By Diana McFarland
Smithfield Time News editor
In the 1920’s, Smithfield had its own telephone company, an ice plant, a growing packing industry — and its own newspaper.
For most of the 19th century, residents of Smithfield and Isle of Wight County got their news from the Virginia Gazette — published across the James River in Williamsburg.
There were several attempts to start a newspaper in Smithfield prior to 1920, but few survived.
Hill A. Goodman started the Smithfield Times in 1920 and nearly a century later, the newspaper continues to come out once a week, on Wednesday. It remains one of the few independently owned newspapers in Virginia.
This year, the Smithfield Times is celebrating its 90th anniversary with a variety of news stories, special requests and offers to readers. The celebration will culminate in October with an old-fashion block party at Times Square in downtown Smithfield.
When The Smithfield Times began publishing, it was categorized as a “Whig-Democrat” paper — for at the time, newspapers were distinguished by which political party they favored.
The paper sold for five-cents an issue, or $2 for an entire year.
One of the earliest editions was put in the cornerstone of the old Smithfield High School. Later it was removed and given to the Isle of Wight County Museum.
The Smithfield Times had its start in the annex of the former Jamestown Hotel, located across Main Street from the Smithfield Inn.
The paper has had three long-time owners and editors, beginning with Jesse Scott, who published The Smithfield Times from 1930 to 1962.
It was under Scott’s ownership that the paper moved to its present location on Main Street, first into a building that fronted on the street, and later into a building Scott built. That building remains its home, although the building is much changed.
Apparently running a newspaper was hard work for Scott, according to a front-page story dated Dec. 31, 1947.
Scott told readers that his attempts to provide the public with news, advertising and job printing had caused him to work an average of 72 hours a week in 1947.
But given the time of year, Scott wrote that he, his family and staff were taking their annual vacation — hence that edition included two blank pages.
Scott suggested that readers use the blank paper to write down their News Year’s resolutions or figure their income taxes.
At the time, The Smithfield Times was printed in-house on a flatbed press and measured about 17” x 23” — as opposed to today’s size of 12” x 22”. Earlier editions typically ran about eight to 10 pages with a circulation of about 200 papers. Today, the paper ranges from 24 to 32 pages, with a circulation of about 6,000.
Scott retired in 1962, and sold the newspaper to Tom and Elizabeth Phillips. Shortly after the purchase, the old flatbed press stopped working and the Phillips began sending the paper out to be printed — a practice that continues today.
The paper made several technological advances under the Phillips’ ownership.
After the old flatbed press broke down, the Phillips’ invested in photo typesetting — replacing hot type, which used pots of molten lead, with an early version of “cold type.” With cold type, the copy was printed in long paper strips or columns, and attached to dummy sheets with hot wax. The dummy sheets were then taken to the printer.
Later, the Phillips’ shifted to phototypesetting, which actually photographed the type onto film. The film was printed in strips and also attached to dummy sheets with wax.
Along with the technological advances, the Phillips’ were publishing the newspaper during school integration and massive resistance. The Phillips’ were strong supporters of the changing public school system.
Changes to news coverage began when the current owners, John and Anne Edwards came to the newspaper in the early 1970s. Edwards was an advocate of hard news and investigative reporting, as well as open government under the Freedom of Information Act.
Shortly after the Edwards’ purchased the paper in 1986, editor and publisher John Edwards began an editorial page — a first for The Smithfield Times.
The Smithfield Times continues to keep up with technological advances, and today boasts a Web site, twitter and e-mail alerts, video and photo slideshows, as well as continued hard-hitting print news coverage.
Newspaper memories
Readers are encouraged to submit memories, stories and reflections about The Smithfield Times which we will publish during the year. Submissions will be used for special contributing columns or as part of ongoing coverage of the 90th anniversary.
What are we looking for? Just about anything you recall about the newspaper. Did you receive it while you were away at school, or in the military? Is there a particular story you recall — or a particularly bad mistake that we made? Pretty much anything’s fair game.
Submissions can be sent by e-mail to
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; by mail to The Smithfield Times, PO Box 366, Smithfield, VA 23431 or on the web at www.smithfieldtimes.com. Those with questions can call editor and publisher John Edwards at 357-3288.
