The Altamont News - Serving the community for over 128 years
by Ellie Maroon
The Altamont News is the oldest business in Altamont that is still in
operation. After 128 years The Altamont News is still alive and well and
churning out papers every week.
In the 75-year history book of Altamont it says, ³Seventy-five years have
passed since Altamont began as a hamlet of a few log houses to become a
bustling city of over 2,000 people, with beautiful homes, modern stores,
excellent schools, fine churches, and a growing, prosperous city.²
Altamont was not long without a newspaper. In May 1873 a newspaper was
started by G.W. Grove of Kinmundy. The paper was named The Altamont Courier
and was located over Killman¹s store. The paper only lasted until November
when Groves moved to Virginia.
I did not find much information about the Grove family. I assume their
vital statistics are recorded in Marion County (Kinmundy.)
The next newspaper was not started until March of the following year. The
partners Loffbarrow and Alma and Humble of Fairfield came to town and
started publishing the Altamont Telegraph. This business had some changes
over the years. Humble retired, and Hale Johnson took his place. The new
firm employed M.A. Bates as printer and editor, and this business continued
until 1877 when it was sold to C.M. King from Lexington, IL. The old
equipment in the building was sold and moved to Stewardson, and the Altamont
firm got new elegant equipment. The Telegraph continued until August, 1881.
The Loofbarrow or Humble names do not show up in the Effingham County census
or the history pieces that I have checked. I assume they were not in town
long enough to make a census and lived in other towns for the census taker
to find.
In the 1880 census I found Charles M. King as 33, occupation printer, his
wife Minnie, age 31, and son, Samuel H. The parents were both born in PA,
and the son in IL.
In December of 1881 the paper was purchased by C.F. Coleman and G.M. LeCrone
and named The Altamont News. This paper covered Altamont and the
surrounding areas, so it had interest in many surrounding towns.
In the Centennial Book there was a mention of Charles F. Coleman under a
section that listed old settlers of the Village of Altamont. I am assuming
that this C.F. Coleman is the same as the one who edited the St. Elmo paper
from 1888-1893. He was born in Missouri, and his wife May was born in
Indiana. In the 1900 census of Fayette County they had been married for 18
years and had no children. I assume that he went from The Altamont News to
The St. Elmo Banner.
In the 1883 History of Effingham County there was a biography of George M.
LeCrone. He was a well-educated man who was involved in many projects over
the years. He was born in Ewington, Effingham County, the son of Dr. John
LeCrone. George M. LeCrone was a teacher in the area for a number of years;
he served the position of deputy Circuit Clerk, and in 1878 he purchased
half interest in the Effingham Democrat. In 1881 he sold out his interest
and joined with C.F. Coleman as owner of The Altamont News. In October of
1882 he formed a partnership with N.D. Clutter, and under the firm name of
Clutter & LeCrone, they conducted the business of real estate, insurance,
and loans.
In the 1880 Census was a Noah D. Clutter, age 36, who was listed as an
insurance agent. His wife was Kate, age 34. He was born in PA, and she was
born in Washington, D.C.
A quote from the 1883 history book concerning the News reads, ³On the ninth
of December, 1881, C.F. Coleman and G.M. LeCrone purchased a new office and
commenced the publication of The Altamont News. That bids fair to live long
and prosper. None of the Altamont papers had any politics.²
In this book it also mentions that LeCrone was on the original Fair Board
and was serving as president when they had the first fair.
In the 1910 History of Effingham County Newspapers it is written that G.M.
LeCrone returned to the Effingham Democrat in 1884, and L.J. Wallach became
the editor of the news and continued for ten years.
As I looked at the papers, I realized that in the earliest ones we have
filmed, August 1, 1884, J. Zimmermann is listed as proprietor. He is not
listed in the histories of the paper that have been written over the years.
The August 22 issue had G.M. LeCrone as editor and proprietor. This means
the paper changed hand three times in a couple months.
In the September 12 issue there was an announcement that read, ³All
outstanding accounts due to News on advertising, job work, and subscriptions
to date, of whatever character, are due Mr. Mechler and will be collected by
him.² This was signed by G.M. LeCrone.
In one issue I found an editorial by the editor, Geo V. Michler, that read,
³What the people want and will have is the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth. The News will endeavor to give news each week in a
fair and candid manner, going neither to the right nor left to excuse a
fraud or paliate (sic) a wrong."
The July 16, 1885, paper had an article titled ³Fins² that reads, in part,
³With this issue the News changes into the hands of L.J. Wallich. During
the last few months the News has had many stormy sessions and has suffered
many indignities (sic) from Oleading citizens¹ who should have done all in
their power to encourage it.² He goes on to say good things about the new
editor and to encourage all to support him. Note: My curiosity was
certainly peaked. I would love to know what happened that would cause him
to write that. The article continued with, ³It should not by much of a
surprise to anyone that has in several instances been pursued toward us, I
ask the people of Altamont to come forward and do all in their power to help
our successor make a success of the News. In union there is strength.²
In this same issue there was a long item of greeting from the new editor.
