By Charles Macauley
Apparently it is a far easier task to locate and exhume the tomb of some long forgotten ruler of old Egypt than it is to secure copies of the ancient publications of our town. Not “Forty Centuries,” but only 40 years have elapsed since the initial appearance of our first journalistic venture in Southern Pines, but entire files have disappeared leaving only a single copy, or none at all, for descriptive purposes.
Mark Twain said that any American thought that he was capable of running a hotel or a newspaper and adventures in both arts were many in Southern Pines. Fortunately, quite a number of the editors were men of education and ability who produced papers unusually clever in the selection of their subject matter. Naturally some of the early ventures were made possible through the advertising of Mr. Patrick, their prime purpose being to boom the then rather primitive settlement.
In all seven publications were credited to Southern Pines up to the period in which the Tourist became the Citizen and diligent search has brought to light a few scattered copies of these listed papers and two unlisted.
The first venture, started by Mr. Patrick in 1885, bore the title of “Southern Colonist.” No copy of this paper has come to hand though it seems to have continued for about 1 ½ years under the editorship of Frank P. Woodward, who came from Scranton, Pa., in March of that year and was postmaster of Southern Pines from February 27, 1885 until September 1886.
In the meanwhile the Reverend B.A. Goodridge of Dorchester, Mass., induced by the representations of Mr. Patrick, came to Southern Pines and in September 1886 started the “Pine Knot,” and eight-page paper of four columns, 15 ½ b 11 inches, bearing a label, “Lighted for the Illumination of Tar Heels, both native and adopted.” The Pine Knot was first printed in a lumberman’s shack located in the rear of the present Scott residence, New York avenue and West Broad street. Later the press was moved to a smaller building, abut 12 by 16 feet, situated abut in the rear of the present telegraph office. This building was afterwards used for Sunday School and public school purposes. A few numbers of volume 1 still survive and are in the possession of the writer and Mr. Kitchell and Mrs. Couch, Mr. Goodridge’s sister. Number 24, of March 12, 1887, advertises the “Page Hotel” now the Southern Pines Hotel; Philander Pond, Real Estate; G.H. Saddelson, Drugs, Tobacco and Publications; L.A. Young, General Stores and Insurance. The paper from time to time issued editions of 2,500 copies for circulation in the northern states and continued until 1889, when the press was moved to Jonesboro. During Mr. Goodridge’s stay in Southern Pines, he built the house known as Red Villa on the corner of Page Street and Connecticut avenue and another one west of the “Hudson” house on the old Peedee road. He died in Santa Barbara, Cal., March 22, 1924.
In 1892 Mr. Lucius A. Young started the “Southern Development,” a paper of eight pages, 13 ½ by 10 inches, four columns wide. A copy of November 1892, now in possession of Mr. Kitchell, is marked “First year, number 8, and bears the statement “Is now past eight months old.” Among the advertisers are noted “Ruggles, Hamlin & co., Saw Mill, finished Lumber etc., and a local states that “Hale’s Central Hotel” will be opened by Mr. Hale for the reception of guests on November 15th. (This house was on the site now Mr. J.N. Powell, Bennett street.) Mr. Young, father of Mrs. A.S. Ruggles, ran the Lisbon, N.H., Index before coming to Southern Pines, and carried on the Development for three years. It is supposed that the paper was printed in Sanford.
In possession of Mrs. Hamlin is a single copy of a mimeographed “Southern Pines News” dated February 3, 1892 of four pages, three columns wide, “Issued by the Musical and Literary Club; Miss C.M. Brown, secretary and I.L. Hamlin, President.” This sheet, done in purple ink by Miss Brown, was issued weekly during the season of 1892-3 at 20 cents per month and of course is not listed in newspaper directories. This copy has a local “We will have the original flag pole up by the time the next President is elected as the pole has been seasoning for some time in the street.”
The next venture was the “Yankee Settler,” Dr. L.T. Smith, editor. This paper measured 16 by 11 inches, four columns, eight pages, and bore the caption “Think and Act.” Quite appropriate to Dr. Smith’s real estate business.
The editorial page informed the public that the Yankee Settler was “Edited and published weekly” but copies of the year 1897 now in possession of Mrs. I.L. Hamlin are Volume 1, Number 24, January 26, 1897; number 13 is July 28th, and number 16 is dated December 1st, a system of numbering that gets you nowhere; and seems to have been followed by another journalist.
