The popularity of social media services such as Twitter is rooted in our fundamental human need to hear the news and make sense of its significance.
This desire is not new, however, even though how we feed it has changed over the years.
History tells us that Spartan runners in the early Greek empire were used as news messengers but it was not until 1066 that the official job of town crier was created. News of Britain's first (and last) invasion by King William of Normandy was passed from town to town by individuals specifically employed to call out the King's proclamation. Aptly named town criers, they were protected by law: "Don't shoot the messenger" was a very real command.
Because of low literacy levels well into the late 19th century, proclamations, laws and news may well have been written but they were usually passed on to the public by the town crier, the first talking newspaper. This role evolved over the years until it became ceremonial.
Today's criers, and there are many, serve as historical ambassadors elaborately dressed in a tradition dating to the 18th century. Male criers often wear a red and gold robe, white breeches, black boots and a tricorn hat. Sometimes called bellmen, they carry a bell or other instrument to get our attention. They can be men or women and make no mistake, they take their work very seriously. There are town crier tournaments. Winners are named and competition is tight.
Coquitlam had its own town crier. Tony Paré Sr. became the city's first official town crier on May 17, 2004 and served until his death in 2008. His job was ceremonial and honorary but this does not mean it didn't have purpose.
His main duty was to make sure the news of Coquitlam was heard by all. Mr. Paré was a well-respected local historian and devoted much of his life to preserving and communicating Maillardville's heritage; a room at the Mackin House Museum is named for him. It contains photographs of early Maillardville life as well as the town crier regalia Mr. Paré wore with pride.
The signature "Oyez, Oyez" ("Hear ye, hear ye!") is sadly missing from our streets. Let's tweet about this and see what happens.
Your History is a column in which, once a month, representatives of the Tri-Cities' three heritage groups writes about local history. Jill Cook is executive director of the Coquitlam Heritage Society (www.coquitlamheritage.ca).
