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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2017)
History Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, January 18, 2017 A7 O UT OF THE P AST Blue Mountain Eagle Jan. 19, 1967 50 years ago Blue Mt. Eagle Begins Its 99th Year Of Publication Most readers probably didn’t notice it, but the Blue Mountain Eagle took another step toward a milestone with the fi rst publication of the new year. Under the fl ag on top of the front page was the notation, “Volume 99 Number 1.” This signifi es the beginning of the 99th year of Oregon’s oldest weekly newspaper. Founded in 1868, the Eagle is the continuation of the Grant County News, The Prairie City Journal and the John Day Val- ley Ranger. Its birth is traced back to the colorful gold mining days in Canyon City. The fi rst pa- per was published in Canyon City in October 1868, under the name “City Journal,” by R. H. J. Comer. Comer brought his print- ing equipment to Canyon City from The Dalles by pack train. The equipment consisted of a job press and enough ad and body type to put together a small newspaper. The City Journal, a three-column folio, 7 3/4 by 10 1/4 inches over all, was pub- lished “semi-occasionally by the Typographical Society for the proprietors.” The fourth is- sue of the paper appeared eight months following the fi rst pub- lication. The policy of the paper con- cerning local news was, “Local news being of such a nature that everybody, or any other man, knows every other person’s business, except their own, we shall publish only such as suits our purpose.” Joaquin Miller, former Eu- gene newspaper man and later Grant County Judge, known to world-wide fame as the “poet of the Sierras,” was a frequent contributor to the Canyon City paper in the sixties and seven- ties. In the early seventies, the name of the paper was changed to the Canyon City Express and later to the Grant County Ex- press. H. R. Gale became edi- tor in 1876, about the time the name was changed to the Grant County Times. In 1879 a new owner, S. H. Shepherd, changed the name to the Grant County News, an independent paper issued on Saturdays. The Grant County News had the fi rst telephone in the coun- ty with the installation of the “strange instrument” in 1898. In 1908, Clinton P. Haight, a University of Oregon law school graduate, became half owner of the News with P. F. Chandler. In the same year the new fi rm purchased the Blue Mountain Eagle, which had been moved from Long Creek to Canyon in 1900. The papers were consolidated under the name of the Blue Mountain Eagle. The Long Creek Eagle was founded by C. E. Dustin and Peter Connolly in November 1886. The population of Long Creek was approximately 150 persons. In 1898, the name of the Long Creek paper was changed to the Blue Mountain Eagle. Two years later, it moved to Canyon City. When the Eagle moved to Canyon City, Charles A. Coe started the Eastern Ore- gon Ranger, a Friday indepen- From Jan. 19, 1967: CANYON CITY 1902 - Washington Street in Canyon City in 1902 was the scene of much activity. Board walks saved the residents from sloshing in knee-deep mud during rainy weather. The office and shop of the Blue Mountain Eagle is shown on the corner of the left side of the street. On the extreme right is the historic St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church. The Eagle office and the business section of Canyon City was destroyed by fire in 1937. dent Republican weekly. Later the name was changed to the Long Creek Ranger. This was the beginning of the John Day Valley Ranger. In 1908, Coe sold the paper to J. H. Allen, present justice of the peace and former county judge, and W. E. Weird who retained ownership until it was sold to Arthur R. Jones in 1930. Jones was a minister but had been publishing a paper at Mitchell. Jones moved the paper and printing plant to John Day in 1930. He operated the paper until the 1937 Canyon City fi re when it was purchased by Chan- dler and Haight. Three major fi res swept serve you! Give us a call today 541-676-9158 - Heppner 541-384-2801 - Condon We welcome the opportunity to visit with you about our services! Overall Health Starts with a Healthy Smile. Emergencies, most Insurance Plans and Oregon Health Plan Patients are all welcome. Some level of treatment financing is available to everyone. Let our family of Pharmacists LES SCHWAB TIRE • JOHN DAY POLARIS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • 1188 PUB AND GRILL Advantage Dental Group PC 750 West Main John Day, OR 97845 • 888-468-0022 ext. 61863 www.AdvantageDentalClinics.com er consolidated in August 1948. Both papers had been under the same ownership and manage- ment since 1942. The name of the Grant County Blue Moun- tain Eagle was selected as the offi cial title of the paper. Other papers made brief ap- pearances in Grant County. One was the John Day Sentinel and another was the Avalanche Jour- nal. Since the last consolidation in 1948, the Eagle continued to broaden its scope in the tradi- tion set by the earlier editors and publishers. In the past few years, news was categorized into sec- tions such as society and sports. The Eagle has taken on a more modern look in the past year to enhance readability of news, features and advertising. Last week the Eagle printed 2,405 copies, the highest in his- tory. The Blue Mountain Eagle is enjoying its highest circula- tion, which is larger than when the population of Grant county was greater. At least 93 percent of all homes in the county re- ceive the Eagle each week. THE GRANT COUNTY SNOWBALLERS WANT TO THANK THESE SPONSORS FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT OF THE SENECA WINTER CLASSIC RACES HELD IN SENECA ON JANUARY 7TH AND 8TH. ADVANTAGE DENTAL CLINICS Schedule Your Dental Appointment with Advantage Dental Today. through Canyon City with the fi rst occurring in 1870. The second fi re, which started in the Elkhorn Hotel Nov. 11, 1898, destroyed the entire community except the newspaper offi ce. But luck ran out for the paper in the third fi re. Starting in Ho- tel Canyon April 20, 1937, fi re completely destroyed the busi- ness district of Canyon City, in- cluding the Blue Mountain Ea- gle. The Canyon City paper put out a special edition, through the courtesy of the John Day Valley Ranger, while the fi re was still raging out of control. Lost in the fi re were the complete fi les of the old Canyon City papers. Only scattered is- sues of the early papers remain. After publishing for 42 years, the Prairie City Journal was ab- sorbed by the Blue Mountain Eagle in 1942. The paper was fi rst named the Prairie City Min- er and was changed to the Grant County Journal in 1912. Later the name was changed again to the Prairie City Journal. The Blue Mountain Eagle and the John Day Valley Rang- SPECIAL THANKS TO THE IZEE 4H CLUB FOR THEIR CONCESSIONS AND THE BLUE MTN. HOSPITAL AMBULANCE. TIM R. HOLLY, PRESIDENT Heppner & & Condon Heppner Condon