Footnotes to Long Island History
Development of
Newspapers in Suffolk County
5/6/48
by
Thomas R. Bayles
The first newspaper in the United States was the “Boston News Letter,”
according to Ross’ History of Long Island, and was established in 1704.
The first advertisement of Long Island real estate to appear in print
was in the issue of May 8, 1704, which read as follows:
“At Oyster Bay on
Long Island, in the Province of New York. There is a very good Fulling
Mill to be let or sold, as also a Plantation having in it a large new
Brick house, and another good house by it for a kitchen, & work house,
with a Barn, Stable & c. a young Orchard and 20 Acres clear land. The
Mill is to Let with or without the Plantation. Enquire of Mr. William
Bradford, Printer, in New York and know further.”
The first paper
published on Long Island was the “Long Island Herald,” which was started
in Sag Harbor in May, 1791, by David Frothingham, who came over from
Charlestown, Mass., and established a printing office and book store
near the “Landing,” at the foot of Main street, Sag Harbor. As cash was
scarce in those early days he took pay also in hog’s bristles, goose
quills, old sailcloths, sheepskins and various other articles. The
paper continued under the management of Frothingham until June 2, 1802,
when he sold it to Selleck Osborn, who changed the name to the “Suffolk
County Herald.” Osborn did not do very well with the paper and it was
sold in February, 1804, to Alden Spooner. He renamed the paper the
“Suffolk Gazette,” and continued it under very discouraging conditions
until February 23, 1811, when it was abandoned.
Mr. Spooner then went
to Brooklyn and purchased the “Long Island Star,” and his later life was
an important part of the history of that city. In 1824 he printed the
first edition of Silas Wood’s “History of Long Island,” and in 1826 the
second edition, and again in 1828 the third edition of Wood’s history.
There was no
newspaper printed in Suffolk county during the period that included the
War of 1812, and it was not until the 19th of October, 1816,
that Samuel A. Seabury of Sag Harbor came into the field with the
“Suffolk County Recorder.” He was born in Sag Harbor and had learned
the trade from Alden Spooner. The “Recorder” was discontinued in
October, 1817, and the “American Eagle and Suffolk County General
Advertiser” was started the same month. This was a larger and better
paper than any of the others had been and continued under the same
name.
The next paper in Sag
Harbor was the “Corrector,” which was first published August 3, 1822, by
Henry W. Hunt.
The next newspaper
was the “Republican Watchman,” edited by Samuel Phillips, and the first
number was issued September 16, 1826. In 1844 it was moved to
Greenport, and in 1858 was sold to Henry A. Reeves.
The next paper in Sag
Harbor was the “Sag Harbor Express,” established by John Hunt, July 14,
1859.
The first newspaper
in the county printed outside of Sag Harbor was the “American Eagle,”
which was moved from Sag Harbor to Huntington by Samuel Seabury in
1821. In May, 1825, the name was changed to the “Long Island Journal of
Philosophy and Cabinet of Variety.” This fancy sounding name was
changed to the “Portico” in 1827 and was discontinued in 1829.
the “Long Islander”
was started in Huntington in 1838 by Walt Whitman, who in later years
became famous as a poet.
The “Suffolk
Democrat” was established in Huntington in 1847 by Edward Strayhan, and
in 1859 was purchased by John R. Reid and moved to Babylon. Under the
management of Mr. Reid the paper gained a large circulation and was the
leading Democratic paper. In 1865 it was again moved to Huntington and
published under the name of the “Suffolk Bulletin” by Charles R. Street
and several others.
The “Suffolk Times”
was started in Greenport in 1856 by John J. Riddell.
the “Suffolk Gazette”
was established in riverhead by John Hancock in August, 1849, and
suspended about 1855.
The “Suffolk Union”
was started by Washington Van Zandt in 1859 and publication ceased after
the office was destroyed by fire in 1862-3.
In 1863 Buel Davis
started the “Suffolk County Monitor” but it only lasted a year.
The “Riverhead Weekly
News” was started by James B. Slade, March 3, 1868, and in 1875 it was
sold to William R. Duvall.
The first paper in
Patchogue was the “Suffolk Herald,” started about 1862 by Washington Van
Zandt, but it was only continued for a few years.
In the summer of 1870
the “Long Island Star” was moved to Patchogue from Port Jefferson but
after a few issues was discontinued. When the office materials were
sold they were purchased by Timothy J. Dyson, who started the “Patchogue
Advance” the 1st of September, 1871. In September 1876 it
was purchased by Thomas S. Heatley, who was editor for several years.
The “Independent
Press” was started at Setauket by Harvey Markham in 1865. It was a
small four page paper, but within a year was greatly enlarged, and in
the spring of 1868 was moved to Port Jefferson. It was suspended in
August 1874.
The “Long Island
Star” was stared in Setauket in 1866. In 1869 it was moved to Port
Jefferson, and in the following year moved to Patchogue, where it soon
ceased publication.
The “Bay Shore
Journal” was established July 4, 1873.
The “Suffolk County
News” was founded in July, 1884, by Walter R Burling.
The “Long Island
Traveler” was first established at Cutchogue September 1, 1871, by L. F.
Terry. It was soon afterward moved to Southold. In 1889 it was
purchased by Joseph N. Hallock. As an inducement to new subscribers Mr.
Hallock bought up all the unsold copies of Richard M. Bayles’ “Sketches
of Suffolk County” and offered them as premiums, which secured a number
of subscribers and also circulated a valuable book. (This book is hard
to get now and readily sells for $10).
The “Port Jefferson
Times” was established by Walter R. Burling December 14, 1878. In
October, 1879, it was purchased by T. B. Hawkins and L. B. Homan, the
latter having been editor from the start.
The “Port Jefferson
Echo” was founded by Charles A. Squires on August 6, 1892.
The “Moriches
Messenger” was started in April, 1890.
The “Northport
Journal” was established in 1885 by Daniel A. Arthur.
The “Islip Herald”
was stared in 1900 by Walter R. Burling.
The “Babylon Budget”
was founded by John R. Reid in 1876, and in 1889 was sold to Henry R.
Livingstone and merged in the “South Side Signal,” which had been
started July 7, 1869 by Mr. Livingstone. This was independent in
politics and had no editorials.
The “Sea Side Times”
was founded in 1881, when Southampton was growing rapidly.
The “Southampton
Press” was established by George H. Burling, (a son of Walter R.
Burling) in 1897.
The “Bridgehampton
News” was founded by Frank W. Burling, (another son of Walter R.
Burling) in February, 1895.
The “East Hampton
Star” was founded by George H. Burling December 25, 1885.
The “Center Moriches
Record” was founded by Walter R. Burling October 30, 1899.
The “Argus” was
established in Patchogue September 6, 1884, by L. B. Green, and was
first printed on an Adams hand press, the office force consisting of the
editor and a boy.
The “Long Island
Herald” was started at Islip about 1874 by William L. Cook. It was the
first paper that contained illustrations, and among them were pictures
of the old Sayre house and Pelletreau house in Southampton.
Two other Suffolk
County newspapers, The Mid-Island Mail, founded July 12, 1935 and
suspended August 13, 1941 and The Moriches Tribune which was started
April 2, 1937 and is still being published, were founded by Captain John
T. Tuthill, Jr., publisher of The Patchogue Advance. He also bought and
published The Argus for a number of years in the 1930’s and suspended
its publication in February 24, 1942.