And so the story begins...




With the inception of Columbus it wasn't long before newspapers began to appear and although several survived during the early years, most, however, did not.


golden age




platte journalThe first such edition was called the Columbus Golden Age which made its debut in June of 1866. Heralded as a 'lively little sheet', the editor promised his readers the latest and most reliable news from all parts of the world, as well as devoting itself specifically to local and territorial interests.


Obviously, he was true to his word. When historian G. W. Phillips penned his book Past & Present of Platte County back in 1915, he noted some of the "important" news items the Golden Age had reported...


"Some of our enthusiastic young men have formed themselves into a phrenological club. They will examine anything from a bump on a log to a mosquito blister, from a political sore head to that of a Pawnee brave, or an Omaha editor."


Issue of July 12, 1866:


"Gen. John M. Thayer and Thomas W. Tipton were elected United States senators on yesterday by the Nebraska Legislature. Both are radical republicans. O. T. B. Williams and Hon. E. W. Arnold were in the Legislature from Platte County.


"Our enterprising townsman, Frank G. Becher, is burning the first kiln of brick in Platte County at the bluffs, north of Columbus." This brickyard was located east of where W. T. Ernst now lives.



With the sudden collapse of the Golden Age in the fall of 1866, the Platte Journal was established. This became the first Platte County newspaper to be placed on file, and it is these writings that appear to the left.


They begin in the year of 1870 and contain excerpts of articles, notes, comments and observations that once again, bring our history back to life....



FOOTNOTE:

Some years are missing from the newspapers with only records of births, deaths and marriages being retained. That information is located under "Records From Local Papers" and contain many of the obituaries, marriages etc., of our towns earliest pioneers.


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