The following article was published October 13, 2001 in a special section commemorating The Dalles Chronicle’s Grand Opening in the former Sawyers True Value Hardware store at 315 Federal Street, The Dalles OR 97058. The building was remodeled through the year 2000, and moving day came on June 1, 2001. This article was written by then-editor, Dan Spatz. The Dalles, Oregon is known for its history, and newspapers have been part of that heritage since Oregon statehood in 1859. The first newspaper in Eastern Oregon was published in The Dalles. In the following decades no fewer than 20 newspapers competing dailies, a multitude of weeklies and even a monthly would document the history of The Dalles, from its days as a military outpost on the frontier through the momentous events of the 20th century, into a new century and millennium.

While The Dalles Chronicle today is the oldest newspaper in this region, it started out as a new kid on the block when its first edition hit the street on Dec. 10, 1890. By that time, there was already a 30-year tradition of newspapers here, and the Chronicle was only one of several Johnny-Come-Latelies to enter the fray. For a better perspective, lets start at the beginning, just a few short weeks after Oregon was admitted to the Union. A 1925 newspaper clipping, reporting events already 65 years old by that writing, said that during the first year of the Journals existence a syndicate of citizens, headed by H.P. Isaacs, took over the paper, and moved the plant from the Garrison downtown.

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