Number 1, Volume 1, January 1894 is owned by Mr. Kitchell and carries a long article: “Winter Sports: February 1st to 8th” Wednesday Reception of visitors; Tuesday, Quail Hunt; at night, Possum Hunt; Saturday, Rabbit Chase; Sunday, Services at White and Colored Churches; Monday, Squirrel Hunt, night Coon Hunt; Tuesday, Turkey Hunt, night Coon Hunt; Wednesday, Deer Hunt, night Fox Chase; Barbecues Prizes, Mr. H.H. Powell. Chairman of Committee.
Number 2 volume 6 July 1895, has an editorial page “A New Enterprise”, Mr. James W. Tufts, of Boston has purchased 5,000 acres of land about four miles from here and will develop, ect ect.”
Dr. Smith came from Greensburg, Pa., and lived for a time in the building now known as the Sycamore and also ran the Southern Pines Hotel.
In October 1896 Dr. S.H. Platt started “Foods and Helps” an eight page paper, 12 by 9 1/2 inches two columns wide issued monthly at 25 ents per year. Several numbers are owned by Mrs. I.L. Hamlin, at that time Dr. Platt’s secretary. The paper did not carry much local advertising and no local columns though it was used to boost Roseland and Southern Pines as well as expound Dr. Platt’s theories and beliefs in the climate of Southern Pines and was carried on for five years.
Dr. Plat, an L.L.D., M.D. and D.D. and the author of several volumes, mostly on theological subjects, came from Springfield, Mass., and built the house on the corner of May street and Pennsylvania avenue, now occupied by Mrs. Barkmer. He passed away in Southern Pines in October 1912 at the ripe old age of 85. A niece, Mrs. Sanford W. Hoover, is now a winter resident.
The issue for November 1897 carries an advertisement of the “Hotel Alpha.” Accommodates 10 guests. $1 per day for the season; transients, $1.50. Livery stable connected with hotel. Reduced rates to guests. Open all the year. Capt. A.M. Clarke, Proprietor.
Emmett D. Oslin, a Virginian, and a newspaper man, started the “Free Press” in November 1898. This was a weekly of eight pages, 15 ½ by 11 inches, four columns wide, and apparently existed until late in 1907. Copies are owned by Mrs. Hamlin, Mrs. Steware, Mr. Mithcell and the writer. Number 19 of volume 2 is a special “Chataqua Edition” and pictures of the Piney Woods Inn; the Prospect House; Southern Pines Hotel and the special train bearing the Chataqua excursion. Among other advertisements are those of Huffine’s Dry Goods store; then in the Locey Block on Pennsylvania ave., (burned in the fire of April 13, 1921), C.T. Patch & Bro. and Chas. T. Geyer & Sons, Bankers.
Mr. Oslin’s press and office was located in the building standing just south of Pennsylvania avenue on Bennett street, now number 40 Giving up the paper here, Mr. Oslin went to Florida and purchased the Cocoa-Rockledge News with which he was very successful. He died in Melborne, Fla. In November 1913.
The next paper listed is the Bulletin” 1901-1905, M.B. Clarke, editor and publisher, but as a matter of fact copies of volume 5 were headed “Southern Pines Bulletin” and volume 6 “Southern “Bulletin” Number 47 of volume 5 states “entered August 13, 1901, as 2nd class mail,” so we must assume number 1 to have been issued in that month. As the Southern Pines Bulletin, it was a paper of four pages, 23 by 18 inches, six columns, and bore a caption “There’s a chiel amang ye takin’ notes; an’, faith, he’ll prent ‘em.” As the Southern Bulletin it was reduced in size to 19 by 13, five columns wide but expanded to eight pages. Mr. Clarke, who had run the press of the old Pine Knot for Mr. Goodridge owned an old-fashioned Washington hand press and this was installed in a building then standing on the site of Mr. J.S. Reynolds garage, a locality long known as “Paradise Alley.”
