Wakefield News / Bessemer Pick & Axe
The oldest continuously published newspaper in Gogebic County begins a new era today, and a newspaper with a colorful history has new life.
Wakefield residents Andy and Sue Hill have purchased the Wakefield News from longtime publishers Hank and Suzanne Backman and have renamed it the Wakefield News/Bessemer Pick & Axe. The newspaper will endeavor to build on the goodwill created through the Backmans’ more than 23 years of operation.
“The Gogebic Range owes a debt of gratitude to Hank and Suzanne,” said Andy Hill. “The Wakefield News was primarily a print shop with a newspaper. They have honored a pledge to the community and to themselves by keeping the newspaper alive, even though it might have been financially prudent to allow the News to pass into the mists of time.”
“It was a community- and area-wide commitment,” said Suzanne Backman. “The shop gave us a means of helping the community. It was gratifying to us to be able to serve our readers.”
“The Wakefield News has built a sense of community here,” said Andy Hill. “Through the News the community has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for events like the Fourth of July celebration. Virtually every community project and charity has found a friend in the News. “The News has been the main vehicle for bringing our former residents home for special events like the American Bicentennial, the 1984Wakefield Centennial, and for several all-school reunions. We hope to do the same thing for the residents of the rest of the county.”
The WNBPA’s primary areas of coverage will include the cities of Bessemer and Wakefield and the townships of Marenisco, Wakefield and Bessemer. “This decision was easy,” said Andy Hill. “The News has, in former years, been the newspaper of record for Marenisco Township and the former Marenisco School District. It already covers school-related activities in Marenisco, which now is part of the consolidated Wakefield-Marenisco district.
“Hank has roots in Ramsay, where he attended elementary school. The News has always included news from Ramsay. Hank also included county government news and items from Bessemer, especially news from the St. Sebastian parish.” The decision to add Bessemer to the name of the publication was easy. “As a practical matter, it would be difficult to continue publication with the limited circulation base generated by a solely Wakefield- based publication,” said Andy Hill, “but my heart also told me this is the correct decision.”
During more than 30 years as an employee of the Daily Globe, Andy Hill covered city and county government, and the Bessemer and Bessemer Township school districts. Sue Hill is the daughter of the late Charlie and Maggie (Adams) Mussatti. She grew up in Bessemer and graduated from A.D. Johnston High School with the Class of 1967. The Hills are members of Sharon Lutheran Church, Bessemer. “I’m a former member of Marty’s Goldenaires Drum and Bugle Corps, and a big fan of the corps,” said Andy Hill. “Bessemer remains an important part of our family life.”
Bessemer’s preference as to the name of the newspaper quickly became clear. “I had thought we’d call it the Wakefield News-Bessemer Herald,” he said, “but as I discussed my plans with Bessemer residents they said what my wife said, ‘It has to be the Pick & Axe.’“ The Pick & Axe was the name of the early newspaper in Bessemer, and the name was revived by former publisher Mike Cowdery, who ran the paper during the 1970s.
“I’ve read old issues of the Pick & Axe and I enjoyed Mike’s work when he owned the paper. Adding the name ‘Pick & Axe’ not only honors Bessemer but in my mind it gives the new publication a bit of an edgy feel,” Andy Hill said.
The new publication will have the feel of a weekly magazine. “We plan to have at least four pages of color each week — more if the market will allow,” said Andy Hill. The Hills hope to emulate the Iron County Miner, which has served as a weekly “letter from home” for many former residents of Gogebic and Iron counties.
“While the news focus will be on Marenisco, Wakefield, Ramsay and Bessemer, we will include items from the surrounding communities,” the publishers said. “Just as the Daily Globe is this community’s daily newspaper, we aspire to be the weekly newspaper of record here.”
The News has provided all manner of job printing and the Hills will continue those services. Office supplies also are available.
