The Keene Sentinel Celebrates 225 Years in Business

To celebrate its 225th anniversary, the Keene Sentinel will be hosting a day-long celebration with the community who has supported them all these years. The event will be held throughout Keene on Saturday, Sept.7, from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. "The 225th anniversary of our newspaper here in Keene is pretty remarkable. The Sentinel really feels itself to be part of this community and we really wanted to focus less on promotion and marketing and more on making it a community celebration," explained Sean Burke, president and chief operating officer of the Keene Sentinel. "All are welcome, and we hope to have a fun and engaging celebration." The Keene Sentinel, established in 1799, is one of the oldest newspapers in New Hampshire and has played a significant role in the history of journalism in the region. It began as the New Hampshire Sentinel, a weekly paper, published by John Prentiss. The paper started with 70 subscribers and cost $1.50 per year. The paper was originally intended to serve as a voice for the emerging community of Keene and its surrounding areas. Its early editions focused on local news, political developments and community events, reflecting the interests and concerns of its readers in the early years of the 19th century. In 1890 it became a daily paper and was called the Keene Evening Sentinel. Throughout the 19th century, The Keene Sentinel adapted to the changing landscape of journalism and technology. The paper saw a shift from hand-set type and manual printing presses to more advanced mechanical and electronic methods, which allowed it to expand its reach and improve its production capabilities. During this time, it played an active role in covering significant historical events, including the Civil War and various local and national political developments. The Sentinel's commitment to reporting local issues and providing a platform for community voices became increasingly important as the region grew. The paper was owned by the Prentiss Family up until October 1954 when Mrs. John W. Prentiss with her son, William H., and John Coffin, sold the newspaper to James and Ruth Ewing along with Walter C. Paine. With the change in ownership, the 20th century brought further transformations and shifts in editorial focus. The paper became a more polished and professional operation, incorporating new technologies like offset printing and later, digital advancements. In 1972 it was renamed the Keene Sentinel and it continued to serve as a crucial source of news for Keene and the surrounding areas, documenting everything from local government decisions to cultural events. The Sentinel's adaptability ensured its continued relevance and influence in a rapidly evolving media landscape. In 1993, Ruth and James Ewing sold the paper to their nephew, Thomas Ewing, who remains the paper's publisher. In recent years, The Keene Sentinel has faced challenges common to many local newspapers, including the decline of print readership and competition from digital media. Despite these challenges, the Sentinel has worked to maintain its role as a trusted source of local news by expanding its online presence and digital offerings. Today, it remains a vital part of the Keene community, committed to providing timely and accurate news coverage while navigating the complexities of the modern media environment. In this 225th anniversary year, the Sentinel seeks to celebrate the community with an array of community involved activities. Planned activities include: A special 225th Anniversary Commemorative Edition of The Keene Sentinel Downtown Sidewalk Sale that local businesses are invited to participate in Live music throughout the day from two stages. The Lake Effect Band and The Shana Stack Band will be performing at Central Square and Heath Lewis and Morgan-Nelson will be performing by the Gilbo Avenue Lot There will be special restaurant and bar events A beer and wine tasting area will be on Gilbo Avenue with local breweries and wineries participating Farmers market Walldogs Tour by the Historical Society of Cheshire County Nine different food trucks Antique and classic car and truck show in the Main Street America lot on Gilbo Avenue. A Community History Series at The Keene Library including a talk led by Alan Rumrill about the history of the Keene Sentinel and journalism in the community, a round table on the Keene Sentinel today with Tom Ewing, Cecily Weisburgh and Anika Clark, and a demonstration on how to explore historical Sentinel archives at the library. Celebrity softball game at Alumni Field at 6 p.m., followed by fireworks. The 225th Anniversary Community Celebration is free to attend, and all are welcome.