History of The Monitor Journal
This was written by Don Young for the About Little River column he wrote for the paper. It was printed July 14, 1977.
The first newspaper in Little River was the “News” published by W.E. Fosnot in Nov. 1880. April 1st it became “Rural West”, published by Fosnot Bros. W. E. was still editor. But the “History of Kansas Newspapers” says it folded in 1882.July 1886 the “Monitor” was founded. T. G. Robison was editor and publisher. W. G. “Grant” Greenbank worked for Robison as devil and typo. In 1888, E. B. Pulliam bought the paper from Robison and Greenbank became editor. Nov. 17, 1889 Grant became owner, editor and publisher.In May 1891 Wilcox & Holmes, publishers, started “The Comet” J. F. Holmes was editor. I (Don) have one copy of “The Comet.” The issue (Vol. 1 No. 24) dated Oct. 23, 1891. It was very much like the “Monitor”. Both papers had much the same news and ads. But competition was too tough and by the end of the year the Comet merged or was taken over by the Monitor. Grant Greenbank continued as Editor and publisher until he died Sept. 29, 1939. He lacked less than 2 months of running the paper for fifty years. After the “Comet” gave up no other paper tried to compete.
Then, in the Dec. 2, 1982 paper there was an article titled, “Monitor-Journal moved to second home in 96-year history”. This was also written by Don Young.
The office of The Rice County Monitor-Journal has moved for the second time in its 96 years of service to Little River and vicinity.The paper was started by T.G. Robison in 1886 in a small building on the east side of Main Street. Grant Greenbank was in this building for many years. After his death several people owned the paper. While owned by Merritt and Dorthea Leach the front of the building was remodeled. The name was also changed to The Rice County Monitor-Journal.In 1982 the office moved across the street. For more than 50 years the building had housed the barber shop of Neal Baxter.The address is currently known as 248 Main Street.
For reference, the name was changed to The Monitor Journal in the 1990’s and purchased by a local group that formed to save the paper, the group was named LAW, the letters standing for Little River, Andover community, and Windom.
In 1998 Debbie and Sean Whiteman bought the newspaper. In September 2000 Greg and Denice Dater bought the newspaper. In March 2011 the Monitor Journal moved to its present location, 270 Main Street. This building had mostly been used as a restaurant until it was turned into a newspaper office.