During the late 18^th and through the 19^th centuries, the small towns of Carroll County functioned in many ways as self-contained units.  Craftsmen and businesses located in these towns to serve the surrounding agricultural community.  The lack of transportation, in comparison to modern standards, meant that the small town became the center for social and other activities including churches, schools, fraternal organizations, community bands and seasonal celebrations.  Systems of communications were also self-contained in comparison to today and many of Carroll County’s towns had their local newspaper to serve the community’s needs.

In most cases, these newspapers were once-a-week publications that offered a standard format of national and international news, literary and educational articles, business advertising and local items of interest.  The quality of the local newspapers varied widely and the concept of journalism as unbiased reporting was unheard of to the editors of that period.  In fact, most of the newspapers were started from a political base and served to communicate the ideas and political agenda of a particular party.  Even though the political philosophy affected the coverage of local events, these newspapers still contain much information useful to the genealogist and local historian.

In general, early 19^th century newspapers featured much national and international news which was copied from other newspapers.  Toward the end of the century, improvements in printing technology began to make and impact on the small town newspaper.  These papers were printed on the presses owned by a local businessman who also ran a job printing shop.   Innovations allowed for larger page sizes, improved quality and more efficient methods of setting type and running the presses so that many papers began wider coverage of local events.  Usually local coverage took the form of a “local items” column that provided one paragraph statements of happenings around town and in the immediate vicinity.

The 1880s began a boom period for local newspapers in Carroll County.  Printing industry improvements not only made local coverage easier but also reduced the costs for equipment so that many small towns had entrepreneurs who attempted to start a paper.  Frequently, they were unsuccessful.  The Westminster newspapers began their attempts to provide county-wide coverage in the 1880s by running columns from other towns written by correspondents who lived in those town.

The 1880-1920 period provides the greatest wealth of information to the Carroll County researcher.  Almost every sizeable town in Carroll County had a newspaper during this period and their coverage of local events was at its peak.  These papers can provide much information about the local community and frequently include items for family research. 

The Enterprise
1883 - 1965
Joseph S. Cornman and Company began The Enterprise in Manchester but moved it to Hampstead.  The first Hampstead edition was April 5, 1883.  Cornman sold it to Charles M. Bush in 1891 and it went through a series of owners:   Henry M. Meals (1892 – 1895); Jessee F. Malehorn & Son (1895 – 1897); Lewis C. Caltrider; Weldon Wooden; Bright Publishing Company; A.M. Hall; Edward W. Belt; and Hampstead Publishing Company.  The paper was purchased by Albert A. Phillips, Sr. in the mid-20^th century and was run by Albert A. Phillips during its later years.

The Carroll Record
1972 – 1976
With the closing of  the Enterprise in 1965, the Carroll Record (published in Taneytown) began broadening its coverage in the Hampstead area.  Stromberg Publications, Inc. published a Hampstead-Manchester edition jointly with a Taneytown-Union Bridge edition soon after is bought the paper in 1971.  In 1972, it moved the offices to Hampstead, where they remained until 1976 when they were moved to Westminster.

The Enterprise
1880 – 1883
Established at Manchester with the first issue appearing December 11, 1880 by Joseph S. Cornman and Company, the paper removed to Hampstead in 1883.

Manchester Gazette
1870 – 1872
Established at Manchester with the first issue appearing October 14, 1870 by W.R. Watson, editor and proprietor; J.A. Bartley, assistant editor.   On April 1 of the same year, the plant was sold at public auction to George Everhart.  Lewis C. Myerly was named as editor and publisher with William A. Lockard, printer.  The paper was sold to Smith and Seitz of Glen Rock, PA in January 1872.  They published the sheet only a short time, then sold to Smith and Bittinger who removed the plant to Hanover, PA.

The Marylander
1838
Published at Manchester in 1838.

Manchester Messengers
1837
Began publication at Manchester in 1837 with a Mr. Smythe as editor and publisher.

The Telephone Messenger
1888, 1906 – 1912
First published for only a short time beginning with the January 7, 1888 edition by Messers Cornman and Company, Charles J.H. Ganter, local editor.  Reappeared on August 20, 1906 with Ganter as editor and published by the Bright Publishing Company of Hampstead.

