My first column in the Northampton Press was published in 1998. Since that first column, hundreds have been written with my trusty No. 2 Farber pencil.

I have always regarded the many people I have had the privilege to interview as not just columns, but friends.

Today, we go back and have memories from the birth of the Northampton Press. On this 20-year journey, my good friend Larry Oberly has taken thousands of photographs, a catalog of local history.

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Marcia White, (then) editor of the Northampton Press, contacted me to write a column on local history. Ms. White, a resident of Allen Township, is very proud of our heritage and history. This writer, “I use the term lightly,” will do his best to reflect on our treasured past. You, the reader, must pardon my use of nouns, adjectives and adverbs, especially if I forget to use one!

It has been a long, long time since our community had a newspaper of its own. Do you remember the Suburban Scene, The Times and the most famous chronicler of Northampton, the Cement News?

The News was first published in 1899. Edward Royer was the editor and manager in 1903. For many years, he was foreman of the Atlas Portland Cement Company print shop. The print shop was located in the basement of the present community center. There, a team of men and women printed all the stationery for the Atlas plants.

The press printed everything from Christmas cards and punch cards to the Atlas plant newspaper called the Atlas Circle. One of the printers was Ms. Elda Deibert of Fullerton. Hired as an apprentice, she earned $5 a week. I interviewed Elda many years ago.

The Atlas Circle was a newspaper of plant news, births, deaths and solid Pennsylvania Dutch humor. Some of our new immigrants from eastern Europe used the paper to learn English.

In 1942, the Cement News was turned over to another company. I was always amazed that Mr. Royer could work at the Atlas and still present the news to a growing community. The paper slowly passed into history in the 1950s.

Mr. Royer furnished news to an area that was based on small-town values, which are in great demand today. The paper presented the reader with news, not the sensationalism of today. This writer hopes to reflect and recall the days of the Cement News era. We hope the Northampton Press can reopen history for its readers while inform all of us on current happenings.

Here is hoping the readers will support the paper. It is your community and area newspaper.