75th Anniversary of Story City Herald Book

This year (2015) marks the 75th anniversary of a supplemental book published by the Herald in 1940; it was titled The Story City Herald Anniversary Number – A Quintuplet Celebration. This quintuplet celebration was for five historical events in Story City’s past including the platting of Story City in 1855, Story City becoming incorporated in 1881, the first newspaper established in 1881, the present Herald starting in 1891, and Paul A. Olson serving as editor of the Herald since 1905.  

The Anniversary Number books were printed in October of 1940 and consisted of 128 pages.  Copies were sold for 15 cents each or two for 25 cents.  A few copies of the book were printed on “book paper” instead of newspaper and were sold at 25 cents each.  P.A. Olson explains on the first page of the book that there is almost a total absence of local photos.  This was due to the fact that three other publications were printed between 1930 to 1940 which featured more photos than reading material.  

The majority of the material in the Anniversary Number book focused on local history.  This included “letters from subscribers” which the Herald had encouraged over the years.  The “Looking Back” section that is a familiar sight to Herald subscribers even today has been a feature in the Herald for more than 75 years.  P.A. chose to include a “Looking Back” section in the Anniversary Number book that covered 1893-1920.  There are also several advertisements from local businesses printed in the books.  

Over the course of 2015, the Herald will feature an article about the Anniversary Number book on a monthly basis.  The Historical Society will also be featuring the 1940 local business ads on our website (storycityhistory.org) and Facebook page on a bimonthly basis. If you would like to see one of the Anniversary Number books in person, please stop by the Carriage House Museum.  The Historical Society has several books published by P.A. Olson and the Herald that are available for research purposes. 

As P.A. Olson printed on the front of the Anniversary Number books, “It’s history that concerns you and me... let’s take time to look back in order that we may go forward intelligently.”  We hope that you enjoy looking back at Story City's history along with us in following months.  

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