In the July 30, 1885 issue of the News there was a short item in the items
that said, ³Mr. Wallich has been detained at Arenzville. As soon as he
arrives the News will assume under his direction."
I found nothing about L.J. Wallich in any of the history books. In 1894, or
so, he was replaced at the News by F.M. Schilling.
The only place in the histories where I found Shilling was on the pages
about the newspapers. He was also listed in the 1880 census. F.A.
Schilling, age 41, and occupation was listed as merchant; wife, Fannie, age
41; daughter, Mary, age 17, occupation listed as teacher, and son, F.W.J.,
age 12. Mr. Schilling was born in Germany, Mrs. Shilling in Ireland, and
the children in New York.
The history says that H.H. Bailey purchased The Altamont News from Schilling
in 1906. Mr. Bailey published The Altamont News for many years, selling it
in 1938.
Mr. Bailey was born in Shelby County, the son of Isaac and Jane Moore
Bailey. He was raised near Stewardson and had a good education. He was a
teacher for a number of years. In 1902 he married Katie Kuffel. They built
the residence on John Adams St., which is now the residence of the Seidels.
After purchasing The Altamont News, Mr. Bailey soon doubled the circulation.
A quote from one of the history books, ³The predominating qualities of the
paper are its neat, attractive appearance, its bright, newsy items, and its
forceful editorials. The proprietor of the enterprise believes in progress,
and had his newspaper plant in one of the best appointed offices in Central
Illinois."
The history books which have been printed over the years did not mention
that E.B. Schorsch owned the paper. But when I checked the paper, in the
November 30, 1938 issue, a head line says, ³Altamont News Under New
Management,² and the article reads, ³With this issue E.B. Schorsch, who has
published the paper for three and a half years, signs off.² There is a long
article mentioning that the new owners were Mr. and Mrs. Court Ferris, and I
chose this one sentence to share. ³The memories and friendships formed here
will be with us forever, and a constant reminder of some of the most
pleasant days of our life."
The next little article reads as follows, ³Hello, Altamont. Coming into a
city like Altamont at Christmas time is gratifying. But to be able to call
Altamont home, the News or business, and its friends our friends, is
particularly so. We are going to continue as best we can to make The
Altamont News a paper that stands first and always for Altamont and its
people.² This is signed Mr. and Mrs. Court Ferris. He is listed in the
papers as publisher, and she is listed as editor.
January 30, 1947 issue has a large headline, ³Announce Sale of Newspaper.²
There is a long article announcing that the paper has sold to Mr. and Mrs.
Otha Lanier. The article reads, in part, ³Last December marked the
beginning of our ninth year as owner and publisher of the News. And as
residents of Altamont, having moved here in December of 1938 from Washington
D.C. in September of 1941, we constructed the present building. In January,
1942, we purchased the Altamont Herald and combined the two papers. In
February of 1942 a fire destroyed the new building, but due to help of the
people of the community we were soon on our feet again. During the war it
was hard to keep publishing due to shortage of paper, men all going to war,
etc."
They went on to thank everyone and say how much they had enjoyed their years
in Altamont. They thanked Clinton Schroeder, who kept things going in the
back; Leroy Heiden, the printer¹s devil and cleanup boy; Mrs. Helen Pearce,
who sold ads and did office work; Mrs. Ernest Schroeder, who supplied the
News with the news, the correspondents, and the boys who delivered the
papers.
They said they felt they were leaving the paper in good hands and introduced
the readers to the Laniers.
The April 26, 1951 issue has a front page headline which reads, ³Altamont
News Sold to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cox of Newton, Effective May 7.²
Mr. Cox was a native of Louisvilleand had been a member of the editorial
staff of the Newton Press for the past year.
The Coxes have a 21-month old son and have moved to Altamont to make their
home among the community.
There was an article in the May 3, 1951 paper written by the Laniers which
reads, ³It is our sincere belief that Mr. and Mrs. Cox will continue to
publish The Altamont News in a manner of which you will be proud, and that
they will in turn receive the same splendid cooperation which you have so
generously accorded us."
In May 1, 1958, the headline read, ³Clinton P. and Joan E. Schroeder Become
New Owners of The Altamont News, as Coxes Leave After Seven Years. The
Coxes will be going to Lebanon, IL, where he will become Director of Public
Relations at McKendree College.
³Clinton is no stranger to the news business, He worked at the News during
high school, writing sports and general news, ran the lnotype, and performed
back shop duties. He spent six years in Europe, and while there, he covered
the coronation of Queen Elizabeth for The Altamont News. Clinton was
married while in England."