The Community Reporter
1929 – 1983
Established at Mt. Airy with the first issue appearing November 29, 1929 with George C. Rhoderick, Jr., managing editor and L. Pearce Bowlus, local editor.   Printed by the Valley Register, Middletown, MD.  Last edition was July 1, 1983.

The Mt. Airy Messenger
1916 – 1922
A monthly newspaper begun in Mt. Airy on March 3, 1916 by the Mt. Airy Board of Trade, Ira Watkins, manager.  Bought by the Sykesville Herald to form the Herald-Messenger.

Mt. Airy Press
1927
Established by the Mt. Airy Publishing Company, Howard Warner, proprietor and editor.  The first issue appeared October 14, 1927.

The Mt. Airy Weekly
1892
Established at Mt. Airy with the first issue appearing June 18, 1892.

The Carroll County Herald
1858 – 1860
Established at New Windsor with the first issue appearing January 22, 1858, Josiah Bankard, editor and proprietor; T.S. Asklock, publisher.   Consolidated with The Enterprise in 1860 and published as The Weekly Press (see Uniontown).

New Windsor Herald
1880 – 1881
Established at New Windsor with the first issue appearing August 7, 1880, J.F. Devilbiss and W.R.A. Koehl, joint editors and proprietors.  Published semi-monthly, the newspaper appeared in an enlarged form August 20, 1881 under the new title of My Maryland.

My Maryland
1881
Established at New Windsor with the first issue appearing August 1881 by the Maryland Publishing Company, W.R.A. Koehl, editor.  The office of publication was at New Windsor College.  My Maryland succeeded the New Windsor Herald.  The paper was published at New Windsor for a short period of time and was then removed to Washington, DC and published as Thrift.

The True American
1854 – 1855
Established at New Windsor with the first issue appearing December 1854 by H.C. Geatty and Dr. Roberta Bartholow.  Geatty purchased Bartholow’s interests June 29, 1855.

The Chatterbox
1881 – 1884
Published by Addison M. Strouse, editor and proprietor from May 24, 1881 to May 10, 1884 when its name was changed to the News.

The News
1884 – 1886
Published by Addison M. Strouse, editor and publisher who changed the name from the Chatterbox to the News beginning May 24, 1884.  The last issue was June 5, 1885 when the paper and press were moved to Westminster to begin the Westminster News.

Herald-Messenger
1922 – 1931
A change to title from Sykesville Herald as part of its continuous run.  Began November 23, 1922 and continued until January 22, 1931 when it reverted to the original title.   William S. Church, editor and manager.

Herald-Record
1977
A short-lived consolidation of the Carroll Record and Sykesville Herald (it appears that the Sykesville Herald continued as a separate edition) under the management of Stromberg Publications, a subsidiary of the Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company.

South Carroll Herald
1979 – 1983
Stromberg Publications, Inc., a subsidiary of the Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company, changed the name of the Sykesville Herald to the South Carroll Herald in 1979.  On November 1, 1979, they sold the paper to Landmark Community Newspapers of Maryland, Inc. (owner of the Carroll County Times) who ran it until the last edition on December 28, 1983.

Sykesville Herald
1913 – 1922, 1931 – 1979
Established at Sykesville with the first issue appearing September 18, 1913 with David W. Dean, owner, and A.M. Hall (late of the Hampstead paper, the Enterprise) as editor.  The Herald Company was incorporated in 1918.  Hall resigned in October 1921 and his brother, D.F. Hall, took charge.  William S. Church became editor and manager on August 21, 1922.  The name of the paper changed to Herald Messenger on November 3, 1922, which continued until January 22, 1931 when it reverted to the original title.  William F. Church became editor in 1936 and business manager upon the death of his father in 1942.   Church sold the paper in July 1971 to Stromberg Publications, Inc. of Ellicott City, which was purchased by the Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company in 1973.  The Carroll Herald was consolidated with this paper to form the short-lived Herald Record in 1977 but the Herald also appeared simultaneously until 1979 when it became the South Carroll Herald.

