The Mountaineer -
Herald Historical Page
Part 1 - History
Part 2 - What Happened in 2001?
Rich Hill mailto:[email protected] provided the following data that may be of interest:
According to the records of the Pennsylvania Newspapers Project, Ebensburg boasted several newspapers bearing the name Mountaineer (or some variation thereof) through the 19th Century and continuing on through today.
The first was published by Seely &Glessner from about 1836 through 1844. Only 4 issues are known to exist: July 25, 1838, August 22, 1838, May 19, 1841, and April 19, 1843. Only the 1838 issues were microfilmed and St. Francis College in Loretto and the Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown have these reels. The Cambria Historical Society in Ebensburg has the 1841 original issue and the Historical and Genealogical Society of Indiana County has the 1843 original issue.
Daniel C. Zahm issued his newspaper on February 4, 1858. Unfortunately it ceased sometime in 1860. The issues from February 4, 1858 through and including February 8, 1860 were microfilmed. The Cambria County Library System in Johnstown, the State Library of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, St. Francis College in Loretto, the Cambria County Historical Society in Ebensburg, and the Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown all have microfilm reels. The Cambria County Historical Society is also reputed to own the February 11, 1860 through August 22, 1860 original issues.
On June 18, 1891, W.R. Thompson and J.L. Sechler began to issue their newspaper. (The Thompson family continued to publish an Ebensburg newspaper up until several weeks ago, [May 30, 2001].) This 1891 newspaper was also reputed to come in a daily edition under the name, Daily Mountaineer. The weekly issues from June 18, 1891 through September 13, 1893 were microfilmed. The Offices of the Mountaineer-Herald in Ebensburg and the State Library in Pennsylvania own microfilm reels. The Cambria County Historical Society in Ebensburg is reputed to own the April 7, 1892 and July 21, 1892 issues in their original format.
W.R. Thompson began to publish the Ebensburg Mountaineer by himself on September 20, 1893 and it continued as a weekly newspaper through April 14, 1898. It was microfilmed and the State Library of Pennsylvania, Cambria County Historical Society, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania have microfilm reels. NOT every issue of this particular title was microfilmed. The Mountaineer-Herald has original issues from September 20, 1893 through June 17, 1898, the Historical and Genealogical Society of Indiana County has an original October 15, 1896 issue and the Cambria County Historical Society has an original March 24, 1898 issue.
The Cambria Herald and Ebensburg Mountaineer combined on April 21, 1898 to form the Mountaineer Herald. This title lasted through December 22, 1898. The issues were microfilmed and the Cambria County Historical Society and Indiana University of Pennsylvania have those reels while the Mountaineer Herald retained their original issues.
On January 5, 1899, Mr. Thompson issued the Ebensburg Mountaineer-Herald. This newspaper lasted until September 4, 1952. Most of these issues were microfilmed but no library reports having identical microfilm reel runs. There are many gaps. The best collections are at the State Library of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Cambria County Historical Society in Ebensburg, and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana.
The Mountaineer-Herald began publishing on September 11, 1952 and continued through May 30, 2001. Most of the issues were microfilmed through 1981 and the more complete collections are found at the State Library of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Cambria County Historical Society in Ebensburg and Indiana University of Pennsylvania but none of these libraries have identical runs. Original issues from 1981 to present are held by the Mountaineer-Herald and the State Library.
The publishers of the Tyrone Herald, Huntingdon Daily News, Latrobe Bulletin and
Bedford Gazette formed the Latrobe Printing and Publishing Company
and purchased the Mountaineer-Herald from the Thompson family.
6/23/01
Dave Thompson and Clark Creery in Florida --------------------------------------------------->
2001
Latrobe group buys weekly newspaper
By Sandra K. Reabuck (Tribune-Democrat Ebensburg Bureau)
David E. Thompson, a local resident who grew up working at his family-owned weekly newspaper, is selling The Mountaineer-Herald – a publication known for its liberal displays of local faces.
The 3,000-circulation Mountaineer-Herald has been owned by the Thompson family for three generations.
Thompson said he is selling to build his retirement nest egg.
"It’s with mixed emotions I do this. My dad always said go with your heart and do what you feel is right. Because it’s my retirement, I may not have this opportunity again," said Thompson, whose grandfather and father ran the weekly before him.
Latrobe Printing & Publishing Co., which publishes The Latrobe Bulletin, a daily newspaper in Westmoreland County, is buying the paper for an undisclosed amount. The new owner will take over June 1.
"Our plans are to become even more committed to the community and make the paper as attractive and interesting as possible for our readers. And, we want to put the paper into more hands of readers in that market," said William Anderson, one of Latrobe Printing’s managing partners. "We wish to keep all employees of The Mountaineer-Herald on board and will be looking to expand our news and business office staffs," Anderson said in a telephone interview from Bedford.
