Local History - The First Edition of the Gilboa Monitor

By Wildert Marte

Below continues our series on local history through the press by our student intern Wildert Marte.

GILBOA — The first edition of The Gilboa Monitor was published on December 19 1878 with Miron Dings as the editor and publisher. It was made for the people of Gilboa and nearby towns to share news business updates and community events. The paper started by telling readers why a local newspaper mattered, saying that a town's reputation depended on it. It asked people to subscribe, send in news and advertise their businesses. The editor said the paper would stay away from politics and focus on news that helped the community. The first issue had local news, especially about Christmas. It mentioned a Christmas tree event at the Episcopal Church and that Christmas trees had arrived at Washington Market. There were updates on roadwork and how people were working to keep the roads in good shape. Churches and community events were important parts of life and the paper made sure to highlight them.

One of the most serious parts of the paper was the obituary section which reported the death of Miss Carrie E. Lane, a teacher from School No 2. She became sick suddenly and even though she showed signs of getting better she passed away. The paper said she was smart, well-liked and a favorite in town. Her death brought sadness over the holiday season. A service was planned and her body would be taken to Gilboa for burial.

The paper was full of ads from local businesses. Stores, doctors, blacksmiths and jewelers placed ads to bring in customers. Fredendury & Thomas and Hollenbeck & Ford advertised holiday goods like clothing and household items. Joseph B Ehrich, a watchmaker promoted his repair services and jewelry while Dr W L Baldwin let people know about his medical practice. There were also ads for everyday items like wooden milk pails and kitchenware showing what people needed at the time. The paper wasn’t just about news and business, it also had entertaining and unusual stories. One article told the story of a woman in Rhode Island who laughed herself to death after her husband used sugar instead of salt to preserve pork. She could not stop laughing and eventually died. The paper also gave advice for young men looking for work telling them to take any honest job instead of waiting for the perfect one.

There was also a report on cheap restaurants in New York City where a full meal cost only six cents. The article said this was a big help for working class people since it gave them a clean affordable place to eat instead of bars or taverns. A court case about a broken bridge in La Grange was also covered. A horse fell through the bridge and died and the owner sued the town for damages. The court ruled that the town was not responsible the highway commissioners were, which put the financial burden on them instead of taxpayers.

The paper also had poems and reflections about life including one that compared youth adulthood and old age. These added a thoughtful touch and gave readers something to think about besides the news.

The first issue of The Gilboa Monitor was full of local news business ads and interesting stories that gave people a look at what was happening in their town. It wasn’t just a newspaper it was a way for people to stay connected and be a part of what was going on. It shared updates on local businesses and events so people could support each other and know what was happening around them. It gave people a space to celebrate big moments like weddings and mourn losses like the passing of a beloved teacher. It also had stories meant to entertain like the woman who laughed herself to death and advice for young men trying to find work. Every section of the paper showed what life was like in Gilboa at that time. Even the smallest details like ads for new clothing sales or updates on road repairs helped paint a picture of what the town was like.