WEST PASCO HISTORICAL SOCIETY

New Port Richey Press

The earliest publishers were Charles L. Fox and son Carl, who operated the newspaper for four and one-half years

On Aug. 19, 1920, the newspaper reported that its circulation was close to 900, of which 700 were mailed weekly to cities in the north.

On Nov. 4, 1920, the name of the newspaper was changed to the New Port Richey Press.

In September 1922 circulation reached 1300, according to West Pasco's Heritage.

On Sept. 28, 1922, William M. (Bill) Hetherington of Lakeland purchased the Press and began active publication on Oct. 5. Hetherington had earlier owned the Dade City Banner. He sold that newspaper on Jan. 1, 1920, and then moved to Lakeland and had charge of job printing in the Telegram office until that paper consolidated with the Star.

In December 1925 George G. Holland purchased the paper.

The next owner was John W. Parkes.

On April 9, 1926, the newspaper switched from a tabloid-sized newspaper to a full-sized, seven column newspaper. Several hundred extra copies were printed.

Early in 1932 Parkes sold the newspaper to Benjamin Lyle of Ulysses, Kansas.

On July 13, 1934, the Tarpon Springs Leader reported, “Hugh Osborne, editor for many years of the Umatilla Tribune, last week assumed control of the Press....” Hugh S. Osborne leased the newspaper for two years before purchasing it in 1936. On Jan. 23, 1953, Hugh S. Osborne died. His widow became publisher and his son Hugh Joseph Osborne became editor-manager.

In November 1956 W. H. Thomas purchased the paper. Thomas was born in Mt. Morris, Ill., on Aug. 16, 1898. He was publisher of the Mt. Morris Index, a weekly newspaper, for 25 years before purchasing the Press. He died on Aug. 7, 1973, in Dunedin.

In the late 1960s the owner was Lindsay-Schaub Publications of Illinois, with Paul P. O'Brien as manager. The name of the newspaper was subsequently changed to the West Pasco Press.

An earlier newspaper, the New Port Richey Post was published in 1916. The WPHS has only the first issue, which is dated January 1916. The only issue of the Post in our possession does not show the name of a publisher or editor. An early article in the Press speculated that the Post may have been published by the Port Richey Company. On March 1, 1918, the Tampa Tribune printed a letter signed by “W. B. Powell, Editor, New Port Richey Post.” The newspaper says that Willis B. Powell is a former Tampan.

Here are some images of early front pages of the newspaper.

The following table shows which newspapers appear on the microfilm reels at the New Port Richey Public Library and which laminated newspapers the WPHS has. The microfilm runs from Dec. 26, 1918, to Oct. 24, 1947, although many dates are missing, including all of 1932 and 1933. The microfilm roll was largely photographed from the collection of newspapers that we have at the WPHS, although some newspapers are on the microfilm and not in our possession, and others are in our possession but not on the microfilm.

Notes: The New Port Richey Public Library has bound copies of the newspaper beginning in 1956. There are two front pages of the New Port Richey Press carrying the date Dec. 25, 1919. The WPHS has the following issues of the Elfers West Pasco Record: March 2, 16, 23, 30; April 6, 13, 20, 27 (all 1922).