The Rome Advertiser

TOMLINSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 11/22/2007 at 06:14:44

Heavenly Day! Our story of the newspapers which have been published in Henry county from 1848 to this date, said: "Most of the communities of the county have been served by newspapers, even if temporarily. But three communities have never enjoyed that privilege, Rome, Trenton and Swedesburg. Now, the Romans are challenging that statement. The Romans declare that some time ago, and operating for about a year, the "Rome Advertiser" guided and guarded the activities of that community. It was claimed that George Tomlinson, Johnny Appleseed Secundus, started, operated and stopped the "Rome Advertiser."

George, being charged with the matter, admitted that he did publish the Rome Advertiser, and which, if he remembers correctly, ran for close to a full year. As to the date, he is not certain. Indeed very uncertain. He cannot decide whether it was during the reign of the Baker clan, or the suzerainty of the O'Laughlins, but Mrs. Dicus was postmistress. If anyone in Rome, or the outer provinces, has preserved a copy of the Rome Advertiser, its story will be revealed in these columns and the paper itself given permanent protection in the Henry county historical rooms.

-- “Bystander’s Notes“ by Charles S. Rogers, Publisher-Editor of The Free Press [weekly newspaper published in Mt. Pleasant, IA] Friday, January 19, 1945 p. 2