The Dog River crier, #55, 1992, Julia McIntire, editor

"The Northfield News

"A great contribution to the cultural and social life in Northfield is its local paper, the Northfield news. Begun in 1878, it has the commendable record of never having missed an issue.

"The first newspaper printed in Northfield was E.E. Thompson's The Thunderbolt. After only four monthly editions Thompson sold it to George Richmond. Richmond remodeled an old rundown house neat the twin bridge for his printing business, and it was here that the Northfield News was born. An item in the Montpelier Argus said, "The Northfield News has made its appearance with four columns of local advertisements and a couple of Village items - still it supplies a want which many Northfield traders want."

"George Richmond consolidated the Farmer & News with the Northfield News which resulted in a larger content and circulation. In 1884 he sold it to Fred N. Whitney of Randolph who assumed ownership in 1885. It was printed every Thursday by Lewis P. Thayer and cost 41.25 a year, payable in advance.

"Fred Whitney at once established his stand on the type of paper he intended to publish. "In politics it will be strictly Republican. It will not hedge, straddle or evade any issue but deal honestly and fairly with both parties." His frank comments on politics, townfolk and local events are a delight to read.

"In 1888 Whitney sold the News to E. Gerry & Co. of Randolph. With this absentee ownership it needed someone to take care if it locally. Luther B. Johnson accepted an offer of one fourth interest and became local editor and business manager. Johnson worked hard, acquiring as much knowledge of a country newspaper as he could. He eventually became sole owner. The four pages of the paper contained editorials, state and local news, town correspondence and local advertisements and quantity of patent medicine ads. After owning the News for five years Johnson bought the Burlington Clipper and sold the News to the former owner, Fred Whitney.

"Fred Whitney died in 1912 and his wife Erval assumed control. Mrs. Whitney wrote editorials on such matters as "quick camp-meeting marriages," mail order catalogues (which she despised - "use it to kindle your kitchen range and do your spring shopping at home.") women's dress, and other social matters. An interesting feature of the newspaper under her management was news reported under separate columns from the districts of Cox Brook, the Falls, Harlow Bridge, Rabbit Hollow, Bull Run and Four Corners.

"The paper was sold in 1916 to Frank Parsons of Montpelier. Under its new proprietor the News showed a marked change of Style and editorial policy. Very sports-minded, Parsons wrote breezy editorials which encouraged local improvements and efforts to bring new industries to town.

"The News had trouble in its old location on North Main Street where its pressroom was frequently flooded by spring rains. By 1924 Editor Parsons hired John Mazuzan, a young man just graduated from Norwich, as local editor of the paper. Eight years later Mr. Mazuzan and James G. Gilbert bought the paper at a sheriff's sale from the Northfield Trust Company. They changed its name to the News & Advertiser, its size and its location to East Street in the building that once housed the Pearl Theater. The theater accommodated about 350 people; the basement was a pool hall. Elinor Johnson's mother played the piano to accompany silent films, shifting themes rapidly to portray the story.

"In December, 1972, ownership of the Northfield Press and the Northfield News passed from John Mazuzan who had been proprietor for 40 years to Francis and Bernard Flood, long time employees of the paper.

"In January, 1980 the Pintos bought the paper; they accomplished a great deal in the short ownership. They enlarged the News, photographed and published pictures, reported town and village events and modernized equipment.

"In the summer of 1983 James and Ingrid Wilson became owners. Many changes have taken place since. (1992) The staff has more than doubled. It now consists of James and Ingrid Wilson, Co-Publishers; Brad Denny - Editor; Ellie Fisher - Typesetting; Ralph Swenson - Advertising Sales; Walter Arndt - Presswork and Dan Bruce - Master Assistant.

"All of the old "hot" type is gone, except for one press (Heidelberg) which is still used; but, for the most part, a new two-year old does the work. Desk top publishing with an updated Macintosh has changed the whole process. It is used for job printing and the newspaper. In a recent interview Ingrid said, "In hard economic times all newspapers are suffering. You do what you can. The circulation of the paper is up but advertising is down. We do a lot of job printing - stationary, envelopes. Letterheads."

"The old presses have been kept for sentimental reasons. They are in the basement. One had to be scrapped because the room was needed in the back. It almost got a home in the Shelburne Museum but they received a larger model and did not need it."