BRONSON — After 136 years of service to the community, the final issue of the Bronson Journal is hot off the presses today.
Daniel D. Wagget started the Bronson Journal in 1881 after other newspapers in town had closed down.
Not all issues are on microfilm at the Bronson Branch of the Branch District Library, but a four page torn copy from May 1884, shows a publication filled mostly with advertisements, legal notices and obituaries. There were no photos and only one political cartoon.
Over the years, the publication grew. It was a thriving publication under editor and publisher, the late Ray Smith.
In June 1955, 28-year old Smith purchased the Journal. He served the community faithfully until 1992, when at the age of 65, he sold the Journal to Scott McGraw.
In his last column as owner, printed March 26, 1992, Smith wrote, “I consider myself to the be the luckiest of men. I have always enjoyed my work, found it to be challenging and rewarding and am happy to retire before someone says, ‘Gosh, I wish he would hang it up.’” That never happened, and community members still miss Smith, remembering him fondly. Regardless of how forceful his columns, “Rayvings” were, those who remember Smith all mention him as mild mannered, but influential.
“He was very soft spoken, intelligent, professional — a classic business owner,” said Bronson City Clerk Karen Smith.
Walter Hyska of Bronson agreed.
“Ray was a good man. He knew how to run the paper,” Hyska said.
“Ray was an excellent journalist,” said Charles Bell. “He was extremely fair in his reporting.”
Parents would buy yearly subscriptions to the Bronson Journal for their far-flung offspring because any town news for the week was in the paper.
After a decade, McGraw sold the Bronson Journal to GateHouse Media in 2002.
The Daily Reporter has been responsible for content and layout of the Bronson Journal since 2002, but declining subscriptions has made it necessary for Gatehouse to discontinue its publication.
“It is with great sadness that we close this chapter of the Bronson Journal's long and colorful history,” said Bronson Journal Interim Publisher Paul McArthur. “We are grateful for the readers and advertisers who have supported journalism in our community. I am personally humbled by the calls and emails I have received since we made this difficult announcement. Trust that we will continue to promote the Bronson community and news through the Coldwater Daily Reporter and Sturgis Journal. And, we hope that you will continue to send us news and events you would like to see published.”