Exterior of the Lindsay Post located on William Street.
The Lindsay Post
George H. Wilson and Frederick W. Wilson obtained ownership of the Post from Charles D. Barr on July 1, 1892. They had already established themselves in Port Hope, publishing daily for the Port Hope Guide since 1875. By the time of their arrival to the county, F. W. Wilson dedicated himself far longer than most to the industry, and George enlisted his sons to help him run the business as well. Together they formed the company Wilson and Wilson Publishers, or more commonly known as the Wilson and Wilson Brothers.
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G.H. Wilson. (2016.306.1)
George H. Wilson
G. H. Wilson was actively engaged in various local organizations, contributing significantly to the community's development and growth in service alone. He was a member of the Lindsay Lodge No. 100, President of the Midland Press Association, Employment Committee for Returning Soldiers, member of the Board of Trade, member of the Green Island Hunt Club, among others.
His community involvement likely allowed him to gather firsthand information, connect with different groups, and accurately reflect the town’s interests or concerns in the paper’s content.
The Wilson family implemented an array of changes to the publication following their ownership. The weekly edition of the newspaper was supplemented with a daily issue called the Evening Post, later renamed to the Lindsay Daily Post in April of 1895.
Change in the Canadian Post ownership under Wilson & Wilson. August 26, 1892.
Canada Daily Newspaper Association. In the front row, George H. Wilson is the second member from the left. 1925. The Story of the Canadian Press by Mark Edgar Nichols. 1948. Published in Toronto by the Ryerson Press.
Transitioning from a weekly to a daily edition significantly changed the media landscape. The daily provided more up-to-date news coverage compared to the weekly edition, allowing the Post to report on developments as they were happening and cover a wider range of topics due to the increased frequency of the publication.
It was also better positioned to compete with other sources of news such as the Watchman-Warder, and provided the opportunity to attract advertisers looking to reach a broader audience. Ultimately it was a clever business decision that enhanced the newspaper’s ability to stay relevant and connect with its audience.
Exterior of the Lindsay Daily Post located on William Street. (2016.85.13)
Relocation
The Wilsons also made the decision to relocate their print shop to William Street in 1907. Former Post editor and proprietor of the Watchman-Warder, Stanley Pitts, often referred to the paper as “our little side street cousin” because of the close proximity of the two offices. This was to be a new beginning for the paper; one of efficiency and increased capacity.
Upgrades to the Lindsay Daily Post equipment. October 12, 1928.
The building was specifically designed to account for the light and arrangement of a newspaper business, and a few years later both editions of the Post received upgrades to its equipment. Staff members doubled in number, not to mention the number of apprentices that would work under the Post’s most skilled editors. The publication became a powerhouse that dominated production.
Exterior of the Lindsay Daily Post located on William Street. ca. 1960s. (2016.85.13)
Though the effects of light on traditional printing practices are not as direct, modern technology requires certain light-sensitive components that can impact print quality.
The Lindsay Post. November 1, 1907.
Its pages have captured the ebb and flow of Lindsay’s milestones, the stories of its residents, and the currents of change that have swept through its streets. As the town's diligent chronicler, the Lindsay Post documented history, but also fostered a sense of local unity and pride, solidifying its place as a cherished institution within Lindsay’s tapestry.
Amid the backdrop of World War I, the Post found itself grappling with financial constraints that mirrored the challenges faced by everyone during that tumultuous era. Newspaper costs became so unsustainable that the Post and the Watchman-Warder agreed to change their print schedules. It was decided that the Post would terminate their weekly issues, and the Watchman-Warder would terminate their daily issues.
The change was effective after September 30th, 1920. It continued as a daily publication until May of 2007, reflecting a remarkable feat of consistency, adaptability, and enduring relevance.
Exterior of the Lindsay Post located on William Street. This is a comparison of the building design under Roy Wilson as publisher that is similar to its present exterior, now occupied as a bookstore. ca. 1970s - 2023. (2023.89.1.6.1)
The Next Generation
George Wilson operated the Post as sole publisher, and Frederick Wilson conducted the Port Hope Guide. When it came time for the next generation to take the reins, George Wilson implanted his sons in the business. Ralph Wilson became publisher of the Port Hope Guide in 1939;
Leroy Wilson of the Post in the early 1930s. The third son, Bruce Wilson, showed little interest in the industry aside from assisting his father, and instead served as Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force. Bruce succumbed to influenza during its epidemic in the war, in 1918.
Continue further into our archives
The Kawartha Lakes Museum & Archives has digitized thousands of issues of the Canadian Post and the Lindsay Post, in addition to related negatives that belonged to one of its editors. Are you conducting research? Staff and the public may visit the Internet Archive to search through various newspaper material in our collection. All issues are keyword searchable online.
