The Harris Centennial
Harris --The past 100 Years
Harris Newspapers
Page 53
Osceola County Bee Was First
Harris Newspaper
Written by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Robertson
The Osceola County Bee apparently
was Harris first newspaper and started in 1898. A copy dated
October 24, 1902, with Alfred E. Smalley as editor, states that
the paper is published every Friday afternoon at Harris, Osceola
County, Iowa. The paper is the possession of Miss Ruth Benson.
Smalley was succeeded by E. J. McFarland, then by F. E. and M. E.
Van Houten as publishers. Copies of the February 10, 1905, and
July 20, 1905 issues were found by Mr. and Mrs. Pete Petersen
between the walls of the old house on the farm just east of
Harris (town down when they built their new home in 1952.) The
subscriber was P. E. Lalan. One difference, besides the
publisher, was the name of the paper – now – The
Harris Bee in 1905. Some time between 1905 and 1907 the name
of the paper was changed again, this time to The Harris
Herald. The editor was Eddie Halvorson.
The print shop was located in various buildings, once on the
second floor of the W. C. Grant building (the J. T. Purviance
building recently razed); the last move was to where the Fike
Produce Station now is. Following Halvorson as publisher was J.
M. Agnew, Jim Dobbyn and G. L. Wehlemeyer. The Harris Herald
closed shop about 1920. From then on Harris news was printed in
the Sibley Gazette-Tribune. The Ocheyedan Press
and the Lake Park News, with Mrs. Chris Heppler and Mrs.
Ray Arp gathering the local items for the paper. At present, and
for the past many years, Mrs. Dan Watters has been correspondent
for the above three papers and also for the Harris news in the Worthington
Daily Globe and Hartley Sentinel.
Market reports and other items from 1905 and 1907 Harris Bee
and Harris Herald papers.
Market report, 1907; wheat 83-79c; oats 33-32c; barley 57-50c;
timothy $2.50-$3.50; corn 37-38c; cattle $2.50-$5.00; hogs $5.45;
butter 16c; eggs 13c.
Bellman’s special: fresh made dairy butter 15c; Eaco flour,
100 pound bag $1.60.
The Harris Bee: one year for $1.50 and 100 free
envelopes.
Bee Buzzings: Bert Burley is now wearing the
marshal’s star. The new cement walks in front of the
Methodist Church and Messers. Robertson and Dietz’ property
have been completed. Wanted – Some good fat young horses for
shipping purposes – McFarland and Winterfield.