Editorial – The first 175 years

The Monadnock Ledger-Transcript has delivered the news of the region for 175 years. The name on the banner has changed over the years, but the newspaper has remained the same in many ways, namely in our unwavering commitment to our community.

Since our country’s founding, newspapers have fought to protect our democracy by informing voters and providing a place to share, discuss and debate ideas. Newspapers offer a sense of geographic identity and a context for events and issues, and in doing so, create a sense of community. Every year, there are fewer community newspapers, and with each newspaper lost, the public loses its trust in democracy and government, government loses accountability and readers lose connection to community. Newspapers have never been more important, and we want you to know our story. 

For 175 years, the Ledger-Transcript has covered the stories that matter, big and small, good and bad. We’ve been here for major triumphs and for tragedies. We’ve asked hard questions of our elected officials and given the community a place to discuss major issues. We’ve informed your votes with candidate profiles, debate coverage and more. Through it all, we’ve connected you, the residents of the region, and helped build the community we all call home. 

Today, we start a celebration that will last throughout the remainder of the year. In this issue, we introduce a page you will see in every issue through December – a reproduction of a historical front page – showing how the Ledger-Transcript and its forebears have used the front page to cover important stories throughout their history.

On Page 8 of Tuesday’s print issue and e-edition, you’ll find the front page from the Contoocook Transcript of June 30, 1849, as close as we can get to a first issue. Founded by John Miller and Kendall Scott, it eventually became the Peterborough Transcript, and was owned by the Cummings family from 1900 until September 2006, when it was purchased by the Monadnock Ledger, and became the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript.

As we celebrate our anniversary, join us as we continue our work to build a stronger community and stronger democracy. We welcome your support of local journalism by subscribing, purchasing a subscription for a friend or neighbor and by advertising. We’ll stay strong, together.