100th Issue: A Short History of Periodicals in Andover

Community efforts from 1819 to today

June 8, 2013 • Saved under Andover Organizations
By Paul Fenton, Jr., Publisher of the first Andover Beacon

The current Andover Beacon is publishing its 100th issue this month.

The method of spreading the news of things of interest that were happening in Andover over the last 250+ years is sketchy at best. Neither the Eastman nor the Chaffee town histories make mention of any newspapers in Andover.

100th Issue posterJohn Eastman in his history mentioned: “Andover has always been essentially a farming town, and the busy life of those who wrest a living from the soil of New Hampshire is not favorable to the writing of many books or most other forms of literary effort.”

In very early times, if you wanted an update to what was going on, you went to the blacksmith shop and talked with those present about what events of interest had occurred recently. The other option was to go to the local store and visit around the cracker barrel or the pot-bellied stove for an update of recent events.

Many times, the information gained was more humorous than factual. With the advent of the telephone, listening in on conversations was a great past time and a wonderful source of tidbits of information that many preferred others did not know. People listening in had to be careful not to chuckle at some of the things they heard or that they did not have a clock ticking in the background, otherwise one of the parties would know someone was listening.

Some communities had a town crier that walked around town calling out the news. It is not known of any such thing being done in Andover.

1819: Religious Informer

In July 1819, Elder Ebenezer Chase started a monthly periodical called Religious Informer. Mr. Chase was both editor and printer. His paper covered the principles of the denomination to which he belonged. This would suggest that it covered little news about happenings in Andover but rather how his religion should relate to the daily life of those in the community.

The first two images below show the front page from each of two issues of Religious Informer.

1879: Our Venture

There was a publication in 1879 called Our Venture. It was published by John T. Woodbury, who had a printing shop in Andover. The only known copy is the August 1879 issue, the original of which Robert Peters still has.

After Our Venture, if anyone in Andover wanted information from a newspaper, it would come from papers published in Franklin, Concord, or Manchester until The Andover Star came along.

The last four images below show each page of the only known copy of Our Venture.

1986: The Andover Star

The Andover Star was started around 1986. It was founded by Julie Mayo, with the support of Dane Loomer, Cindy Benson, Shirley Currier, Chris Norris, Dennis Melchin, Elizabeth Miller, and Paul Fenton Jr. It stopped publication in the fall of 1989.

1991: The Andover Beacon

The Andover Beacon was first started in June of 1991. The principal people involved were Paul Fopiano, Dane Loomer, Cindy Benson, Jay Fitzpatrick, Irene Jewett, Betty Dickerman, Dorothy Ford, Paul Fenton Jr., Cherry Fenton, Shirley Currier, and Dennis Melchin.

Dennis designed the logo for the paper. During the discussion of what to call the paper, it was noted that in the 1940s there was a beacon on top of Mount Kearsarge with a red light on one side and a white light on the opposite side. It would spin around during the night for airplanes to see and warn them away from the mountain top. Thus, the name The Andover Beacon was born.

Volunteers continued to dwindle over the years, and the paper ceased publication with the June 2002 issue. The corporation was disbanded, and the cash assets were given to the Andover Rescue Squad, as provided for in the incorporation papers.

Today: The Andover Beacon (again)

In 2004, a new group of people under the direction of Charlie Darling started a new corporation and a new paper. With permission, they adopted the name The Andover Beacon, because people were accustomed to the name and what it had brought to the community in past years.

Andover's earliest known publication, The Religious Informer, was published by Elder Ebenezer Chase "every other Saturday at 50 Cents per annum, if paid in advance, or 75 at the end of the year." A few months later, Elder Chase gave notice of his decision "to publish the Informer in monthly numbers ... which will make a saving of one half the postage." Further, he lowered the price: "The liberal patronage that the Informer has received has induced the Editor to deliver it to subscribers at the small sum of 60 Cents per annum, payable at the end of the year ..., or 50, if paid in six months from the time of subscribing." He closes his notice with words that must strike a chord with publishers everywhere: "Should any object to the above, and advise a better plan, it will be taken into consideration; if not, it is presumed all are satisfied."
Andover’s earliest known publication, The Religious Informer, was published by Elder Ebenezer Chase “every other Saturday at 50 Cents per annum, if paid in advance, or 75 at the end of the year.” A few months later, Elder Chase gave notice of his decision “to publish the Informer in monthly numbers … which will make a saving of one half the postage.” Further, he lowered the price: “The liberal patronage that the Informer has received has induced the Editor to deliver it to subscribers at the small sum of 60 Cents per annum, payable at the end of the year …, or 50, if paid in six months from the time of subscribing.” He closes his notice with words that must strike a chord with publishers everywhere: “Should any object to the above, and advise a better plan, it will be taken into consideration; if not, it is presumed all are satisfied.”
The Beacon thanks Pat Cutter, president of the Andover Historical Society, for finding this copy of The Religious Informer in the Society's archives and allowing us to photograph these pages.
The Beacon thanks Pat Cutter, president of the Andover Historical Society, for finding this copy of The Religious Informer in the Society’s archives and allowing us to photograph these pages.
"Our Venture" was a small (5.5" x 8.5") four-page Andover newspaper that appears to have started in April of 1879. These photos are of the only known surviving copy, courtesy of Bob Peters. The paper was published by Graves and Woodbury and were printed at Woodbury's printing office in Andover.
“Our Venture” was a small (5.5″ x 8.5″) four-page Andover newspaper that appears to have started in April of 1879. These photos are of the only known surviving copy, courtesy of Bob Peters. The paper was published by Graves and Woodbury and were printed at Woodbury’s printing office in Andover.
Our Venture for August, 1879 -- page 2
Our Venture for August, 1879 — page 2
Our Venture for August, 1879 -- page 3
Our Venture for August, 1879 — page 3
Our Venture for August, 1879 -- the fourth and last page
Our Venture for August, 1879 — the fourth and last page