And through the majority of Salamanca’s history — including fires, floods, politics and more — it was one family that headed the newspaper’s publication and management.
[3] Ferrin, who had served as city editor of the Buffalo Express when he was only 22, founded the Cattaraugus Republican and managed it until he sold his interest in the company to Blanchard B. Weber, his brother-in-law, in 1895.
[citation needed] Weber’s son, Matthew, became editor of the paper in 1902 and two years later helped establish the daily Republican Press — which was renamed the Salamanca Republican-Press in 1926.
The ownership of the paper left the Weber family in 1976 when the Salamanca Republican-Press announced the purchase of the stock of the company by a group of businessmen from Pennsylvania.
Prior to 1926, most of The Press history was on Atlantic Street in the space later occupied by Reed’s Newsroom across from the Dudley Hotel.
Then, in April 1926, the move was made to its present location at 36 River St. Feb. 7, 1867 The first edition of the Cattaraugus Republican prints out of the newspaper’s office at the corner of Washington and Monroe streets in Ellicottville, which was the county seat at the time.
The Republican begins business in Salamanca with the office located on the second floor of the Fitts Building at 123 Main St., now Weast Insurance Agency.
Spring 1874 Hevenor Bros. erects an addition on their north side of the store at the corner of Main and Atlantic streets and The Republican moves into its second home in Salamanca.
According to an editorial printed April 1916, the decision to produce a daily paper was made on a Saturday and the first issue appeared two days later.
Jan. 3, 1921 A backed-up sewer on Atlantic Street floods the pressroom of The Republican Press, as well as parts of the Salamanca Trust Co., but the paper is printed.
July 21, 1923 The Republican Press prints a special second edition of its daily paper after a fire that starts on Sycamore Avenue sweeps through the city’s downtown district and causes about $750,000 in damage.
Jan. 26, 1926 The paper purchases the Ellicott O’Brien property at 36 River St. to eventually move its offices from Atlantic Street to its current location.
It cites the name change to “better describe the relations between the people of Salamanca and this paper which so long has been a part of the community life that it will convey a more accurate idea of the policy and purpose of the paper.” It kept “Republican” in its name, stating the word is “an adjective rather than a noun,” acknowledging that the term “republic” refers to a community of people rather than the paper having a political interest.
A joint souvenir edition of the Salamanca Republican-Press and The Cattaraugus Republican is issued to celebrate the opening of the papers’ new headquarters on River Street.
May 29, 1953 The Salamanca Republican-Press prints its first Allegany State Park Vacation Guide, a supplement included with the newspaper in late spring.
The vacation guide, called Venture Out since 2016, continues to be printed annually every May, and copies are distributed to Allegany State Park and area businesses throughout the summer.
Weber, founded the Republican-Press as a daily in Salamanca in 1904, two years after taking ownership of its mother paper, the weekly Cattaraugus Republican.
Jan. 23, 1976 The Salamanca Republican-Press fails to print for the second time in its history as a fire destroys the Ethan Allen plant on Rochester Street and cuts off power for eight hours to much of the city.
Oct. 1, 1976 The newspaper officially passes out of the hands of the family that founded it when The Salamanca Republican-Press Inc. announces purchase of the stock of the company by a group of area businessmen from Pennsylvania.
The Pennysaver offices were previously located at 39 Atlantic St. Sept. 28, 1991 Kevin Burleson, who had served as a reporter for The Salamanca Press since 1988, is promoted to managing editor.
Nov. 15, 2004 Laura Howard is promoted to managing editor of The Salamanca Press, succeeding Kevin Burleson, who stepped away from the position after receiving appointment as Cattaraugus County elections commissioner.
Kip Doyle, previously a reporter at the Olean Times Herald, led the paper’s transition from a five-day daily to a weekly publication.
June 20, 2011 Rich Place, previously city reporter at The Salamanca Press since January 2010, is promoted to managing editor.