrats guys :)