History...

The pedigree of Shaw Newspapers reads like a fascinating lesson in American history—involving documented Mayflower ancestry and government office in the Plymouth colonies; a daring, orphaned 14 year-old pony express rider turned printer/newspaper editor; the founding of the early Republican party; partnership with no less than Abraham Lincoln; and a determined businesswoman blazing professional trails in the early 1900s. It's a story characterized by tenacity, drive, and vision—the same qualities that still define Shaw Newspapers today.

  • 1851 - First issue of The Dixon Telegraph and Herald printed in Dixon, Illinois. Benjamin Flower Shaw, age twenty, becomes owner and editor.
  • 1856 - B.F. Shaw, along with 11 other newspaper editors—and Abraham Lincoln—meet in Decatur to form the Republican Party of Illinois in response to the growing concern over slavery.
  • 1883 - The Telegraph converts to daily publication with evening edition.
  • 1894- The Telegraph moves to a new building at First and Ottawa Streets.
  • 1902 - Eustace E. Shaw, son of B. F. Shaw, dies at the age of 42. His widow, Mabel S. Shaw, becomes the Telegraph's publisher, and works with ingenuity and foresight to become a major force in the newspaper business—a rarity for women in that era.
  • 1909 - B.F. Shaw dies.
  • 1936 - Dixon Publishing Company founded.
  • 1944 - Newton Daily News (Iowa) purchased.
  • 1945 - Nachusa Hotel in Dixon purchased.
  • 1946 - Creston News Advertiser (Iowa) purchased.
  • 1948 - Woodstock Sentinel purchased.
  • 1949 - McHenry Plaindealer purchased.
  • 1952 - Morris Daily Herald purchased.
  • 1953 - Webster City Journal (Iowa) purchased.
  • 1955 - Mabel Shaw dies at the age of 84. KJFJ Radio Station, Webster City, Iowa purchased.
  • 1959 - Telegraph moves to 113 S. Peoria Avenue.
  • 1967 - Harvard Herald purchased.
  • 1970 - Marengo Beacon started.
  • 1971 - McHenry County Citizen purchased.
  • 1973 - All Webster City properties sold.
  • 1973 - Nachusa Hotel sold.
  • 1976 - Dixon Publishing Company sold.
  • 1977 - Bureau County Republican, Princeton purchased.
  • 1977 - Shopper's Service, Harvard, purchased.
  • 1977 - Tri-County Press, Forreston Journal, and Mt. Morris Times purchased.
  • 1982 - Illinois Valley Shopping News, Princeton, purchased.
  • 1983 - Free Press Group in McHenry County purchased.
  • 1983 - Jasper County Advertiser, Newton, Iowa purchased.
  • 1984 - Creston Shopper, Creston, Iowa purchased.
  • 1985 - McHenry, Woodstock, Harvard, Marengo, Free Press Group and Shoppers merged into present Northwest Herald.
  • 1985 - Oregon Republican Reporter purchased.
  • 1989 - Chronicle Newspapers purchased.
  • 1989 - Northwest Herald launches Sunday edition.
  • 1991 - Kane County Chronicle converts to daily publication.
  • 1993 - McHenry County Business Journal started.
  • 1994 - Kane County Business Journal started.
  • 1995 - Shaw Newspapers corporate office moves to new home.
  • 1995 - Daily Gazette, Sterling, purchased.
  • 1996 - Lake County Business Journal started.
  • 1997 - Voyager acquired by Sauk Valley Newspapers.
  • 1997 - crestonnewsadvertiser.com launched.
  • 1998 - saukvalley.com launched.
  • 1999 - nwherald.com launched.
  • 1999 - kcchronicle.com launched.
  • 2000 - Business Journals closed.
  • 2000 - Sauk Valley Newspapers moves to new home.
  • 2000 - RC Printing acquired by Sauk Valley Newspapers.
  • 2000 - bcrnews.com launched.
  • 2000 - morrisdailyherald.com launched.
  • 2000 - osceolaiowa.com launched.
  • 2001 - daily-chronicle.com launched.
  • 2001 - Suburban Strategic Marketing Group, comprised of Northwest Herald, Kane County Chronicle, and the SSMG Weeklies, founded.
  • 2001 - newtondailynews.com launched.
  • 2002 - McHenry County Business Journal re-launched.
  • 2002 - midweeknews.com launched.
  • 2003 - Ryan T. McKibben named as first non-family Chairman of the Board.
  • 2004 - Bureau County Republican moves to new home.
  • 2004 - oglecountynews.com launched.
  • 2005 - Lakeland Media purchased.
  • 2005 - vfpnews.com launched.
  • 2006 - El Conquistador purchased.
  • 2006 - Lo Nuestro purchased.
  • 2006 - Osceola Sentinel-Tribune and the Advertiser purchased.
  • 2007 - Northern Illinois Publishing Company purchased.
  • 2007 - elconquistadornews.com launched.
The company has a plan for where we are going 10, 20 years from now.
- Matt, IT Support Team