Anderson, publisher of the Bedford Gazette, is partners with George Sample, publisher of The Daily News in Huntingdon, and Latrobe Bulletin Publisher Chris Miles. Sample and his family’s Sample Media Group own the Huntingdon and Bedford papers, the Tyrone Herald and the Bargain Sheet of State College.
(Editorial comment by the page webmeister – Small town and interested in the readers?)
As for whether the new owners might consider converting to a daily newspaper, Anderson said, "That is being explored. But nothing is concrete at this time. One step at a time."
The Ebensburg weekly is the second newspaper owned by the partners, who "are looking to grow and expand," he said.
Gene Stepp, president of Sedloff Publications, which publishes the competing weekly News Leader in Ebensburg and other weeklies in Cambria County, said, "I just find it hard to believe (that Thompson is selling). That leaves us the only locally owned newspaper in the county."
Thompson, 54, a lifelong local resident, said he will continue to own the building in which the newspaper’s offices are located and continue to operate the commercial job printing plant on the second floor at 113 S. Center St.
His grandfather, Johnstown architect Walter Thompson, started the Mountaineer in 1891. His son, David, eventually became the editor and stayed at the help until stricken with a heart attack in late 1969.
At that point, young Dave Thompson, a senior at Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology studying graphic arts, returned home and took over the business a little earlier than anticipated.
"I’ve been here all my life. I remember we had an old Goss press – a letter press, and I helped out weekends and after school. In those days we printed on Wednesdays, and I can remember going home with ink on me. I learned to operate the Linotype and pretty much all of the equipment, "Thompson said in an interview at the newspaper office.
Through 110 years of ownership, the Thompson's "always felt The Mountaineer-Herald is a ‘hometown news’ newspaper. We’ve always concentrated on local people, using names, events, happenings, sports and advertising. I always say it’s a ‘good news’ newspaper," he said.
Readers have enjoyed the Good Old Days column about events in the past, the New Year’s edition with two pages full of pictures of local people, and the feature Who’s Reading the Herald, he said. Who’s Reading features snapshots of local people reading the local weekly around the world, he said.
"We’ve had people on Red Square, pyramids, Taj Mahal and the top of the Eiffel Tower. It’s amazing," Thompson said.
None of his three children was interested in carrying on the family tradition of publishing the weekly, he said.
Item from The Tribune-Democrat, Thursday, May 10, 2001
Part 2 - What Happened in 2001?
Rich Hill mailto:[email protected] provided the following data that may be of interest:
According to the records of the Pennsylvania Newspapers Project, Ebensburg boasted several newspapers bearing the name Mountaineer (or some variation thereof) through the 19th Century and continuing on through today.
The first was published by Seely &Glessner from about 1836 through 1844. Only 4 issues are known to exist: July 25, 1838, August 22, 1838, May 19, 1841, and April 19, 1843. Only the 1838 issues were microfilmed and St. Francis College in Loretto and the Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown have these reels. The Cambria Historical Society in Ebensburg has the 1841 original issue and the Historical and Genealogical Society of Indiana County has the 1843 original issue.
Daniel C. Zahm issued his newspaper on February 4, 1858. Unfortunately it ceased sometime in 1860. The issues from February 4, 1858 through and including February 8, 1860 were microfilmed. The Cambria County Library System in Johnstown, the State Library of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, St. Francis College in Loretto, the Cambria County Historical Society in Ebensburg, and the Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown all have microfilm reels. The Cambria County Historical Society is also reputed to own the February 11, 1860 through August 22, 1860 original issues.
On June 18, 1891, W.R. Thompson and J.L. Sechler began to issue their newspaper. (The Thompson family continued to publish an Ebensburg newspaper up until several weeks ago, [May 30, 2001].) This 1891 newspaper was also reputed to come in a daily edition under the name, Daily Mountaineer. The weekly issues from June 18, 1891 through September 13, 1893 were microfilmed. The Offices of the Mountaineer-Herald in Ebensburg and the State Library in Pennsylvania own microfilm reels. The Cambria County Historical Society in Ebensburg is reputed to own the April 7, 1892 and July 21, 1892 issues in their original format.
W.R. Thompson began to publish the Ebensburg Mountaineer by himself on September 20, 1893 and it continued as a weekly newspaper through April 14, 1898. It was microfilmed and the State Library of Pennsylvania, Cambria County Historical Society, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania have microfilm reels. NOT every issue of this particular title was microfilmed. The Mountaineer-Herald has original issues from September 20, 1893 through June 17, 1898, the Historical and Genealogical Society of Indiana County has an original October 15, 1896 issue and the Cambria County Historical Society has an original March 24, 1898 issue.
