Hide Article Text (OCR)
Yesterday And TodayClay County’s Newspaper History TracedBy SHIRLEY DONNELLYClay County is neither a very old or immensely large political subdivision. It was created in 1858 from parts of Braxton and Nicholas counties and named for Henry Clay. Its population today is approximately 12,000.The area of the county is 346.61 square miles. The county seat is Clay. At first the town was called Marshall. Next itwas named Henry.Often in its early days the community was spoken of as Clay Court House or Clay Town.Today the county boasts two weekly newspapers, one Democratic and the other Republican. The Clay County Free Press is Democratic while the Republican paper is the Clay Messenger,THE FIRST NEWSPAPERpublished in the county was the Clay County Star. In September, 1883, the Star made its appearance at Clay Court House. It was non-political in its editorial expression, independent in all things but neutral in none. Editor and publisher of the Star was William P. Gould.When Gould later said the Star would carry the Republican torch the Democrats withdrew their support. In a sparsely-settled county like Clay, which had only 3,460 population in 1880, the Star could not prosper without general support. In short order it suspended publication.In a couple of years the newspaper was resumed and had a long run.began in a general election year and ran well for a while. But hope for the Progress did not materialize into profits and dividends.Andrews gave up the paper at about that time and his mantle fell upon the editorial shoulders of one Lon Kelly. Kelly was no more successful than Andrews and the Progress ended its brief life.The third Clay County journalistic venture was the Weekly Times. Some persons said behind the publisher’s back thathe spelled wrong the first nameof the paper. Lon Smith and E. C. Arnett were the Weekly Times’ leaders. It was independent and died in its early infancy from a lack of public support.THE SECOND ADVENTUREFOLLOWING THE WEEKLYTimes was the West Virginia Broad Axe with editor E. R. Andrews. The motto was: ‘‘Hew to the line! Let the chips fall where they may!”After two or three issues, the publisher changed the name from the West Virginia Broad Axe to the West Virginia Blade. A number of men tried to breathe life into the Blade.A man by the name of Gordon finally took over and launched a subscription campaign. After he got a good deal of subscription and advertising money he disappeared, leaving no forwarding address. The Blade came to an end.Then came The West VirginiaZoning BoardOkehs PermitsTwo applicants appearing before the Raleigh County Board of Zoning Appeals were granted zoning waivers at a public hear-Avalanche, a Democratic paper. H. B. Davenport Jr., was the editor. It failed. Next came the West Virginia Hoot Owl under Rufus M. Cook, editor and owner. It ran for a year or so before joining its predecessors. They were but a few of Clay County’s first efforts at giving its citizens a county paper.First Aid CourseCompleted By 23Two local organizations havesuccessfully completed theAmerican Red Cross sponsored first aid courses, according to Archie Riner, ARC Raleigh County Chapter first aid chairman.The Catholic Daughters of America, taught by Wendell Thurman, completed the course April 14.Those to receive standard first aid classes are Mrs. J. S. Higgins, Mrs. Monica Swann, Mrs. Pat Flederback, Mrs. Helen Pitotti, Mrs. Mary Shaw, Mrs. Mary Ann Wiseman, Miss Janie Pachuta, Miss Mary Burdiss, Mrs. James Flanagan, Mrs. Charles Lynch.Mrs. Rose 'Ktane, Miss Ja-melia Lynch, Mrs. Nora Gar-detto, Mrs, M. B. Smith, Mrs. R. G. Jones, Mrs, Elizabeth Linsky, Mrs. Rosie Mollish and Mrs. Paul Novak.Members of the Junior Wom-man’s Club of Beckley were awarded standard certificates for the completion of a first aid course taught by Riner.They are Sara Meador, Pat Dickenson, Lois Price, Betty Burgess and Sue Wiant.ip
Newspaper Details
Beckley Post Herald
Beckley, West Virginia, US
Thu, Apr 22, 1965
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
WV, USA 18 Oct 2021
Other Publications Near Beckley, West Virginia
Messenger
Beckley Messenger
Beckley Post Report
Daily News Digest
Post Herald and Register
