Walter Paine (May 9, 1923 – October 4, 2018) was an American author, journalist, and publisher. Paine, a former editorial writer for the ''Baltimore Sun'', met

James D. Ewing James D. Ewing (January 14, 1917 – January 21, 2002) was an American newspaper publisher, government reform advocate and philanthropist. He spent nearly 40 years as publisher and co-owner of ''The Keene Sentinel'' in Keene, New Hampshire. I ...

, who was interested in purchasing a newspaper, and in October 1954, they purchased the Keene Sentinel, in Keene,

New Hampshire New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...

. In 1956, they purchased the ''

Valley News The ''Valley News'' (and ''Sunday Valley News'') is a seven-day morning daily newspaper based in Lebanon, New Hampshire, covering the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont, in the United States. Although the newspaper's offices are i ...

'' of

Lebanon, New Hampshire Lebanon is a city in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 14,282 at the 2020 census, up from 13,151 at the 2010 census. Lebanon is in western New Hampshire, south of Hanover, near the Connecticut River. It is the home ...

, and five years later they purchased the ''Argus-Champion.'' In 1980, Ewing, sold his interest in the ''Valley News''. Ewing took over full control of the ''Sentinel'', and Paine continued to serve as editor and publisher of the ''Valley News'' for twenty-four years. In 1957 in his role as ''Valley News'' editor, Paine mounted an investigation into the transparency and practices of the managers of the town of Lebanon that led to the shift to a

town council A town council, city council or municipal council is a form of local government for small municipalities. Usage of the term varies under different jurisdictions. Republic of Ireland Town Councils in the Republic of Ireland were the second ti ...

form of government there. Paine became the first stockholder of

Ascutney Mountain Resort Ascutney Mountain Resort was a downhill ski area on the western side of Mount Ascutney in Brownsville, Vermont that operated from 1946 until 2010. It was purchased by local communities and the Trust for Public Land in 2015, with plans to reopen a ...

Brownsville, Vermont Brownsville is an unincorporated community in West Windsor, Vermont, United States. Located on Vermont Route 44, the village houses a number of administrative offices for the town of West Windsor. Geography History The village derives its name f ...

in 1957 and majority owner in 1961; he owned the Resort for more than ten years, selling it on October 3, 1972. He was a founder of the

Montshire Museum of Science The Montshire Museum of Science is a hands-on science museum located in Norwich, Vermont, United States. Description The museum, including the building and nature trails, is located on over of land. It has over 150 exhibits relating to the na ...

Norwich, Vermont Norwich is a town in Windsor County, in the U.S. state of Vermont. The population was 3,612 at the 2020 census. Home to some of the state of Vermont's wealthiest residents, the municipality is a commuter town for nearby Hanover, New Hampshir ...

. In 2006 his children's book ''Cousin John: The Story of a Boy and a Small Smart Pig'' was published by Bunker Hill. Paine died on October 4, 2018, aged 95, at his home on

Mascoma Lake Mascoma Lake is a lake in western New Hampshire, United States. Most of the lake is within the town of Enfield, while a small portion is within the city of Lebanon, where it drains into the Mascoma River, a tributary of the Connecticut River. Th ...

References

1923 births 2018 deaths Writers from New Hampshire American male journalists American newspaper publishers (people) American children's writers People from Lebanon, New Hampshire People from Windsor County, Vermont {{US-journalist-1920s-stub