The Cambria Herald and Ebensburg Mountaineer combined on April 21, 1898 to form the Mountaineer Herald. This title lasted through December 22, 1898. The issues were microfilmed and the Cambria County Historical Society and Indiana University of Pennsylvania have those reels while the Mountaineer Herald retained their original issues.
On January 5, 1899, Mr. Thompson issued the Ebensburg Mountaineer-Herald. This newspaper lasted until September 4, 1952. Most of these issues were microfilmed but no library reports having identical microfilm reel runs. There are many gaps. The best collections are at the State Library of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Cambria County Historical Society in Ebensburg, and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana.
The Mountaineer-Herald began publishing on September 11, 1952 and continued through May 30, 2001. Most of the issues were microfilmed through 1981 and the more complete collections are found at the State Library of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Cambria County Historical Society in Ebensburg and Indiana University of Pennsylvania but none of these libraries have identical runs. Original issues from 1981 to present are held by the Mountaineer-Herald and the State Library.
The publishers of the Tyrone Herald, Huntingdon Daily News, Latrobe Bulletin and
Bedford Gazette formed the Latrobe Printing and Publishing Company
and purchased the Mountaineer-Herald from the Thompson family.
6/23/01
Dave Thompson and Clark Creery in Florida --------------------------------------------------->
2001
Latrobe group buys weekly newspaper
By Sandra K. Reabuck (Tribune-Democrat Ebensburg Bureau)
David E. Thompson, a local resident who grew up working at his family-owned weekly newspaper, is selling The Mountaineer-Herald – a publication known for its liberal displays of local faces.
The 3,000-circulation Mountaineer-Herald has been owned by the Thompson family for three generations.
Thompson said he is selling to build his retirement nest egg.
"It’s with mixed emotions I do this. My dad always said go with your heart and do what you feel is right. Because it’s my retirement, I may not have this opportunity again," said Thompson, whose grandfather and father ran the weekly before him.
Latrobe Printing & Publishing Co., which publishes The Latrobe Bulletin, a daily newspaper in Westmoreland County, is buying the paper for an undisclosed amount. The new owner will take over June 1.
"Our plans are to become even more committed to the community and make the paper as attractive and interesting as possible for our readers. And, we want to put the paper into more hands of readers in that market," said William Anderson, one of Latrobe Printing’s managing partners. "We wish to keep all employees of The Mountaineer-Herald on board and will be looking to expand our news and business office staffs," Anderson said in a telephone interview from Bedford.
Anderson, publisher of the Bedford Gazette, is partners with George Sample, publisher of The Daily News in Huntingdon, and Latrobe Bulletin Publisher Chris Miles. Sample and his family’s Sample Media Group own the Huntingdon and Bedford papers, the Tyrone Herald and the Bargain Sheet of State College.
(Editorial comment by the page webmeister – Small town and interested in the readers?)
As for whether the new owners might consider converting to a daily newspaper, Anderson said, "That is being explored. But nothing is concrete at this time. One step at a time."
The Ebensburg weekly is the second newspaper owned by the partners, who "are looking to grow and expand," he said.
Gene Stepp, president of Sedloff Publications, which publishes the competing weekly News Leader in Ebensburg and other weeklies in Cambria County, said, "I just find it hard to believe (that Thompson is selling). That leaves us the only locally owned newspaper in the county."
Thompson, 54, a lifelong local resident, said he will continue to own the building in which the newspaper’s offices are located and continue to operate the commercial job printing plant on the second floor at 113 S. Center St.
His grandfather, Johnstown architect Walter Thompson, started the Mountaineer in 1891. His son, David, eventually became the editor and stayed at the help until stricken with a heart attack in late 1969.
At that point, young Dave Thompson, a senior at Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology studying graphic arts, returned home and took over the business a little earlier than anticipated.
"I’ve been here all my life. I remember we had an old Goss press – a letter press, and I helped out weekends and after school. In those days we printed on Wednesdays, and I can remember going home with ink on me. I learned to operate the Linotype and pretty much all of the equipment, "Thompson said in an interview at the newspaper office.
Through 110 years of ownership, the Thompson's "always felt The Mountaineer-Herald is a ‘hometown news’ newspaper. We’ve always concentrated on local people, using names, events, happenings, sports and advertising. I always say it’s a ‘good news’ newspaper," he said.
Readers have enjoyed the Good Old Days column about events in the past, the New Year’s edition with two pages full of pictures of local people, and the feature Who’s Reading the Herald, he said. Who’s Reading features snapshots of local people reading the local weekly around the world, he said.
"We’ve had people on Red Square, pyramids, Taj Mahal and the top of the Eiffel Tower. It’s amazing," Thompson said.
None of his three children was interested in carrying on the family tradition of publishing the weekly, he said.
Item from The Tribune-Democrat, Thursday, May 10, 2001