Old Missoula

Missoulian Ownership Changed Hands Often

Just 10 years before the Northern Pacific came through Missoula, this newspaper was established under its present name, the Missoulian, on May 1, 1873.

It was the successor to the Missoula and Cedar Creek Pioneer, which was founded at Superior (then Cedar Creek) in 1870. The Pioneer served a bustling mining camp some 60 miles west of Missoula.

Judge Frank H. Woody, first editor of the Missoulian, announced in its initial edition that it would be devoted to the interests of Missoula County, which then comprised all of western Montana. That has continued to be the policy, with the paper serving all of western Montana.

Name Changed Often

The Missoula and Cedar Creek Pioneer was owned by Joseph Magee and I. H. Morrison. In January 1871 the name was changed to Missoula Pioneer. In November 1871 the plant was sold to W. J. McCormick, with W. S. Scribner as partner, and the name was shortened to the Pioneer.

Judge Woody was installed as editor of the Pioneer late in 1872 when the newspaper became known as the Montana Pioneer. In 1873 Woody and T. H. Chisholm purchased the plant, moved it to Missoula and named the paper the Missoulian. This name has continued, making it the oldest paper in the state to operate under the same name.

Woody & Turk

Later in 1873, W. B. Turk purchased Chisholm’s interest, and the paper operated under the Woody & Turk firm. Woody retired in 1874, and Turk died in 1875. Worden & Co. took over the paper that year, and was succeeded a few months later by the Barbour & Aspling firm, with Chauncey Barbour as editor. Barbour bought out his partner and was sole owner until August 1879.

Duane Armstrong was the next owner, but retired in 1880, when his brother, John, assumed editorial charge. Those were important days in the history of the Treasure State as the Northern Pacific Railway pushed its lines westward.

The town of Weeksville, now long abandoned and almost forgotten, was headquarters for construction crews, and violence rivaled that of the Vigilante days of 20 years before. John Armstrong’s editorials were so heated that frequently he was called upon to defend them with his fists.

Combined With Times

Harrison Spaulding, then publishing the Missoula Times, purchased the Missoulian and combined it with the Times, dropping the name of the latter. He acquired membership in the Associated Press, and the Missoulian became a daily. On Aug. 14, 1892, Spaulding sold the plant and good will to Lambert Molinelli.

The next transfer came during the fight for location of the state capital. Helena capitalists acquired ownership from Molinelli, and George Boos came here from the Helena Journal, of which he had been manager, to take charge. He remained until 1901, when a combination was formed in the interests of the Republican state campaign and took over the Missoulian. George E. Harris and later E. J. Willis conducted it under lease.

Plant Is Enlarged

In 1902 the Missoulian Publishing Co. was formed, with T. E. Butler as business manager and Harry O. Collins as managing editor. Associated Press membership was expanded to include leased wire service, and the Missoulian enlarged its plant. Butler sold his interest in August 1907, and Joseph M. Dixon secured control with several of the employees owning stock.

This combination started with A. L. Stone as business manager and editorial writer. Sherman Leach succeeded Stone as business manager, and Stone continued as editor until he became first dean of the Montana State University School of Journalism in 1914.

Dixon In Charge

From then until May 1917 Dixon took active charge of both business and editorial departments. At that time Martin J. Hutchens, Lester L. Jones and George E. Rice assumed control. Hutchens was editor, and James A. Sage business manager.

They continued until September 1926 when the Anaconda Co. (then Anaconda Copper Mining Co.) purchased control. Warren B. Davis came here from Butte as editor, and C. A. Colby became business manager. Davis served as editor until his death Sept. 1, 1939. Colby continued as business manager until his retirement in 1943. French T. Ferguson succeeded Davis as editor, and R. E. Morrison followed Colby as business manager. On Jan. 1, 1946, Guy Mooney became editor.

The Lee Newspapers of Montana took over control of the Missoulian June 1, 1959. Lloyd G. Schemer became business manager Aug. 15, 1959, after Morrison had been named business manager of all Lee papers in the state.