The Climax Crescent Newspaper

Herbert Smith arrived in Climax, Michigan, in August 1912 after trading property in Paw Paw for a newspaper business there. The first issue of The Climax Crescent was published on October 18, 1912, in the Ide building at the southwest corner of the town's main four corners, where the town's previous newspaper, The Climax Cereal, had been based. Herbert married Mary Wolcott on April 5, 1915, and together they ran the newspaper and printshop. In March 1926, Herb and Mary bought the former Northern Hotel at 150 North Main Street, made the southern part their home, and moved the newspaper and printshop into the northern section, where it remained. They had three children, Edwin, Raymond, and Edna. In 1953, their youngest son, Raymond, and his wife, Suzanne (Kate) Smith, took over the business and moved there with their two sons, John and Charles. Ray and Kate ran the newspaper and printshop until January 1990, when they sold it to Bruce and Crystal Rolfe, who became the owners and sole operators of The Climax Crescent under Crescent Publishing Inc.

Climax, Michigan · United States