Senate Resolution No. 2053

BY: Senator GRIFFO

COMMEMORATING the 160th Anniversary of The
Sherburne News

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those illustrious journalistic entities which have diligently and
consistently, year after year, recorded the history of their communities
and brought local news and news of the larger world to their readers;
and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 160th Anniversary of The Sherburne News; and

WHEREAS, Established in March of 1864, The Sherburne News publishes
a weekly newspaper for readers in Central New York and the local
community; The Sherburne News prioritizes customers, and also provides
other services such as business cards or inserts; and

WHEREAS, With new issues every Thursday, The Sherburne News can be
purchased at the following retailers: The Big M, Sherburne Skips Market,
and at The Sherburne News; and

WHEREAS, Starting from humble beginnings when the price of the paper
was just ten cents per month, the first edition of The Sherburne News
was printed on March 2nd, 1864; the founder of the publication, Simeon
B. Marsh, printed his first paper on one side of a sheet and one column;
and

WHEREAS, Becoming a great success, The Sherburne News grew to a
seven column, four-page paper; this enlargement necessitated a larger
press and a secondhand Washington hand press was installed with a
quantity of new types added to the office; and

WHEREAS, In 1872, The Sherburne News was purchased by Thomas
Randall, one of the first African-American editors of a newspaper in New
York State; he improved The Sherburne News, expanding it and carrying a
subscription rate of nearly 1000; and

WHEREAS, In November of 1881, John H. O'Brian purchased The
Sherburne News and expanded it to eight columns and the subscription
list was still growing; he purchased sole ownership of The Sherburne
News, until his death in 1912, when his nephew, Harry J. McDaniel, who
had been employed at The Sherburne News, took over publication; and

WHEREAS, Moving the paper to its present location, The Sherburne
News prospered under the leadership of Harry J. McDaniel and the new
space accommodated all types of printing for the trade; in 1954, his
son, John M. McDaniel, took over publication, having worked with his
father since high school; following the family tradition, John's son,
James, took over publication of The Sherburne News in the 1990s; and

WHEREAS, In 2001, The Sherburne News was transformed from a letter
press printed newspaper to offset, using computer technologies to

continue publishing; at its beginning, the publication was set by all
hand type for many years until the invention of the Linotype machine,
which is hot type and was installed in the 1920s; the old Babcock
printing press, which printed The Sherburne News each Wednesday for many
years, has been preserved at the Sherburne Historic Park building; and

WHEREAS, Our newspapers provide a tremendous service to citizens
across the State of New York by keeping them informed about current
events; the democracy of our State and Nation is strengthened by a
responsible citizenry which is actively engaged in reading and kept
abreast of news affecting their lives; and

WHEREAS, As The Sherburne News moves into the future, it carries
with it the legacy of a distinguished journalistic history and an
outstanding record of growth and achievement; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 160th Anniversary of The Sherburne News; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Sherburne News.