Editor’s Note: This is the first of a four-part series detailing the establishment of The Foley Onlooker’s new history display. This installment focuses on the creation, itself. The remaining stories will run each subsequent Friday.

FOLEY, Ala. — Peek into the front window of The Foley Onlooker office and you’ll see something new, or old.

The newspaper’s staff recently moved vintage equipment from storage to the front office in order to both preserve and display the publication’s history. Those items include a printing press that was patented in the 19th century, a safe from approximately the same timeframe that contains ornate decoration, an early 20th century typewriter, darkroom equipment that depicts the process once used to provide pictures in The Onlooker and vintage stamps. In addition, a table is set up in the area that contains an archive that will be rotated for residents’ perusal.

According to Gulf Coast Newspapers Senior Editor William Moore, such a display goes beyond depicting The Onlooker’s history.

“It shows the history of the newspaper industry, as a whole,” he said, pointing out that typewriters and darkrooms are no longer used. “There will be a lot of people who have seen that before.”

GCN Publisher Sudie Gambrell said another group would also be interested in the display.

“There are others who remember what it used to be like,” she said.

The Foley Onlooker began publication in 1907.

“We’re very proud to have served the community for this long,” Gambrell said.

She added that the timing is apt.

“In 2015, we’ll be celebrating Foley’s centennial,” Gambrell said.

The idea was contrived by Gulf Coast Newspapers Advertising Representative Harry Clark and Onlooker receptionist Cindy Dean shortly after Dean came to The Onlooker in late March. Clark explained that the pair began working to move the paper’s archives to a better location to keep them safe from the leaky roof they were under at the time.

“While we were doing that, we saw this old press here,” he said, adding that he had thought about moving it years ago.

With the blessing of Gambrell, Wilson Automotive volunteered to move the printing press and safe.

“We just told him (Wilson) the problem, and he took responsibility,” Clark said.

Dean said it was a welcome solution, as the pair had also discussed just getting a number of GCN employees to move the heavy items.

“We were going to get a dolly,” she said.

But with Wilson stepping in, the problem was solved.

“I was impressed with the resourcefulness of the crew,” said Moore, who watched the move.

“I was impressed with the kindness of neighbors,” Gambrell added. “They are our neighbors. They jumped in and helped us with something we couldn’t have done ourselves.”

An open house is planned for the coming weeks. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to drop by to see the pieces at The Onlooker, located at 217 N. McKenzie St. in Foley.