[tdc_zone type=”tdc_content”][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1476842631861{margin-top: -35px !important;}” content_align_vertical=”content-vert-top” row_divider_top=”” flex_vert_align=”flex-start” tdc_css=”eyJhbGwiOnsibWFyZ2luLXRvcCI6IjQwIiwiZGlzcGxheSI6IiJ9fQ==”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text tdc_css=”eyJhbGwiOnsiZGlzcGxheSI6IiJ9fQ==” custom_title=”Our History” f_h1_font_transform=”” f_h2_font_transform=”” f_post_font_transform=”” f_h3_font_transform=”” f_h4_font_transform=”uppercase”]
The Pacific Tribune was originally founded as the Overland Press on July 29, 1861 by Alonzo M. Poe. It was a weekly publication, printed every Monday, at a cost of just $3 per year or $1.25 per quarter. Prior to opening the Press, Mr. Poe worked for the Victoria B.C. Press covering news of the U.S. Civil War that started in April of that year. To get the war news out faster and gain himself a competitive advantage, Mr. Poe negotiated an arrangement with the editor of the Washington Standard who would put the war news into print and run off a supplement to be used by the press as soon as the boat docked in Victoria. The scheme was so successful that Mr. Poe conceived the idea of a newspaper dedicated specifically to covering news of the war. As such, the first article in the inaugural print edition was a public address from President Lincoln on the Civil War.
Ownership of the paper changed hands several times during that first year in business and was eventually acquired by Bion F. Kendall. Kendall was an accomplished young lawyer who served as Prosecuting Attorney for the 2nd District, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives for the Washington Territory, Librarian of the Territorial Library, and Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Washington Territory. It’s been said that “Kendall, though an eloquent orator, able, energetic and industrious, was noted for his unyielding opinions, bitter and juvenile prejudices, high-handed contempt for the views of others and his indiscreet utterances.” Because of this, he didn’t have many friends in Olympia and his editorship of the Overland Press gave him ample opportunity to expand the number of his enemies.In December of 1862, the Overland Press building was burned. Kendall implies rather publicly that that he believes Horrace Howe was responsible for the arson. Upon meeting Kendall, Howe strikes him with a switch and Kendall responds by shooting and severely wounding him. He then publishes his account of the incident in the Overland Press. About a week later Howe’s son visits the Overland Press and fatally shoots Kendall. Employees of the paper purchase Kendall’s shares from his estate and publication of the Overland Press continues for a short time before being renamed the Pacific Tribune.
In 1867 the paper was sold to Charles Prosch, and during the legislative session that year, the paper made it’s debut as Washington Territory’s first daily newspaper. On May 2, 1868, the paper expanded it’s coverage area to include Olympia, Tacoma, and Seattle Washington. However, the expanded coverage area proved to be very costly and by 1872 the Tribune had accumulated massive amounts of debts due to declining paper sales. On September 9th 1872 the Tribune was forced into bankruptcy by it’s creditors. Charles Prosch’s 22 year old son, Thomas Prosch bought the paper out of bankruptcy at a sheriff’s sale and publication of the Tribune continues.In late 1878, Thomas Prosch sold the Tribune to Thaddeus Hanford, the owner of the Intelligencer. Upon finalizing the deal, Mr. Hanford folded the Tribune into the Seattle Intelligencer and abandoned the Pacific Tribune brand. Only a short six months later Mr. Hanford fell on hard times and sold half of the Seattle Intelligencer back to Thomas Prosch, however he never resurrected the Pacific Tribune brand.On November 12th 2015, Brad Delaney purchased the expired domain names for The Pacific Tribune and began developing the website for the Tribune’s new online only format. The Tribune launched it’s first public beta on August 17th and is currently finalizing development for an official launch in winter 2017. For more detailed information on the history of the Pacific Tribune brand and website, see our historical timeline. Like many of its predecessors, the current Pacific Tribune is not, and has never been in any way associated with the companies that have operated under the brand name before. The information provided above and in other places across our site is provided strictly for historical and educational purposes.