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HISTORY OF OREGON NEWSPAPERS
59

toric journalistic occasion.[1] Hill, who was engaged from the first as a carrier for the new paper and later became a printer, was introduced by Dryer to A. M. Berry, foreman of the shop, perhaps better remembered as a co-publisher of the old Pioneer and Democrat of Olympia, Washington. In accordance with the best traditions of the times, the new boy, who was shop "devil" as well as carrier, was soon sent to "a first-class hotel near by" for "a bucket of editorial." The paper was issued from the second story of a building at the northwest corner of Front and Morrison, on the river front.

I remember (wrote Mr. Hill in the Oregonian's semi centennial number) that Friday night of December 3. Many of the leading men of the village had been invited by Mr. Dryer to be present at the christening, and the room was filled. I well remember how proudly I filled the position of roller-boy on that occasion. . . The guests were ignorant of the name to be given to the first paper published in Portland. A sheet was carefully laid upon the form, the fore man taking the impression, when the guests each took hold of the paper by the edge and carefully lifted it from the types. At this juncture Mr. Dryer proclaimed the name, The Oregonian, amid cheers and congratulations. Those participating, as I remember, were: Messrs. Daniel H. Lownsdale, W. W. Chapman, Stephen Coffin (the proprietors of the town site). And F. P. Dennison, A. P. Ankeny, W. W. Baker, T. Terwilliger, Thomas and James Stephens, Job McNamee, Benjamin Allen, T. J. Dryer, Mr. Berry, and others whom I cannot bring to mind at present.

Mr. Hill named several printers connected with the earliest days of the Oregonian: W. A. Daly, first mate on the boat from Honolulu, who was a practical printer; John Riley, Daniel Lindsay, Edward Sheffield, George Lee, and Edwin Treat Gunn—all of whom were employed at various times on the paper. He recalls when Mr. Pittock became foreman of the office. "I could," he wrote,[2] "chronicle many incidents in his administration of affairs that made the boys (printers) happy, as matters were in a somewhat muddled condition when he took charge. . . It was a continuous struggle during the 50's and 60's."

The carriers, incidentally, he recalls, had a hard time. There were no sidewalks, the streets were not graded, and there were 100 to 150 copies for each boy to carry.

In those days, (Mr. Hill continued in the same little article) the carriers looked forward with great expectations and pleasure when his "carrier's address" was to appear,


  1. Oregonian, December 4, 1900.
  2. loc. cit.