Newspaper Anniversary

 

This year is the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Springfield Newspapers. 

 

 

As part of the celebration, the newspaper is re-publishing the front pages of some of the paper's most news worthy events, such as the Great Flood of 1936 shown here. Count how many articles appear on that front page. 

 

 

I count 17 separate stories starting on that one page of the paper. Now take a look at the front page of the edition of the Springfield newspaper published yesterday.

 

The modern version of the paper has two (count 'em) TWO stories on the front page. I realize the newspaper industry is in decline and has less staff to produce content, but this is simply pathetic. The great challenge for the Springfield Newspapers 200th Anniversary is to figure out how to celebrate the greatness of their past without inadvertently drawing attention to what a pale shadow of that greatness they are in the present. 

Meanwhile, this cartoon insulting north valley Congressman Jim McGovern appeared this morning on the window of the empty storefront where Faces once was. 

 

 

This Northampton panhandler has a cute donation can. 

 

A cuppa at the Woodstar Cafe. 

My new coffee hot-spot lately is Catalpa Coffee on Pleasant Street. 

 

 

View out the window of Catalpa Coffee. 

The house my Great-Grandfather built on Hood Street in Springfield had a Catalpa tree out front, although it has since been cut down.

When was the last time you visited the historic Miss Florence Diner, complete with their antique jukeboxes that still work? They are the exact same kind that once graced the booths of the late, lamented Russell's in Springfield's ol' Pine Point. 

 

Coming attraction.