From the Friday, Dec. 28, 1929 edition of the Gouverneur Free Press-

 

The Norwood News Fifty Years Old-Mr. A. H. Nickerson, editor of the Norwood News. Last week published an anniversary number of his valuable newspaper marking the 50th anniversary of its founding. Copies of the newspaper have been received in Gouverneur by friends and subscribers. It recalls to Gouverneur readers some of whom remember the event itself but more of whom have heard and read of it in times past, a bit of local flavor that is most interesting.

 It was the late Barnard G. Parker, until his death in 1927, editor of the Gouverneur Free Press, who on March 26, 1878, established the Norwood News. Mr. Parker was in teens himself and the venture was a big one in his early life. His friends have often heard him tell the interesting story of how he left Gouverneur with his "equipment" as he called it, in an oyster can. That oyster can contained the makings of the present Norwood News, which has survived for fifty years. It has outlived its founder by two years. The Free Press was established four years later after Mr. Parker had sold out his Norwood plant.

 When Mr. Parker went to Norwood to start the News, he was a boy just out of school. He had served a brief apprenticeship in the plant of the Gouverneur Times, conducted by E. S. Merritt. It was under Mr. Merritt that he had learned to "stick" type and he went to Norwood considering himself a full fledged printer and editor. The editing of a newspaper then was not the great worry of a print shop. The chief difficulty was in getting the type set and into forms for printing. Mr. Parker knew he could do that, and did. His first paper was a four page, eight column sheet, measuring 22 X 30 inches. He later changed its form to a sheet 24 X 30 inches.

 It was a success from the start. The people of Norwood gave it the necessary support and when he finally sold it , he found his venture had been worth his time and effort.

 Later the newspaper passed into the hands of Fred R. Smith who operated it successfully. He later formed a connection with Charles Martin, a printer of Canton, and for many years that partnership existed. Mr. Martin was a capable printer and Mr. Smith handled the business-end of the paper with great success. Mr. Nickerson followed and today publishes one of the best small town newspapers in Northern New York. Its quality not only reflects credit on its present owner and editor, but serves as a mark of tribute to its founder, who later similarly established the Gouverneur Free Press and became on of Gouverneur's leading citizens.

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