Many can recall The Port Byron Chronicle but did you know there were other newspapers produced at Port Byron?
The Port Byron Herald was started in 1844 by Frederick Prince. (He already owned another paper called The Weedsport Advertiser, later known as the Northern Phoenix which was produced at Weedsport.)
The Port Byron Gazette was founded in 1849 by Charles T. White which was continued with the help of his brother until the year 1860. The paper was then sold to B. W. Thompson who in turn sold out to William Hosford in 1861. Hosford then sold to Cyrus Marsh in 1862 who then changed the name of the paper to the Northern Cayuga Times.
Note: Some sources indicate the Port Byron Gazette was founded in 1851 by Oliver T. Beard.
Note: Some sources indicate the Port Byron Gazette was founded in 1851 by Oliver T. Beard.
The Port Byron Times was published by C. Marsh 186_-1870.
There is one additional paper that appears in the business directory on the 1859 village map of Port Byron, being the Citizen operated by N. Marble. It is interesting that this paper is not listed in the article by the Auburn Morning News on Dec. 15, 1877, which was in tribute to the history of the press in Cayuga County from 1798-1877. Perhaps this paper was produced elsewhere and simply sold here and did not make the list because it was not produced here. I will make mention, as this paper was available.
The paper with the most interesting history is the Port Byron Chronicle. That is partly due to it being the longest surviving paper associated with our community, but also due to the folklore attached to it. The Weedsport Cayuga Chief - Port Byron Chronicle issued on Dec. 10, 1964 had an article honoring the 90th anniversary of our paper. It stated that L. H. King established the paper on January 1, 1875. After Editor King's death, his son Richard T. King is listed as continuing the paper who later sold the paper to Mr. G. Welton Fickeisen.