The Local News

Clark County, Wisconsin

Including news from the towns of Withee, Thorp, Reseburg, and Worden

Items from recent issues of The Thorp Courier including:

Looking Back -- Old Items from 100, 75, 50, 25, and 10 years ago.

Way Back When - Old pictures from various historical sources.

Thorp High School Alumni Letters

Old Items - Archived old items from various 2000 to 2003 issues

The Thorp Courier--Featured Articles

Featured articles from recent issues of The Thorp Courier:

2006

Yellowstone Trail -- This article describes the historic Yellowstone Trail which follows a historic early automobile trail across the northern part of Clark County, and it's recent commemoration and marking ceremonies.

Thorp Fourth of July Parade - this ad ran in the Thorp Courier on June 25, 1896.

Pictures

The Thorp Courier building, c. 1964

Printing press, February 1954

Early Thorp Courier printing press, date unknown (another photo of the press shown below)

The Thorp Courier

How it all began...

Early Thorp Courier Printing Press, Thorp Clark Co., WI

The Thorp Courier is one of the few existing businesses which witnessed the city's incorporation as a village in 1893, and which will witness its centennial celebrations as well. Although the Thorp Courier printed it first edition on Nov. 23, 1883, the newspaper actually originated from another newspaper, the Pioneer.

As the little town began booming in the 1880's, one of the businesses to arrive in Thorp was that of the Pioneer newspaper. It was first published by A. McIntyre on May 10, 1883, and ran for 12 weeks. It was purchased in November by the Shafer brothers and William Wagner of Colby, who added more and better type and changed the name to the Courier.

In the first issue, the three editors ran a brief sketch of the town, its businessmen and the notice of the marriage of Martin Groher and Julia Frasier, complete with the list of their guests and the gifts they received. The three continued in partnership until December 1884, when Wagner bought out the Shafer brothers. He immediately increased the size of the newspaper to allow more room for advertisements and general news.

The newspaper came out every Friday until Feb. 6, 1890, when , for some unknown reason, Wagner began printing the paper every Thursday, as it now remains.

Wagner continued running the business until he passed it along to his son, William S. Wagner, in 1943. In 1965, John J. LaGasse, William Jr.'s son-in-law, took over the operation with his partner, Robert Elkins. Ten years later, John and Joyce LaGasse became the sole publishers. Finally, in 1986, the business was once again passed down the family lines to their son, Mark, who is currently editor and publisher.

Throughout the years, the Courier's circulation has risen from 500 in 1883 to over 3,000 today. The newspaper has remained committed to the Thorp community which helped foster its growth. (Thorp Courier, 3-Jun-1993)

Newspapers of Withee Township

Thorp Courier
403 N. Washington
PO Box 487
Thorp, WI 54771
Phone: 715-669-5525

"The Reporter" was first published by Ray Hugoboom September 20, 1900.

Local News of The Thorp Area

Clark County, Wisconsin

The Thorp Courier - Recent items

Items from recent issues of The Thorp Courier including:

The Thorp Courier--Featured Articles

Featured articles from recent issues of The Thorp Courier:

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

Newspapers of Withee Township