140 Years of Publishing

Editor
May 25
5 min read

Our best guess is, Erastus Cubbison, is the man on the left.

The Emlenton VFD, Station 55, now occupies the space on Main St.

where the Emlenton News originally started.

The Emlenton News’ first location was an addition to the home of John and Adaline Cubbison on Main Street, Emlenton, PA. The home was built in 1861. The addition served as the office for their son, Erastus’ (1863-1917) newspaper. “Rasty,” a colorful personality, issued his first copy of the “Home News” on May 14, 1885. (140 Years Ago) In that issue Cubbison, as editor and publisher, said “To give the news we shall make no little exertion. If there is anything of a news character transpires in the rural districts, we desire our many friends and acquaintes to apprise us of the facts and we will present them through the News columns as best we can.”

With the close of the first volume the name of the paper became the Emlenton News. Originally it was issued semi-weekly, but in May, 1889, the News became a weekly. In 1915 Erastus bought out its rival, the Emlenton Herald. Two years later, in 1917, Cubbison died unexpectedly and his son, who had fully expected to carry on in his father’s footsteps, discovered that the paper was in great debt. Much to his regret, all the equipment had to be sold to satisfy the estate.

In 1918 Clarence M. Stewart and Burton Willbert took over the operation. When Stewart died in 1945 Wilbert added a new partner, William S. Campbell of Clarion. Willbert retired in 1955. Campbell moved the office to larger quarters behind the Borough Building and below the railroad tracks and there he published the paper until his death in 1967. In 1968 Walter J. Staab, a newspaper man from Pittsburgh, with 23 years of experience, bought the business and consolidated The Emlenton News and The Clarion County Progress into The Progress News. In 1975 the operation returned to near the paper’s original location on Main Street, in the former Columbia Gas office where it is today. Upon the retirement of Walter, his son David, bought the printing business in 1982 and a year later bought “The Progress News”.

Emlenton has had many other newspapers over the years, however, most were short-lived. In the 1850s Peter O. Conver published the Allegheny Valley Echo.

Over the years, other Emlenton papers were: The Rising Sun, by Walter L. Porter; the Emlenton Register, edited by W.R. Johns; the Emlenton Herald, by P. McDowell; The Telegraph, by Samuel Young; the Times, by Marcus Hulings and Dennis D. Moriarty; and the Emlenton Critic, published semi-weekly by M. Gouchler. (Above, excerpt taken from the "Walking Tour of Emlenton".

Thanks to Dalton Parker, who has a framed copy of the “Homes News”, Vol. 1 No. 3, and gave us a copy of the paper. Pictured below is a copy of the 4-page paper. Here are a few excerpts from this edition, dated Thursday, May 21, 1885.

— Perterfield & McCombs’ store was entered on Tuesday night and a lot of handkerchiefs and neckties were stolen. This is the second time within a month that this store has been robbed, and there is no doubt but what the parties could be found in town.

— John Smith, who has recently established a photograph gallery at Verona Station, was home Tuesday evening. He returned Wednesday, accompanied by Fred Johnson, who will assist him in his business.

— Don’t read this notice for if you do you will find out that W.J. Stephenson & Bro., have a full line of toys, tobacco and cigars, confectionery, school books, tablets, a circulation library, stationery, and everything usually kept in a variety store. Call and see them P.O. building.

— J.H. Heasley & Co., have about 100 dozen of eggs which they will dispose of to-day only for 10 cents per dozen for cash. Now is your time to get hen fruit cheap.

From Page 2:

— The Home News, a semi-weekly newspaper, published every Monday and Thursday, by E. H. Cubbison

Price 25 Cents per quarter.

— Job work done in the best style of the art and the lowest rates.

— As will be seen by the “ad” in the next column, we have deviated from what we said last week, that we would receive nothing only in a local form. This we found very hard to adhere to, when the money was shoved under our nose. So if there is any display advertising wanted, let us know.

The half-page ad read as follows:

The Great New York Store

IS THE CHEAPEST HOUSE IN TOWN TO BUY YOUR

Clothing, Dry Goods and Notions, Jewelry & Stationery.

Palembaum and Silverman, Main St.

One page three is one of the most famous stories.

— One of the most interesting items in the Emlenton Home News chronicles the fact that Dr. Hamilton has removed from Father Smith, a tape worm measuring 26 feet. If that insect had been a little longer, it would have been policy on the part of the doctor to remove Father Smith from the worm. The tapeworms of Emlenton, like her oil wells, are stayers. . . . Evening News.

A story on page four reads:

— On Monday afternoon some unknown person or persons entered the residence of S. English, at Kensington Furnace, while the inmates were absent, and stole therefrom a suit of new clothes, shoes and socks, a watch chain worth about $5 and about $1 dollar in money. A few evenings previous, the smoke house of Dr. Crawford, near the same place, was entered and several pieces of meat carried away. Thus far there is no clue to the miscreants.

A copy of the “Home News” is posted below.

Here is a lead slug of type, a classified ad, that was published over 100 years ago in the "Home News".

Another interesting artifact was found behind the current Progress News building next to the Emlenton Fire Hall, by Eric Pedi, while working his metal detecting hobby. As noted earlier, the current location of the paper is next door to its original location. Pictured above is a slug of type that would have appeared in the paper over 100 years ago. It’s hard to read as is, but after some serious study, here is what it says:

“I had severe case of kidney disease and Rheumatism, discharging bloody matter. Suffered intense pain. My wife seriously effected with female troubles. Dr. Fenner’s Kidney and Backache Cure, cured us both.

F.M. WHEELER, Randolph, Ia.”

Druggists, 50¢ - $1. Ask for Cook Book – Free

______________________________________

St. Vitus’ Dance Sure Cure Circular. Dr.

Fenner, Fredonia, Ny.