06/23/2025
We've had people ask why we don't put all of the past Booster and Messenger archives online or offer them in digital format. There are several reasons this isn't feasible.
For one, while we have bound, hard backed editions of all of past issues dating back to 1916, the full sized newspaper pages are impossible to transform into digital format with the scanners we have available at the office.
In addition, time has weathered the older editions, making them very delicate. The act of scanning the pages would very likely destroy them and the history they hold.
Then there is the cost involved with the process of digitizing. Grants are available from certain historical societies which we have recently looked into, but that in and of itself is a time consuming process. The Booster runs on a very small staff and adding grant writing to the mix isn't something we can take on at this point.
So, while we agree that having the archives online for everyone to peruse and reminisce over would be ideal, we don't currently have the technology or funding to undertake such a project, especially when it could risk the integrity of the original documents.
However, anyone who would like to step back in time can come to the Booster and enjoy looking through the archives themselves. We just ask that you call ahead to make sure there will be someone available to help find the editions of interest.
