Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Collection of 1944-1946 Issues of "Harmony Tribute", a Newspaper Honoring Harmony, Maine, area Residents Serving in World War II


Collection of issues from 1944 to 1946 of the Harmony Tribute, a newspaper started in February of 1944 to honor servicemen and servicewomen from Harmony, Maine, as well as the nearby towns of Athens, Cambridge and Wellington.  


The paper may have been the idea of Rev. Matthew Gosbee (1889-1951), who was the editor-in-chief from the start.

The article "Thanks A Lot!" shown in the image, below, of the front page of the March 1944 issue, notes that more copies had to be ordered from the printer - not surprising, as people would have been desperate for any information of their loved ones and friends serving during this perilous time.  


The papers measure approximately 8-1/2" by 11"; issues consist of from 6 to 12 pages each.

This collections consists of issues and duplicate issues that once belonged to Walter Glenwood Ring (1882-1973) and wife Carrie May (Holt) Ring (1894-1952) and to their daughter, Maxine E. (Ring) Carr Newbert (1923-2001), then married to first husband Lewis Everett Carr. They were from nearby Dexter, Maine.

When seeking permission to put these online, I spoke with the editor's son or grandson, and he was not aware of this wonderful gift that his father or grandfather and others had given to the their community. 

Issues (a few duplicate issues) - check back frequently as more issues are put online.
Click on a month to view the pages of that issue.

* issue is missing from this particular collection

Towns the Harmony Tribute covered, primarily: with news and advertisements from other towns as well
  • Athens, Maine, in Somerset County
  • Cambridge, Maine, in Somerset County
  • Harmony, Maine, in Somerset County
  • Wellington, Maine, in Piscataquis County

The original staff of the newspaper, as shown in the charter issue, February 1944: [See in the image below in upper right corner]
  • Rev. Matthew Gosbee (1889-1951), Editor-in-Chief; native of East Boston, Massachusetts
  • Charles McLaughlin, Associate Editor
  • Louise Johnson, Associate Editor
  • Daniel Downs, Business Editor and Advertising Editor
  • Mrs. Harry Cobb
  • Mrs. Merril Deering
  • Mrs. Norman Willis
  • Mrs. Norman Coolie
  • Mrs. Verner Curtis
  • Mrs. Roy Watson
  • Mrs. Maurice Lander
  • Norman Willis
  • William Burton


The February 1945 issue contains a photograph of the staff of the Harmony Tribute at that time.


Several issues contain an Honor Roll for service members from Harmony, Wellington, Cambridge and Athens, such as that shown in the the April 1945 issue.



Corrections/additions to the Honor Roll contained in the May 1945 issue.



Front pages of May 1945 and September 1945, issues after the momentous happenings of the previous month.



If you have information to share on the Harmony Tribute or any of the people on its staff, please leave a comment or contact me directly.


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