Fit To Print News in Mt. Vernon
In 1891, Mt. Vernon had its own newspaper, the Mt. Vernon Enterprise. The publisher and printer was Tom Everill. At years end in 1892, Tom Everill closed up his newspaper business. For many years the Mt. Horeb newspapers printed a regular weekly column titled Mt. Vernon Musings. The Mt. Horeb newspapers had four different names over the years: the Mt. Horeb Weekly, published from 1884 to 1887, the Mt. Horeb Progress, printed from 1892 to 1893, the Mt. Horeb Times, printed from 1894 to 1897, and the Mt. Horeb Mail which continues to be published today. The town of Blue Mounds, had a weekly newspaper from 1883 to 1885 called the Blue Mounds Weekly, which also featured Mt. Vernon news items.
The city of Verona has had a weekly paper called the Verona Press, from 1965 until present. The Verona Press once had a weekly column called "Mt. Vernon News." For this column a Mt. Vernon reporter would gather the town's weekly news, including the births and deaths, engagements, church and school notices, and social events. The news would be written up and sent to the newspapers. Few events got by the watchful eye of the town's reporter, and one could always find out who was visited by whom for dinner or socializing, or who had gone where on vacation. Also mentioned were the crop and weather reports and illnesses and accidents.
One of the reporters for the Verona paper was Rose Rettenmund, who, in addition to her reporting duties, was active in the Zwingli Church and collected antique dishes and Hymnals. Miss Rettenmund reported from 1965 to 1968 when Mrs. Gerald Erfurth took over the duties. Two reporters for the Mt. Horeb paper were, W. A. Richards in the 1950's and Mrs. Andrew. Nelson, who submitted the reports in the 1970's.
One of the Mt. Vernon news columns written in the Mt. Horeb Progress in 1892 described a 4th of July celebration in Mt. Vernon:
A wagon full of ladies representing the different states and territories, drawn by a four-horse team driven by Uncle Sam, and followed by two ladies on horseback and the Mt. Vernon Coronet Band, etc., started from the town square. The whole procession reached to the old cheese factory by T. Jones, from the center of the village. The exercises of the day were opened by the Chaplain, Rev. G. W. Lincoln, leading in fervent prayer, which was followed by music by the bands, the reading of the Declaration of Independence by Michael Hobbs, oration by J. W. Leary on the general welfare of the country, etc., and singing by a well trained choir, children, etc. The rag-a-muffin parade was well presented and carried out besides games of various kinds. James P. McPherson and wife furnished an abundant supply of food for the visitors. The day was fine and all enjoyed themselves very much. Temperance drinks of all kinds were to be had on the grounds, and the fantastic toe was tripped until the wee small hours of the early dawn.
Other note worthy articles in the Mt. Vernon column of the Mt. Horeb Weekly News were; June, 1884: Wm. Hankel's horses ran away with his son George, on Saturday. They were attached to a roller. George was thrown under and the roller passed over him, and he was injured. No other damage except the breaking down of two large gates. Since, I have learned that George was more seriously hurt than first supposed. And in the same paper: Person and Allen have started a butcher shop and intend to keep some 'fresh' meat," and: Now the limburger is beginning to roll into the Mt. Horeb depot for shipment, and the air will soon be blue with the fragrance of the railroad boys. In April, 1884, the Blue Mounds Weekly News reported of Mt. Vernon: The people of the village and surroundings are happy over the order of the Postmaster General increasing our mail services from twice a week to six times a week, to take effect April 1st. And finally, reported in the Mt. Horeb Progress in 1892: Another jackass arrived at the ranch of Thomas Jones last week. Mt. Vernon now contains more jackasses to the square inch than any other town in the county.