A big anniversary calls for a big cake! Cook County News-Herald publishers Hal and Deidre Kettunen welcomed the community to the News-Herald for cake, coffee, and memories on Friday, April 8, 2011 as the News-Herald celebrated its 120th anniversary as Cook County’s local newspaper. The bears putting out the candles on the birthday cake were drawn for the News-Herald in 1991 by artist Howard Sivertson for the News-Herald’s 100th anniversary.
The Cook County News-Herald opened its doors on Friday, April 8, 2011 for a celebration of 120 years in the newspaper publishing business, visiting with a number of past employees, as well as readers old and new.
It has been a meaningful experience for News-Herald staffers to be “back where we belong,” in the building at 15 First Avenue West that housed the Cook County News-Herald from 1916 until 1972. The building was constructed by local contractor Ed Nunstedt for then-owner Matt Johnson. The building was home to several owners, including Ade Toftey, who had the longest tenure of all.
A new building was built by Publisher Richard Base in 1972. That “new” building now houses Beth’s Fudge and Gifts. That left the old News-Herald office open for other purposes—through the years it served as a gift shop (operated by a News-Herald alum, Lou Terrizzi) and a carpet store.
Among the many folks who stopped by to visit was long-time News-Herald staffer Dick Gilbertsen. Current staff and readers enjoyed hearing Dick talk about the years he worked in the building on First Avenue.
Another “new” building was constructed under Ken and Phyllis Kettunen’s time as publishers. That building now houses Superior North Outdoor Center. However, Ken was drawn to the old newspaper building and he purchased it in 1991. For several years, he operated OK Video and One-Hour Photo there. But in 1999, when his son and daughter-in-law, Hal and Deidre Kettunen, decided to launch a newspaper, he reconfigured the space to once again serve as a newspaper office—leading the staff back to where they belong!
One of the honored visitors was Dick Gilbertsen who shared memories of working in the First Avenue building. Gilbertsen worked for the News-Herald from 1948 – 2000, with only a two-year break when he served in the Army. Gilbertsen started as a “printer’s devil,” or general handyman, and became a master typist, working on the linotype machine. While enjoying some anniversary cake, Gilbertsen told current News- Herald staffers where the printing equipment once stood—and recalled melting lead for the “pigs” to feed the machine in the basement. Gilbertsen recalled opening the lid to the lead container to skim the dross, the impurities, off. He marvels that the building never caught fire, as stacks of paper were stored all around the molten lead container.
News-Herald staff enjoyed visiting with guests throughout the day, catching up with people with connections of all kinds to the 120-year-old publication. Folks like Mark Johnson who is a descendant of one-time News-Herald owner Matt Johnson. And people like Bernice Howard, who wrote the community news column Shorelines.
We love to hear from former staffers about their adventures at the News-Herald and from readers. Do you have a News-Herald story to tell? Come on down and share it with us in the historic old News-Herald building— it’s right where we belong!
Leave a Reply