How Newspapers of Old Kept the Presses Rolling. No joke. 🗞️🗞️

Published: Fri, 04/01/22

April 1, 2021

Just saying hello ,

Taking a break from writing a newsletter story this week but dropping into your email box to share a bit of historical trivia on the subject of journalism.

Journalism and gargoyles.

Newspapers are re-inventing themselves, trying to remain alive as young people get their news from feeds on their phones. As major city newspapers have folded around the country, historical newspaper buildings are torn down or repurposed.

So, you might not know that back in the day most newspaper buildings' architecture ran to gargoyles. This week I had a chance to check out my local gargoyles.

Gargoyles were thought to guard against evil and superstitious newspaper companies depended on them to keep the printing presses rolling.

They line the roof of the Spokane Chronicle Building. The newspaper printed its last issue in 1982, but the Spokesman-Review, once a rival newspaper, has revived a web edition of the Chronicle.

Back next week! I promise.

If you need the link for my virtual book party Friday, April 1st, click here for the registration page. Hope to see you there.

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