It’s 7:27 on a Friday morning here at the office. I am the only one here. I just downloaded onto my laptop some game photos taken yesterday afternoon and will check my email and start editing reporters’ copy in a while.

Had this day been Oct. 15, 1987, David McKown would have already been here a couple of hours, gathering the trash, loading the truck with more newspapers for delivery, and taking a smoke/coffee break with Harbor Print Shop owner Jim Behringer (the shop was located in the basement of this office until Jim had his own place built on Corey Lane, Boothbay). Bill and Marge Yocum, who lived in the house beside the office, probably would also have been arriving for their jobs here about that time – Bill handling some of the business/advertising ends of things and Marge (David’s sister) in charge of subscriptions.

Bill Harris, staff artist and good guy supreme, most likely would have been here too, getting the half-page Rocktide ad ready for page 3 of the next edition – though, if memory serves me right, Bill would occasionally have to hunt down ad salesman George Traquair for their ad and others. No cell phones back then so waiting was the order of the day most of the time.

Editor Mary Brewer, typesetters Joyce Bell and Lynn Cartwright and proofreader Phyllis Taylor would probably show up at 8 to begin their duties. Assistant editor Lenny Heselton and I would then talk about the day’s work ahead. Reporters Julia Underwood and Liz Coxe were also on the reporting staff.

When everyone showed up back then, there was noise! People walking to and fro, conversations, laughter, some light yelling, doors opening and closing, stacks of papers being dropped on the counter or floor, typewriters clicking, phones ringing, publisher Marylouise Cowan’s dog, Rags, running around greeting people, and more. A beehive of activity!

As much as I enjoy the silence while I am writing this piece – something I’ve lived with since the advent of personal computers, and later laptops and cell phones – I do miss the steady noise of a busy newspaper office, as well as having more people around the office. Employees can now work remotely, much of the work is done electronically and we use much less paper than we used to so the trash barrels need to be emptied much less often. There is less talking and more corresponding via texting and emails. More efficient but not as stimulating.

Times change but there are times when you miss what you experienced before.