But because of conflicting…
By Dan Trudeau
Like an aging woman constantly coloring her hair, the Little Neck Ledger is not being honest about its age. The oldest member of the TimesLedger newspaper chain, the Ledger is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year.
But because of conflicting histories, ambiguous accounts and criss-crossed volume numbers, it’s anybody’s guess if the Ledger’s claim to 85 years of uninterrupted coverage is legitimate or exaggerated.
According to a special 70th anniversary edition of the Ledger published in 1988, the newspaper was founded by publisher Arthur Culley in 1918 with local woman Helen Diehl Olds serving as one of the first editors. The 70th anniversary issue also acknowledges that early issues of the paper are no longer in existence and other sources indicate that the paper actually began sometime during the 1920’s.
Bound volumes of the paper at the TimesLedger offices date back to March 1937, and microfilm copies of the Ledger at the Queens Central Library in Jamaica trace its history only as far back as 1946.
Reports state that Culley sold the newspaper to a man named Mitchell Luther during the 1930s and Luther, in turn, sold it to local businessman Nathaniel J. Palzer in 1938. In a series of features written by contributing writer Doug McKay published in 1991, Palzer’s sons reported that their father purchased the paper largely because he liked to write and was looking for an outlet.
“Candor and explanations of its reasoning in arriving at editorial policies are things that the readers demand and will receive. We shall maintain an independent attitude, but not an arbitrary one,” Palzer wrote in his first edition as publisher on Oct. 28, 1938.
Palzer failed to mention that while the Ledger would be completely candid with regard to its editorial opinions, it would do no such thing when it came to its own age.
The volume number on the front page of Palzer’s first edition read “XII,” suggesting the paper had begun printing in 1927 and not 1918. Palzer remained the publisher and owner of the Ledger until April 1, 1959 and during his tenure he published editorials on a weekly basis and hired editor Kathleen Pitt-Smith, first wife of famous playwright Eugene O’Neil.
On March 26, 1959, Palzer said farewell to the paper after selling it to local businessmen Carmine Gentile, Morton Bassett and John Johnson. In his final column Palzer reestablished the age of the paper.
“In 1938 the Ledger was little known, although in existence since 1927,” Palzer wrote.
Mckay, however, confused Palzer’s claim as his 1991 article stated that the paper actually began in 1926, according to Pitt-Smith. McKay’s article came three years after the 70th anniversary edition which traced the paper back to 1918, and two years before a 75th anniversary edition that backed up that claim. Further ambiguities abounded during the 1960s when volume numbers of the paper inexplicably shifted as the paper repeatedly switched ownership and publishers.
The Ledger found stability in 1969 when Bayside Times owner Christine “Pat” Allison purchased the paper. After Allison’s death in 1977 her son David and daughter-in-law Carol took over the publication until selling it to current owner and publisher Steve Blank.
David Allison was able to offer little clarification when asked about the controversy. Upon being informed of the alleged 85th anniversary, he was as confused as everybody else.
“Wow … really?” Allison said.
Reasons for the confusion are unclear, but possibilities are nearly endless. Mixed-up Roman numerals, an unaccounted-for stoppage in publication, name changes and an elaborate plot to purposefully frustrate future interns are all within the realm of reasonability.
It is unlikely that the age of the Ledger will be pinpointed anytime soon. But for now the anniversary celebration will continue as planned, and the Little Neck Ledger will continue to be the sneaky grandma of the TimesLedger chain.
Reach Frustrated Intern Dan Trudeau by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com, or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
