The history of community newspapers in the Newcomerstown area is long and varied, yet the Newcomerstown News continues to serve the area with great local coverage and friendly service from its knowledgeable and dedicated staff.
Newcomerstown's first newspaper was the Newcomerstown Visitor, which began circulating on June 7, 1871. Although it carried the name Newcomerstown, it was at first a continuation of the Saturday Visitor, which was published in Coshocton.
The publishers of the first newspaper were Dr. A.M. Beers, A.W. Johns, and W.B. Beech. This paper later became known as the Ohio Independent.
In September of 1813, the Independent was purchased by two men from Barnesville, Ohio, Dr. W.H. Dunham and J.A. Buchanan, who changed the name of the paper to the Newcomerstown Argus. But the destiny of the Argus was illfated. Four years later, it was destroyed by fire on November 20,1877.
That fire left Newcomerstown without a newspaper for about two months. Then, in January 1878, W.V. Kent and W. Ferguson of Cadiz established the Newcomerstown Eye. It later suspended publication and in March of 1882 was made into the Newcomerstown Index by A.C. Hursey. It was later acquired by R.M. Temple, who operated it until 1889, when it was passed into the hands of M.C., Julien. In about 1895, it was sold to Bowers and Hammond, who operated the paper for about a year. Then M.C. Julien and John T. Duff purchased it jointly and continued until 1898 when M.C Julien left the firm.
In August of 1898, the Newcomerstown News began publication under the management of Wilkie Rusk in the Ortt building housing the A&P store on Main Street. It was acquired by M.O. Julien in 1900. A year later M.C. Julien, father of M.O. Julien, joined the Newcomerstown News. It was operated by M.C. Julien and son for 18 years. ln 1920 the News Printing Company was incorporated by M.C. Julien, M.O. Julien, and C.W. Phillips.
In 1928 the Newcomerstown Index was merged with the Newcomerstown News, and for several years it was published as the News-Index. After World War II it became known as the Newcomerstown News again. M.O. Julien, News printing Company president, died in April of 1957. His son, M.K. Julien, succeeded him as president.
The Newcomerstown News, 140 W. Main Street, is a "community Newspaper" in the truest sense. The News has a long tradition of communify journalism, supporting the economic development ofthe region and surrounding towns and villages.
The Newcomerstown News is celebrating its 110th year in operation, covering primarily the village of Newcomerstown, but also covering West Lafayette, Port Washington, and Gnadenhutten; including the school districts of Newcomerstown, Ridgewood, and Indian Valley.
The managing editor of the Newcomerstown News is Ray Booth, while the editor, who manages most of the day-to-day news, is Niki Wolfe. Wolfe, a former part-time news reporter for The Daily Jeffersonian, and 2003 Muskingum College graduate, started in 2003 as editor of the News.
"I strongly believe the newspaper should serve as the cornerstone of the community. It should reflect the happenings of the area as well as highlight the citizens, because you are what makes the news," Wolfe said.
The rest of the experienced staff at the Newcomerstown News includes office managers and sales representatives Shirley Johnson and Kathy McCune as well as advertising sales person Michelle Glazet Peggy Murgatroyd serves as disffict sales manager.
The Newcomerstown News is part of the weekly division of The Daily & Sunday Jeffersonian, which is itself part of Dix Communications. Other weekly newspapers in the division include the Bamesville enterprise, the New Concord Leader and the Byesville Village Reporter.
Booth, who was editor of the News for over 20 years, is currently manager of the weekly division. "The Newcomerstown News is not just a business," Booth said. "It's been a part of ramilies' lives for over 100 years. Articles and pictures from the Newcomerstown News are in every scrapbook in the community. We believe in the community, the school, the people and the future of economic development."
"With our location at the intersection of Route 36 and I-77, Newcomerstown is in a perfect place to take advantage of growth," Booth said. "The Newcomerstown News wants to be able to keep that momentum going and chronicle the grou.th of our community."