Carroll Record
1894 – 1977
Established at Taneytown with the first issue appearing July 7, 1894 by the Carroll Record Publishing Company, Preston B. Englar, editor and business manager.  The company purchased the plant of the defunct (Westminster) Carrolltonian which had ceased publication the previous year.  Under Englar’s leadership, the paper did much to promote local history research by publishing numerous articles about the history of the region.  After Englar’s death in 1945, Charles L. Stonesifer became the editor and served in that capacity until September 8, 1967 when his majority stock in the company was sold to Charles Whitfield Drury of Alexandria, VA who became editor.  In 1971, the paper was sold to Stromberg Publications of Ellicott City, MD which published both Taneytown-Union Bridge and Hampstead-Manchester editions until 1975.  The office moved to Hampstead in 1972.  In May 1975, the office moved to Westminster where it remained until the last issue was printed on January 26, 1971, at which time Stromberg Publications consolidated the paper with the Herald to form a short-lived Herald-Record.  Editors under Stromberg Publications were James Zyla, David Barkley, Kate Roberts and Joan Candy.

The Maryland Recorder
1832 – 1833
Established at Taneytown with the first issue appearing in 1832 with John K. Longwell as editor and proprietor.  Longwell had previously purchased the Regulator.  About May 1833, the operation was moved to Westminster where he established the Carrolltonian.

The Occasional
1880
Established at Taneytown with the first issue appearing April 24, 1880 with O.E. Steiner and L.D. Reid as editors and proprietors.  It was begun mainly to promote and advertise local businesses and was distributed free of charge.

The Regulator and Taneytown Herald
1830-1832
Established at Taneytown with the first issue appearing May 15, 1830, Samuel P. Davison, editor and publisher.  John K. Longwell purchased the paper in 1832 and began publication of the Maryland Recorder.

The Searchlight
1894
A short-lived paper that first appeared in July 1894 and was printed in Frederick by Joseph Forward, publisher.

The Taneytown Druggist
1899
While not listed in most lists of Carroll County newspapers, one issue of this paper is known to survive.

The Carroll News
1886 – 1898
Established at Union Bridge with the first issue appearing May 20, 1886 by Edward Reisler, editor and publisher.  J. Harry Dreschler purchased interests and took charge September 11, 1897 with H.S. Cowley, assistant editor.  The paper was published until the last of October 1898, when it was sold to the American Type Foundry, Baltimore, MD.

The People’s Voice
1875 – 1877
Established at Union Bridge with the first issue appearing September 1875 by Nock and Scott.  On January 22, 1876, the paper was enlarged and a patent adopted.  Publication ceased February 1877.

The Pilot
1899 – 1972
Established at Union Bridge with the first issue appearing October 27, 1899 by J. Hamilton Repp, editor and proprietor.  In May 1902, J. Ross Galt purchased interests and served as editor and publisher.  The Pilot Publishing Company was incorporated April 17, 1905.  Oliver J. Stonesifer served as editor from May 26, 1908 until his death on October 6, 1950.  M.H. Rakestraw became editor and publisher until the Pilot was sold to the Carroll County Times on June 5, 1969.  It ran as a special section of the Carroll County Times until 1972.  During its run, the paper was known by several names including: Pilot, Union Bridge Pilot, Bridge Pilot and The Pilot.

Union Bridge Index
1882 – 1884
Established at Union Bridge with the first issue appearing March 25, 1882 by George E. Woody and Ben A. Richardson, joint editors and owners.   On July 16, Woody sold to C.J. Wentz and the firm continued as B.A. Richardson and Company.  This firm in turn sold to Woody and Charles F. Weigandt, Jr.  In October, Weigandt sold interest to Woody.  The paper was published only a short while afterward when Weigandt established the Weekly Era, continuing the volume from the Union Bridge Index.

The Weekly Era
1884 – 1885
Established at Union Bridge with the first issue appearing December 1884 by Charles F. Weigandt, Jr., editor and publisher, continuing the volume without interruption from the Union Bridge Index.  Weigandt sold the entire plant to L.S. Forrest for a horse, buggy and cutter (sleigh) in July 1885.  It was later claimed by Wilson and Hooper under a bill of sale.

The Engine of Liberty and Uniontown Advertiser
1813 – 1816
Established at Uniontown with the first issue appearing September 9, 1813 by Charles Sower.  Sower was a descendent of the Christian Sauer family of Germantown, PA who established the first German newspaper in America.  Sower located his paper in Uniontown at a time when consideration was being given to forming a new county out of sections of Baltimore and Frederick counties.  Uniontown was a possible choice for the county seat, should a new county be formed, and Sower viewed this as a good business opportunity.  When the county was not formed, Sower renamed his paper the Star of Federalism.

