The Polk County News celebrates its 125th birthday next week with a special edition, and an open house is slated for Thursday, October 9th from 2-7 p.m. to mark the occasion. In addition to the paper’s 125th birthday, owners Randy and Ingrid Buehler commemorate the 25th anniversary- of their purchase of the paper and daughter Cheryl Maxwell unveils the newly remodeled office and Newspaper Book Shop, offering the newspaper’s customers a place to grab a cup of coffee or cold drink and sit to peruse old newspapers as well as local community and history files and photographs. The bookshop also offers local residents wireless internet access, used books and a selection of books relating to the region.

With its first issue being printed October 12, 1883, The Polk County News is the oldest continuous business in the county. The paper, with co-editors Virgil Clemmer and James Howard Hood, had an initial circulation of 600 and sold for 5¢. The Buehlers purchased The Polk County News from David James in 1983, as it was celebrating its centennial year. The Buehlers, both former teachers, had been working for a newspaper group in Southern Maryland and wanted to own their own community newspaper. As Randy Buehler said at the time, “When we got to Polk County, we knew this was where we belonged.” Their children, 11-year-old Randy Jr. and 10-year-old Cheryl, along with Ingrid’s mother, Toini Peltonen, quickly became part of the county. Cheryl remains, while Randy Jr. is now living in Seattle.

They purchased Citizen-Advance in 1985, combining the two to mark the first time citizens throughout the mountain-divided region shared a common newspaper. “Both the east and west sides of the county have a rich culture and history,” Randy Buehler said. “But ultimately we are one county, and we wanted to provide all the news that affected the county in one place.”

In looking through old copies of The Polk County New from the early 20s, one can see the changes that have taken place in weekly papers. While older editions of the paper have front pages filled with national news and social columns inside, modern day versions of the Polk County News focus mainly on news that affects the county directly.

“There is no other way to keep up with issues affecting local people than a community newspaper,” said Ingrid Buehler. “National news is available everywhere. We wanted to ensure the local residents had access to news that is important right here in Polk County even if nowhere else,” she said, adding, “The newspaper belongs to the community. We are just its caretakers.”

Besides current local news, a popular staple of the paper is the Polk County Heritage sections on both the front and opinion pages each week.

“We started doing the community histories during the Tennessee Homecoming ’86 celebration, and were amazed at their popularity,” Ingrid said. “People come in time and time again excited to have seen a picture of papaw or helping us identify old school pictures. Polk Countians are truly interested in Polk County.”  

Due to the interest in this type of information, the Buehlers began to compile everything and make it available for purchase. Calling the mish mash of local history “Polk-Pourri,” reprints have been available since the late 1980s and are now available online as well. The family is now in the process of converting everything to digital and making at available on a computer in the office as well as through notebooks.

 “As more and more people began coming into the office looking for old articles or family information, I thought it would be neat to set up the front of the office to give everyone access to our files and a place to sit and look at them,” Maxwell said. With that in mind, she began a remodeling project of the newspaper’s office in May.

Maxwell purchased the more than 100 year-old building remembered by most locals as “The old Lillard Hardware,” in February. She was delighted when she hired friend and contractor Alan Whitener, of Chattanooga, to give the newspaper a new look that turned out to include exposing the building’s original hand-made bricks.

According to Maxwell, removing the old wooden shelves revealed damaged concrete plaster on one side of the building. When Whitener and fellow contractor Chris Wilson removed a chunk of the plaster in order to repair it, Maxwell got a surprise.

“I don’t know why I didn’t expect to see bricks under there,” she said. “But once I did, I knew they needed to be uncovered.” While it remains uncertain who made the bricks, County Historian Marian Presswood told Maxwell the local brick man during that era was Jim Williamson, who made the bricks for most of the buildings in the county at the time.

Also discovered during the remodel was a completely intact tin ceiling and crown mouldings, though both remain covered by a drop ceiling for now. “One day I will open it up all the way, but for now at least I know it is up there waiting,” Maxwell said.

In addition to the exposed brick in the main office section, bricks were uncovered in the bathroom. Other changes to the office include new paint, flooring and carpet, new desks, cabinets and countertops and a new layout. Copies of old photographs from all regions of the county as well as nature photography from Buehler, Maxwell and newspaper photographer Jim Caldwell decorate the walls and are also available for purchase.

“We have already gotten a lot of wonderful feedback about the changes we have made. I’m really excited for people to see the finished product,” said Maxwell.

Maxwell, who is working toward taking over the newspaper as her parents prepare for retirement, has also purchased the adjacent lot where Red Wilson’s drug store once stood. She said she was not sure what or when she would build on the lot, but looks to possibly use the space for outdoor seating until that time comes.

Refreshments will be available between 2-7 p.m. Thursday, October 9th. The public is encouraged to stop by for a visit.