Democratic Messenger (newspaper)

Defunct weekly newspaper in Maryland, US

Democratic Messenger

The cover page of the March 12, 1881 issue of The Democratic Messenger

Type| Weekly newspaper
Founder(s)| T. H. Moore, George M. Upshur
Founded| 30 January 1869
Political alignment| Democratic
Ceased publication| 21 February 1973
Headquarters| Snow Hill, Maryland
OCLC number| 10667217

The Democratic Messenger was a weekly newspaper published in Snow Hill, Maryland from January 30, 1869 to February 21, 1973, making it Worcester County's oldest newspaper.[1] It ceased publication when it was merged with the existing publication Worcester Democrat to form the Worcester County Messenger.[2][3] It was founded by T. H. Moore and George M. Upshur to consistently promote Democratic politics, which in turn reflected the conservative attitudes of the population of Worcester County.[4]

The Messenger provided both coverage of local events and social happenings as well as the biggest news stories from across the country. The front page often featured excerpts of novels or short stories, poetry, jokes, and entertaining facts. As a result of the expansion of the regional railroad system in 1874, Ocean City, Maryland began to rise in popularity as a resort town; a consequence of this was a subsequent increase in the Messenger's printing of advertisements and news for Ocean City.[5][6][7]

## History[edit]

George M. Upshur, one of the two original owners of the Democratic Messenger, was a prominent local lawyer and Yale University graduate in addition to being elected Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates in 1888. His political aspirations were echoed in the pages of the Messenger, which held a conservative Democratic political stance.[8]

By 1881, ownership of the paper had passed to Littleton Dennis, whose family had deep roots in Worcester County.[9] Dennis sold the paper only a few years later, in 1887, to local publisher of Salisbury paper Wicomico Record Clarence L. Vincent and his co-owner Oscar M. Purnell, a prominent banker whose large Colonial Revival home remains a historical site to this day.[8][10] In 1902, Coriolanus V. White purchased Purnell's half-interest and joined Vincent in publishing the Messenger.[11]

William G. Kerbin Jr. purchased the Democratic Messenger in 1945 and personally served as its publisher while his wife, Margaret Howard, directed daily printing operations.[12] The Kerbins sold the paper in 1973, and it was merged with the Worcester Democrat to create the Worcester County Messenger.[2]

The Messenger's headquarters for most of its existence were located at the corner of Pearl and Market Streets, across from the Worcester County courthouse.[1]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Burgoyne, Mindie (2006). Snow Hill: Images of America (Illustrated ed.). Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0738543444.
2. ^ a b "About Worcester County messenger". Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
3. ^ "About Worcester Democrat". Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
4. ^ "About Democratic messenger". Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
5. ^ Jacob, John E.; Carter, Janet; Wainwright, Ellis (2000). Worcester County: Images of America. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0738505770.
6. ^ Matthews, Katie Gaskins; Matthews, William Russell (1985). Worcester County: A Pictorial History. Norfolk, Virginia: The Donning Co. ISBN 978-0898654394.
7. ^ Heland, Victoria J. (1984). Worcester Memories, 1890-1933. Worcester Heritage Committee.
8. ^ a b Preston, Dickson J. (1986). Newspapers of Maryland's Eastern Shore (Illustrated ed.). Queen Anne Press. ISBN 978-0870333361.
9. ^ McKinsey, Folger (1910). History of Frederick County, Maryland: From the Earliest Settlements to the Beginning of the War Between the States. L. R. Titsworth & Company.
10. ^ "Maryland Historical Trust State Historic Sites Inventory Form" (PDF). Maryland Historical Trust. 13 July 1988. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
11. ^ Van Truitt, Reginald; Les Callette, Millard G. (1977). Worcester County, Maryland's Arcadia. Worcester County Historical Society. "democratic messenger."
12. ^ Rasmussen, Frederick N. (10 March 2005). "William Green Kerbin Jr., 94, attorney". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 5 September 2018.