Senate Resolution No. 1727
BY: Senator GRIFFO
COMMEMORATING the 175th Anniversary of the
Boonville Herald
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 175th Anniversary of the Boonville Herald; and
WHEREAS, The first newspaper, named the Boonville Ledger, was
started in the Village of Boonville in March 1851 by James Norton and
his partner, Ela Kent; soon after, Norton sold out his share to Kent,
who continued publishing the Boonville Ledger for another three years;
and
WHEREAS, In 1855, the Utica-Black River Railroad was completed and
the Boonville Ledger was purchased by L.C. Childs, who changed the name
to the Black River Herald; and
WHEREAS, Harvey P. Willard became the owner in 1862; soon after, the
name was changed once more to the Boonville Herald; and
WHEREAS, The Willard family would own and operate the Boonville
Herald for decades; when Harvey Willard died in 1887, his son Garry
Willard took the helm, then, Willard died in 1933, at the age of 73, his
daughter Gladys Willard Musser became publisher of the Boonville Herald;
and
WHEREAS, Gladys Willard Musser led the newspaper until her death in
1954, at which point her husband, Clayton Musser, took over until his
death in 1958, then his daughters and their husbands continued operation
of the Willard Press and the Boonville Herald until it was sold to the
Frey brothers in 1960; and
WHEREAS, The Boonville Herald continued to change hands throughout
the next decades until finally being purchased by the Waters family,
owners of the Rome Daily Sentinel company, in 2019; and
WHEREAS, Throughout its long history, the Boonville Herald has
embraced modernization, beginning with purchasing the first Linotype
machine for the press in 1896, all the way to today where the newspaper
is assembled digitally as most articles and photos are submitted
electronically through emails and social media plays a large role in the
newspaper business, and subscribers have the option to read the
newspaper online, rather than receive it in print; and
WHEREAS, With all the advancements in technology, the Boonville
Herald is still published each week, remaining a connection between its
readers to the world; and
WHEREAS, As the Boonville Herald 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 175th Anniversary of the Boonville Herald, and to offer
best wishes to its publishers for continued success in all their future
endeavors; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Boonville Herald.
