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Brief history of the Newark Post

In the past 97 years, The Newark Post has been through a variety of incarnations.

The newspaper was founded by Everett C. Johnson in 1910. The first issue was published on Jan. 26.

Johnson was an exceptionally bright and able man who went on to serve as Secretary of State for Delaware. A native of Sussex County, he came to Newark to study at the University of Delaware. It was there that he began his career in journalism as editor of the student newspaper, The Review. While at the university, Johnson said he "became interested in the town, her churches and schools, her businessmen and industries, her social organization and government."

After graduation, Johnson stayed in Newark and set up shop as a printer and publisher.

Johnson's first printing plant was located on the ground floor of a house at the southeast corner of Main Street and College Avenue. He later built the widely-heralded Press of Kells at the corner of Park Place and South College Avenue.

In 1910, Johnson declared the paper's motto to be "Good Roads, Flowers, Parks, Better Schools, Trees, Pure Water, Fresh Air and Sunshine for Somebody and Work for Somebody."

Under Johnson, the Newark Post thrived. Unfortunately, he died young at age 48 on Feb. 20, 1926. His widow worked very hard to maintain the newspaper but had to sell it in 1935.

The Newark Post went through a series of owners until 1939 when it was purchased by Richard Ware. Fourteen years later, Ware hired Bill Waggaman as editor. The team remained together through the 1950s and 1960s. Waggaman died in November 1994.