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Show Continued from Page 2 American Fork Heritage - Thursday, April 2, 1981 Page 10 American Fork In the News Jakeman and Gray. It is not known if this was published at the same time, or was perhaps a forerunner of the "Citizen," since its original format also included coverage of American Fork, Lehi and Pleasant Grove. Started in 1919, the "American Fork Tribune" was published in competition to the "American Fork Citizen." Editor W.E. Ellsworth discontinued publication after three months, when he found that the city's Books of Local Interest are available at Friday's Learning to Draw on the Powers of Heaven A Soul So Rebellious The Will To Win: The Curt Brinkman Story 20 Discount on ALL Books thru April PRIDAY'S OFFICE SUPPLY 60 West Main AMERICAN FORK, UTAH brother Pacesetter SE-300 r 1 w- Sugg, retail J $498. Save $200 Sale Ends April 17th A business and population did not justify two newspapers. A more recenet addition was the "American Fork Weekly News," published by Tom Evans in the 1950's. As is often the case, local residents cannot recall exactly when the newspaper was founded. A.F. Gaisford, retired "Citizen" publisher, stated he believed the paper was circulated sporadically for two or three years. A former staff member recalls the last issue was printed in January, 1955. But the town's diary and journal that stayed around to record the continuing story was the "Citizen," born on May 24, 1903, Easter Sewing Specials Deluxe Featured Lightweight Free Arm Stretch Stitch ZigZag 13 different built in stitches (no cams!) Automatic button Holes Twin needle for 2 color sewing Monograming, darning darn-ing and appliquing Limited Warranty 25 Years Lynn's Small Appliance 26 S. Main Pleasant Grove 785-4008 Authorized Dealer with W.D. Loveless as father-editor. father-editor. Little is known about its early history, because all copies before 1914 were destroyed by fire. According to A.F. Gaisford, the early publication office was at 34 North Merchant street above Boley's store. Volume XI, No. 38 of the "American Fork Citizen," dated Saturday, January 3, 1914, is the first issue on file in the microfilm library at the University of Utah. "The from page of the eight-page issue is of six-column makeup, with the title in Bodoni type across the lop. The "Lehi Department" and "Pleasant Grove Department" Depart-ment" were regular features. S.W. Ross and L.W. Gaisford are listed as publisher in the January 17, 1914 issue for the first time. The address is listed as "opposite tabernacle" and subscriptions were $1.50 per year. A.F. Gaisford recalls that his uncle, L.W. Gaisford, also issued the paper from an office on the southeast corner of Main and Center streets. During the decade from 1910 to 1920, American Fork's main industry in-dustry was mining. Mining news and advert isemenis for mining equipment and brokers are predominant. Of nine iiems on a 1916 front page, seven were relaied to mining news. The paper's political news was impartial, with most news being local happenings. The "Lehi Department" was dropped in 1916. In 1919, L.W. Gaisford bought out S.W. Ross's interest. Mining still dominated the news, although in 1923 there was a push for location of a steel plant on the north end of Utah Lake. In December, 1922, ownership of the paper went to A.F. Gaisford and A.F. Gaisford, Jr. For some reason, the volume number was changed from Volume XX to XI and continued in that sequence. A.F. Gaisford adds that in 1926, he, V.W. Gaisford and E.R. Gaisford became publishers. The paper became a member of the National Editorial Association early in 1929. Mining news declined while farm news grew. The great depression is reflected in the lessening amount of advertising ad-vertising in the 1930's. The face of World War II on the home front is mirrored in the news of the early v : J' I COMPOSING ROOM of the American Fork Citizen in late 1919 shows "hot lead" printing equipment. Perc Gaisford. son of early publisher, was one of plant employees. ( Photo courtesy of Belly G. Spencer) 1940's - war bond drives, local men wounded in battle, rationing, stories about returning servicemen ser-vicemen and eulogies to those who would never