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St. Ansgar Centennial History

1853 - 1953

 

Part 9


 

St. Ansgar Newspapers

    The first weekly newspaper, called the St. Ansgar Weekly Journal, was published in 1861. Records say that it was owned by A. G. Owen and edited by L. S. Everett. Very little more is known about the publication.

    The second weekly in St. Ansgar was first published in 1876 by J. H. Smith and was known as The St. Ansgar Register.
Old Enterprise office,
now a part of the Miller Grocery. Enterprise in the back part, book store in front. Andrew T. Moe, Proprietor.

    Due to financial difficulties, Mr. Smith was forced to sell. In May of 1877, it was taken over by W. A. Thomas and Martin Moe. After a few months, the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Moe became the sole owner. It was at this time that Mr. Moe founded what is still known as the St. Ansgar Enterprise. The first edition was published Nov. 1, 1878.

    Mr. Moe gambled on the future of St. Ansgar after his predecessor had failed. But, the Enterprise has developed with the community for nearly 75 years. That he might devote his time to other interests, Mr. Moe sold to Miles A. Culver in 1892. Mr. Culver continued to publish in much the same style and manner as did Mr. Moe.

    As typical of the newspaper of that era, it contained much more advertising than news. The very first column on the front page listed advertisements-doctors, ministers, auctioneers, draymen, etc. Two fifths of front page copy was advertising. Often this news was correspondent's letters from Carpenter, Mitchell and Osage, and no headlines were in evidence.

    As the methods of communication improved, so did The Enterprise. By the turn of the century, news--thanks to the telephone, telegraph and mails--was beginning to crowd out non-essential printed and boiler-plate matter, headlines were used, and jokes and stories and local bits of social news were moved from the front page to other pages.

    Eventually most of humorous bits and yarns were omitted entirely. However, advertisers continued to pay for advertising space sold for on the front page until 1936. This was changed by Charles Thacher, who became the new owner that year. On March of 1928, Mr. Culver had started using a new style of more readable type.

    Mr. Culver died in 1930 and his wife, now Mrs. Florence Culver Brigadier of New Hampton, continued to publish the Enterprise until it was sold to Marvin Clement of Waseca, Minn., who made no, major changes in the publication.

    Any changes in the style and content of the newspaper were largely made by Mr. Thacher and K. M. Gjertson, who, purchased The Enterprise from Mr. Thacher in June of 1951.

    In 1952, The Enterprise employed three members in the News and Editorial staff besides eight correspondents from nearby village and rural communities. It employed one advertising serviceman and two linotype operators. It is published weekly on Thursdays.

    In the fall of 1952, The Enterprise staff began publication of the Lyle Community News for the Lyle, Minnesota community. It is published each Wednesday morning.

 

 

J.F. Koch
Opened a lumber yard in 1883. Koch and son have held interests in the business continuously since that time. First president of the Citizens Bank, established in 1900.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Miller
Organized the Citizens Bank in 1900, of which he was made Cashier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A.N. Lund
Farmer. Assisted in establishing the First National Bank, and was President of the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas H. Hume
Farmer-Banker, State Representative for a number of terms. First Cashier of the First National Bank.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continue to Part 10


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