The PRESS OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY, Maine. For the following facts we are indebted to Mr. G. V. EDES. DOVER. At about the time of the incorporation of Piscataquis County in 1839, Mr. George V. Edes - whose history is in part related in connection with the Press of Somerset county - issued propo- sals for publishing a newspaper at Dover in said county, to be neutral in politics. The prospectus was circulated through the county ; but a majority of the people, not satisfied with a neutral paper, withheld their subscriptions. Mr. Edes, however, being determined upon a fair trial, purchased the printing apparatus of a man who had been employed to do painting for Waterville College, and moved the establishment to Dover. The Whigs in this county, not having an organ to play for them during the Presidential campaign, proposed that if Mr. Edes would abandon the idea of neutrality they would procure sub- scribers for his paper and render him other assistance which he greatly needed. Their promise was fulfilled honorably. They procured over 500 subscribers for the paper, and the first number was issued June 1, 1838, under the name of PISCATAquIS HERALD. This paper advocated the election of Gen. Harrison to the Presidency, and it is said, was the first paper in the United States that nominated him for that office. At the time of the disruption 26 202 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE. of the Whig party, the editor joined the wing that assumed the name of Republican, and has remained with that party until this day. The Democratic party, not liking the idea of being without a paper attached to their interests, issued a prospectus for a Demo- cratic paper to be printed at Dover, which would "have a great influence in promoting the cause of truth and elevating democrats to office." Their prospectus was issued a short time after that of the Herald. The first number of this paper, called the DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN, made its appearance in July, under the name of Samuel H. Davee as publisher, and Goo. W. McFarland as editor. The establish- ment was owned by a company who suffered loss by the concern. The paper was published but one year, and the materials of the office were afterwards purchased by Mr. Edes. The Herald continued to be printed under its original name until the year 1849 -when it was enlarged to a sheet 38 X 24 and the name changed to that of PISCATAQUIS OBSERVER. The building in which the Herald was first printed is now standing, and is owned and occupied by Chas. E. Kimball, Esq., as a store and dwelling-house. After our removal from it the basement was occupied by the proprietors of the Republican, during the existence of that paper. The newspaper business in this county has hardly proved it- self self-sustaining - but we think it will pay in a short time, as the facilities here are now much greater than they were; and they are increasing, *********************************************** Source for the above: "The Press of Maine" by Joseph Griffin 1872 Brunswick, Maine *********************************************** Courtesy of the New England Old Newspaper Index Project of Maine (R) and the Androscoggin Historical Society ] PO Box 152 Danville, Maine 04223 ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.