From Sea To Shining ‘C’

By Mary Carter
EAGLE TIMES CORRESPONDENT
CLAREMONT — Newport Native Jay Lucas, founder of The Sunshine Initiative, came to the belief that, in order for rural communities to form connections and thrive, a locally focused media outlet was vital. Recalling his days as an Eagle Times delivery boy and his proud moments as a high school athlete in its sports pages, Lucas rescued the 189 year-old newspaper from near extinction in July of 2022.

Lucas’s dreams, efforts and dynamic results were outlined in the July 1 edition of the Eagle Times. The article received an outpouring of positive reactions with the following letter being a standout:

Mr. Lucas – I just have to congratulate and thank you for the resurrection of the merger of two once great – in my opinion – newspapers. A bit of history: I’m Galen A. Crandall Jr., retired Chief Photographer Mate, US Navy. Shortly after retiring from the Navy, I signed up, using the GI Bill, as an apprentice web pressman in 1972. So, besides learning the presses, I took on the job of making the printing plates, a photographic procedure. I was well established when owner Oliver Stalter completed the deal to transfer the web presses to the Daily Eagle, replacing the old letter ones. Naturally, I stayed with the presses and the plate room, becoming an employee of the Eagle Times. I tried to find the exact date, but no luck. I had a clipping, but lost it, when I was temporary manager of the composing room in Springfield during the transition. It did have the date. I hope to find it as no one seems to have the true date of the merger. It’s a real pleasure for me at my age (89) to see the wonderful revival you’ve accomplished.

— Best Wishes, Galen A. Crandall Jr. CPO, USN, Ret. Perkinsville, VT

Having received Mr. Crandall’s letter, we decided to take a look back in time. Here’s what we found.

The October 22, 1974 Daily Eagle declared that, on November 1, the “Twin State Eagle-Times will publish daily.” Two days prior, the paper showed ‘Eagle Times’ prominently displayed across its banner. Perhaps it was a practice run that ended up in the final proof. By October 21, it was back as the Daily Eagle, one day before its exciting announcement made by co-publishers James Plugh and Oliver Stalter. The Eagle Times premiered exactly 140 years to the day the National Eagle made its debut.

Promising to be the area’s largest newspaper, the Eagle Times had a circulation of 13,000. “Despite the state boundary dividing the valley, we believe our region is a natural community,” Stalter said. “The new Eagle Times will reflect, and we hope nourish, our region’s community of purpose and feeling.”

According to editor Thomas Geyer, local news would be the paper’s primary focus. While global reports were important, the team at the Eagle Times was putting the people and the places of the Twin State Valley first. Nearly fifty years later, Jay Lucas would step in to revive this winning conviction.

The Oct. 22, 1974, announcement concluded that, while all team members would be working out of the 19 Sullivan Street, Claremont office, “the Springfield crew will handle most production and printing for the combined operation.” That is where Mr. Galen Crandall Jr. came in.

Crandall joined the Springfield Times Reporter in April of 1972. His love of photography came from study and membership in the Camera Club at Springfield High, where he graduated in 1951. Crandall devoted twenty years of service as Chief Photography Mate in the U.S. Navy. His abilities were a natural match for the Springfield Times. It wasn’t long until Crandall was working in the press room. He was promoted to composing room foreman during the transition to the Eagle Times.

At the Franklin Street office, Crandall was the main man on the press, changing out the Daily Eagle’s older format with the Springfield Times’ more up-to-date system. In an interview with the Eagle Times, Crandall reminisced about those growing days. The building’s design and location made delivery of the printing press rolls difficult. Four production team members moved over with Crandall, however, the proofreaders did not. “The Eagle Times writers were expected to submit stories without typos and errors,” he told us with a smile.

Crandall chose not to move over to the new River Road location when the time came. In Crandall’s mind, the new plant seemed too big, too impersonal and destined for failure. Seated at the present Eagle Times office with his lovely wife Dottie, (they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on July 2), Crandall looked about with a fond tear in his eye. “You and Mr. Lucas have it right once again,” he said.