The Times Herald (Norristown, Pennsylvania) facts for kids

The Times Herald is a daily newspaper that brings local news to people in Norristown, Pennsylvania. It has been around for a very long time, telling stories about the community. Today, it shares news in many ways, not just on paper!

The Start of The Times Herald

The newspaper first began on June 15, 1799. Back then, it was called the Norristown Gazette. The first person to publish it was David Sower. His father, Christopher Sower, was a well-known person who shared ideas against war. Because of this, some people called him a "Tory." This was a bad name for Americans who supported the British king during the American Revolution.

In 1800, the newspaper changed its name to the "Norristown Herald and Weekly Advertiser." It kept different versions of this name for many years. Then, in 1922, it joined with another paper, the Norristown Daily Times. Together, they became the Norristown Times Herald. Later, the word "Norristown" was dropped from the name. Now, it's simply The Times Herald. This newspaper is one of the oldest in the United States, ranking as the 13th oldest!

New Owners and Changes

In 1816, David Sower Jr. bought the Norristown Herald from his father. As the new boss, David Jr. made the newspaper pages bigger. He also got more equipment for the office. At some point, he changed the name to the Norristown Herald and Montgomery county Advertiser.

In 1854, David Sower Jr. sold the Herald to John Hodgson. Mr. Hodgson built a stone building on Main Street for the newspaper's offices. Later, in 1837, Robert Iredell, who owned a competing paper called the Free Press, bought the Norristown Herald and Weekly Advertiser. The first newspaper combining them was called the Norristown Herald and Free Press. It came out on February 1, 1837.

More Mergers and Growth

In 1864, Morgan E. Will and Robert Iredell Jr. became the owners of the Norristown Herald and Free Press. Later that same year, they joined with another paper, the Norristown Republican. In 1869, the partnership between Wills and Iredell ended. In December of that year, Wills started a new paper called the Daily Herald.

In 1881, Captain William Rennyson started the Norristown Daily Times. He had fought in the Civil War but had never worked at a newspaper before. In 1921, Ralph Beaver Strassburger bought the Daily Herald. In June 1922, he moved the newspaper office to its current spot on Markley Street. Just a few months later, in December, Strassburger bought the Norristown Daily Times. A week after that, the two papers joined together to form the Norristown Times Herald.

In 1993, after J.A. Peter Strassburger passed away, his family sold the newspaper to the Journal Register Co. That same year, the paper started being printed in the morning. Early the next year, they also started printing on Sundays.