With New York’s newspaper industry ever changing, over the years many papers have started, merged, and closed. And while Gotham’s newspaper graveyard is full of fallen titles, there are still many ghosts of the City’s newspaper past which exist today.

Some of these vestiges of past papers are conspicuous, others are hiding in plain sight, and a few can be found only if one knows where to look.

While New York’s most famous example of newspaper place-making is Times Square, many of the lost newspapers have also left their mark long after the final edition rolled off the presses.

1. New York Sun at Herald Square

Macy’s Herald Square, December, 2015

Given that it is Christmastime, we start appropriately enough with the New York Sun. The Sun is best remembered for its 1897 editorial “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,” written in response to a letter to the editor from 8-year old Virginia O’Hanlon. It has been called the most famous newspaper editorial ever, and because of it the Sun has an enduring connection to Christmas. Macy’s Herald Square flagship prominently features the Sun’s logo in its holiday displays.

“Is There a Santa Claus” (excerpt). NY Sun, September 21, 1897

Incidentally, the editorial was published on September 21st, indicating that Virginia was already thinking about Christmas long before Santa’s expected arrival.

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