History and notable accomplishments Richmond Times-Dispatch

1 history , notable accomplishments

1.1 development
1.2 2004 mosul attack
1.3 tacky christmas lights tour

history , notable accomplishments
development

although richmond compiler published in virginia s capitol beginning in 1815, , merged later newspaper called times, times , compiler failed in 1853, despite attempt of former banker james a. cowardin , william h. davis revive several years before. in 1850, cowardin , davis established rival newspaper called richmond dispatch, , 1852 dispatch bragged of having circulation 3 times large other daily paper in city, , advertising dominated front page. cowardin began term in virginia house of delegates (as whig) in 1853, many thought city s pre-eminent paper richmond examiner. john hammersley bought half of newspaper company in 1859, , continued joint publisher on masthead until may 5, 1862, when no name appeared. newspaper had been staunchly pro-slavery since 1852, , called union soldiers thieves , cut-throats . of wartime issues available online. in 1864, hammersley brought new presses england, having run union blockade, although sold half interest james w. lewellen before dangerous departure (presumably through wilmington, north carolina, last southern port open confederate vessels in 1864).

the richmond daily dispatch published last wartime issue on april 1, 1865; , office destroyed next night during fire set confederate soldiers left city. however, resumed publication on december 9, 1865, establishing new office @ 12th , main streets , accepting henry k. ellyson part-owner editor. 1866, dispatch 1 of 5 papers carrying prestige ante bellum days published in richmond (of 7 newspapers). although newspaper opposed ku klux klan, richmond dispatch accepted klan advertising in 1868, fought congressional reconstruction , virginia constitutional convention of 1868. however, later accepted resulting state constitution (after anti-confederate provisions stripped) allowing negroes on juries , in legislature. ellyson briefly served richmond s mayor in 1870, selected richmond s city council appointed governor gilbert c. walker. after called municipal war because prior appointed mayor george chahoon refused relinquish office , mob violence , blockades, virginia supreme court declared ellyson mayor awaited elections. after skullduggery concerning stolen ballots in pro-chahoon jackson ward , election commission declared ellyson winner, refused serve under resulting cloud, leading yet problematic election won conservative party candidate. revived dispatch later opposed former confederate general william mahone , readjuster party. after james cowardin died in 1882, son charles took helm (with ellyson s assistance, , ellyson family members handling business operations), , paper stopped supporting negro rights, instead criticizing del. john mercer langston racial stereotypes.

in 1886, lewis ginter founded richmond daily times. year later, lawyer joseph bryan (1845-1908) bought daily times ginter, beginning paper s long association bryan family. bryan , ginter had helped revitalize tanner & delany engine company, transforming richmond locomotive works, had 800 employees 1893 , built 200 locomotives per year. in 1890, daily times changed name richmond times. in 1896, bryan acquired eight-year-old rival manchester leader , launched evening leader. in 1899, evening richmond news founded. john l. williams, owner of dispatch, bought news in 1900.

by 1903, obvious richmond not big enough support 4 papers. year, williams , bryan agreed merge richmond s main newspapers. morning papers merged become richmond times-dispatch under bryan s ownership, while evening papers merged become richmond news leader under williams ownership. bryan bought news leader in 1908, died later year. (joseph bryan park donated widow, isobel ( belle ) stewart bryan, , named him).

his son john stewart bryan had given own legal career in 1900 become reporter working dispatch , helped found associated press , became vice-president of publishing company. upon father s death, john stewart bryan became owner , publisher of 2 papers, in 1914 sold controlling interest in times-dispatch 3 families. hired douglas southall freeman editor of news leader in 1915, , remained in control until becoming president of college of william , mary in 1934 (and publishing biography of father following year). john stewart bryan reacquired times-dispatch in 1940 when 2 papers business interests merged form richmond newspapers, in bryan held 54-percent interest. conglomeration known media general. other publishers in bryan family include d. tennant bryan , john stewart bryan iii.

on june 1, 1992, 4 days after sponsored contestant amanda goad won scripps national spelling bee, news leader, had been losing circulation many years, ceased publication , folded times-dispatch.

2004 mosul attack

the richmond times-dispatch drew national attention coverage of december 21, 2004, attack suicide bomber on american military base in mosul, iraq. deadliest attack on american military installation since war began, attack injured 69 people , killed 22, including 2 virginia national guard s richmond-based 276th engineer battalion. stories , photographs attack times-dispatch reporter embedded 276th read, heard , seen across nation.

tacky christmas lights tour

in 1990, rtd borrowed idea local entrepreneur, barry mad dog gottlieb, encourage tacky christmas lights tour, known locals tacky light tour . every week, rtd lists addresses of houses tacky christmas lights can found. tradition has begun spread other cities, fairfax, virginia (dc area) san francisco , los angeles.