The Messenger’s annual Franklin County Business Community supplement is comparable to a photo album that chronicles family history, brings up old memories, and returns faces we’ve lost. In today’s age of camera phones and the Cloud, photo albums may seem outdated, but they still hold a special place in our hearts. On holidays and anniversaries, these albums are pulled from the shelf, outfits and haircuts are laughed at, and memories of family vacations and birthday parties flood back.
The supplement has been in existence for two full generations and is celebrating its 42nd edition this May. Over the past four decades, it has likely been seen by the majority of Franklin County’s 23,000 households. Former Messenger editor and co-publisher Emerson Lynn saw a need to showcase the energy, creativity, and commerce that fuel the Franklin County economy, which led to the creation of the Franklin County Business Community supplement 40 years ago.
When the first edition was published in 1983, the response was immediate and positive. Readers enjoyed seeing pictures of their friends and the businesses they frequented. The supplement became the Messenger’s premier product and was even adopted by other newspapers in the state for their communities. Jim O’Rourke purchased the Messenger in 2018 and continued the tradition of publishing the supplement. The format was changed to a high-quality, all-color magazine format in 2020.
Despite the availability of quick business searches on platforms like Google or Yelp, the Franklin County Business Community supplement remains relevant in 2024. There’s something special about holding this album in your hands and flipping through its pages to see the people and businesses that make up the community’s family tree. O’Rourke emphasized that the opportunity to recognize local businesses and their employees throughout Franklin County is truly special and impressive after 42 years.