Paper Celebrates 125 Years
Recorded Growth of City, State and Country Over the Years
Posted: December 22, 2012 at 4 a.m.
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Springdale Morning News office on Lowell Road in 1991
The first issue of The Springdale News came off the press in 1887, 125 years ago. Readers of the paper that first year would have known Grover Cleveland was president, Queen Victoria ruled England and Doc Holliday, of OK Corral fame, had died in Colorado.
Time Line
Springdale Morning News
1825: John and Mary Fitzgerald first settlers in Springdale
1840: Area becomes known as Shiloh
1872: Post office established with name of Springdale
April 1, 1878: Springdale incorporates as a town
1881: Frisco Railroad reaches Springdale
May 7, 1888: First issue of The Springdale News published
1900: Newspaper circulation tops 1,200
March 1903: The Springdale News offices move to Emma Avenue
1908: Electricity comes to city
1917: Springdale’s Company A National Guard sent to World War I
1922: Springdale water system online
1930: A paved U.S. 71 to Alma opens
Sept. 24, 1933: Original News owner John Stafford dies
September 1933: Marty Stafford becomes newspaper publisher
May 22 1938: Spring Creek floods downtown
July 1, 1945: First Rodeo of the Ozarks held
March 1946: Springdale becomes city of first class
June 1948: News publishes three times a week
June 6, 1949: Publication goes to five week days a week
Sept. 9, 1949: First radio station, KBRS, opens
1955: Bob Sanders purchases stock in News
1957: Marty Stafford dies, wife Glaphyra Stafford new publisher
1958: Sanders family purchases all of paper
1962: Bob Sanders retires, sells to brothers and sister-in-law
1965: Urban Renewal begins in downtown Springdale
1968: New offset press installed in Mill Street Building
June 1, 1970: Tornado rips through city, killing one man
1970: News moves to old Jones Terminal Building
1972: Sunday edition added
1973: Donrey Media purchases The Springdale News
1978: Charles McKinney starts first term as mayor, serves 20 years
1982: Charles Sanders retires, last of family to leave paper
1988: Sharing of Springdale and Rogers news copy begins
1990: New press building opens on Lowell Road
1990: Paper switched to morning publication
1992: New office building on Lowell Road opens
1992: Saturday edition added
1992: News’ Fayetteville office opened
1993: Stephens Media purchases Donrey
November 1994: Rogers and Springdale papers merge, forming Morning News of Northwest Arkansas
February 2001: Paper becomes The Morning News, publishes four zoned editions
January 2009: Ice storm hits city, power out up to five days, newspaper production temporarily moves to Rogers
November 2009: Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, Springdale Morning News’ parent company, formed by Stephens Media and WEHCO Media
SOURCE: Staff Repot
This story is only available from our archives.
(Advertisement)
« Previous Story
NRA: Schools all need guards
Seven days after the massacre of 26 children and teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., t... Read »
Next Story »
Longtime News Employee Sees Numerous Changes
The 125 years of The Springdale News is tied to the longevity of the people who worked at the paper and owned it. Read »
Comments
To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers. Please read our comment policy.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Registration is required to make comments. Click here to LOGIN.
You can register for FREE to post comments and receive alerts.