One hundred and ninety years ago, a family was getting settled in a newly constructed home at the northeast corner of Main and Fourth streets in Jamestown. Previously, the family had lived in Ashville, but the head of the household had been persuaded, enticed, convinced to move to Jamestown and start publishing a newspaper which would be the first newspaper in Jamestown. The first issue of the Jamestown Journal was “pulled” off the press that was located in the upper story of this new home on a Wednesday in June 1826. The editor and publisher of this Jamestown Journal was Adolphus Fletcher. Raised in Worcester, Mass., he had, according to Young’s History of Chautauqua County, at one time served an apprenticeship in the printing office of the Massachusetts Spy. It was this experience that made him a candidate for publishing the first Jamestown newspaper. His whole family became involved in the newspaper, even daughters and later, granddaughters, learned to set type. For over 60 years Fletcher or one of his sons were owner or part owner of a newspaper in Jamestown. Others served as editors of the Jamestown Journal through the early years. Two years after the Jamestown Journal started another newspaper, the Chautauqua Republican began publication in Jamestown. Others started and soon stopped but the Jamestown Journal continued, changing its name over the years but continues today after merging with the Jamestown Morning Post to become The Post-Journal of today.

A recent donation to the collection at the Fenton History Center brought this history to mind. It is a reprint of the first issue of the Jamestown Journal. There is no indication when this reprint was issued but it may have been to celebrate the 150 years of the Journal in 1976. The paper at that time was four pages with five columns of type. Later, a new press was acquired when it became necessary to enlarge the paper to seven columns per page. The front page contained two articles reprinted from other newspapers. This was a common practice at the time and it was how news traveled from one place to another place. One article was from the New-York Spectator about the Volcano of Kirauea. The second article was from the London Literary Gazette about Gertrude De Wart.

Articles from other papers filled most of the first issue. The only local news was a marriage and two local deaths and two columns of ads from local businesses. The cost of the paper was $2.50 per annum for village subscribers. It was $2 if sent by mail, or delivered at the office. Advertisements not exceeding a square could be inserted for three weeks for $1.25 for each subsequent insertion. A history of the newspaper, written by Helen Ebersole, is entitled “An ImPRESSive Record; Jamestown Journal 1826-1941.”

On Tuesday, June 28, at 6 p.m., Katie Atkins of The Post-Journal will lead a cemetery tour at Lakeview Cemetery based on the history by Ebersole. Call the Lakeview Cemetery at 665-3206 for details.