Holyoke Transcript-Telegram - Congressional Record: October 13, 1949

by Foster Furcolo

Holyoke Transcript-Telegram
________
EXTENSION OF REMARKS
OF
HON. FOSTER FURCOLO
OF MASSACHUSETTS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, October 13, 1949

Mr. FURCOLO. Mr. Speaker, since we all know the great part publications play in the life of America, and the great contribution publications have made in preserving our freedom and liberty, I think it important to call the attention of Members of Congress to any unusual event in the life of an important publication.

The Holyoke Transcript-Telegram, which has a large circulation in western Massachusetts, is celebrating its hundredth anniversary. I think, Mr. Speaker, that you and the Members of Congress would like to hear some of the interesting details about the paper. If you will bear with me for just a few minutes, I will be very brief.

History of Holyoke Transcript-Telegram, Holyoke, Mass.

This publication was first printed September 1, 1849, under the name of the Hampden Freeman at Ireland Parish, Mass. At that time, there was a move afoot to rename Ireland Parish, Hampden. Later the community was named Holyoke in honor of Capt. Elezear [sic] Holyoke and also for the mountain range that overlooks the location. The Transcript-Telegram of today is the full-grown heir and successor to the Freeman. Originally a weekly newspaper, it was first owned by William F. Morgan and James D. G. Henderson. Attorney W. B. C. Pearsons, destined to become the first mayor of the city of Holyoke, was the first editorial writer for the Freeman. In his very first editorial, he called Ireland Parish "the infant giant of western Massachusetts, in the midst of a beautiful and fertile region noted far and wide for the industry of its inhabitants, its salubrious climate, and its enchanting scenery."

In 1852 the newspaper changed its name to the Hampden Freeman and a short time later it was called the Holyoke Weekly Mirror. In the year 1863 the name of Holyoke Transcript was first written across its masthead. At this time it was still being published weekly. Nearly a score years later, on October 9, 1882, it started publishing daily.

One year prior to becoming a daily, William G. Dwight, fresh out of Amherst College, had joined the staff of the Transcript. Thus was started the Dwight newspaper dynasty in Holyoke. Mr. Dwight took over full control of the paper in 1888.

A young woman by the name of Minnie Ryan, of Hadley, started working on the Transcript on March 3, 1891. She was later to become Mrs. Dwight and at the present time is editor and publisher of the Transcript. She holds the unusual record of being associated with one newspaper for 58 years-a record probably unsurpassed anywhere. Late in 1926, the Transcript purchased the interests of a rival daily newspaper, the Holyoke Telegram, and on New Year's Day, 1927, started publication of the Holyoke Transcript-Telegram, the name under which it is still being issued each day.

In 1908, Arthur Ryan, brother of Mrs. Dwight, was graduated from Princeton University. He joined the Transcript as sports editor and today holds the office of business manager. William Dwight, son of Mrs. Dwight, after attending Princeton and the Columbia University School of Journalism, was attached to the staff as political writer. He is now managing editor.

In addition to her son William, Mrs. Dwight also has two daughters who have served as social editor. In 1921, Helen Dwight, now Mrs. Oscar Schoeffler, of New York City, whose husband is fashion editor of Esquire Magazine, worked on the newspaper in this capacity and she was succeeded by her sister, Laura Dwight, now Mrs. Richmond Lewis, of Springfield, in 1923.

In recent years, William and Donald Dwight, sons of the managing editor; Dwight, John, and Edmund Schoemer, as well as Larry Lewis, all grandchildren of Mrs. Dwight, have been writing with the various departments of the daily too. Miss Elizabeth Ryan, daughter of the business manager, writes a feature column from New York City. On March 31, 1930, William G. Dwight died at his winter home in Fruitland Park, Fla. Mrs. Dwight immediately assumed the full powers of editor and publisher, one of the few women in the Nation to carry on in these important fields of public relations.

In the past near-score years that she has headed the Holyoke Transcript-Telegram, Mrs. Dwight has been the recipient of many high honors, including doctorate degrees from American International College at Springfield, Mass., and the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. In fact, Mrs. Dwight has been accorded the distinction of being the first woman ever to be awarded an honorary degree by the State university.

Mr. Speaker, the Holyoke Transcript Telegram and I have not always seen eye to eye on every issue and I do not expect that we always will. But that is not of paramount importance. The important thing is that, for a hundred years, the Holyoke Transcript-Telegram has made its contribution to our way of life and has always battled for what it believed was good for the people of this country.

I hope all the Members will join with me in congratulating and extending best wishes to all who are associated with the the Transcript-Telegram on its hundredth anniversary.