The Sentinel Progress

 Sentinel was founded in July 1871 by D. F. Bradley and J. R. Holcombe as “a newspaper with a conscience.” It is the oldest continuous business in Pickens County.

“Once, when the newsprint did not arrive by train for the March 6, 1873 issue, due to heavy shipments of fertilizer,” former owner Jerry Alexander said, “The newspaper was condensed and printed on old timey Blue Horse notebook paper. This issue is unique in the annals of South Carolina Journalism.”

By 1873, Bradley was editor and proprietor, and by 1875, J. H. Carlisle was in charge of the editorial department. J. C. Thompson was printer.

The newspaper was sold August 26, 1886, to J. E. Boggs, who told subscribers that “a sheep is just as current at this office to pay subscriptions as greenbacks.” Boggs sold the newspaper to J. L. O.

Thompson, a newspaperman from Oconee County, and H. A. Richey, Thompson’s father-in-law.

A new newspaper, People’s Journal, was founded in 1903 by T. C. Robinson, and in 1903, the two newspapers merged to form the Sentinel-Journal.