Ask anyone around town when they believe the Eagle began and you’ll hear a majority reply, “the 1970s.”  The real answer may surprise you.  Our ‘majestic bird’ debuted in Claremont, NH on November 1, 1834.  

Published only on Saturdays, the National Eagle was available for an annual fee of $2.00, with prepaid subscriptions offered at $1.50.  Ads were promised to be placed ‘conspicuously’ and on ‘advantageous terms.’  The four page premiere devoted its first half to political news, followed by poetry, essays and ads for castings, stoves, hats, flannels and sleighs.  Within one month, the advertising section quadrupled. 

Printer Samuel Chase owned the town’s bookstore.  John Warland, a Harvard grad and NH state rep., served as editor until 1842.  Described as a ‘brilliant writer,’ Warland would die in a Massachusetts insane asylum in 1872.   

Noted citizens of Claremont kept the beloved paper going.  Otis F.R. Waite, author of ‘History of the Town of Claremont,’ purchased the paper in 1854, serving as its sole reporter and printer for the next five years.  Beginning in 1880, the tenure of Harry Fay, a Civil War captain and foreman of the Claremont Manufacturing Company, as owner remains the longest in the paper’s history.  Fay was hailed as the oldest living publisher in NH. 

With demand, the National Eagle became the Daily Eagle.  In the 1920s, reporters could be found fleshing out their notes and drinking a cup of ‘joe’ at Claremont’s Tumble Inn Diner.  In the 1930s, the Daily Eagle occupied all of 19 Sullivan Street in Claremont.  The Eagle Times was formed when the Daily Eagle merged with the Springfield VT Times Reporter in the 1970s.  By the 90s, the Eagle was working out of a 26,000 square foot building on River Road, catering to a readership of nearly 200,000; a number which included its many susidiary publications. 

Time sailed on and changes fanned the waves.  In July of 2009, the Eagle, with a daily circ. of 9,400, printed its last page and closed its doors.  This wasn’t an isolated incident.  Newspapers shut down across the country eliminating over 8,000 editorial jobs.  The PA based Sample Group bought the Eagle in the fall of 2009, making a brave and heartfelt attempt to keep the paper going.  

In July of 2022, Newport, NH native Jay Lucas announced the acquisition of the Eagle through his newly formed Sunshine Communications, LLC.  “I am very excited to return ownership of the Eagle Times back to New Hampshire,” he said. “As someone who grew up getting our news from the Eagle, as well as remembering how excited I was to see my photo from my football days or my name listed in the paper from the honor roll, [I believe] it is important we keep the spirit of this publication local, relevant and worthwhile for the communities it serves.”  

With a new and dedicated team in place, The Eagle Times now publishes online six days a week and offers print editions on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  It has the lofty goal of publishing in print at least five days per week.  Significant effort has been made to refocus the paper on local people, places and things and give voice to residents, organizations and businesses in the Twin State and Sugar River valleys. 

Lucas also obtained the Newport Argus Champion and the Valley Marketplace, formerly the Weekly Flea, which will resurface soon and stronger than ever.  

Thank you, Jay Lucas!   Here’s to the next 189 years!