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Irrigon Irrigator

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Irrigon Irrigator
TypeNewspaper
Founder(s)Addison Bennett
LaunchedJanuary 27, 1904 (1904-01-27)
Ceased publication1912 (1912)
CityIrrigon, Oregon

The Irrigon Irrigator was a newspaper based in Irrigon in the U.S. state of Oregon from 1904 to 1912.

History

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The newspaper was founded by Addison Bennett, who had previously named the town, as a portmanteau of the words "irrigation" and "Oregon." The town was "the scene of a promising irrigation enterprise," the basis for the names of both the newspaper and the town. The first issue, published January 27, 1904, bore the name Oregon Irrigator; the title was changed several months hence. Bennett made several entrepreneurial forays into the newspaper publishing business, and later served as a staff writer for the Oregonian.[1]

Bennett, at about age 60, was new to the American west when he founded the paper.[2] He was the town's second postmaster.[3] He used the paper as a vehicle to promote the irrigation industry in the region; he was also known for his "jackrabbit" stories, which were syndicated in other newspapers. The Irrigator was discontinued in 1912 (or 1914??), the year after Bennett departed for Portland.[2] The paper was known for being full of "droll wit" and "homespun philosophy," but not selling much advertising.[3]

Bennett's work was published in other Oregon newspapers during the Irrigator's run, including the Oregon Daily Journal.[4] Bennett was an invited speaker at the Pendleton Fair in 1908, two years before the Pendleton Round-Up was established.[5]

Another paper by the same title was later started, publishing in the early 2000s.[6]

References

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  1. ^ McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (1974). Oregon Geographic Names. Oregon Historical Society.
  2. ^ a b Turnbull, George S. (1939). "Morrow County" . History of Oregon Newspapers . Binfords & Mort.
  3. ^ a b Newspapers in Morrow County, Heppner Gazette-Times, August 24, 1972, Centennial Edition, page 10.
  4. ^ Bennett, Addison (June 28, 1909). "Bright Future for Paisley". Oregon Daily Journal. p. 8.
  5. ^ East Oregonian: E.O., August 27, 1908, EVENING EDITION, p. 8.
  6. ^ Heppner Gazette-Times, October 06, 2004, Page 2
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