Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 25.

[p. 74] in the issue of April 2, in which he stated. ‘the effort had in the main been unappreciated, as not over forty subscriptions ($1.50) had been received, and the weekly sales did not exceed sixty’; also that some friends wish to assist by contribution, but that ‘the editor's self-respect would not permit.’

Announcement was made of the publication of the Malden Messenger, which would be sent to the Journal subscribers. Whether any dissatisfied one called at his office for reimbursement, as he suggested, we cannot say. Probably ere now, both editor and publisher have passed on, but they certainly were worthy of better success.

As thirteen weeks covered the brief life of the first Medford Journal, so it was thirteen years ere any other attempt was made for a weekly paper in Medford. Just at the end of 1870, James Madison Usher of West Medford began the publication of a four-paged weekly. It was a great eight-column ‘blanket sheet,’ twenty-one by twenty-eight inches in size, bearing title Medford Journal in big ornamental letters, the two words a little separated by a wood-cut of a ‘wood-burner’ locomotive and ancient railway cars. It bore date of December 24, 1870.

We have never found that this paper had any editorial or publishing quarters in Old Medford. Its editor and publisher resided in West Medford and was editor and publisher of the Nation,, a Boston weekly. Probably his new venture was printed and sent out from the same press in Boston, and equally probable that the editorial sanctum, if not in the Nation office, was in his West Medford home. We have heard an editor of later years remark, ‘Mr. Usher's office was in his hat.’

The Journal's first page was devoted to home reading matter of wholesome character. For a time there were articles on the ‘Flora of Medford,’ by George S. Davenport, accounts of Frank Hervey's readings and a series relating to conveyances of property. The inside