View From Prospect Hill for September 7

     The first regular publication in Somerville we can find record of is The Gem, a 4 page monthly paper first printed on Webster Avenue January 1, 1861.
      Alfred L. Elliot, The Gem’s young editor, had high aspirations for his undertaking. In his first editorial he wrote: “In presenting to the public the first number of The Gem, I hope it will be considered as such. I intend to devote a portion of it to history, another portion to biography, a part of its columns to poetry, anecdotes, enigmas etc. Thus I will endeavor to make it interesting to all. I shall publish it as long as I have one subscriber.”
      The first issue contained a biographical sketch of George Washington, a poem on the New Year – most likely written by Elliot’s mother, advice and assorted witty sayings.
      The next paper of note to appear in town was The Somerville Chronicle, published by A.B. Morss and H.W. Pittman. In the first issue, published April 4, 1874, the editorial declared: “There is a demand in this municipality for a journal of the class we intend to represent; we shall make an honest and determined effort to supply the citizens of Somerville with a local organ which shall be a vehicle of such news as will specially interest them.” Its columns were to be devoted “to the upbuilding of Somerville, independent of all parties and subservient to no clique.”
       A third notable newspaper to visit this city of 4.2 square miles was The Somerville Citizen, published at 422 Somerville Avenue. It set out to achieve “the greatest good to the greatest number with a kind heart and a clean conscience to work for the many, not for the few.”
       The fourth newspaper to appear in less than twenty five years was a scourge to both the city it served and the name it held. The Somerville Truth, first published Januray 1, 1883 by D.E.W. Stone, attacked the innocent, misrepresented the earnest, and maligned city officials. Nearly as much space was devoted to Charlestown and Cambridge news as to Somerville interests.
        We at The Somerville News, first published in 1969 by ambitious 19 year old Robert J.L. Publicover, hope we can live up to the goals set forth by our predecessors – The Gem, The Citizen and The Chronicle — while avoiding the ugly missteps of The Truth.
         And Somerville, as a city, should be proud of her clean, progressive, helpful local newspapers.