Menard County Texas

Newspaper History

Ft. McKavett Breeze

A short-lived weekly newspaper published by Columbus Redmon in Ft. McKavett. See Menardville Monitor (Source: Souvenir Keepsake Edition of the Menard News and Messenger Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of Menard County 1871. Vol. XXXIX, November 11, 1971, No. 2)

Menardville Monitor

Menard County’s first newspaper was known as the Menardville Monitor, established in 1887 or 88 by Columbus Redmon. The printing plant was located in the upper story of the old courthouse building. However, Redmon shortly moved his plant to Ft. McKavett and began the McKavett BREEZE, a short lived weekly. (Source: Souvenir Keepsake Edition of the Menard News and Messenger Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of Menard County 1871. Vol. XXXIX, November 11, 1971, No. 2)

Menardville Record

B. L. Bourland began the Menardville Record in 1889 and had his offices in the old Vander Stucken building on Main Street. Bourland sold the Record to J. W. Hunter in 1891 and he and his family operated the paper for a year before moving to Mason to begin the Mason Herald in 1892. (Source: Souvenir Keepsake Edition of the Menard News and Messenger Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of Menard County 1871. Vol. XXXIX, November 11, 1971, No. 2)

Menard County Enterprise

The Menard County Enterprise was established in 1893 by Dave Maddox who published the paper for several years. He was succeeded by Austin Callan who published a long account of the flood of 1899.

A firm of Brady lawyers J. E. Shropshire and Sam Hughes, purchased the Enterprise in 1903 and J. W. Hunter returned to become the editor and manager. Hunter resigned in 1904 to begin the Kimble County Crony in London. -See Menard Messenger- (Source: Souvenir Keepsake Edition of the Menard News and Messenger Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of Menard County 1871. Vol. XXXIX, November 11, 1971, No. 2)

Menard Messenger

(See Menard County Enterprise) The name of the Enterprise was changed to Menard Messenger in 1908. The Callans, Claud, Austin, and L. E. operated the paper for several years during this period.

R. E “Josh” Billings was the publisher of the Messenger in 1915. He also published a monthly magazine for a new organization, the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers’ Association. This magazine was of considerable help in the sheep and goat industry.

The first linotype machine was installed by J. W. Munsell in 1923. Mr. Munsell began printing more and better papers with the addition of this machine. Until this time, all type was handset, with a full day’s work for one typesetter being and average of five columns of type.

Owners of the Messenger following Billings for the next several years included Len Warren, who later sold the paper to George Speers, who in turn sold the plant to N. H. Pierce in 1941.

Menard News

N. H. Pierce established the Menard News on November 5, 1936, and upon acquiring the Messenger in 1941, merged the two papers, this time forming the present-day Menard News and Messenger. –see News and Messenger- (Source: Souvenir Keepsake Edition of the Menard News and Messenger Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of Menard County 1871. Vol. XXXIX, November 11, 1971, No. 2)

The Menard News and Messenger

Several honors were awarded to the Menard News and to the young Menard News and Messenger in this period. Included in these awards were; Best Mechanical Appearance in Division 8 of South Texas Press Association, 1942; Best Weekly Newspaper, West Texas Press Association, 1939; Best Mechanical Appearance, South Texas Press Ass’n, 1938; Best Front Page, South Texas Press Association, 1939; Best All-Around Newspaper, South Texas Press Association, 1941; and Second Place in National Editorial Association for General Excellence, 1940.

The Menard News and Messenger was sold to Hugh B. Thompson on February 1, 1951. Mr. Thompson, well-known Rocky Mountain area newsman, operated the newspaper plant until May 3, 1951, when he sold it to Lyle Young, newsman from Iowa. Mr. Young had worked on several papers in Iowa and Kansas.

Robert S. Weddle, a native of Bonham, took over the Menard News and Messenger on July 1, 1956. He came to Menard from the Sherman Democrat and is well-recognized in the newspaper circles. Widely interested in history, Mr. Weddle is the author of two books, “The Mission San Saba” and “San Juan Bautista”.

David Young of Bangs, Jerry Lyon and Ted Polk of Mason and Ted Rogers of Cisco, bought the paper from Mr. Weddle on October 1, 1967. Mr. Young managed and published the paper. The three other partners sold their interest in the business to Mr. Young and for a time Don Wilkinson of Menard was a partner in the News. Mr. Young is now the sole owner-publisher of the Menard News and Messenger.

The News is a weekly paper, published each Thursday, and is located in a brick building on the corner of Mission and Gay Streets, directly across from the Courthouse and the Elementary School.

The paper converted from letterpress printing to offset in 1969, with the first offset paper being printed on September 25 of that year. The paper is made up in the News office and taken to Kerrville for offset printing early in the morning of each Thursday.

Primarily a county paper, the Menard News and Messenger includes on its subscribers listing out-of-town and state people who are interested in Menard and her progress. (Source: Souvenir Keepsake Edition of the Menard News and Messenger Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of Menard County 1871. Vol. XXXIX, November 11, 1971, No. 2)

Present Day

The Menard News and Messenger is owned and operated by Dan Feather.

NOTE: While I strive for accuracy in all transcriptions, please be advised that typing errors may be present. I would suggest you always verify my online information with a copy of the actual record.

All contents of this web site are the property of Alicia Brown unless otherwise noted. You are free to copy or print out pieces of information for your personal genealogical research, but nothing on this site may be used in other ways without my permission.

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Saturday, March 22, 2008 11:00 AM