Number 47, of volume 5, May 23, 1902 (I am not responsible for the numbering) contained among other advertisers the now familiar names of Claude Hayes; H.L. Thurston; D.F. McAdams; A.N. Roberts; Mrs. C.C. Stevick; C.T. Patch, A.S. Ruggles; Mr. Junge; J.N. Powell; R.W. Brown. The issue of November 4, 1903, number 6, volume 6, notes the coming of Mr. Bion H. Butler (Clarke’s uncle) to join the staff.
The directories list the “Tourist” as beginning in 1904 but as a matter of fact the first issue appeared on November 26, 1903 with Dr. E.E. Gladmon as editor. The paper had its beginnings in a stock company composed of most of the business and professional men of the town of whom Messrs. Grout, R.W. Brown, Jung, McAdams, Stewart, Newcomb, Bilyeu Tilghman, Powell, Patch, Hayes, I.F. Chandler, Burgess, and J.S. Reynolds still survive. The first seven issues measured 21 12 by 15 inches, six columns wide, four pages and was printed by M.B. Clarke whose plant the company had purchased.
With number 8 the form was changed to 14 ¾ by 11 inches, four columns, eight pages, and from the first the paper was profusely illustrated with cuts of town buildings and notables and from time to time special editions of 12 to 16 pages were produced. Dr. Gladmon was succeeded by Mr. Will J. Irvin and he by Mr. M.B. Clarke as editor, but in January 1906 the company secured the services of Dr. H.E. Foss as editor and Mr. L.P. Stradley as printer and the plant was purchased by “Foss and Stradley.”
In April of that year the plant was moved to the Saddleson Building on the corner of Bennett street and Pennsylvania avenue and in November 1911 to the new building opposite (now the Citizen Building) and in January 1915 the old “Tourist” became the “Sandhill Citizen.” Mr. Stradley dying in January 1916, the entire management of the paper fell upon Dr. Foss who, despite illness and declining health, carried on with unfaltering courage until his death on November 30, 1920.
In the meanwhile, October 1920, Mr. Joseph F. Morris acquired the Stradley interest and the firm became Foss and Morris. With the issue of January 18, 1924 the form of the Citizen was changed to a 12-page, 6 columns, 21 by 16 inches and printed on a fine grade of book stock paper is now in make up, typography, and appearance unusually good for a weekly paper.
Nearly all these papers save the Free press and the Tourist were “Patent insides, that is a part of the paper was made up and shipped in with blank spaces for local news and local advertising Illustrations were few and far between, usually crude wood cuts imposed on a very poor grade of newspaper stock. Dr. Platt’s Foods and Helps was an exception in the quality of paper and originality of make up.
More or less jealousy cropped up from time to time but on the whole editors were intent on placing all the advantages of their town before the public and everything went into making good local copy and one and all spread the fame of the wonderful Sandhill climate and stressed the opportunities open to settlers in that hitherto unknown region. An to all the owners, editors and many of the correspondents is due the present prosperity of Southern Pines, one knows as “Patrick’s Folly.”
Not considered as a town newspaper in any way but a wonderful factor in boosting all the towns in its line was the “S.A.L. Magundi,” a publication issued monthly by the Seaboard R.R. This was first issued in 1895 and the number for April 1896 features the Piney Woods Inn and that of September 1899 the “Ozone” the “Alpha” and the Congregational Church. Printed on good paper with excellent illustrations, numerous views and articles concerning Southern Pines appeared from time to time.
In 1895 Frank P. Woodward appears as editor of “Sand, A Southern Monthly For Northern Readers” published simultaneously at Pine Bluff, N.C., and Dunmore, Pa., and copies of Volume 1 now in possession of Mrs. Hamlin contain local columns for Southern Pines, Aberdeen, Pine Bluff, Keyser, ect.
Registering the hopes and fears; the joys and sorrows of newcomers in a strange land; and all too often the verbose and turgid impressions of some traveler viewing Boston, New York or Washington for the first time these old, forgotten and fragmentary publications are so much of a record and history of our town that it is a pity that so few remain to impress a generation that knows them not.
From the front page of The Sandhill Citizen, Friday, April 3rd, 1925. Throughout article "etc." was spelled "ect."
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92061634/1925-04-03/ed-1/seq-1/
and newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92061634/1925-04-03/ed-1/seq-10/
The first link shows a photo of the 1925 Sandhill Citizen building and the second link shows a photo of the men who work there.
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