Lebanon Express

1887-1897

Weekly

Lebanon’s first paper, which has survived all competition for over a century, was named for a railroad train which has not survived--the Lebanon Express on the old Oregonian railway. The paper was started by J. H. Stine, founder of a good many Oregon newspapers, who had just come from Polk county, and its first issue came off the press March 5, 1887.  Kirkpatrick (H. Y.) & Bugler were the publishers of the paper the next year.

Lebanon Advance

1889-1897

Weekly

In 1889, George L. Alexander and Jack Adams started the Lebanon Advance, a People’s party weekly, issued on Fridays. Both of these men had done newspaper work in Eugene.  (Mr. Alexander is the son of J. B. Alexander, one of the real pioneers of Oregon journalism, who had started Eugene’s first paper, the News, in November 1856, and had also founded the Eugene Guard in 1867.)  Adams & Alexander continued the Advance for several years.

Lebanon Express-Advance

1897-1912

Weekly

In 1897, the Advance was combined with the Express, under the title Express-Advance. Mr. Alexander of the Advance was associated with Mr. Kirkpatrick of the Express in its publication and remained on the paper, which he edited for many years, until his retirement in 1936. In 1899 the Express-Advance was issued as a semi-weekly.

Lebanon Criterion

1898-1924

Weekly

Meanwhile the Criterion, a competing weekly, issued Tuesdays, was established (1898) by W. M. Brown. The next year it was published Wednesdays. A. B. Hoag was at the helm 1901 to 1904, when Mr. Brown resumed control, running a Republican newspaper. D. C. Humphrey took it over in 1905. Taking hold in 1908 was N. M. Newport, who changed publication day to Thursday.

Linn County Advocate

1912-1912

Weekly

In 1912, the Criterion,  under W. T. Fogle, changed its name for a year to the Linn County Advocate, then went back to its old name. The name Criterion was re-established by W. C. DePew, formerly of the Amity Standard, who conducted the paper for ten years, finally selling to A. L. Bostwick, who sold the paper to the Express in 1924 and returned to daily newspaper work.

Lebanon Tribune

1912-1912

Weekly

For one year, 1912, the competition in Lebanon was three-cornered with a weekly called the Tribune in the field, challenging the Express and the Criterion..  The Tribune failed to last out the year.

Lebanon Express

1912-Current

Weekly

In 1912 the Lebanon Express-Advance dropped the Advance part of its name. The Express was conducted by G. L. Alexander and H. E. Browne in 1913. By 1915 Mr. Alexander alone conducted the paper. T. R. MacMillan came to the Express in 1920 and remained throughout Mr. Alexander’s stay on the paper as his partner. H. W. Fredericks and R. M. Hayden purchased the paper in 1936.

 Current Lebanon Newspaper:

Lebanon Express
90 East Grant St./P.O. Box 459
Lebanon, OR 97355-0459
541-258-3151