The Coxes thanked everyone in this issue and asked them to continue to show
support for the new publisher. Once again The Altamont News changed hands.
In January of 1962 Mr. and Mrs. Bernie Schorsch and Mr. and Mrs. Omer
Siebert purchased the business from the Schroeders. The Schroeders have
purchased the Cassville American and will be moving to Cassville, Wisconsin.
Mr. Schorsch is the son of E.B. Schorsch, who owned the paper in the middle
1930¹s.
Omer Siebert has been an employee of the News for more than 11 years.
In the January 2, 1964 issue of the news, it states that the partnership of
Schorsch and Siebert, publisher of the Altamont News for the past two years,
was dissolved as of January 1, 1964.
Mr. and Mrs. Omer Siebert have purchased the Schorsch interest and beginning
with this issue, are the new publishers of the paper.
The staff includes the Sieberts, Herb Bratton, who has been with the
business for a number of years, Bob Eliis, and Bernie Schorsch will stay on
as advertising manager.
They thanked everyone in the community for their support. ³A weekly paper
can only be what its readers want it to be."
Gert Heiden worked for The Altamont News for 25 years. She drew her first
paycheck from the Sieberts on December 11, 1965.
In October 26, 1990 issue it reads, "The Altamont News Sold Effective
November 1." The Sieberts sold to Dale and Jeanne Wolff and Bruce and June
Burkey. The Sieberts had been publishers for 28 years, and their comment
was, "There's always a time for change. According to our calendar, this
seems to be the time for us to make a change."
They thanked everyone in the community and hoped that the Wolffs and Burkeys
will receive the same splendid cooperation they have had the past 28 years.
In an interview with Dale Wolff, I asked him why buy a newspaper? His answer
was, "At the time no one locally seemed to want to step up and purchase the
paper. He and Bruce agreed that a paper was important to the area in many
ways, so they decided to give it a try."
My next question was why sell? He said that they loved some of the aspects
of the business, but found it was just to much work for them when they both
had legal careers to pursue. They wanted to sell to the employees, but they
could not see their way clear to accept the offer. Greg Hoskins was dealing
for The St. Elmo Banner, and he thought the two papers would fit well
together, so he made an offer for The Altamont News and became the new
owner.
The next sale of The Altamont News was to the present owners of both
The Altamont News and The St. Elmo Banner.
The sale was finalized in December of 1994, and Greg Hoskins, owner of
Better newspapers, Inc. in Mascoutah, Illinois, became the owner of both The
St. Elmo Banner and The Altamont News. Joe Baker was brought in to be
editor of both papers, and he remained in Altamont until he moved on at the
end of 1997.
In February of 1998 Altamont native, Clyde Barr, was named editor and his
wife Barbara became manager. Both of the Barrs had been working for the
papers since December, 1996, as sports writer and in advertising.
Clyde and Barb live east of Altamont in Clyde¹s childhood home. They have
three children, Greg, Jeff, and Amanda.
Barb graduated from high school in Indiana and came to the area in 1979.
Clyde spent all of his grade and high school career in Altamont school
system then attended Lake Land College.
The Barrs have settled into the community and are taking an active part in
many activities. They feel that by participating in a wide variety of
events and getting acquainted with many people they will help the paper to
be better, for the whole community. Some of these events are in connection
with their family activities, and others are just things they are interested
in. Barb served as a past president and as a member of the Altamont Garden Club,
past president of the Effingham First Christian Church Ladies Evening
Circle, past secretary of Altamont Parent Teacher Advisory Council, and she
has served as vice president of the Altamont Grade School PTO.
Clyde, of course, is interested in sports of all kinds. He was president of
the Altamont All-Sports Club for three years. He also coached Summer League
for over 26 years. Clyde was an active member and served on the Board of
Directors of both the Altamont Chamber of Commerce, where he served as the
secretary for one year, and the Effingham County Fair Association where he
held both the secretary and president positions and is still a member.
The family is a member of the Altamont Christian Church.
The Barr family, in their off time, enjoy camping, horseback riding, and
attending rodeos with their daughter Amanda.
They want the community to know that their family looks forward to providing
the best hometown newspaper possible. Their goal is to help The Altamont
News become more and more a valuable asset to the community and to increase
the subscription which will in turn help them to provide a better newspaper
for the readers and advertisers.
Besides Barb and Clyde, the other employees are Casey Kessler, Nancy Barr,
Ann Marsh, April Stuemke, Alvin Oliver, Curt Becker, Amanda Barr, and Justin Stock
Editors Note:
And we would like to thank all businesses and folks that support our paper.
Our family is very appreciative of our support since we have taken on the
responsibilities of The Altamont News, and we look forward to serving the
community of Altamont for many years to come. Clyde and Barb Barr.
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