The Weekly Herald

The printed word has been a part of our local history since 1850.  As Dr. Falge describes in his “History of Manitowoc County”, “of an active temperament, with natural ability coupled with a good education, wielding a trenchant pen, and above all, equipped with a ‘nose for news’, C. W. Fitch had all the hardy qualifications needed for a pioneer printer.”

The first issue off the press was in November of 1850 and a copy can be seen at Pinecrest Historical Village’s print shop. 

The first issue of the “Weekly Herald” including the following greeting:

 "When we agreed to hazard the undertaking we had never set our foot upon the soil of Manitowoc or seen an inhabitant of the county.  We did so from reliable representations of its past history, present population, business advantages and prospective advancement.  These, to our ken, were not overrated and are sufficient to warrant the commencement with the promise of a liberal recompense.  If we are all right in these conclusions and we know we are unless we have greatly over-estimated the enterprise and foresight of the people, we shall not have cause for regret."

"Politically we advance the doctrine of the Democratic party and the time honored custom demands that we should make some exposition of our faith.  One of the most prominent articles of the Democratic creed in the western states is the exclusion of slavery from free territory.  To this we most cheerfully subscribe.  As a matter of principle and policy we are in favor of preserving the free soil of our country from the reproach of human bondage.  We are in favor of cheap postage, a low rate of duties and economy in the administration of the government. We are opposed to banks and in favor of an independent treasury.  We are in favor of river and harbor improvements, of granting public lands to actual settlers with proper limitations, at the lowest possible rates and of reasonable exemption laws."

The Herald held its position as Manitowoc County’s newspaper until 1855 when other publications came to be popular as well.  On the fifth anniversary edition of the “Weekly Herald” it was announced, “We may remark without impropriety that in establishing a newspaper five years ago in a town scarcely known on the map, when the whole township could boast a population but little exceeding six hundred, we exhibited more courage than has even been traced to the most chivalrous ventures in the history of the newspaper enterprise. … We pitched our tent on the north hill and for a time the Indians, who were accustomed to wigwams in the part opposite, were our nearest neighbors. Then there were no churches’; now there are six.  Then there were no streets; now there are many. Then we had not even a projected railroad; now we have one under construction. …”

As the county filled with immigrants in the 1860s, many newcomers preferred to read newspapers in their native language.  This, and other setbacks, resulted in the “Weekly Herald” closing its operations on March 26, 1863. The paper was sold to its competitor, “The Tribune”.