Galena Gazette

The Galena Gazette has been proudly serving the area since 1834 as the local newspaper. Over 10,000 readers look forward to receiving their newspaper weekly to keep up on the latest news and sports in the area, as well as local advertising and information.

In November 1834, Mr. Loring and Mr. Bartlett started a publishing tradition in Galena which has spanned more than 190 years.

On Nov. 27, 1834, the first issue of the North Western Gazette and Galena Advertiser rolled off the Franklin press. The editor noted that the newspaper "gives the news of the day and sustains the Whig cause."

With handset type in that first issue of four pages, The Gazette has evolved over the years. As Galena grew, the newspaper grew. . .not only in terms of circulation but in frequency, as well. The newspaper evolved from a weekly paper to a twice-weekly paper, to a three-time-a-week paper and then to daily publication. And for many years, the paper appeared as both a weekly and a daily.

After the Civil War, Galena's economy changed. Lead mining, once a staple of the economy diminished as the price of lead dropped. The Galena River flooded more frequently wreaking havoc in the downtown. . .plus it was no longer suited to riverboat traffic.

Through most of its history, the Gazette served the community as a daily paper, but by the early 1950s, under the ownership of Clint Youle, one of the USA's early TV weathermen, the Gazette moved to twice-weekly publication and then weekly publication.