Joe M. McLaurin, a former local historian and contributing columnist for the Daily Journal, compiled a list of former newspapers in Richmond County in a set of columns dated April 16, 1995 to May 14, 1995.
“I have come across references which clearly indicate there was at least one newspaper, and perhaps two, which were published in the county prior to the Civil War,” McLaurin wrote. “Even so, I’ve never been able to locate the name, or names. One of those, and perhaps the only one prior to the Civil War, was published and edited by James T. Powell Sr.”
The list that follows only includes present Richmond County and not newspapers published in present Scotland County, which was a part of Richmond County until 1899. The list is not compiled in alphabetical order but, instead, will start with the oldest and work forward to the present.
PRE-CIVIL WAR NEWSPAPER(S)
There was at least one, which was published in Rockingham.
Publisher and editor: James T. Powell Sr.
Title: Unknown; however, may have been called The Gazette.
Date started: Unknown
Discontinued: Date unknown. No copies known to have survived.
By the time of the Civil War, James Powell had moved to Cheraw, South Carolina, where he was again publishing a newspaper.
SOUTHERN ARGUS
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Publisher and editor: Unknown
First issue: Unknown
Discontinued: Unknown
No copies known to have survived.
Names of two employees are known: Miss Sarah Ann Lampley (she wrote the “social column”) and Justin Holmes Ragan
THE OBSERVER
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Started 1868 by Douglas Stewart
Discontinued: Date unknown
No copies known to have survived.
COURIER-SOUVENIR
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Editors: C.P. Ervin and John Duckett
Started about 1869 or 1870
Discontinued: Date unknown
It is believed that this newspaper was eventually sold, and the name changed to The Pee Dee Bee.
NOTE: There is the possibility, judging from early records, that the Courier-Souvenir may have resulted from the merger of two earlier newspapers, one known as the Courier and the other as the Souvenir.
THE CAROLINA CLIPPER
Each Saturday, published in Rockingham.
Publisher and editor: William R. Terry
First issue: June 1, 1872
Discontinued: Date unknown
Only one issue, dated July 6, 1872, is known to have survived.
SPIRIT OF THE SOUTH
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Publisher and editor: William R. Terry
Started January 1872
In 1894 it was sold to Alfred Settle Dockery Sr., who changed the name to The Southern Index.
A few copies have survived. First: May 9, 1874. Last: Dec. 22, 1888.
THE BEE
Also known as The Pee Dee Bee.
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Published by Frank Sandford
This newspaper may earlier have been the Courier-Souvenir and represents a change to this name.
First issue: Jan. 6, 1873
Discontinued: Sometime in 1883
Several copies have survived. First: April 5, 1879. Last: July 16, 1881.
ROCKINGHAM SPIRIT
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Publisher and editor: Unknown
First issue: Prior to March 1878
Discontinued: After January 1883
No copies are known to have survived.
THE ROCKET
Started 1873 by W.R. Knight
Published in Rockingham; likely a weekly.
First issue: Date unknown
Discontinued: Sometime in 1899
By 1892, ownership had changed to J.M. Blue and W.E. Harrison. By 1898, it had been purchased by Henry Clay Wall Sr.
1898 editor was John W. Walsh
In 1899, it acquired rival newspaper The Republic, and both The Rocket and The Republic merged into the Anglo-Saxon.
THE PEE DEE COURIER
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Publisher and editor: Frank Sandford
Slogan: “A conservative paper having the largest circulation of any other paper published in the Pee Dee County.”
Date started: Prior to May 18, 1873
Discontinued: Unknown
Several copies have survived. First: May 13, 1876. Last: Dec. 23, 1876.
THE ADVOCATE
Weekly, published in Rockingham
Editor: William H. Quick
An African-American publication
Date started: Perhaps 1897
Discontinued: Unknown
Only one badly faded copy is known to have survived.
CENTRAL ARGUS
Weekly, published in Hamlet
Date started: Unknown
Discontinued: Unknown
Only issue known to have survived dated Nov. 4, 1880.
ROCKINGHAM ROCKET
Weekly, published in Rockingham
First issue: Prior to July 9, 1885
Discontinued: Sometime after June 5, 1890
Henry Clay Wall Sr. listed as editor and owner in 1899.
R.W. Knight listed as editor and “proprietor” in 1890.
A few copies have survived. First: July 9, 1885. Last: July 8, 1897.
RICHMOND ROCKET
Weekly, published in Rockingham
Publisher and editor: Henry Clay Wall Sr.
Started in 1883
In 1899, merged with the Anglo-Saxon.
Several copies have survived. First: April 3, 1884. Last: July 8, 1897
ROCKINGHAM INDEX
Founded in 1894 by Alfred Settle Dockery Sr. (Note: Dockery was just 18 years old at the time.)
First issue: Unknown
Discontinued: After August 1897
No copies are known to have survived.
