LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - MARCH 6, 2022 by Lynne Belluscio This year’s high school musical is the “Newsies” and the LeRoy Pennysaver, is printing the program - - which has a lot of great information about the cast, the stage crew, the folks in the orchestra, the movie and a whole lot of history. I’ve learned so much about the printing business in Western New York, and I want to share it. First you have to imagine a time when communication was almost nonexistent. How could you learn about what was going on in the world? Or even in your town. And of course, you have to think of the technology necessary to operate a printing press. I found it fascinating. Think of Gutenberg, Benjamin Franklin, and how about Elias Williams? Here is a quick look at the printing business in Western New York, and in particular, LeRoy: 1807 - The first newspaper west of the Genesee River was the Genesee Intelligencer, published by Elias Williams in Batavia 1826 - The LeRoy Gazette began publication in May 1826. Between 1826 and 1840 there were eight editors and owners which included some very interesting people: Star & Hutchins, Henry D. Ward, Richard Hollister, Rufus Robertson, F. Goodrich, Seth Gates (noted abolitionist and politician), Martin O. Coe and Cyrus Thompson. Charles Thompson purchased the newspaper in *1840 and operated it until 1885. He sold it to George Marcellus and G. W. Hand. In 1887, Hand turned the paper over to Marcellus who operated it solely until April 1, 1912. Edward Perkins purchased the newspaper and then consolidated it with the LeRoy News, and the paper was renamed the LeRoy Gazette News. In 1925, a new building was built on Bank Street. Avery Perkins succeeded his father as editor and owner of the LeRoy Gazette News and later sold it to Robert Baker and Albin McWilliams. In 1977, the newspaper was sold to Brian Clark who two years later sold it to Sanders Newspaper in 1979. 1829 - Republican Advocate owned and published by D.C. Miller. Little is known about it or where it was printed in LeRoy 1829 - Genesee Republican and Herald Reform – Orestes W. Bronson, editor and Freeman & Son, publisher 1831 - Genesee Republic and Advocate for Liberty. J.E. and Henry Freeman. 1844 - LeRoy Courier June 6 went into publication by Edward Bliss for one year. It went back into publication again in 1853. It was published between 1870 and 1900, editor George Howe. It was a political newspaper which published stories of the Democratic political party with editor Harry House from 1900 to 1914. 1852 - LeRoy Democrat, published by Henry Todd. Moved to Batavia in 1853 and the name was changed to the Batavia Democrat. 1854 - The Genesee Herald was published by William C. Drummond who took the newspaper to Batavia in 1857 and where it was published by A.J. McWain until 1860. 1857 - LeRoy Advertiser published by Thomas B. Tufts. It was discontinued in July 1858. 1858-1890 - The Genesee Daily Herald 1881 - LeRoy Times began publication by Frank H. Morgan, who was backed by Charles H. Morgan for 12 years. George Marcellus merged The LeRoy Times with the LeRoy Gazette on September 4, 1894. Walton Simpson, partner for one year. Merged with Gazette 1899 - 1911 - LeRoy News purchased by Orator Woodward. Wilfred Brand, editor; then Joe Campbell, editor. E.M. Perkins brought to LeRoy as editor until 1911. Walton Simpson, partner for one year. Merged with the Gazette, April 1, 1912. 1938 - The LeRoy Pennysaver has been a part of this community since 1938. By 1942, the Pennysaver had a circulation of 2450 and was a mimeographed 8-page paper, filled mostly with ads, not news. In the issue, Vol. 8; No. 9 October 23, 1942 there were advertisements for Le Roy Cut Rite Drug Store - -phone 208; Bundy’s Esso Station which mentioned that they were the representative for the famous Gordon Fibre Seat Covers, The Valley Hotel at 55 Church Street offered all kinds of sandwiches and beer and ale. There were square dances at the White House on Lake Street and one could get a chicken dinner for 75 cents and a steak dinner for 60 cents at the Le Roy Tea Room on Main. LeRoy Bottling works advertised healthful and refreshing Mil-Kay flavored with fresh oranges. Saturday October 25 was the scrap drive to help beat Hitler, Hirohito and Mussolini. “All scrap metal will be sold and the money to go to the LeRoy War Fund.” Aspecial thank you to the LeRoy Pennysaver and their staff for their contribution to the production of the Newsies and in particular, the printing of the program. The LeRoy Pennysaver, for 84 years, has brought this community advertisements and news. Who can forget the news and photographs submitted by Weegie Pratt! And I am proud to have been writing articles since 1989 and I hope to keep at it for a while longer. The Newsies
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