Reflections of The Florida Mirror
By Evelyn French and Wade Dowling
Photos courtesy of the Amelia Island Museum of History

Have you ever gotten on the Internet to check the latest current events on your favorite dot-com and found yourself complaining about how slow your modem was? If you have, just think about how the news was reported in the 1800's. Back then, the newspaper was the only media outlet available, and it was a far cry from the high-speed, up-to-the-minute information we enjoy today. In this high-tech age, perhaps we should look back at how the 19th century residents of Fernandina received information about their community and the world around them.

The first recorded newspaper in Fernandina was the Florida News (1854-1859). It was followed by the East Floridian (1854-1862) and several other papers, some of which were printed for less than a year. Not until 1878, with the launching of The Florida Mirror, did people of Fernandina have a consistent outlet for news that would last for decades.

The roots of The Florida Mirror grew out of the Fernandina Press Association, an enterprise founded by two of our town's most famous residents, David Yulee and Samuel Swann. These two powerful men invested their money in this association in hopes of generating revenue from tourism, shipping, and land development.

David Yulee was a U.S. Senator, railroad
pioneer and founder of The Florida Mirror.
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The first issue of The Florida Mirror was published on November 30, 1878. The four-page paper was printed weekly. A.B. Campbell was the editor-in-chief. On June 14, 1879, Campbell resigned as editor-in-chief, and the job was offered to Major George Fairbanks. Yulee and Fairbanks had a similar dream of bringing tourists to Florida. Yulee offered the editorship of The Florida Mirror to Fairbanks because of his literary and writing skills. His new philosophy was to provide "a journal devoted to the welfare of the state... giving general news and discussing public questions fairly." His salary was $2,000 a year.

Fairbanks believed in a more informative periodical that would keep the community up-to-date on the affairs of state and local government, as well as other issues that affected the people directly. In the early Mirror, gossip and hearsay had been printed on the first pages of the paper, but Fairbanks moved them to the back pages. He also wanted to showcase the area's natural beauty and deep water harbor for shippers and tourists. Fairbanks was considered the first editor to print what would "truthfully be called a history of Florida." Together, along with David Yulee, they envisioned a place of commerce and revenue.

Most of the news during Fairbanks' time was much different than it is today. Today's news is full of war, drugs, scandals, and more recently, election battles. During the time of The Florida Mirror, the people of Fernandina were more concerned with the prices of produce, what ships were in and out of the harbor, and who was arrested for public drunkenness.

The masthead from The Florida Mirror.
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Many of the interesting articles from the early Mirror were local announcements, such as the following: "Post-Office: Hereafter there will be but one mail per day. The mail will close at the post-office at 10 a.m.; leave at 10:40 a.m.; arrive at 3:30 p.m. This change goes into effect to-morow-Sunday."

Another article was about a local dentist: "Dentistry: We call attention to the card of Dr. Arthur C. Ford, dentist, in an another column. Dr. Ford has an experience of 27 years, and been located in Atlanta for the past 12 years. He comes well recommended by the Faculty in Georgia." Imagine if today's doctors and lawyers came with such credentials printed right in the paper to help us decide on family practitioners.

On the other hand, some things in the world never change, regardless of time, such as articles in the December 7, 1878, issue which discuss a war between the Afghans and Great Britain, rioting in Russia, and studies in the art of war by German officers. War is a theme that is frequently found on the pages of even the oldest newsprint, just as it plagues our televisions, e-mail, and newspapers today.

There are many contrasts to the advertisements and articles of today's newspapers to that of the Mirror. For instance, one article printed in the Mirror on the December 7, 1878, issue reads:
"Fernandina, situated on Amelia Island, at the mouth of the St. Mary's River, is fast becoming an important commercial centre. Its natural and artificial advantages are unsurpassed, having one of the finest harbors on the Atlantic coast: the eastern terminus of the Atlantic, Gulf and West India Transit Company's Railroad; two direct steamship lines to New York; a direct steamship line to Great Britain, lately established; almost daily steamship communication with Charleston and Savannah, and with Jacksonville and all points on the St. John's and St. Mary's Rivers." This article reflects how the Mirror was used to showcase Amelia Island, Fernandina and its many amenities to attract people to the area.

An advertisement from the same issue announced pianos and organs for sale starting at $135 and up; another advertisement offered a year's subscription to the Mirror for two dollars a year. What a bargain! Today's periodicals can cost hundreds per year, not to mention Internet access costs and cable television bills.

Major Fairbanks stayed with the Mirror until 1885. Some called the era when he was editor "the golden age of journalism." Sadly, the quality of the Mirror went down after Fairbanks' departure.

Major George Fairbanks was editor of
The Florida Mirror from 1879 to 1885.
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David Yulee sold The Florida Mirror in 1881 to Charles Lewis and C.H. Berg because of financial problems with his railroad and pressure from his wife. Berg was a German immigrant who came to Fernandina in 1871. Lewis was a land commissioner and had an interest in the area's growth. When Lewis and Berg took over the paper, it changed to an eight-page weekly. Throughout the Mirror's life it had been published weekly, tri-weekly, and semi-weekly. The Florida Mirror stayed in publication until the early 1900's, when it merged with the Nassau County Star.

It is becoming easier and easier to obtain information in the age of computers and television. Just don't forget where it all started. A look back at a periodical from over a century ago helps put the media barrage of today in perspective.