The Enterprise
1859 – 1860
Established at Uniontown with the first issue appearing November 19, 1859 by Charles A. Gosnell, printer and publisher, and Jacob H. Christ, editor.  Published until January 1860, then merged with the Weekly Press.

Star of Federalism
1816
Established at Uniontown with the first issue appearing April 19, 1816 as the successor to the Engine of Liberty.  Charles Sower, editor.  Removed to Frederick, MD, December 7, 1816.

The Weekly Press
1860 – 1863
Established at Uniontown with the first issue appearing February 17, 1860 by Jacob H. Christ, editor and proprietor.  An outgrowth of the (Uniontown) Enterprise and the New Windsor Herald.

American Sentinel
1855 – 1928
This was one of the major newspapers of Carroll County and it had a varied history of editors and owners.  The first issue appeared June 15, 1855 as the paper continued without interruption from the Westminster Carrolltonian under William H. Grammer, editor and publisher.  The paper supported the American political party.  After Grammer’s death, the editors were Thomas J. Lockard (1862-1868); Harry J. Shellman (1868); William L.W. Seabrook (1868-1873, 1888-1909); Dr. William H. Rippard (1873-1888); and Joseph D. Brooks (1909-1928).

The American Trumpet
1854 – 1855
Established at Westminster with the first issue appearing November 16, 1854, by John E. Smith, editor, and Augustus C. Appler, publisher.  The paper supported the “Know-Nothing” party.  Its presses and equipment were sold to the Carroll County Democrat and its subscription list were sold to the American Sentinel.

Amphion’s Journal
1875
A small literary and humor newspaper with Mary B. Shellman, editor, W.T. Hoppe, publisher.  Only one edition is known to survive.

The Appeal
1887
A campaign newspaper established at Westminster with the first issue appearing October 21, 1887.  The editor was W.L.W. Seabrook.  The paper supported the Republican party for four weeks before the 1887 election, then disbanded.

Baltimore News American
1966 – 1970
In 1966, the Baltimore News American opened a Westminster office and ran a one-page Carroll County Edition inside their regular evening newspaper.  This special edition continued until 1970.

Boy’s Rights
1875 – 1877
A small literary and humor monthly published by W.T. Hoppe of Westminster.

The Carroll County Democrat
1846 – 1863
Established at Westminster with the first issue appearing April 1, 1846.  This paper was an outgrowth of the Democrat and Carroll County Republican.  Joseph M. Parke and Josiah T.H. Bringman were the editors and proprietors.  Parke sold his interests to Bringman in 1848, who continued until he sold to Augustus C. Appler on October 2, 1851.  George H. Randall came into possession by purchase May 15, 1855.  On July 3, 1856, Randall sold to Joseph Shaw who edited and managed the paper.  Randall then became associate editor.  Shaw continued until 1863 when he established the Western Maryland Democrat.

The Carroll Record
1976 – 1977
The paper moved from Hampstead to Westminster in May 1976 where it remained until its last edition on January 26, 1977.  See Taneytown for a more complete history.

The Carroll Sun
1984 –
Established as a weekly Carroll County edition known as the Sunday Sun and distributed by the Baltimore Sunpapers, the first edition was issued October 14, 1984 with Edward H. Shur, editor.

The Carrolltonian  and Baltimore and Frederick Advertiser
1833 -1855
Established at Westminster with the first issue appearing June 28, 1833 by John K. Longwell, editor and publisher.  In 1838, it was changed to Westminster Carrolltonian.  During October 1844, Francis T. Kerr became associated with Longwell and the firm became known as the Francis T. Kett. Co.  Following Kerr’s death in 1846, George D. Miller became editor and publisher.  Longwell and Miller sold to William H. Grammer in 1848.  Grammer continued as editor and publisher until the paper ceased publication on June 8, 1855 and Grammer began the American Sentinel with the next issue.

The Carrolltonian
1887 – 1893
Established at Westminster with the first issue appearing December 3, 1887 by the Carrolltonian Publishing Company.  Interests of the Carroll County Democrat were purchased by the company and the first issue appeared as Vol. 1, No. 43 as a continuation of the Carroll County Democrat.  The paper suspended publication in September 1893 upon receivership.

