In the small town of Saguache, 73-year-old Dean Coombs works diligently on his 1920 linotype machine, producing the latest news for his readers at the Saguache Crescent. As he typed away, the town’s trustees were preparing to increase water bills.
Despite the digital age, Coombs continues to operate his linotype machine, a relic that combines typewriter and foundry elements to create type for printing. Every Tuesday morning, he fires up his 1915 printing press to produce 380 copies of the Crescent in his canary-yellow building on the main street of Saguache.
The Crescent, a staple in Saguache County, stands out as many other news organizations in the area and across the nation are folding. The decline in newspapers has left many communities without access to local news, creating “news deserts” particularly in rural areas like Saguache County.
While modernization may seem inevitable, Coombs remains committed to traditional print production and distribution, serving his community with news written by unpaid contributors and essential government notices.
As the sole proprietor and operator of the Crescent, Coombs embodies a deep sense of history and dedication to preserving local journalism. Despite the challenges faced by the industry, he stands firm in his resolve to keep the presses running and the stories flowing in Saguache.
