The typical commuter hopping on the Greenbush line likely has no idea of the history of that rail. Back in the day---April 1, 1826 to be exact---construction began on the track which was to be used to move granite from the Quincy quarry to a dock on the Neponset River in Milton. The rock would then be brought to Charlestown where a monument was being built for the soldiers who sacrificed their lives at the battle of Bunker Hill.

You would know this, however, if you read the first edition of The Greenbush Times which hit the tracks this past June. The newspaper, serving Scituate, Cohasset, Hull, and Hingham, is distributed at each train station along the Greenbush line, as well as dropped at stores and businesses within the villages.

Stories range from historic accounts of the Old Colony Railroad line, ancient mysteries surrounding Minot Light, as well as present day information on area businesses, tips from local experts on golf and fishing, for example, and profiles of the people who make this place so interesting--- like Bob Simon, the puzzlemaster extraordinaire.

 Perhaps the most interesting person, however, is the woman responsible for publishing The Greenbush Times: Therese Duane.

                                                                                 Therese Duane

Over a year ago, Therese, who has been a graphic designer for corporations and newspaper publishers, decided to take control of her career by starting her own paper. She took a big risk by jumping into the print publishing arena while larger established papers, like the Boston Globe, were struggling to keep their own print presses running. But she felt passionate about the fact that people still want to read their local news by holding the paper in their hands, not via an electronic interface and a WiFi connection. And there is always room for more information, regardless of how many local papers already circulate throughout the communities.

To that end, she is delivering something much different than what you might read in the Scituate Mariner or Hingham Journal, because she is tapping into the obscure history and the out-of-the-way places that people may not even know exist.

"Local, local, local, is our mission statement," says Therese. "We write about what it is like to really live here, a place that is rich in history."

Therese is starting with the Greenbush line, but will eventually expand the paper to serve the Plymouth and Middleboro lines as well. And the mission statement remains. Aside from a history lesson here or there, the paper will inform and entertain readers with information on upcoming events as well as interesting and fun facts.

So the next time you are standing on the platform waiting to board the train, make sure you grab a Greenbush Times to pass the time!

By Stephanie Neil

Stephanie Neil is a journalist. Her business, technology, and human interest stories have appeared in a variety of print and online newspapers and magazines including eWeek, Managing Automation, The Harvard Alumni Bulletin, Huggies Baby Network, South Shore Woman, and The Boston Globe.  She lives on the South Shore with her two kids, two cats, and a dog. Contact info: stephanieneil@comcast.net  or 781-378-1652. Follow her on Twitter @StephanieNeil