Workday Wednesday - Newspaper Publisher

My great-grandfather George Pulskamp published the German language newspaper, the Mercer County Bote, from around 1900 until it was discontinued in 1936. The paper was published in Mercer County, Ohio where there were many German speaking families.

Page from December 13, 1917 Mercer County Bote

The N. W. Ayer & Son's American Newspaper Annuals  show that the paper was established in 1883 and that George was the publisher of the Bote as early as 1900. The Mercer County Historical Society has the newspaper on microfilm at the Mercer County Library in Celina, Ohio and the Mercer County Historical Museum has a set of the original newspaper in bound volumes. I will have to take a look at them if I ever get up to Ohio.

Newspapers published in Celina, OH in 1900

My father remembered his grandfather saying that he received threats over the newspaper due to tensions after WWI. After the newspaper was discontinued, George continued to run a printing business in Celina, Ohio until his retirement in 1947. My father used to help him out in the print shop when he was a boy.

                  This ad appeared in the 1916 Mercer County Farmer's Directory.