I’d seen a certain half-page promotional advertisement in the New Albany Tribune so many times that it no longer registered, at least until two nights ago, when the paper was spread out before me as I grabbed a quick snack.
“153 Years and Counting.
“Since 1888, the New Albany Tribune has been the voice of Floyd County. Through good times and bad, celebrations and heartaches, The Tribune has kept residents informed of local, state, national and world affairs. That commitment to covering the things that matter to residents of Floyd County – started two centuries ago – remains the goal of our daily newspaper. We take that responsibility, and that privilege, seriously.
“The Tribune – Your Hometown Newspaper”
A disclaimer: I’ve never been very good with numbers. Throughout school, as various educators, counselors and family members took me to task for my failure to record higher scores in math classes, my efforts to convince then that all numbers beyond the simplest sums blend together before my eyes, and require considerable patience to sort through were ignored. But with the help of my scratch pad, here goes.
Currently it is the year 2004, and 153 years ago, it was 1851.
By its own admission, the ‘Bune was founded in 1888, which was 116 years ago, not 153.
“Two centuries” ago it was 1804, 84 years before the ‘Bune was founded, 15 years before Floyd County was established, and 9 years prior to New Albany coming into existence.
It would seem that the numbers provided in the ad are nonsensical, and contradictory given the serious nature or responsibilities and privileges outlines therein, but there may be an explanation.
The front pages of selected past newspapers are pictured in the ad. From Dec. 8, 1941, the masthead notes “54th Year.” That’s right. So is “57th Year” from the June 6, 1944 issue (presumably allowing for the precise date in 1888 that publishing began).
On December 22, 1961, it’s “73rd Year.” Still on numerical track.
However, the March 18, 1973 issue shows “123rd Year,” which roughly corresponds with 1850 and the claim of “153 years and counting” – again, allowing for the current ad to have run for a year or so with no one bothering to update the numbers.
Why? Almost certainly the answer lies in the previous existence of a long defunct New Albany newspaper called the Ledger (Daily and Weekly Ledgers are listed among the holdings of the Indiana State Library). At some point in the past the Ledger merged with the ‘Bune for the Sunday edition only, taking on the numbering of the Ledger’s presumed founding date of 1850 or 1851. The ‘Bune retained its own founding date for the numbering of editions published Monday through Saturday.
This explains the “153 years old/founded 1888” nonsense, but does not justify laziness and lack of attention to detail on the part of our local newspaper.
However, it does not explain what was “started two centuries ago.”
Anyone venture a guess?
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ReplyDeleteBored or not, that's an excellent point.
ReplyDeleteYou were gracious not to query me about MY state of boredom when writing the original article ... the painting just got to me after three days. I actually WANT to go back to work!
I'd guess that you're being too literal in your interpretation of "two centuries ago."
ReplyDeleteIf we're playing the old "Marching Through Time" game and our gamepiece is on the "21st century" spot, and we draw the card that tells us to move back two centuries, we're left on the "19th century" spot.
Or maybe it was so boring back then before electricity, television, and Rich O's that is just seemed like an extra century had gone by.
Or maybe it was all of the leap years that messed them up.
No, I'm not bored at all.