with

the

people

people

A long career

NEWSPAPER

Verl Byers died on vacation from newspaper at age 77

dcronk@thecouriertimes.com

erl Byers was on vacation from

his printing job at The CourierTimes that September afternoon in
1950 when at age 77, he had a fatal
heart attack while gardening in his
back yard.
Yes, he was on vacation as he was
still employed at the newspaper that
had been his second home for much
of his 59 years in his working life.
Its remarkable to consider all the
changes Byers witnessed on and
off the job in his lifelong hometown of New Castle since he went to
work at The Weekly Democrat in
1891 as a young man of age 18.
Verls grandson, Jerry Byers, has
not forgotten his grandfather and
the stories associated with him.
Although now retired and living in
Florida, Jerry retains a fondness for
New Castle and in conjunction with
our 175th-year celebration, sent
along memories and photos to the
newspaper where his grandfather
worked much of his 59-year career.
Grandfather Verl was raised and
lived his whole life in New Castle,
writes Jerry. My father, Fred Byers,
was also born, raised and lived his
whole life in New Castle except when
he was away during World War II.
Jerry and younger brother Phillip
Verl (named for their grandfather)
also grew up in town but moved out
of state for their careers. Jerry was a
chemist in Cincinnati, retiring in
October and now living in The Villages in Florida. He is married to the
former Barbara Ann Brown, who
also graduated from New Castle
Chrysler High School.
Brother Phillip married the former
Candy McConnell of New Castle.
By the way, her grandfather and
father (Ray McConnell Sr. and Jr.)
both retired from The Courier-

Friday, October 16, 2015 | 175th Anniversary

Times.
Writes Jerry, So you can see that
The Courier-Times has played a big
and important part in the lives of
our families. Friends of he and his
wife have included the Chambers
family, the late Betty Giboney and
George Bonham.
But what he really wanted to tell
us about was his grandfather, Verl.

Printer, Worlds Fair

Born on April 13, 1873, Verl Byers
married Grace Dakin in 1908. They
resided at 1808 Grand Ave. for their
entire marriage. They had no birthchildren, but raised nephew Myron
Frederick as their own. In fact, Jerry
reports that when he learned he
would be raising Fred, Verl quit
smoking on the spot.
In 1891, at age 18, Verl went to
work as an apprentice at The Weekly
Democrat on the second floor of the
Grant Building on Broad Street
between Main and 14th. Although
he went to work at other print shops,
he returned to The Weekly Democrat, which later consolidated into
The Courier-Times. Verls work at
the paper continued until his death
and his specific work was line-type
operator and job printer.
Writes Jerry, Verl operated The
Courier-Times job printing shop and
pinch-hit in ad-alley where all the
advertisements were set into type.
He was sent on behalf of The
Courier-Times to the 1934 Chicago
Worlds Fair, also called A Century
of Progress, as a member of the
press. Jerry has a treasured keepsake
from the event: his grandfathers
Worlds Fair press pass.

Grocer, mail carrier, politician

Along with his work as a printer,
Verl also owned and operated Sterling Cash Grocery at 206 S. 14th St.
page 24

Jerry dates this to

about 1910. The store
was located next to the
old Courier-Times
building, and across
the street from the current location, he says.
It was so named
because the business
was cash only no
credit taken.
Verl had his hand in
many aspects of New
Castle life. He was a
deputy oil inspector for
the area, a hard worker
in the
Democrat party, a mail
carrier, an employee at
the Maxwell factory,
Indiana Rolling Mill
and Pan American
New Castle, Ind.

Photo provided

The family of Verl Byers still has his 1934 press pass from the Chicago Worlds Fair.

Bridge Co. He was a New

Castle city councilman for
several terms, an elder at
First Christian Christian
Church, a 50-year member
of the Odd Fellows Lodge
and member of the Modern Woodmen Lodge.
I do not recall much
about Verl Byers because
he died when I was just 2
years old, but everyone has
told me what a wonderful
and kind person he was,
writes Jerry. I have one
cherished picture of me as
a baby sitting on his lap;
he was in a full pin-striped
suit.
New Castle, Ind.

I do not recall much about Verl Byers

because he died when I was just
2 years old, but everyone has told me
what a wonderful and kind person he
was. I have one cherished picture of
me as a baby sitting on his lap; he was
in a full pin-striped suit.
page 25

By DoNNA CroNK

175th Anniversary | Friday, October 16, 2015