Myrtle Point Herald
{{short description|Weekly newspaper published in Myrtle Point, Oregon}}
{{Infobox newspaper
| name = Myrtle Point Herald
| type = Weekly newspaper
| owners = Matt and Kim Hall
| founder = W.L. Dixon
| foundation = 1889 (as the West Oregonian)
| language = English
| headquarters = 408 Spruce St,
Myrtle Point, OR 97458
| sister newspapers = Curry County Reporter
| oclc = 43191122
| website = {{URL|myrtlepointherald.com}}
}}
The Myrtle Point Herald is a weekly newspaper in Myrtle Point, Oregon.{{Cite web |title=Myrtle Point Herald |url=http://www.orenews.com/myrtle-point |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association |language=en}}
History
Myrtle Point's first newspaper was called the West Oregonian.{{Cite news |last=Peterson |first=Emil R. |date=August 26, 1957 |title=Historian Examines Backgrounds Of Newspapers In This Region |work=The World |pages=19 |publication-place=Coos Bay, Oregon}} The name was mocked at the time as The Oregonian of Portland and East Oregonian of Pendleton were already in circulation.{{Cite news |date=January 5, 1890 |title=Spirit Of The Northwest Press. {{!}} Covering The Entire Compass. |work=The Sunday Oregonian |pages=6}} The West Oregonian was founded as a Republican paper.{{Cite news |date=November 28, 1889 |title=Oregonian Is A Favorite Name |work=The Oregonian |pages=6}} The owner was merchant W.L. Dixon, who served was publisher, with Orval Dodge as editor and Dr. J. J. Gussenhoven as the business manager. It was printed by Washington hand press and first published on Dec. 3, 1889. The press was delivered by steam schooner from San Francisco to Bandon, then by river boat into town. At the time Myrtle Point had 300 residents who all came out to see the press delivered to its new home.{{Cite news |date=October 28, 1949 |title=Myrtle Point Paper Celebrates 60th Year Of Service |work=The World |pages=8}}
After experiencing early financial difficulties, a group of local merchants called The Board of Trade of Myrtle Point bought the paper and installed Dodge as publisher/editor. The next owner was John H. Roberts, followed by Dodge, then attorney W. O. Philips, who failed and returned the paper to Roberts. After many changes in management and location, the plant was eventually sold off. The paper officially ceased sometime in August 1895.{{Cite news |date=August 16, 1895 |title=News Of The Northwest. {{!}} Oregon. |work=The Oregonian |pages=4}}
Myrtle Point was without a newspaper for a time. But E. P. Thorp and W. C. Conner saw an opportunity. The duo published the Riddle Enterprise in Riddle for two years before deciding to move their plant to Myrtle Point{{Cite news |date=October 29, 1895 |title=To Move From Riddle |work=The Eugene Guard |pages=4}} to launch the Myrtle Point Enterprise on November 16, 1895.{{Cite news |date=November 22, 1895 |title=Note And Comment. |work=The Medford Mail |pages=4}}{{cite book |last=Turnbull |first=George S. |title=History of Oregon Newspapers |title-link=wikisource:en:History of Oregon Newspapers |publisher=Binfords & Mort |year=1939 |chapter=Coos County}} Conner operated the paper for four years until selling it to G. M. Short and J. C. Roberts. In October 1901, E. C. Roberts acquired Short's interest, and sold it in May 1905 to L. J. Roberts.
In 1909, L. C. Bargelt bought out Roberts, later selling his stake to C. M. Schultz. In 1917, Schultz sold the Enterprise to W. R. Smith, who then immediately changed the name to the Southern Coos County American{{Cite news |date=December 6, 1917 |title=Get New Editor {{!}} W. R. Smith Of Portland Takes Over Enterprise |work=The World |pages=1}} out of patriotic fervor inspired by World War I. In 1923, J. M. Bledsoe bought the paper from Smith,{{Cite news |date=July 14, 1923 |title=Bill of Sale |work=The World |location=Coos Bay, Oregon |pages=6}} who then sold it in George E. Hamilton about two years later.{{Cite news |date=December 21, 1925 |title=New Myrtle Point Editor |work=The World |location=Coos Bay, Oregon |pages=12}} Hamilton soon renamed the paper to the Myrtle Point Herald because he disliked the long name, feeling it gave subscribers writer's cramp writing it across checks. Hamilton put the paper into its own building for the first time. He sold it in 1932 to father and son R. L. and J. L. Tucker.{{Cite news |date=February 29, 1932 |title=Report Paper Sold |work=The World |location=Coos Bay, Oregon |pages=2}}
After Tucker died, his widow sold the paper in 1940 to Arthur R. Jones. Jones was a Presbyterian minster who previously published papers in John Day, Prineville and Condon.{{Cite news |date=August 16, 1940 |title=Minister Buys Ore. Newspaper |work=Baker City Herald |pages=6 |agency=Associated Press}} In 1947, Jones sold the paper to Logan White. In 1948, Elbert Floyd Hall, who a year prior sold the Canby Herald, and his brother George Hall of Tampa, Florida, purchased the Herald from White.{{Cite news |date=September 29, 1948 |title=Myrtle Point Paper Purchased by Hall |work=The Capital Journal |location=Salem, Oregon |pages=9}} Elbert Hall worked as the business manager and George Hall as the paper's editor. In 1953, a defective oil burner conversion unit caught the Herald's office and printing plant on fire. Ten tons of newsprint was destroyed but important machinery were not affected. Damages were estimated at $4,000.{{Cite news |date=April 8, 1953 |title=Fire Damage To Herald Near $4,000 |work=The World |location=Coos Bay, Oregon |pages=1}}
In 1961, Herald publisher E. F. Hall died.{{Cite news |date=August 18, 1961 |title=Publisher Floyd Hall Dead At MP |work=The World |location=Coos Bay, Oregon |pages=1}} His son Al Hall then bought out George Hall and back the Herald