return. American Fork grew rapidly in the 1940-50 decade, with the arrival of the longed-for steel as a result of war effort. Due much to the paper's continued support of the industry, American Fork .was ready to begin housing immediately im-mediately and soon outgrew the two neighboring towns. In May, 1942, the "Citizen" published a tabloid style industrial and resources edition, and continued con-tinued to support the steel industry in news editorials. Growth also made it possible for the newspaper to drop the "Pleasant Grove Review" in 1942 and concentrate on American Fork news. As the war closed, city celebrations returned. Headlines noted: "Initial Steel Day proves very successful." This change from Poultry Day to Steel Day emphasized another change in the economy - a cycle from mining to agriculture to semi-industrial. Nobody seemed to notice that the original Bodoni headline changed to Gothic in 1947, but everybody noticed that the paper changed in publication day to Thursday in 1948. Merchants liked it, for it meant longer weekend shopping. The American Fork Citizen continued to reflect the tone of the community under the management of A.F. Gaisford, and its shop also did job printing for the community. In 1963, longtime newsman A.F. Gaisford retired, and the operation was purchased by E. Russell In-nes, In-nes, editor of "The Lehi Free Press." It was at this time thai the newspaper's printing method was changed from letterpress to offset, which allowed for more versatility in layout and pict ure use. Innes was always looking for ways to improve the newspaper so he purchased a $55,000 offset press, going into partnership to form AMOR Printing Company, making his firm the first weekly in Utah County and only the second in the state of Utah to go to offset printing. In January 1979, Innes sold the (Biro (Hoc i J.t You just may save yourself some rhoney as well. At Farmers, we like to reward folks who take care of themselves. them-selves. So we offer discounts on auto, life and homeowners home-owners insurance to people who haven't smoked in two years. Here are three more things Farmers is doing tostopthe rapid rise of insurance costs. So, call me today to see if you qualify for savings and learn about Farmers fast, fair, friendly service. 41 American Fork Citizen, the Lehi Free Press and the North Utah County Shopper to Western World Newspapers, a newspaper management group that owns a number of newpapers in the western United States. Mike Stansfield was the publisher of the new corporation - Newtah, Inc. - and produced the newspapers for 18 months. Stansfield then move on to become publisher of the Iron County Record in Cedar City. Subsequently, Kenneth E. Harvey, former editor, was advanced to publisher. In August, 1980, Newtah acquired the Pleasant Grove Review, purchased from Jack Pace, a P.G. resident long in the priming business. This addition enabled the three papers to ef-" ef-" fectively serve the entire north Utah County area. In December, 1980, Harvey accepted a teaching position ai :he University of New York at Buffalo, and he left the ihree papers in :he hands of a new publisher, Brett R. Bezzani. With news from three towns to manage, Randall E. Wright was installed as editor. From the beginning, the editors, of course, printed news. But they were also weaving t he fabric of t he printed history of the town. The city family can look back on the newspapers as its diary, journal and picture album. Each old copy is a treasury of knowledge, not only in names but in a wayof life. That 'si he story of a town and its newspapers, and the siory continues con-tinues every week. Sources: Alier. J. Cecil. "Early I'iah Journalism." I ah Siaie Historical Socie:y. Sail Lake Cliy. 1938. "American Fork Ciiizen." V.ilume XI. No. 38. January 3. 1914. i presen . Univcrsiiy 'if Liah microfilm and bound copies. Nelson. Lowry. "Some Social and Economic Feaiures uf American Fork. U:ah." BYU siudies. No 4. 1S33. Shelley. George F.. Early Hisiory of American Fork. 1942. published by Am Fork Ciiy. 1945. Personal Interview A F. Gaisford. retired ediior of "American Fork Ci. izen". (From "Spokes in the Wheel," courtesy of David L. Kjar) ARNIE CARD0N 768-3640 127 E. State Rd. Lehi i i1 tj X |