|
 History
of Ayr News
The year 2013 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Schmidt Family
publishing the Ayr News.
The first newspaper, the Ayr Observer was published in Ayr by James
Somerville in August 1854.
While there has been a paper in Ayr since 1854, name and ownership changes
were numerous until January 30th, 1897. That year William Keyes purchased
the newspaper and the Ayr News name was established and it has stuck.
John A. Schmidt was born in Paisley, Ontario in 1890, the son of James and
Elisabeth (Fink) Schmidt. John joined his father in the cooper trade at
the age of 11 and learned the meaning of hard work. He subsequently became
a grocery clerk when the family moved to St. Marys.
John was pursuing this trade in Galt when the Ayr News, 79 Stanley St.,
came up for sale, and was purchased in partnership with his brother Alfred
"Mooney" in October, 1913 from George Dawson. He came into sole ownership
two years later when Alfred departed to enlist with the 33rd Regiment of
Detroit and went overseas as bandleader of the 125th Infantry Band.
The
modern Linotype did not come into the office for another dozen years. All
type was handset and ten hour days, six days a week was normal for most
businesses.
John married Jessie Rathe in 1920 and they had three sons John, Robert and
James. All three apprenticed at the "News" with Jim starting in May 1942.
John T. went on to become Farm Editor of the K-W Record and later the
Calgary Herald.
Jim married Lavina McCombs in June, 1951 and had eight children, Paul,
Kathleen, Elaine, Irene, George, Ann, Michael and Heidi.
Robert
and Jim along with their father John A. carried on the business with John
T's son John P. who joined the staff in 1966. With the
untimely death of John A. in January 1968 and Robert two months later, Jim
became sole owner, publisher and editor. Paul left school to join the Ayr News in 1968.
In December 1978 the "News" moved to its new plant at 40 Piper St. with
George coming to work at the Ayr News as a press operator and newspaper
layout. While the newspaper itself has not been printed at the Ayr News
plant since 1970 they do have a full in-house printing operation. Ann was
added to the staff in 1980 in newspaper and job printing layout. Heidi joined in 1987
and today is the president of the Ayr News. Irene returned in 2011 as writer. The Schmidt family
has seen four generations working at the Ayr News.
1993 saw Jim presented with a "Gold Quill" by the Canadian Newspapers
Association, one of few that have been awarded, in recognition of 50 years
in the newspaper business. With the 100th Anniversary of "The Ayr News"
Jim penned the history of the paper titled 100 Years of The Ayr News and
Ayr 1897-1997.
At present the Ayr News staff is getting ready to celebrate their 100th
anniversary of ownership of the Ayr News and a book is being written to
mark this milestone.
|
 |
