by Barbara J. Wood
CHRONICLE-JOURNAL
Floresville Chronicle-Journal ceases operations
Wilson County News, 2008
[Mr. Joe was "a good old" gentleman who showed a readiness to share his time, his expertise, advice, & assistance... all for altruistic reasons. He was my Editor and dear friend for a few years shy the whole time he owned the Floresville Chronicle Journal. I wrote "Barbara's Talk of the Town" from 1971 - 2008 beginning with my children as babies and retiring with two grandbabies. ]
Floresville Chronicle-Journal ceases operations ... A chapter in Wilson County Texas history ended April 11, 2008, when the Floresville Chronicle-Journal ceased production after 131 years.
Operating under several different owners in recent years, the current owners said, "It is not financially feasible to keep the doors open" at this time.
The Chronicle-Journal began Jan. 26, 1877, as the Western Chronicle in Sutherland Springs, with E.B. Tarver as editor. The paper moved to Floresville, which became the county seat in 1873. For many years, the Chronicle was the primary source of news for the area. J.W. Anderson, the Dickey family, Joseph O. Boehmer, H.C. Thompson, and Dr. John V. Blake were at various times connected with publishing the Chronicle through the years.
In 1903, the Wilson County Journal was established by a stock company and operated successfully for a number of years.
In 1910, Sam Fore Jr. became editor of the Chronicle and the Wilson County Journal, both owned by Dr. J.V. Blake. Fore became the owner of the publications in 1912, when he was 22.
Fore combined the papers on Jan. 1, 1913. The two became the Floresville Chronicle-Journal. Fore and his wife owned and operated the newspaper until September 1963.
Because he had worked to build up the Chronicle-Journal for more than 50 years, Fore was careful in his selection of new owners. He wanted a family who would stay and keep the newspaper going.
Joe H. and Marjorie Fietsam became Fore's successors, along with their sons, Jimmy and Donny. The Fietsams purchased the Chronicle-Journal in 1963.
Because he had worked to build up the Chronicle-Journal for more than 50 years, Fore was careful in his selection of new owners. He wanted a family who would stay and keep the newspaper going.
Joe H. and Marjorie Fietsam became Fore's successors, along with their sons, Jimmy and Donny. The Fietsams purchased the Chronicle-Journal in 1963.
Under their leadership, the newspaper saw many changes, from the original hot type print to offset printing in 1967, and from on-site printing in Floresville to a number of printers. These included the Seguin Gazette, Christopher Press, the Sonny Richards printing plant, and the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Most recently, it was printed in Beeville.
The Fietsams moved the newspaper's office from C Street to Third Street on the courthouse square in Floresville in 1974. Marjorie Fietsam became the sole owner and publisher of the Chronicle-Journal on the death of her husband Jan. 8, 2003.
In March 2005, the newspaper was sold to Thomas L. and Diane Brossart. Thomas Brossart became the publisher/editor. He introduced readers to The Journal Extra during summer 2005. This free publication offered area readers a taste of the Chronicle-Journal's content. Readers still needed to buy or subscribe for full news coverage.
Plains Press Newspaper Corp. purchased the newspaper in March 2007. Jeff Jordan became the publisher, and publication of the Extra ceased.
The Chronicle-Journal was sold again in December 2007. Under Wilson County Publications LLC, Joe Baker became the publisher; Jason Clay Jansky was appointed managing editor. Under this leadership, the paper continued until April of this year.
The closure of the Floresville Chronicle-Journal follows a recent trend worldwide as print publications vie with other sources, such as online publications, for the attention of consumers.
********************
COURTESY/ Wilson County News 2008
[Mr. Joe was "a good old" gentleman who showed a readiness to share his time, his expertise, advice, & assistance... all for altruistic reasons. He was my Editor and dear friend for a few years shy the whole time he owned the Floresville Chronicle Journal. I wrote "Barbara's Talk of the Town" from 1971 - 2008 beginning with my children as babies and retiring with two grandbabies. ]
Floresville Chronicle-Journal ceases operations ... A chapter in Wilson County Texas history ended April 11, 2008, when the Floresville Chronicle-Journal ceased production after 131 years.
Operating under several different owners in recent years, the current owners said, "It is not financially feasible to keep the doors open" at this time.
The Chronicle-Journal began Jan. 26, 1877, as the Western Chronicle in Sutherland Springs, with E.B. Tarver as editor. The paper moved to Floresville, which became the county seat in 1873. For many years, the Chronicle was the primary source of news for the area. J.W. Anderson, the Dickey family, Joseph O. Boehmer, H.C. Thompson, and Dr. John V. Blake were at various times connected with publishing the Chronicle through the years.
In 1903, the Wilson County Journal was established by a stock company and operated successfully for a number of years.
In 1910, Sam Fore Jr. became editor of the Chronicle and the Wilson County Journal, both owned by Dr. J.V. Blake. Fore became the owner of the publications in 1912, when he was 22.
Fore combined the papers on Jan. 1, 1913. The two became the Floresville Chronicle-Journal. Fore and his wife owned and operated the newspaper until September 1963.
Because he had worked to build up the Chronicle-Journal for more than 50 years, Fore was careful in his selection of new owners. He wanted a family who would stay and keep the newspaper going.
Joe H. and Marjorie Fietsam became Fore's successors, along with their sons, Jimmy and Donny. The Fietsams purchased the Chronicle-Journal in 1963.
Because he had worked to build up the Chronicle-Journal for more than 50 years, Fore was careful in his selection of new owners. He wanted a family who would stay and keep the newspaper going.
Joe H. and Marjorie Fietsam became Fore's successors, along with their sons, Jimmy and Donny. The Fietsams purchased the Chronicle-Journal in 1963.
Under their leadership, the newspaper saw many changes, from the original hot type print to offset printing in 1967, and from on-site printing in Floresville to a number of printers. These included the Seguin Gazette, Christopher Press, the Sonny Richards printing plant, and the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Most recently, it was printed in Beeville.
The Fietsams moved the newspaper's office from C Street to Third Street on the courthouse square in Floresville in 1974. Marjorie Fietsam became the sole owner and publisher of the Chronicle-Journal on the death of her husband Jan. 8, 2003.
In March 2005, the newspaper was sold to Thomas L. and Diane Brossart. Thomas Brossart became the publisher/editor. He introduced readers to The Journal Extra during summer 2005. This free publication offered area readers a taste of the Chronicle-Journal's content. Readers still needed to buy or subscribe for full news coverage.
Plains Press Newspaper Corp. purchased the newspaper in March 2007. Jeff Jordan became the publisher, and publication of the Extra ceased.
The Chronicle-Journal was sold again in December 2007. Under Wilson County Publications LLC, Joe Baker became the publisher; Jason Clay Jansky was appointed managing editor. Under this leadership, the paper continued until April of this year.
The closure of the Floresville Chronicle-Journal follows a recent trend worldwide as print publications vie with other sources, such as online publications, for the attention of consumers.
********************
COURTESY/ Wilson County News 2008