THE DAILY ECHO
Believed to have been a weekly, not a daily.
Published in Rockingham by John H. Walsh
Date started: Unknown
Discontinued: Unknown
Only one copy, dated March 22, 1897, is known to have survived.
ANGLO-SAXON
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
First issue: May 1, 1899
In May 1899, acquired The Republic and The Richmond Rocket.
In Aug. 1909, Anglo-Saxon sold to The Post.
Several copies of the Anglo-Saxon have survived. First: May 18, 1899. Last: Aug. 1, 1908.
THE SOUTHERN INDEX
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Started in 1894 by Alfred Settle Dockery Sr.
In 1894, purchased the Spirit of the South and changed the name.
Discontinued: After June 6, 1896
Note: In 1976, the Richmond County Daily Journal duplicated four pages of the Jan. 11, 1896, issue of The Southern Index and distributed them free as a promotion and public service. The reprinted copies did not contain a notation that they were not original. Many of these reprints are now surfacing with the mistaken belief that what has been found is the original.
THE PEE DEE UNION
Likely a weekly, published in Rockingham.
An African-American publication
Started: Prior to July 10, 1897
Discontinued: Date unknown
Only one faded, unreadable copy known to exist.
HAMLET ENTERPRISE
Weekly, published in Hamlet.
Editor: W.E. Clark
Started: Prior to July 1897
Discontinued: After Aug. 5, 1902
No copies are known to have survived.
THE REPUBLIC
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Owners: Claudius Dockery, Sheriff J.M. Smith and W.A. McDonald
Slogan: “A Republican newspaper”
Started: April 1898
Discontinued: May 1899 when sold to the Anglo-Saxon
No copies are known to have survived.
THE HAMLET OUTLOOK
Weekly, published in Hamlet.
Publisher and editor: Unknown
Started May 6, 1903
Discontinued: Unknown
No copies are known to have survived.
THE RICHMOND HEADLIGHT
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Publisher and editor: John H. Walsh
First issue: March 13, 1901
Discontinued: Fall of 1906
Several 1902 issues are known to have survived.
THE MESSENGER
Weekly, published in Hamlet.
Started October 1907
Discontinued: Jan. 10, 1920 when it merged with the Hamlet News forming the Hamlet News-Messenger.
THE RECORD
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Slogan: “Goes everywhere worth going.”
Started by the Rev. Josiah Crudup and James H. Warburton
First issue: March 20, 1908
Discontinued: July 1908
No copies are known to have survived.
THE POST
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Started Jan. 8, 1909
Publisher: Alfred Settle Dockery Sr.
Editor: W.E. Dockery
On Aug. 7, 1909, merged with the Anglo-Saxon with The Post surviving.
On Nov. 5, 1917, sold to Isaac S. London
No copies of The Post are known to have survived.
PIEDMONT DISPATCH
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Started Dec. 18, 1915 by ex-Sheriff J.M. Smith and W.H. Covington
Sold in 1917 to Charles Phillips Russell who changed name to Rockingham Dispatch.
No copies of the Piedmont Dispatch are known to have survived.
ROCKINGHAM DISPATCH
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Published by Isaac S. London who purchased and combined The Post and The Piedmont Dispatch.
First issue: Dec. 6, 1917
On April 1, 1953 it was sold to J. Neal Cadieu Sr.
I.S. London remained editor after the newspaper sold. In 1964, London died and Hubert Breeze became editor.
Discontinued: June 10, 1965
HAMLET NEWS
Weekly, published in Hamlet.
Publisher: W. Ralph Smith
First issue: April 14, 1918
Discontinued: Jan. 10, 1920 when merged with The Messenger, forming the Hamlet News-Messenger
THE HAMLET NEWS-MESSENGER
Weekly, published in Hamlet.
Started Jan. 10, 1920 by merger of The Messenger and The Hamlet News
In 1926, it was sold to Roy G. Cadieu, brother of J. Neal Cadieu Sr. who purchased the Richmond County Journal.
On Feb. 9, 1934, the newspaper was destroyed by fire, including all previously published issues, but publications started again after the fire.
In 1945, Roy Cadieu died.
On Dec. 1, 1947, it was sold to Chester A. “Barney” Martin.
On May 3, 1948, it became a twice-weekly publication.
In 1965, the publication changed to a tri-weekly.
In 1973, Chester Martin sold the newspaper, and the name changed to The News-Messenger and was edited by Roger L. Simmons.
In 1976, the name changed to The News and publication reverted back to weekly.
In 1980, it merged with Richmond County This Week to become The News of Richmond County This Week.
Discontinued: Jan. 18, 1995
PIEDMONT MESSENGER
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Started Sept. 24, 1920 by J.R. Felts and ex-Sheriff J.M. Smith
Discontinued after a few issues
No copies are known to have survived.
