Medina Tribune on April 20, 1865 reported deep mourning in community over Lincoln’s death

The April 20, 1865 issue of the Medina Tribune included coverage of the Lincoln assassination on pages 2 and 3.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 6, No. 8

MEDINA – When print newspapers were part of daily life, it was not uncommon for people to clip significant articles – births, marriages, obituaries etc. as tangible records of significant events.

Historic events with loud headlines such as “WAR DECLARED” or “MAN WALKS ON MOON” somehow compelled people to save entire issues, as though the whole paper was imbued with the importance of the event. These papers still have the power to stop us in our tracks.

A well-preserved edition of the Medina Tribune was rediscovered recently at a home in Shelby. At first glance, it appears to be a run-of-the-mill issue. “Courtship Among the Zulus” and “The Oldest Man in the World” are two of the front-page articles, along with advertisements for items ranging from silk hats to oysters and the standard elixir advertisement in this case Pineapple Cider.

But the reason why this newspaper issue was saved becomes apparent on pages two and three. For it is an historic issue after all: it deals with the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. A closer look at the date provides an explanation. The assassination occurred on April 14, 1865, which was a Friday, Good Friday, in fact.

At that time local papers were weekly and were published on Thursdays. Thus, this issue, dated April 20, 1865, is the first local newspaper to cover the event and hence the reason it was saved.

On Sunday, April 16th, the churches in Medina were draped in mourning, emblematic of the deep sorrow felt for the death of the President. A Union meeting of the various churches was held at the Methodist Episcopal Church in the evening. “The house was crowded and a most intensely solemn feeling prevailed throughout the entire service.”

The discourse delivered by the Baptist minister, Rev. D. VanAlstyne was apparently particularly impressive and was included in this issue of the Tribune by popular request. It is powerful indeed; one can well imagine the impact it would have had when delivered from the pulpit, just two days after the event, by a minister who, most likely, was well-schooled in the art of oratory.

“Let the Nation in her wrath and just indignation trample the system of slavery into utter extinction. This is an uncommon occasion; a great calamity is ours; the nation is in mourning over an unparalleled crime, and I shall offer no apologies for speaking plain and honest words”

Scheduling details for President Lincoln’s funeral train were announced. Citizens who wished to take a last look at the remains were encouraged to take the morning train from Medina to Buffalo on Thursday, April 27th as the train was scheduled to stop in Buffalo from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Also included in this issue: Governor Fenton’s announcement of the National Calamity, the text of President Andrew Jackson’s Inaugural Address delivered on April 15th as well as details of the $100,000 reward offered: $50,000 for information that would lead to the arrest of John Wilkes Booth, and $25,000 each for the apprehension of conspirators George Atzerodt or David Herold.

We never cease to be amazed at the items that survive through the years, resurfacing out of time and space to give us a glimpse of another era. We thank the Zelazny family for this treasure.