Houston Home Journal celebrates 150th anniversary

The Houston Home Journal is now 150 years old.

John T. Waterman founded the Houston Home Journal in Perry in December 1870. The first issue was published Dec. 17, 1870. Beginning in 1877, the publication’s title often shifted between Houston Home Journal and Home Journal, before finally settling on the former in 1924.

Perry-native John H. Hodges purchased the paper in 1880. The Hodges family maintained ownership of the publication for over sixty years, before selling it in 1946. Since 1946 the paper has been owned and operated by several people including, but not all listed: Charles Cooper Etheridge, Bobby Branch, Lewis Meeks, Ogden Persons III, Millard B. Grimes, Danny Evans and current owner Bob and Mitch Tribble of Trib Publications.

The Houston Home Journal remains the legal organ for Houston County and continues semiweekly publication as the county’s oldest continually operated business. Larry Walker, Perry native, lawyer and business owner, former State Representative and House Majority Floor Leader, congratulated the paper on it’s 150 anniversary. Walker wrote for the Houston Home Journal as an opinion writer for 13.5 years.

“Congratulations to the Houston Home Journal, the keeper of the history in Perry, for 150 years,” Walker said. “I’m extremely proud of them. I believe they’re the oldest business in continuous operation in Perry and have done a fine job. The past is outstanding and the future is destined to be even better.”

Evans, who owned the paper in early 1990s and later from 2000 to 2014, said he enjoyed serving the public of Houston County as the legal organ and news source.

“The Houston Home Journal is not just a business; it’s an institution. When it started in 1870, it served the citizens a long time as the community’s only news source. There was no T.V., no radio or Internet. I always had a great staff and truly enjoyed working with the citizens of Houston County. There are so many good memories. I wish them continued success and hope it continues for another 150 years.”

Current general manager/publisher Cheri Adams said she is excited to celebrate all throughout the year on the momentous 150th anniversary.

“It’s been an honor to be the Publisher for the last five years here at the Houston Home Journal,” Adams said.

Adams was first hired on to the Houston Home Journal in 2001 working her way from advertisement sales, to advertising manager and in 2014 became the general manager/publisher.

“I have watched a lot of changes within the county, but I have truly enjoyed watching it grow,” she said. “One of my most favorite things in this business is meeting all of the people in the community and celebrating their accomplishments. To turn 150 and be a part of this milestone is extremely exciting. There has been great leadership over the years and they have always done their best to bring fair and accurate local news. And that is what we continue to strive for today.”

Adams also shared that all of the paper’s archives from 1870 to 1993 are now available online through the Georgia Historic Newspapers at https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/.

“It’s amazing to see how far we have come,” Adams said. “We hope that our archives from 1994 to present will become available online as well.”

Adams said the Houston Home Journal plans to celebrate the 150th anniversary all year, but will have a big community celebration towards the end of the year. To keep up with the celebration visit the Houston Home Journal’s Facebook page.