ESCANABA — For more than a century, the Daily Press has stood as a trusted source of news for Delta County and surrounding areas — though the newspaper has not always operated under the same name.

What began as a modest publication evolved over 117 years, enduring industry changes, moving locations and passing through generations of ownership.

Sarah Greenlund, who was named publisher of the Daily Press in 2023, remarked on the history of the newspaper, saying, “The Daily Press is more than just a source of news — it is the keeper of our community’s history, preserving the stories, milestones and memories that define who we are. At the same time, it serves as a vital watchdog, ensuring that local government remains transparent and accountable to the people it serves.”

The origins of the paper date back to March 20, 1909, when the Escanaba Morning Press at 1119 Ludington Street published its first issue. While some historical accounts differ, citing March 19 as the founding date, the most widely documented and accepted date remains March 20.

The Daily Press has been located at 600 Ludington St since the early 20th century. From 1959 to 1963, the press shared this address with WLST Radio Station, according to the National Register of Historic Places. (Photo by Bernard Schultz | Courtesy of the Delta County Historical Society Archives)

Publisher John P. Norton and his partner, Herbert J. Little, had planned to release the first edition on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1909. However, a damaged linotype machine delayed the debut.

Archival records show that the first publication was ultimately printed on March 19 or 20, using the green paper intended for the holiday edition. Fun facts like this — and much of what we know about our community’s history — come from the extensive archives of the Daily Press.

“Our archives are an important part of our community service and I am proud to lead the way on our daily commitments to our community,” said Greenlund.

Within a few years, the Escanaba Morning Press moved to its longtime home at 600 Ludington St., a building that still houses the operations of the Daily Press today.

By 1922, the Escanaba Morning Press had taken significant steps to expand its reach. The paper opened a Gladstone bureau, changed its name to the Daily Press and expanded its printing plant.

John P. Norton founded the Escanaba Morning Press with his business partner, Herbert J. Little, in 1909. In this photo, Norton is about to board a small airplane. No date was given on the photo. (Courtesy of the Delta County Historical Society Archives)

Just a year or two later, the newspaper acquired its competitor, the Escanaba Daily Mirror.

A report from the Daily Press details the transaction on June 29, 1924, stating, “The publishers of the Daily Press, we believe, have reason to be eminently proud of the strides made by this publication in a history of but a few years, even under competitive conditions, winning recognition as one of the leading newspapers of the upper peninsula of Michigan.”

This period also saw technological upgrades that positioned the Daily Press for long-term growth. In 1926, a 16-page rotary press was installed, and the building was modernized between 1929 and 1930.

In 1947, the Daily Press shifted to an afternoon publication schedule.

Following Norton’s death in 1950, his estate — including the newspaper — was willed to the Escanaba Public Schools to fund a scholarship in memory of his wife, Anna C. Norton.

Attempts by Daily Press staff to purchase the paper from the school board were unsuccessful, and in 1954, the paper was purchased by Frank J. Russell, of Marquette, and George Osborn of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Russell maintained ownership until the spring of 1966, when Panax Corporation assumed the three papers.

The Daily Press returned to a morning schedule on Jan. 16, 1971, with the introduction of the “Sunrise Edition.” This shift marked the beginning of a series of production innovations, including the 1974 adoption of a new production system comprised of electronics and “cold type” composition.

By 1977, the Daily Press had installed a new offset press at a centralized plant in Powers, significantly enhancing efficiency and print quality.

The 1980s ushered in a new chapter for the paper with its acquisition by Chicago-based Thomson Newspapers, which also owned other Upper Peninsula publications, including the Marquette Mining Journal and the Daily News of Iron Mountain.

Under Thomson’s ownership, the Delta Reporter — another area newspaper — moved into the Ludington Street offices in 1992, overseen by publisher Robert B. Gregg.

The Delta Reporter was ultimately closed in May 1995, and the Daily Press absorbed its readership, continuing the Reporter’s legacy.

In the late 1990s, the paper was acquired by Ogden Newspapers, a family-owned company based in West Virginia. Ogden additionally purchased the Daily News in Iron Mountain, The Mining Journal in Marquette and The Daily Mining Gazette in Houghton.

Ogden has also published the Alpena News since it was acquired from the Richard family in 1988.

The Honorable Bart Stupak of Michigan in the House of Representatives acknowledged the Daily Press’ 100th anniversary on March 19, 2009, during which he commented on the Daily Press’ resilience.

“Despite changes in ownership over the years, the Daily Press has remained an independent voice for the people of Escanaba and all of Delta and Schoolcraft Counties,” said Stupak. “As community newspapers across the country have confronted consolidation, closure and downsizing, the Daily Press keeps going strong because of this independent voice and the trust of their readers.”

Stupak further praised the press by saying, “In the late 1970s it was the reporting of the Daily Press in a series on insurance scams that was the driving force in updating state insurance laws,” said Stupak.

During his congressional remarks, Stupak further commented on one of many accolades the Daily Press has earned in its lifetime.

“In 1988 the Daily Press won the Associated Press sweepstakes award for doing the best work of any paper of its size in Michigan for a series on the shotgun slaying of four family members and the subsequent week-long search in local woods by the FBI for the suspect and his kidnapped ex-wife,” said Stupak.

Today, the Daily Press remains Delta County’s primary daily newspaper. It carries forward more than a century of regional journalism, honoring the legacy of its founders and generations of reporters who have chronicled the community’s stories.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.