Location and Publication

We are located in rooms within the Four Corner Associates business at 1-152 North Railway St.W.

Phone#: 855-2563
Fax#: Same as above
email: oaklake@mts.net

Publication of Paper: Usually the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month

Ad/Info deadline is Tuesday of each publication week.

President: Peggy Foy



History of the Oak Lake Town and Country News

THE OAK LAKE NEWS

In 1881 the Canadian Pacific Railway had been built as far west as Flat Creek, a short distance east of the present site of the Town of Oak Lake.  That year a large number of settlers came from the British Isles and Ontario to stake their claims in the West.   From then on new businesses were established and in 1890 John Miller Bender started a Printing and News Paper business in the Town of Oak Lake, on Lot 11, Block 7, known as “The Oak Lake News”.  In 1901 he sold to William Murray Wheeler, who in turn sold to William Cowper Harris, in 1902.  Then Mary Young purchased the business and she and A.T. Young ran it until 1907, when she sold out to F.A. Briscoe.  On January 31st, 1910 Thomas Rutherford Hogg became the owner of the Oak Lake News. Harry Freemantle, his son Russell Hogg and Richard Tillett worked with Mr. Hogg.  In 1916, A. E. (Tony) Ducharme joined the staff and they carried on until 1919 when Mr. Hogg sold the business to his son Russell.  During this time C. M. Strong was a member of the staff for a number of years; Freemantle and Tillett had taken jobs elsewhere.

The Oak Lake News received large orders of printing from Leitch’s Mill and the local merchants which kept the newspaper a going concern.  When cars became a popular mode of transportation and people could go to larger centers to shop, business suffered in the small towns.  In 1941, Tony Ducharme, who had been with the paper for 25 years, took a job in Brandon. Lloyd Harrison came to learn the printing trade.  In 1947, John A. Ready, of Boissevain, joined the staff.  He too, learned the trade.  In 1952, he purchased the business from his father-in-law, but in 1954 he took a job with the Virden Advance, Virden, and Mr. Hogg resumed ownership.  His wife Arlie, learned to set type by hand and to help out in the office.  Once when her husband was away, she and her daughter Lila, with C. M. Strong running the press, issued the paper.  In 1961, due to ill health, Mr. Hogg sold to Mr. John Hresavich, of Neepawa.  Mr. George Matheson worked as editor for several years, then  Allen Morcombe took over and rented the office from him until February 1974, when due to difficulties in obtaining parts for the linotype, the office had to close.  Mr. Hresavich, who was in ill health passed away in 1976.  He left the office and contents to his half brother, Mr. Joe Morland of Churchill, who heard that the Austin Agriculture Museum was looking for an antique printing office and informed them of this one.  Arrangements were made to move the contents to Austin where they are housed in a “news office” in the Homesteader’s Village with everything ready, “to go to Press”.

THE TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS

When the Oak Lake News printing press was moved to Austin the town and district was without a newspaper. The loss was keenly felt and finally a group of interested people decided to try to publish a newspaper for Oak Lake. Meetings were held, news was gathered and a paper put together on September 25, 1974. The account of that first newspaper is reprinted here:

“Let ‘er Roll”

“The stale Municipal board room took on all the air of a busy press room. Wednesday, September 25, as the green horn crew began to roll out the first edition of a trial paper for Oak Lake and area.

The committee are deeply indebted to the R.M. of Sifton for the temporary use of the gestetner and facilities to get out this edition.

We were running behind schedule, trying to get a dry machine to ink better, making mistakes, wishing we’d run off No. 1 page last, instead of first – (we made fewer errors toward the end), feeling a bit inadequate, when our spirits were revived as Mrs. Batho brought us sustenance in the form of tea and cookies.

Our No. 1 critic and cheering section, Cliff Gordon, arrived to do his bit cranking out copy and overseeing the job.  At last we were going in fine style; pages passed from gestetner to the straightener, snatched up in order and on to stacker, stapler and folder.

