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UTAH PRESS ASSOCIATION established in Delta on July 4, 1910 by Norman B. Dresser and the new bank cashier often wrote articles which were published in it. The paper was very much a booster of the new community and most of Dresser's writings concerned the great future in the Pahvant Valley. Beckwith wrote a number of stories concerning individual farmers, their agricultural methods and the success that seemed to be headed their way. Farming, in fact, became his next hobby and he thoroughly studied the subject. A bank cashier position in Oakley, Idaho lured him away from Delta and in his absence the Chronicle twice changed hands. Dresser sold it to Homer G. Busenbark, an Oklahoman, on January 1, 1914 and the paper's founder moved to Salt Lake City where in 1929 he was struck and killed by a streetcar. On March 11, 1915, Busenbark sold to Charles O. Davis of Cokeville, Wyoming. After the close of World War I in 1918, the Beckwiths returned to Delta where Frank was again the bank cashier. In that role he was a close observer when the financially-distressed publication was surrendered to the bank in default. In turn, on February 20, 1919, the bank assigned its cashier to be managing editor of its newspaper property. Shortly thereafter, stricken by "newspaperitis," Beckwith arranged to purchase it. Now he had other subjects to study ~ the array of mechanical skills needed to produce a weekly newspaper. With the paper had come a competent all-around printer, schooled in Sweden, who taught him presswork, operation of the Model K Linotype and handsetting type. The new owner's eldest daughter began work in the office and his son started the learning process in order to help in making up each week's Chronicle. In the mid-1920's, when business was at low ebb, son Frank S. Beckwith interrupted his college studies in California and joined his father as business manager. He became a capable all-around newspaper man and was invaluable in building up the business. As the years rolled by, the publisher found time for the many other subjects of interest to him. As a young man he had been intrigued by astronomy and he now resumed that 424 |
