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10 - THE PORT PERRY STAR Records indicate the first news- paper to y : be pub- lished in the area was started on December 12, 1857 by Mr. James Holden, The paper was published every Thursday morning in Prince Albert., C.W. Mr. Holden explained in the first issue that the rapid progress and devel- opment of Prince Albert, Borelia, Port Perry and surrounding country indicated a need for a first-class journal devoted to the interest of this neighbourhood. "To supply this desideratum, the Ontario Observer is established", he wrote. Although the newpaper was to have been published on Thursday, December 10, 1857, the first issue was delayed two days and published on Saturday, December 12, 1857 due to the late arrival of material. During the next ten years the Ontario Observer saw many changes in its' ownership and editors. Although we can- not pin-point the date, at some point during the year 1858, the Ontario Observer changed hands and began to be published by Robson & Co. with Mr. Alfred Sylvester as editor. The first edition on record at the Port Perry Star of this change was published on December 2, 1858. On May 24, 1859. Mr. James Holden and Mr. Edward Oliver entered into a co- partnership for the purpose of publishing the "Ontario Observer." They began pub- JAMES HOLDEN HENRY PARSONS lishing the paper from Prince Albert with the first edition on Thursday, June 23, 1859. Sometime during the next year and a half (due to missing copies the exact date is unknown), Mr. Oliver left the newspaper and publication of the Observer was continued by James Holden. Edward J. Mundy, who would later Following start his own newspaper in Port Perry, was TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1996 130 year hist Port Perry ot editor of the Observer for a time during 1960. The last record available at the Star showing Mr. Holden as publisher is May 28, 1863. A further change in ownership occured sometime prior to February 2, 1865 when the Ontario Observer began to be published by Mr. Henry Parsons and William Robinson from the Victoria Block in Prince Albert. On Monday, June 25, 1866, Mr. William Robinson died in Prince Albert at the age of 23 years, 11 months and five days of age. A report following his death says that Mr. Robinson's first connection with the Ontario Observer dated back to 1857 when he commenced to learn the art of printing. Except for a few months in the United States, he con- tinued in the office as compositor until the retirement of James Holden. He then purchased an interest in the Observer and assumed the duties of Editor until his untimely death. On August 30, 1866, Mr. James Baird became the new Editor of the Ontario Observer and became partn- ers with Henry Parsons. This part- nership continued for the next 18 years. MOVE TO PORT PERRY On August 28, 1873, the Ontario Observer, under the ownership of Baird and Parsons made the announcement that the paper would be moving to Port Perry to continue publish- ing. The announcement stated "Due to shift of the greater part of business, the newspaper must move as near as possible to the business centre of the locality in the fire of July 3, 1884, The North Ontario Observer set up offices and published from the second floor of the Hiscox Block (above). The paper ceased publication in December 1919. TT Rca 5 5 ral 6.6 Cy Ty which it is published." Their new offices were located in the Warriner Block imme- | diately west of the Post Office in Port Perry. 25 They also announced at this time the enlarged format of the paper due to the demands of the advertisers, and noted that the price for a subscription was $1.50 per annum or $1.00 if paid in advance. : > One thing that was not mentioned in the paper was the change of name from the "Ontario Observer" to the "North Ontario Observer". : ; The first edition of the North Ontario Observer, published on September 11, 1873 from its' new Port Perry location, the owners ran an apology for missing ¥ -- OW 1919, when he ceased North Ontario Ot i of although a brief mention newspaper in the Illus! Atlas of Ontario County reported as being publis Albert by Mr. Oliver about 1858. Fh originally known as dard aly North Sadi was one issue of the paper, stating "the work of moving and printing was more than It began publishing in Por they could accomplish in one week." August 16, 1866 from the s Ten years after moving to Port Perry, the new Paxton and Bigelow in the December 20th issue of 1883, the above the Post Office on Queen North Ontario Observer announced that a disastrous fire had swept through the town destroying their offices and equip- ment. The Observer was silenced for three weeks while the owners purchased new equipment and moved into a new premises on the south side of Queen Street nearly opposite the Post Office. ! The fire began the night of Sunday, November 26, 1883 awaking startled sleepers as the Port Perry House was all ablaze. The fire soon leaped from building \§ to building consuming over \ $125,000 in property value. Then, during the evening of Thursday, July 3, 1884, fire once again struck Port Perry, this time destroying almost every place of business on Queen Street. The fire, which is estimated to have caused some $300,000 in damage once again destroyed the offices of the North Ontario Observer. (now apartments above N Perspectives at 191 Queen | . Edward J. tion of two