Newspapers Hold a Special Place in a Community's History 

Newspapers hold a special place in the history of any community, and the Owen Sound Sun Times, and its predecessors, beginning with the Comet, are no exception.

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The mark of stability for an emerging community was the establishment of a newspaper. 

A little more than a decade after the first settlers arrived in the tiny forest clearing in southern Ontario's last wilderness frontier, Owen Sound boasted not one, but three newspapers. 

Although these publications represented different political perspectives, their main aim was the same — the promotion and development of Owen Sound. 

During the 1850s and 1860s, the newspaper was more than a gatherer and dispenser of news. It unabashedly promoted the community, lamenting the lack of foresight by railroad entrepreneurs in terms of their failure to locate a railway terminus here. 

But, when the community achieved some success, the editors were quick to trumpet the glories that had been achieved. Such was the case in 1856 when Owen Sound received status as a town.

Before the arrival of the railway, the community was dependent upon maritime transportation for the transshipment of goods and passengers. Therefore, the early editions of the newspapers contained the schedules of the ships sailing to and from the port. 

In the 1870s, the newspaper reached its peak in unabashed boosterism. In 1873 the railway finally made its way to Owen Sound and the newspapers reported the arrival of the first train. Before this the newspapers were boasting of the great future that was in store for the community once the line of steel made its way here. 

The editors were very proud of their position as promoters of the community. Consequently, when it appeared that something, or someone, might impede Owen Sound's economic growth, the newspaper was usually the first to rise to the occasion and lead the fight to protect what was "rightfully Owen Sound's." 

One such incident occurred in the 1870s when it was learned that the rival port of Collingwood was considering building a drydock facility in their harbour. 

The editors wrote scathing editorials directed towards that community. They wrote that Owen Sound's drydock was so successful that Collingwood's enterprise would be sure to fail and, consequently, the taxpayers in that community would be wasting their hard-earned money. 

In the early 1880s, Owen Sound was once again striving to broaden its economic base. The editors led a campaign to entice not only the CPR, but other railroad and steamship companies to make this community its port of call on Georgian Bay. The theme of the campaign was that Owen Sound was on the shortest and most economic route to the rapidly expanding Canadian West. 

To spearhead this idea, the local newspaper bombarded its counterparts in Toronto and in other major centres with editorials and stories about the benefits of a transportation route linked through Owen Sound. 

Newspaper editors and writers from those communities were brought here to witness firsthand what they read in our newspaper. Once this campaign proved successful, the newspaper continued to support any project which would promote Owen Sound. 

The newspaper was more than a promoter of the community. It was Owen Sound's link with the rest of the world. Any news that had an impact on the people of the region was always front-page news. 

During the First World War, the front pages of both the Sun and the Times, carried news from the war and its immediate impact on this area. In 1917, the lead banner in the newspaper on most occasions promoted the purchase of Victory Bonds. On the front page of the Friday, Nov. 23, 1917 edition, the headlines trumpeted "Grey Citizens Buy Almost Million and Half in Victory Bonds." 

Throughout the war, the front-page detailed information about the activities of local citizens in the war effort and also those who were casualties. It was the Sun Times which broke the long-awaited news of victory. 

Early on the morning of Nov. 11, 1918, the newspaper received the news that the war was over. A reporter called the fire department, and told them to ring the town bell. 

Within minutes, the street outside the Sun Times office was teeming with local citizens eagerly awaiting more information. Consequently, the area around the newspaper was soon the sight of the biggest party ever witnessed in Owen Sound. 

Two decades later in 1939, the streets outside the Sun Times office were once again the focus of attention in the community. Hundreds waited for news of a new war with Germany. 

Throughout the day, the newspaper issued bulletins to keep the citizens up to date on the situation. When war was finally declared there was a somber feeling for many of those who had awaited that very news. The parade and celebrations would be a long time coming. 

Newspapers were important to the development of any community. But anyone who reads back issues of the newspaper will soon realize that the Sun Times was something more. It was the connection to the rest of the world. 

A version of "Newspapers Hold a Special Place in a Community's History," originally appeared in my Local History column in the May 28, 1998 edition of the Owen Sound Sun Times.

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12-year-old Walks to Owen Sound in 1851 from the journal of a teenage boy's experience travelling with his brother in the untamed Upper Canadian wilderness.

In the 1920s, Owen Sound got New Elevators. After losing the CPR elevators to fire, the community fought hard to get new elevators for their harbour and improve the community's economy.

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The 1944-1945 Grey North By-Election would surprise Prime Minister King and all of Canada as the Grey North electorate refused to be dictated to by Ottawas political elites.

The were 1950s a Decade of Change in the Owen Sound area. A local boy starred in the NHL; there was a significant industrial change; schools were standing to experience the baby boom.

1960s: Owen Sound's Education Expansion: 1960s Owen Sound was a period of growth and one result of this was a need for the expansion of education services for the growing population.

1960s Owen Sound marked a period of change and new growth to the commercial and industrial life that would impact the citizens of Owen Sound and change the patterns of doing business.

The Bible was the Law in the 1840s in this region because the region was unrepresented by the government peace and  justice were community responsibilities.

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Brooke: A brief history of an important, yet distinctly different, community that became a key element in Owen Sound's development as a important Georgian Bay port city.

Charles Rankin, I Presume: October 7, 1840 marked the meeting of Land Agent John Telfer and surveyor Charles Rankin on the banks of the Sydenham River and the founding of Owen Sound.

The cost of living in 1900 in Owen Sound may seem great, but when you take into consideration other factors, things were perhaps not all that wonderful.

The CPR Grain Elevator Fire of 1911 spelled the end of Owen Sound's role as the eastern terminus of the CPR Great Lakes Fleet.

Black History: Emancipation Day celebrates the abolition of slavery and it continues to be an annual celebration in many locations that were in some way, or another touched by the impact of slavery.

Black History in Owen Sound: Who was the First Black Citizen in the community is a cause for debate.

Black History: The Underground Railway is an important part not only in terms of black history, but of the history of southwestern Ontario.

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Billy Bishop: Owen Sound Hero earned national and international fame as a World War One Fighter pilot and used his high profile to aid in the World War Two effort.

John Harrison - A Tough Owen Sound Pioneer whose grit and determination created a prosperous life for himself and his family in a new community.

William Harrison, The Source of John Harrison's Grit: details the influence of John's father, William Harrison, on John and his siblings.

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Owen Sound's First Newspaper: The Comet came into existence a mere 10 years after the first settlers braved the wilderness that would become the Grey and Bruce region.

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