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The Story of the Observer | |||||||||||
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The Early YearsThe history of the Island news begins like every other part of history – it can’t always be documented. There probably were many who transmitted news in one way or another
over the past hundred and fifty years, but the first “documented”
newspaper, The Island Reporter, began in 1930 when cousins Eugene and
Jacob Gunnlaugsson set up a print shop. Two hundred subscribers netted
the men a $7ºº profit the first year. |
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Island citizens, Marty Stelter, Mary Richter, Island Girl Scouts and Ursula Weiss also ran the paper at one time or another. |
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The Professional ApproachIn 1981, Islander Lorel Gordon started the Island Exchange of News and Ideas. She meant only to start a “shopper” where Island businesses might advertise their wares. The paper later was given its current name, the Washington Island Observer. Lorel studied the publishing business, eventually joining the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, the oldest association of its kind in the world. In 1992, the OBSERVER was purchased by the current owners, Bob and Gail Toerpe. They believe that, with the OBSERVER people can always have a piece of the Island nearby. Readers in 39 states and three other countries seem to agree. For those of you interested in Island living, we welcome you to visit our lovely Island community by way of our newspaper, the WASHINGTON ISLAND OBSERVER. Join our subscriber friends for a trial run for only $15 for six months. Click here to
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