Adair County Democrat-Adair County Free Press Building
108 E. Iowa St., Greenfield, IAThe Adair County Democrat/Adair County Free Press Building is significant on the local level under Criterion A for its associations with commerce, communications and social history. Under these themes, the building interprets the crucial role that a local newspaper played in community boosterism, pride and a sense of local history. This diminutive newspaper office represents 107 years of the publication of a weekly newspaper by a single family over four generations. The basic family history accurately states that Edwin J. Sidey founded the original newspaper, used it to build up his favored Democratic Party in Adair County, vanquished his many publishing rivals by 1916, and developed an award-winning reputation as a newspaper editor even as he worked to build up his chosen hometown. Subsequent generations have carried on his vision and one descendant, Hugh Sidey, achieved national renown as a columnist and presidential chronicler. The newspaper housed in this building was highly innovative, particularly with introducing the use of locally generated news photographs in a small weekly newspaper. Photography was the preferred avocation of several generations of the family and this interest was reflected early in the family newspaper. The difficulty of waiting for the return of engraved printing plates from distant engraving vendors forced the family to set up its own engraving plant in the basement. The local historical claim is that this was the first such in-house engraving plant, at least regionally to be established by a weekly newspaper. The fact that there was an early engraving ability on the part of this county newspaper is f that this family company was highly innovative with state-of-the-arts publishing tools.
A newspaper that was successful over a lengthy period of time and can make claim to the usual accomplishments that are reflected in that success, is rightfully a good candidate for being historically significant. Success alone, in the newspaper trade, is a considerable accomplishment. A significant claim for newspaper longevity is strengthened if a single-family is credited with its successful operation and indeed is integral to its long-term success. Editorial consistency, community support, and the enhanced ability of a newspaper to serve as the historical voice of experience all result from a family-run operation that is tightly integrated into its local community. National Register of Historic Places recognition is also dependent upon the proven linkage between the newspaper history and an associated building. In this instance, a single building served as the newspaper center of operations. It was built in 1903) when the newspaper first gained a sufficiently lucrative foothold in Greenfield and it was enlarged as company growth and changing printing technology required additional workspace. It is a solid and somewhat uncommon achievement for a county seat newspaper to erect its own printing building (1903) and to remain in that same building for 107 years. The building is nominated with a local level of significance and a period of significance of 1903-1960. This span of time begins with the placing into service of the new building and ends at the current 50-year cutoff point. Significant dates are 1903, 1941 and 1953, these being the year of original construction and the years when additions were constructed to the building.
There is potential Criterion B significance potential, not claimed in this application, associated with the life work of Edwin J. Sidey (1861-1938), the founder of this family newspaper legacy, the builder of this building, and the most directly famous and no particular trade and as a General Assembly member and political activist, than any of his successors. At the same time, the story here is best told as a collective family tale, with each succeeding generation being groomed to carry on the task. At this point, Criterion A is offered rather than Criterion B, under the assumption that the significant story is that of the whole family's role in the business.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.