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HUMBOLDT COUNTY NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISES
The Humboldt Times was established at Eureka
in September, 1854, by Mr. E.D. Coleman. Mr. Coleman
moved the Times to Union (now Arcata)
December 1854. In December, 1855, Mr. Coleman sold out
the Times to W. Van Dyke and L.M. Burson. The
Northern Californian was established in December,
1858, S.G. Whipple, editor and proprietor.
The Northern Californian was merged into the
Times in July, 1860, L.M. Burson withdrawing, S.G.
Whipple and W. Van Dyke continuing its publication. In
March, 1861, Mr. Van Dyke transferred his interest to
S.G. Whipple. In August, 1862, Mr. Whipple sold out to
A. Wiley and Walter Bohall. In May, 1864, Mr. Wiley
transferred his interest to J.E. Wyman, the firm being
WIley & Bohall. In August, 1865, Mr. Bohall sold his
interest to J.E. Wyman.
The
"Times" From A Weekly To A Daily
The first number of the Daily Humboldt Times was
issued January 1, 1874. In 1875, W.H. Wyman was taken
into the business, when the firm was known as J.E. Wyman
& Son. J.E. Wyman died in November, 1880, when W.H.
Wyman succeeded to the entire control of the paper. In
1886, Col. S.G. Whipple resumed the editorship and
management of the Times, which had passed into
the hands of a company, and is at present known as the
"Times Publishing Company."
The
"Humboldt Standard"
The Standard was founded in June, 1875, by R.V.
Chadd under the name of the Daily Standard, and
conducted as an independent Democratic paper. In the
beginning of 1877 the daily edition was discontinued,
and on June 1st of that year the paper passed into the
hands of William Ayres, who continued the weekly issue,
changing its name to the The Democratic Standard.
Mr. Ayres retained the ownership and control of the
paper for over five years, during which time it was
conducted as an independent Democratic journal. On
December 1, 1883, R.A. Thompson bought the Standard
and placed his brother, F.P. Thompson, in control, who
again changed its name to the Humboldt Standard
and commenced the publication shortly afterward of a
semi weekly edition, which was continued until July,
1884, when the Humboldt Daily Standard was
resumed, together with the publication of a weekly
issue, known as the Humboldt Weekly Standard.
In 1887 R.A. Thompson conveyed the property to Mary Thompson,
wife of F.P. Thompson, the latter continuing its
publication until May 1, 1888, when J.F. Thompson bought
a half interest in the paper, and its publication was
contained with J.F. Thompson as managing editor, the
firm being known as the "Humboldt Standard Publishing
Company." On April 26, 1890, J.F. Thompson bought the
remaining interest of Mary Thompson, thereby becoming
its sole proprietor. He has since continued the
publication of the daily and weekly editions. The
Standard is Democratic in politics, thoroughly
independent on all matters of public concern, and is now
firmly established as one of the permanent institutions
of the county. It enjoys a liberal patronage and is
rapidly pushing to the front as one of the leading
journals of the State.
Daily
and Weekly "Telephone"
The Telephone was issued in December, 1881, by
Wiley & Heney, and shortly afterward merged with the
Times.
One of
the early papers was the Sluice Box, published at
Orleans Bar, in 1856, by Frank Ball, but was
discontinued in December of the same year. The Casket
was issued in Arcata in 1860. It died in a short time
and was buried. The Humboldt Bay Journal was
published in September, 1865, Rev. J.W. Hines, editor.
In December of the same year it passed into the hands of
J.B. Baccus, Jr., who conducted the journal until its
demise in April, 1867. The Humboldt Bay Democrat,
started in October, 1868, L.M. Music & Co., proprietors,
only lasted three weeks, when it died under a musical
strain.
The National Index appeared in June, 1867, and
suspended in March, 1868. The Northern Independent
was first published in July, 1869, by A.M. Parry. The
paper passed into the hands of Eugene Russ, who
pronounced its obituary, in August, 1872. The West
Coast Signal, D.E. Gordon, editor and proprietor,
first appeared in February, 1871. In October, 1876, the
Daily Evening Signal came out. As a daily and
weekly it was published by Mr. Gordon until March, 1880,
when it suspended. The Age was established by W.H.
