The Jamestown Post-Journal 19 Feb 1983
P-J, Ancestors Grew With Area

    The Post-Journal, with roots stretching back earlier than the American Revolution, has been publishing for more than 156 years.

    Adolphus Fletcher, who first published the Jamestown Journal on June 21, 1826, learned his trade while an apprentice on the Massachusetts Spy of Worcester.  The Spy was a pre-American Revolution newspaper that reported significant developments during the colonies' struggle with England.

    In 1818, Fletcher came to Chautauqua County from New England to live with relatives who had settled in what was to become Ashville.  He first tried farming, then ran a store and later kept a tavern.

    A group of lawyers and other prominent citizens in the then-village of Jamestown, feeling the need for a newspaper in their community, had been seeking a printer.  When they learned of Fletcher's training, he was persuaded to move to Jamestown in late 1825.

    Fletcher eventually turned the Journal over to his son, J. Warren Fletcher, who sold it to Frank W. Palmer in 1848.  For ten years, Palmer controlled the paper, which soon became the leading Whig organ of Chautauqua County.

    C.D. Sackett and Coleman E. Bishop took charge of the publication after Palmer left the paper in 1858.  Eight years later Bishop, who had full control of the paper after the death of Sackett, formed a partnership with A.M. Clark.  Clark bought Sackett's interest two years later.

    Clark made the paper into a four-page daily on Jan. 1, 1870.  Soon afterward,  Clark associated with Davis H. Waite, who subsequently became the sole proprietor.  Waite retained control until May 1876, when he left Chautauqua County and headed West.  Waite eventually became governor of Colorado.

    The Journal, consisting of a four-page daily and an eight-page weekly, was purchased by John A. Hall on May 20, 1876.

    In 1879, the Journal bought the Daily Edition of the Chautauqua Democrat and combined its subscription list with that of the Daily Journal.  In 1892, it purchased the plant and Weekly Democrat, converting its own weekly into a semi-weekly into a semi-weekly.

    In 1880, Hall took his son, Frederick P. Hall, into the business, forming a partnership known as John A. Hall & Son.  John A. Hall died in 1896, after which the Journal Printing Co. was organized.

    The first issue of the Jamestown Morning Post rolled off the presses on Sept. 2, 1901.  The newspaper was located in the Koehl Building, 19 Market St. Post headquarters were relocated to 311 Washington St. in 1912.

    In 1907, fire damaged the Journal's headquarters, and a new four-story building was erected on the site at 14 West Second St.  That building was occupied by the Jamestown Evening Journal until it merged with the Jamestown Morning Post in 1941.  The paper became known as the Jamestown Post Journal and was located at the former Post building on Washington St.

    In 1975, The Post-Journal returned to West Second Street, directly across the site of the Journal home from 1877 to 1941.

    John A. Hall, son of Frederick P. Hall became The Post-Journal's first managing editor.  He had been managing editor of the Journal since 1929.

    When The Post-Journal was sold to the Ogden Newspapers Inc. of Wheeling, W. Va., in 1961, Hall was named editor-in-chief, a position he held until his retirement  in 1968.  Robert Koon, who succeeded Hall as managing editor in 1961, was promoted to editor following Hall's retirement.  Koon became business manager of the parent company in 1969.

    Koon was succeeded by Leigh E. Burdick, who served as editor until his retirement in 1972.  Frank E. Fee Jr. followed Burdick, and served as editor until 1976.  Donald L. Meyer replaced Fee.

    Meyer was named assistant general manager in 1980 and succeeded  Earl Champlin as publisher and general manager in 1982.  When Meyer became publisher, Cristie L. Herbst was promoted from regional editor to managing editor.

    Today The Post-Journal publishes daily except Sundays and five holidays: New Year's, Labor Day, July Fourth, Memorial Day and Christmas.  The paper publishes Thanksgiving Day.

    The paper circulates just under 30,000 papers Mondays through Fridays and around 32,000 Weekender copies on Saturdays.  The newspaper employs 142 full- and part-time staff members, and covers Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties as well as Warren County, Pa.
 

10/31/2003
jpl