Page:History of the Press in Western New York (1847).djvu/5



The 141st Anniversary of the birth of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN was appropriately celebrated by the Printers of Western New York, on Monday, the eighteenth day of January, 1847.

The entertainment was served up in sumptuous style at the Blossom House. The large Hall was fitted up for the occasion. Three tables, capable of containing 62 persons each, were spread the whole length of the Hall, and furnished with all the substantials and dainties of the season, get up in splendid style, after beautiful models, and in the most approved manner. Near the head of the centre table was a very fine model of the first old fashioned Ramage Press used by, with a person dressed in pressman's garb, taking the impression. This article, which was quite a perfect thing of its kind, was constructed at the instance of the Messrs., and by them ordered to be given to the author of the best original toast from abroad.

There were present on this occasion several of the Patriarchs of the Craft—Fathers of the Press in Western New York—who added much to the festivity of the occasion by their recollections of former times, and the hearty good humor with which, although long since immersed in other pursuits, they entered into the convivialities of the festival. Among those that were pioneers of printing in the early days of Western New York, were, editor and publisher of the first newspaper in Rochester in 1816, and now Postmaster at Utica; , the Nestor of the Western New York Press, who was a publisher in Canandaigua near the commencement of the present century; , of Syracuse, an apprentice of Mr. , one of the earliest publishers of Onondaga county; , publisher of the second paper in Rochester, in 1818; , an apprentice of Mr. , and his successor as publisher; , one of the earliest editors of Genesee county, who published a paper in Batavia in 1825; , as old eastern printer and publisher, (now editor of the Perry Citizen,) who has seen much service in the profession, and is an antiquarian in the Craft; , who knows more of the ups and downs of a printer's life than any man living; , an old eastern printer, who has passed through a great variety of fortune, not only in his profession, but in many other pursuits; and , an old Hartford publisher, who, although advancing in years, is still devoted to his profession in Rochester. The presence of these pioneers and patriarchs invested the occasion with an unusual degree of interest.

The festival was also honored by the presence of several Reverend gentlemen, formerly or still connected with the Press, viz: Rev. A. G., Pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church, of this city, formerly editor of the Rochester Observer; Rev. D. C. , of the Presbyterian Church in Le Roy; and Rev. J. , of the Methodist Church, editor of the Genesee Evangelist.

A goodly number of editors and publishers from abroad were present, among whom we noticed Dr., of the Buffalo Commercial; A. M. , of the Express; , of the Courier; S. S. , of the Warsaw New Yorker; A. , of the Perry Citizen; W. A. , of the Batavia Times; D. D. , of the Advocate; C. B. , of the Le Roy Gazette; J. M. , of the Republican, Geneseo; E. S. , of the Allegany County Advocate; C. W. , of the Dansville Whig; Messrs. , of the Syracuse Star; E. T. , Editor Watchman, Brockport; , of Ithaca, and several others whose names are not recollected.

Among the guests were a large number of ex-printers, some of whom have been connected with the Press in other parts of the country.

The meeting assembled at the Drawing Rooms of the Hotel about four o'clock, where a couple