So much history to explore at Canton Library’s Local History Room, but where to begin? 

Reference Assistant Jane Hoben had some suggestions. She pulled out a box of letters from veterans writing home to Canton. Definitely a future About Town column.

There was the oversized album of Collinsville Congregational Church parishioners, full of pristine, if unsmiling, photos of ancestoral families still very active in town, generations later. Another column opportunity.

Then, there were the newspapers: The Collinsville Star and The Portfolio. About Town couldn’t resist reading how correspondents of their day, patched together the latest news.

Checking for dates in late October, Hoben quickly located an Oct. 30, 1869 copy of The Portfolio. And, didn’t it end up being the very first edition of this new town paper.

Portfolio’s editor, who went by the colorful name of O.L.D. Sport, welcomed readers in his introductory editorial. “The opening number of The Portfolio is before you, respectfully soliciting your perusal, approval, and at the same time entertaining the most flattering hopes, that on a more extended acquaintance, our little literary waif may prove an agreeable and welcome visitor.”

Unlike The Collinsville Star, which cost $.50 for a one year subscription, The Portfolio was distributed semi-monthly to Collinsville, and area towns, free of charge.

A quick review of this first edition made it clear that town businesses, the source of potential ad revenue, would be taking center stage.

There was, nevertheless, an interesting smattering of items on world events throughout the four page publication: “Recent criminal trials in France reveal the fact that lucifer matches are the favorite poison for husbands.”

Another piece:“The Suez Canal has cost eighty-one million dollars.”

And, there was local news about the expansion of the high school: “This is as it should be; at all hazards let not our educational interests suffer, for next to sound religious culture and moral teaching, education is the most essential element of a nation’s power and prosperity.”

Stories on town merchants were cleverly configured into other news items about, “home matters of general interest and gossip,” about local families or even the weather.

An, “exceedingly wintry,” weather report turned into a promotion for Hough’s “very comfortable,” overcoats and shawls.

Commentary on the apparently,  “…genial and favorite Sam,” in his, “ wee, little cigar store,” ended in a short poem praising his smile, his jokes and nice supply of “Havanas to smoke.”

And, signaling the editor’s intent to make The Portfolio, “a wide awake, spicy, entertaining local paper…,” a newly refurbished meat store in Collinsville, “under Bidwells’ Hardware Store,” was both greeted and warned.  

“Messrs Stevens & Hills, a word with you gentlemen, ahem! …. let us not be favored any more in this town with “beef critters” who had an intimate acquaintance with Noah in the ark….”

Here’s the Deal

Canton Public Library, 40 Dyer Ave, Collinsville; 860-693-5800: www.cantonpubliclibrary.org.

The collection in the Local History Room is available for viewing during Library hours. Reservations are required.