Cupid’s Messenger
1877
A “society journal” devoted to news of local love affairs, Cupid’s Messenger enjoyed only a single issue which appeared October 6, 1877; W.T. Hoppe, editor.

The Democrat and Carroll County Republican
1838 – 1846
Established at Westminster with the first issue appearing March 22, 1838 by William Shipley, is was sold to Joseph M. Parke in 1840.  Parke continued until a partnership was formed with Josiah T.H. Bringman (a native of Gettysburg, PA) on March 12, 1846.  The paper then changed to the Carroll County Democrat.

The Democratic Advocate
1865 – 1972
Established at Westminster with the first issue appearing November 30, 1865 by William H. Davis, editor and publisher.  Davis continued until February 15, 1866 when he sold to Joseph M. Parke.  Davis again purchased the interests of the paper November 25, 1867.  W.H. Vanderford succeeded Davis as editor and proprietor March 19, 1868.  In March 1906, the Democratic Advocate Company was formed with Dr. J. Howell Billingslea as presiden and William H. Vanderford as editor.  Paul Winchester succeeded Vanderford and W.J. Wilkinson followed the brief editorship of Winchester.  Edward O. Diffendal was editor from 1906 to 1960 when Mrs. Virginia Minnick became managing editor.  The last edition was printed on December 26, 1968.  The paper was purchased by the Carroll County Times which produced an Advocate-Times edition until September 25, 1972.

Hanover Evening Sun
1920 –
The Hanover Evening Sun (which issued its first edition April 19, 1915) began featuring a news of Carroll County column in the early 1920s.  In 1926, Gladys Wimert became the Carroll County correspondent and the local news frequently ran in two columns on page 6.  On September 27, 1961, a daily Carroll County Edition was inaugurated.

The Headlight
1888 – 1890
Established at Westminster with the first issue appearing January 7, 1888 with Addison M. Strouse, formerly of the Westminster News as owner-editor.

The Mirror
1936
A pro-development advertising paper published on December 10, 1936 to promote the sale of subdivision lots of old hotel property at Ralph and Green Streets in Westminster.

Republican Citizen and State Advertiser
1821
Established at Westminster with the first issue appearing in May 1812 by George W. Sharp.  He later moved to Frederick, MD where he published a paper under the same name.  Sharp came here from Mariett, Lancaster County, PA.  The paper was established under the auspices of Judge Abraham Shriver.

The Times
1911 –
Established at Westminster with the first issue appearing October 6, 1911 by Mather Printing Company, George K. Mather, editor and business manager.  The Times Printing Company, Inc. was organized August 1, 1914 with john H. Mitten and H. Peyton Gorsuch, editors, and Claude T. Kimmey, business manager.  J. Leland Jordan was named associate editor In January 1937.  In 1947, the Mather family sold the operation to J. Rolling Hunter and John M. McCormick, the latter serving as editor from 1951 to the early 1960s.   Hunter’s interest was sold to Elmer Jackson and the name was changed to the Carroll County Times on July 5, 1956.  Ownership changed twice during the 1960s:  first Dr. and Mrs. Edgar Berman sold the paper to Adam Speigel; in March 1974, Landmark Communications, Inc., the Virginia-based parent company of Landmark Community Newspapers of Kentucky bought the paper.  In March 1980, the Times began printing five days a week and a Saturday edition was added in 1984.

Western Maryland Advocate
1863 – 1865
Established at Westminster with the first issue appearing March 19, 1863 by W. Scott Roberts.  Joseph Shaw, former owner and editor of the Carroll County Democrat became editor and owner with C.A. Horner as printer.  On April 15, 1865, the plant was destroyed by a mob and Shaw was murdered.  The last issue of the paper appeared April 13, 1865.

Westminster News
1886 – 1887
Established at Westminster with the first issue appearing June 12, 1886 by the Westminster News Publishing Company with Addison M. Strouse, editor and proprietor.  The paper was discontinued in February 1887 and the circulation lists were sold to the Carroll County Democrat.

Westminster Observer
1817 – 1818
Records are very brief concerning this paper.  It was established about December 1817 by George Keating and was removed to Frederick, MD in the latter part of 1818.

The history of Carroll County's newspapers was compiled by Joseph Getty.