July 25, 1860 – The Iowa State Weekly Reporter gives its readers the shocking news: Long-time editor – R.H. Sylvester – the staunch Democrat who had become the voice of the party in Iowa City during the 1850’s – has decided to step down because of his party’s refusal to address the wrongs of slavery.

In 1856, Iowa City pioneer businessmen – R.A. Sylvester and A.G. Tucker – joined forces to build a three-story red-brick building on South Dubuque Street, housing their two newspapers – The Capital Reporter and The Daily Crescent, and their growing printing business – The Franklin Printing Company. Upon its opening, Sylvester called his new facility “well adapted to the carrying on of the great Philosopher’s immortal art — ‘heaven born’ like his own famed lightning — about the best establishment to be found west of Chicago.” Today, this iconic building remains as one of only a handful of downtown commercial buildings built prior to the Civil War.

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