Newspaper history — Morning Star rises

Breaking news from Sandy Hill published at 5 a.m. Monday April 2, 1883, the day the Glens Falls news cycle was cut in half from 24 to 12 hours.

“A bout of fisticuffs occurred at the freight depot yesterday afternoon in which several glove handlers were engaged. No less than forty spectators were present. No damage was done beyond desecration of the Sabbath,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported in its debut issue.

Before that, Glens Falls readers would have had to wait until the afternoon Glens Falls Times came out to read about the fracas in the neighboring village.

“We herewith present, we hope, for public approval, the first issue of The Morning Star. Our object is to publish a daily newspaper and to conduct a practical, common sense printing establishment in its varied and legitimate boundaries,” the paper editorialized. “We do not hope to please everybody. But if honest purpose and hard work merit success, we feel that our efforts will be appreciated and rewarded by the patronage of a generous public.”

In other breaking news, Verplanck Colvin, superintendent of the Adirondack survey, was staying at The Rockwell House hotel, and Henry Crandall was on the brink of a redevelopment project.

“We understand that Henry Crandall intends building an extensive addition to the rear of his block, corner of Glen and South streets. The places occupied as a barbershop and meat market on the latter thoroughfare will be torn down soon and a fine store building substituted.”

The first morning daily newspaper in Glens Falls had been in the works for some time, as the publisher gradually built up a subscription list and advertising base.

An annual subscription to the four-page newspaper was $4.80 — the equivalent of $121.85 in 2020 dollars — or $4 if paid in advance.

Single copy price was 3 cents.

“There are larger papers than the Star, but it is large enough for our present requirements, and what it may lack in size we hope to compensate for by the order, neatness and interest important to its columns.”

The editorial pledged to be non-partisan and factual.

“Personal controversies are foreign to honorable and legitimate journalism, and will not be permitted in the columns of the Star.”

The debut issues contained a mix of local, national and world news, short fiction, and poetry.

“With this brief exposition of our aims the Star takes its place in the newspaper firmament.”

In 1909, owners of The Morning Post, a later Glens Falls daily newspaper, purchased the real estate and subscription list of The Morning Star and combined the publications as The Post-Star.

Click here to read my most recent previous newspaper history post.