The smooth rhythm was shattered when Cliff grabbed the first copy hot off the press shouting.
‘Extra, Extra – Read all about it’

Many problems must still be solved.  Where do we get enough money to finance production?  If we get it – more practical – putting it out ourselves or sending the material to another paper to print?  These are only some of the questions that have to be considered ere a permanent paper can be ours.  However, nothing can diminish the sense of achievement and exhilaration – even though we were exhausted – felt by all who participated in issue No. 1.

What we've done once, we can do again, and now we're experienced, well, a little!!!

Who is 'The committee'?  How is the paper run?  How did it start?  These and countless other questions have been asked.

A paper for Oak Lake had been talked about and discussed in the last few months almost everytime a group got together.  Mr. Cliff Gordon and Mr. Gordon Stevenson probably deserve the most credit for bringing things to a head by inviting a number of people to a meeting in early September.

Present were Mr. Stevenson (who chaired the meeting), Mr. C. Gordon, Mrs. E. Batho, Mrs. Lloyd Hatch, Mrs. Mabel Holland, Mr. Jack Harrison, Mr. Wm. Holland ( sitting in for his wife) and Mrs. C. Helten.  At a later date they were joined by Mrs. E. Kufflick of Griswold and Mr. Hart.

We decided to try and put out 2 trial issues, meanwhile exploring various means to publish a paper, get money to do so, how to go about it.

On September 30, following an excellent response from our first effort we organized our committee a little more formally. Chairman – Mrs. E. Batho; Secretary – Mrs. Lorraine Holland; Treasurer – Mr. Cliff Gordon; Subscription Secretary – Mrs. Donna Hutchison; South Counrtry News Co-ordinator – Mrs. Wilma Hatch; North Country News Co-ordinator – Mrs. Mabel Holland; Pleasant Plains News Reporter – Mrs. Audrey Taylor; Sport Reporter – Ray Larway; Town Reporters – Mrs. L. Holland, Mrs. W. Smith, Mrs.  Hogg; Town Co-ordinators – Mr. C. Heapy, Mr. J. Harrison; Griswold News – Mrs. E. Kufflick; Births, Deaths, and Weddings – Mrs. Helten; Advertisements – Cliff Gordon.  Both schools have been asked to report their activities.

The committee looked after getting out the first paper.  Each subsequent paper will have 2 novices assisting part of the previous crew.

In this way anyone interested will be able to participate from time to time.  Indeed without these new people helping with each bi-monthly edition it would be difficult to carry on.  We need the interest now and a year from now.

We expect as involvement increases to find our future permanent staff emerge with their various talents newly discovered, or old ones dusted off ready to be put to Community service.”

Since that first beginning the paper has been enlarged and improved.  The news is gathered, checked by the editor and assistant and then typed.  From there the gestetner crew take over and then the paper is assembled and addressed.  Quarters are much more comfortable in the former rest room and work more efficent with the new gestetner.  The paper has a circulation of 600 now so there is every hope that it can be carried on for years as a community project.
(As taken from “OX TRAILS TO BLACKTOP” published 1982)


As of March 2004 upgrades have included: newer computers to replace older computers, that replaced word processors, that replaced typewriters (remember them?); new typists' chairs; being housed in the Oak Lake Insurance Building; etc.  In 2009 a new gestetner was purchased.

The Board of Directors positions include: President, Vice President (also in charge of Assembly Crew), Secretary, Treasurer, Billing, Permanent Ads, Janitor, Phoning, and Supplies.  News co-ordinators report from various areas in and around the town.

Many people are involved in the production of the paper.  Different people work on the paper each time.  They include: 2 Editors, 3 Typists, 1 Gestetner operator, and 6 Assembly Crew.

Tuesday of the paper week: The Editors gather and edit all information and news.
Wednesday of paper week: The Typists move in for most of the day, then the Gestetner operator runs off the needed copies.
Thursday of the paper week: The Assembly Crew puts the pages in the right order, then staples, tapes, addresses and delivers the finished product – The Oak Lake Town and Country News.

30th Anniversary Group Photo

Til and Donna cutting the Anniversary cake.