I have always had a very special love for the newspaper business, and consider myself lucky to have had the great opportunity of working for both the Ponoka Herald and the Ponoka News weekly newspapers for close to 50 years. Ponoka and districts have a colorful and longstanding history when it comes to putting out perky and friendly newspapers, and I am pleased to be able to share with you the story of one of our earliest publishers who quickly became a popular and colorful character as well as a staunch supporter of the community and districts for many years.
George and Jessie Gordon
It was partly owing to his wife’s ill-health as well as to satisfy his own craving for a change that George Gordon made up his mind to leave his homeland of Scotland and venture into Canada in 1904. The always ambitious Gordon, who had completed his apprenticeship in printing at the Northern Chronicle Inverness Courier, would marry hometown girl Jessie Fraser in 1904. Red Deer was his first stopping point in Canada, and after gaining employment with the News for just a week, he heard about the fledgling Ponoka Herald, which was on the market for a new owner.
Arriving in the bustling village 40 miles to the north, George Gordon had practically no cash in his pocket, but he passionately resolved to acquire the local newspaper which had been publishing weekly since August 27, 1900 under the direction of editor W.D. Pitcairn, and was printed in Lacombe. With kindly help from some Ponoka businessmen who were anxious to see the local weekly newspaper run on a satisfactory basis, Mr. Gordon was able to purchase the Herald from the Village Clerk Eugene Rhian in 1904. The first plant was located on 50 Avenue where the Ponoka Restroom building now stands, and a new press, equipment and staff were quickly put into place. In 1905, Mr. Gordon was joined by his wife and two small children (Helena (Nell) and John), they lived above the printing office for many years, but settled in what would be their lifetime home on the northwest corner of 51 and 52 street, then later welcomed another daughter Marjorie.
By the time he was 20, the plucky Scotsman had honed his skills in the newspaper and printing business by vigorously becoming involved in a literary and debating society, and improved his intellects by reading and debating with other young men. The popular proprietor of the Ponoka Herald also became a prominent figure and unofficial jester of the Alberta and Eastern British Columbia Press Association. When George Gordon took over the Herald, it was in poor shape with very little circulation, yet he quickly adjusted himself to the circumstances and slowly turned it into a fairly good paper with a generous amount of advertising patronage and a weekly circulation of a 1000 copies. He started out publishing many high-tone educative features, but soon found out from the fine local citizens of all nationalities and personalities that as the publisher of their newspaper, he needed to make himself friendly and sociable and make the paper more ‘newsy’ by publishing all the news and even the most trivial happenings of the town and districts. George never missed a social gathering, travelled around the community and out into the country to make ‘jollies’ and try to stay on friendly terms with everyone, and his favourite saying was ‘right you are’. ‘Scotty’, as he was affectionately known by so many in these parts, was also blessed with a wonderful sense of humour. On a trip out into the country with the good Doctor, George was dressed in a fine suit and spent a pleasant half hour with the host of the farm. Upon his departure the farmer asked, “Are you Mr. Gordon the Methodist Minister?” Quite surprised, he quickly replied, ‘No. I’m Mr. Gordon the printer’s devil.’
As a result of his congenial approach, Mr. Gordon was much sought after and his newspaper was much in favour and read by everyone, young and old. He was called on to act as the Secretary of the Ponoka Board of Trade and performed those duties for six years, was elected to town council and later became the mayor, and then sought the Conservative nomination for the Ponoka riding, but lost out after a spirited fight. George also loved to preside and speak at countless concerts, dinners, and functions in and around the community, and never turned down an invitation. In his spare time, his favourite pastimes included travelling, golfing, curling, duck shooting at Battle Lake east of town, joining his friends at the shooting lodge they owned together or cultivating and raising all sorts of things on his two acres on the outskirts of town.
In 1938, George Gordon sold his beloved Ponoka Herald to his son John, who would carry on the family tradition until 1953. While he and wife Jessie continued to be involved in many community activities, George continued his career as the local Postmaster, which he had taken on in 1914 and would serve for 26 years. After a very active, dedicated, and exciting life, he passed away in 1949 and Mrs. Gordon died in 1964, while their family of son John and daughters Nell and Marjorie pursued careers, married and raised their families, and continued to stay very much involved in their favourite home town of Ponoka. Meanwhile, the Ponoka Herald would always hit the streets early every week for many decades under the direction of publishers that included Keith Leonard, Ernie Jamison, Ken McLean, Adviser Publications and Brian Borley, and yours truly was so honoured to have been a small part of it along the way. Sincere thanks to Lois and Gordon Galbraith for sending me this great material about a dedicated early Ponoka gentleman who loved to share his love, his skills, and his humour with his family, his newspaper and his community with a powerful passion each and every day.