Enterprise celebrates 125 years

The Clarendon Enterprise will celebrate its 125th anniversary this Thursday with an open house and dedication of a state historical marker.

Established as The Clarendon News, the local paper was the first newspaper in the Texas Panhandle and has been in continuous operation since it began as a monthly publication on June 1, 1878.

“We’ve gone by many different names since the 19th century, but today’s Enterprise is the direct descendant of the paper started by Rev. L.H. Carhart,” current publisher Roger Estlack said. “Through the last couple of years of research, it has been gratifying to see how Clarendon’s paper has endured and changed to meet the demands of the times.”

To commemorate the anniversary of Clarendon’s oldest business, a special edition is being released in this week’s issue, which chronicles the entire history of the town’s newspaper industry. Also in the issue is all-new information about the town’s founder, his wife, and some of the men connected with the development of Clarendon and its paper.

Thursday’s activities will start at 1:00 p.m. at the Enterprise office at 105 S. Kearney St. with a short ceremony unveiling a new Texas Historical Marker.

“Just a few weeks ago we were told by the Texas Historical Commission that it would take eight to 12 weeks for the marker to get here,” Estlack said. “We figured a dedication ceremony would have to wait until the end of the summer, but then the freight company called Friday and said they were planning delivery this week. It rushed us, but the timing was perfect.”

The dedication will be followed by an Open House until 3 p.m. to allow readers and advertisers the opportunity to tour the Enterprise’s newly remodeled office. Refreshments will be served, and door prizes will be awarded.

A cash prize of $125 will be awarded to the person bringing in the oldest Clarendon paper dated before 1920, and the Enterprise has put up a $1,000 reward for the very first edition of The Clarendon News dated June 1, 1878.

“This reward has generated lots of comments in the last week, but so far no one has come up with that issue,” said publisher Roger Estlack. “We’re encouraging everyone who has a long family history here to go through their attics, basements, and closets to look for it.”

The oldest edition of the paper known to exist is the second issue, Vol. 1, No. 2, dated July 1, 1878. That issue is owned by the Square House Museum in Panhandle.

“The earliest issue we have local access to is October 5, 1880,” Estlack said. “Most of the 19th century papers have been lost, and the collection of the early 20th century is spotty. We would really like to fill in that collection as much as possible.”