CARMEL – For 185 years the Putnam Courier provided residents with news of events occurring within Putnam County.
Along with its sister paper, the Putnam News and Recorder (PCNR), which began publishing in 1850, both publications have printed their final editions.
The Courier and PCNR served as official newspapers for Putnam County, publishing legal notices in every weekly edition. Following the cessation of operations, the county legislature’s Rules Committee designated the Putnam Press as the official newspaper at its Tuesday evening meeting. The Journal News, based in Westchester, will serve as an alternative if publishing notices on the county website are not permitted.
MidHudsonNews.com, the 26-year-old online regional news source, that reports on the entire region, has expanded its Putnam Coverage to fill the gap. “Long-time Courrier reporter Eric Gross will continue his coverage on a daily basis, keeping residents up-to-date on news of Putnam County,” said Mid-Hudson News Managing Editor, and Eric’s brother, Hank Gross.
The initial edition of the Putnam County Courier was published June 27, 1841, as the Putnam Democrat. It was renamed the Democratic Courier in 1850.
In the early 1900s, the paper became the Courier.
The Jewell family owned and operated the paper in the early portion of the 20th century, followed by John Mullen who was killed in a crash. His wife, Virginia, sold the paper to Howard “Buzz” and Lynn Burr, who ran it until 1989.
The paper was sold to the Housatonic Publishing Company, and a decade later, in 2000, Taconic Press assumed ownership of the publication. On Feb. 9, 2009, the paper printed its last edition under the Millbrook-based Taconic Corporation.
Meanwhile, the Putnam County News & Recorder began publishing in 1866 in western Putnam County by Charles Blanchard and, initially, the newspaper was called the Cold Spring Recorder.
The newspaper had a number of owners and several different names over the years.
Elizabeth and Roger Ailes of Garrison took ownership of both papers from 2009 until 2016, when editor Douglas Cunningham took over as publisher and editor of both the Courier and the PCNR.
The Putnam Media group purchased the paper two years ago and managed it until it was shut down.
The loss of the two papers reflects a national trend. Recent reports indicate some 40 percent of local newspapers have vanished in the past 20 years or 3,400 titles including 130 last year.
Reaction to the demise of both papers has been met with sadness.
Christina Grant of Southeast described the Courier as a “family friend. For as long as I can remember the Putnam County Courier was a staple in my home. My family and I enjoyed reading the articles about our community and all those who served it.”
Al Lotrecchiano, 91, of Carmel described the papers’ end as “tragic. Residents of Putnam County deserved better. More importantly, the Courier deserved better.”
Retired educator and former Putnam Legislator Roger Gross echoed the sentiment: “The loss of the paper is a serious loss to the community.”
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