ROCKINGHAM TIMES
Weekly, published in Rockingham
Started by ex-Sheriff J.M. Smith and “assisted by” Charles A. Brown
First issue: July 14, 1921
Sold on April 27, 1922 to A. Selders, who changed the name to Selders’ Weekly
SELDERS’ WEEKLY
Weekly, published in Rockingham.
Slogan: “One of the unmuzzled papers in the state”
It was billed as “A Republican Weekly.”
Publisher: A. Selders
First issue: April 27, 1922
Discontinued: April 25, 1924
No copies are known to have survived.
RICHMOND COUNTY JOURNAL
Started in 1931 by Scott McDonald Thomas Sr.
First issue: Sept. 8, 1931
Sold June 25, 1937 to J. Neal Cadieu Sr.
On Nov. 20, 1939, it became a twice-weekly.
On Oct. 15, 1951, it became a tri-weekly.
In 1957, J. Neal Cadieu Sr. died, and Mrs. Sybil Cadieu became editor.
On March 18, 1963, it began publishing five days a week and became the Richmond County Daily Journal.
In 1966, Mrs. Sybil Cadieu Easterling sold to J. Neal Cadieu Jr.
On May 11, 1989, it was sold to Park Communications.
In March 1990, a Sunday edition was added, giving it six issues a week.
In 1995, the Daily Journal was sold to Community Newspapers Inc.
On Sept. 1, 2006, it was sold to Heartland Publications.
In 2012, Heartland merged with two other chains to become Civitas Media.
THE SPIRIT OF RICHMOND
It was listed as “A Richmond County magazine.”
Published jointly by The News-Messenger of Hamlet and the Post-Dispatch of Rockingham
First issue: July 28, 1932
Discontinued: Unknown
No copies are known to have survived.
THE HAMLET ADVERTISER
Published in Hamlet.
Publisher: Wade Ison, “a former Hamlet boy”
Editor: Lewis Evans
Described as a “politically independent” publication
Started Aug. 20, 1936
Discontinued: Unknown
Only one issue is known to have survived.
THE SANDHILLS ADVOCATE
Published monthly in Ellerbe as a news magazine.
Editor: The Rev. C.T. Thrift
First issue: February 1945
Last issue: After December 1945
This publication was said to have been “the largest magazine (in circulation) published in North Carolina.”
SANDHILL NEWS
Weekly, published in Hamlet
Publisher and editor: J.W. Aldridge
First issue: March 6, 1946
On Oct. 12, 1948 it was sold to J. Neal Cadieu Sr. of the Richmond County Journal in Rockingham. Cadieu merged it with the Richmond County Journal.
Discontinued after purchase by J. Neal Cadieu Sr.
No copies of the Sandhill News are known to have survived.
EAST ROCKINGHAM NEWS
Weekly, published in Hamlet.
Published by Chester A. Martin
Started: About 1948
Discontinued: Unknown
SANDHILL INDEPENDENT
Weekly, published in Rockingham
Published by John W. Covington Jr.
First issue: April 5, 1963
Discontinued: Unknown
ROCKINGHAM STAR
Weekly, published in Hamlet by The Hamlet News-Messenger.
Published several months during the 1960s
First issue: Unknown
Last issue: Unknown
No copies are known to have survived.
THE ELLERBE NEWS
Weekly, published in Hamlet by The Hamlet News-Messenger.
Published several months during the 1970s
First issue: Unknown
Last issue: Unknown
No copies are known to have survived.
THE NEWS OF FIVE COUNTIES
Weekly, published in Hamlet by The Hamlet News-Messenger.
Published several months during the 1970s
Listed here for historical record; not considered a Richmond County newspaper.
RICHMOND COUNTY THIS WEEK
Weekly, published in Hamlet by The News.
First issue: Sometime in 1979
Last issue: Sometime in 1980 when it merged with The News to form The News of Richmond County This Week.
THE NEWS OF RICHMOND COUNTY THIS WEEK
Weekly, published in Hamlet.
Originally was Richmond County This Week
Date of first publication: Some time in 1980
Was still in publication in 1981
Discontinued: Unknown
THE NEWS-MESSENGER
Tri-weekly, published in Hamlet
Started in 1973 with the purchase of The Hamlet News-Messenger.
In February 1976, it changed to a weekly, and the name changed to The News.
In 1980, it merged with Richmond County This Week, and the name changed to The News of Richmond County This Week.
NORTH STAR
Bimonthly, published in Rockingham.
An African-American publication
Publisher: Barry Saunders
Started: Aug. 15, 1983
Discontinued: Unknown
RICHMOND COUNTY ADVERTISER
Weekly, published in Cheraw, South Carolina.
First issue: Sept. 24, 1986
Discontinued: Sometime in 1987
A few copies are known to have survived.
PERSPECTIVES
Published in East Rockingham.
Publishers and editors: Don and Elizabeth McRae Scarborough
First issue: Jan. 9, 1994