Clipperton in 1876, but soon suspended. Betteridge &
Sinnerton purchased the material and started the
Evening Star in December, 1876; suspended in 1878.
The Evening Herald appeared in March, 1879, by
W.B. Thorpe. In a short time it was removed to Arcata
and afterwards suspended. The Leader was started,
W.B. Thorpe again as editor. After issuing about one
volume the Leader suspended. In December, 1880,
the Leader was revived by A. Wiley. It lasted one
year and again suspended.
The Eel River Echo, published at Rohnerville by W.H.
Runnels, appeared in 1878. After two years it suspended.
A.J. Bledsoe purchased and removed the material to
Eureka, and issued the Semi-Weekly News in 1881.
In three months the News suspended.
The
"Ferndale Enterprise."
The
Ferndale Enterprise was established in January,
1878, by Wm. G. Jones & Co., by whom it was run until
December 1, 1880, when it was sold to F.A. Alford. In
1883 the paper passed into the hands of Shaw & Carr, who
conducted it until May, 1884, when E.B. Carr became sole
proprietor. In November, 1885, A.J. Bledsoe was taken in
as a partner, but only remained as such for two months,
when the paper again became the sole property of E.B.
Carr. On January 1, 1890, S.W. Scotton purchased a
one-half interest, and the Enterprise is now
published by the firm of Carr & Scotton. The
Enterprise is published weekly, and is to-day
recognized as one of the leading journals of the county.
Rohnerville "Herald"
The
Herald was first published in November, 1881, by
Chas. E. Gordon, at the age of 19 years. It is a newsy
and creditable journal; justly and fairly representing
southern Humboldt county. It is one of the best
advertising mediums north of San Francisco. The
Rohnerville Herald has a large and well merited
circulation.
The
"Humboldt Mail"
The
Humboldt Mail was first published by W.G. Bonner.
About August 1, 1890, a daily was issued by the
"Humboldt Mail Publishing Co." On November, 16, 1890,
the Daily Mail died a natural death, with no
excuse for its brief existence. The Weekly Mail
is a newsy and ably edited journal enjoying a liberal
patronage.
The "Home Journal"
The
Home Journal, Wm. M. Michel, editor and proprietor.
This paper is published in one of the finest farming
districts in the county. Hydesville is a beautiful town
with an enlightened community. These people demand a
newsy and wide-awake journal. The Home Journal
merits patronage-it has a good circulation and makes a
splendid advertising medium.
The
"Eel River Valley Advance."
Published
every Thursday at Fortuna, Leon F. Stinson, editor and
proprietor. This publication takes rank with the best
journals issued in any interior town. The Eel River
Valley Advance is interesting from beginning to end,
from top to the bottom. It is ably, edited and well
patronized. In fact this journal holds a leading
position.
The
"Blue Lake Advocate"
The
Blue Lake Advocate is owned by Mr. C. Chartin. Mr.
J.W. Traverse is editor and manager. Since Mr. Traverse
has assumed the management the style and spirit of the
Blue Lake Advocate is progressive and fearless.
The
"Arcata Union"
An able
and fearless journal, Wiley & Borg, editors and
proprietors. Mr. Wiley in company with Walter Van Dyke
bought the Times in 1855. In 1857 he bought out
Mr. Van Dyke, and moved the paper from Arcata to Eureka
in 1858. In 1865 Mr. Wiley bought one-fourth interest in
the San Francisco Call but sold his interest in
the Call in 1866 and returned to Humboldt. He
afterwards started the Weekly Telephone, which
was merged into the Times and called the
Times-Telephone. Mr. Wiley is the pioneer journalist
of Humboldt. He keenly appreciates the wants of the
people, ever on the alert to bring about the needed
changes that progressive enterprise requires.
The
"Western Watchman"
The
Western Watchman, a weekly journal, published at
Eureka, W. Ayres & Son, editors and publishers. A
journal of considerable ability, claiming perfect
independence, and warmly espousing the temperance cause.
History and
Business directory of Humboldt County, 1890 |
