ENFIELD, CT — In 1880, Thomas Edison received a patent for an electric lamp, James A. Garfield was elected the 20th President of the United States, and future world notables such as W.C. Fields, Helen Keller and Gen. Douglas MacArthur were born. Also created that year was a small newspaper called the Thompsonville Press, filled with local items about the mill and farming community of Enfield, which consisted of 6,755 residents at the time.

The weekly paper, which changed its name to the Enfield Press in 1969, chronicled the rapid changes and growth in the town landscape, as the population exploded sevenfold, business and industry grew to unprecedented heights and the former blue collar and agricultural areas coalesced into a virtual small city. Through all the changes, the newspaper itself continued to evolve, moving its home base on several occasions and surviving multiple transfers of ownership. Those days are soon to conclude, however, as the current owners, Reminder Publishing, have informed staff members that Feb. 20 will be the final editions of the Enfield Press and its sister weekly, the Longmeadow News.

Several employees, who requested anonymity, confirmed they were informed early this week of management's decision to cease publication of the two community papers. Patch has attempted to reach managing editor G. Michael Dobbs seeking comment. With the decline of the newspaper industry in the past two decades, most people contacted by Patch said they were not surprised to hear of the paper's imminent demise, but all expressed sadness at seeing a longtime town institution come to an end.

"Oh, this is sad news," former Enfield Mayor Scott Kaupin said. "It's the only local newspaper that I subscribe to. The Enfield Press has truly been a community newspaper that focused on the good happening in our town. The Press has long been the source to read about both good and not so good Enfield news, community events, scholastic sports, academic achievements, the police blotter and local politics. The Community Calendar was the perfect avenue for local organizations and nonprofits to promote their causes and fundraising efforts. Recently, I have really enjoyed reading the "Our Town - This Week in Enfield History" page of local news and gossip from 130 years ago. Losing this source for local news is really sad news." Tanguay Magill American Legion Post 80 commander Tony Torres said, "That is what we're going to miss - local coverage for all the town to see. That is what the paper provided for 140 years."

Frank Poirot, who served as Press editor from 1992 to 1998, said, "It's a sad news day when a local paper like the Enfield Press announces its closing. The Press covered the town tirelessly through 140 very interesting years. Readers have other good outlets to turn to for local sports, town council actions and police news, but I think it's the silencing of another editorial voice reporting the news of the day that is being lost here, and that is unfortunate."