LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the WATER-
TOWN DAILY TIMES

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those illustrious journalistic entities which have diligently and
consistently, year after year, recorded the history of their communities
and brought local news and news of the larger world to their readers;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 150th Anniversary of the WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES; and
WHEREAS, Known today as the WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES, this illustrious
newspaper was established on April 22, 1861, as the WATERTOWN DAILY
REFORMER by Beman Brockway and partner, Lotus Ingalls; and
WHEREAS, The newspaper continued as the WATERTOWN DAILY REFORMER
throughout the Civil War, then changed its name to the WATERTOWN DAILY
TIMES in January of 1870; Beman Brockway eventually became sole owner,
forming the Brockway Co.; and
WHEREAS, Twelve years later, Harold Bowtell Johnson was hired by the
WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES as a reporter; in 1911, he purchased stock in the
Brockway Co.; over the next eight years, he advanced from vice president
of the corporation to managing editor, and then editor of the paper and
president of the Brockway Co.; in 1933, he became publisher; and
WHEREAS, When Harold Johnson died unexpectedly in May of 1949, John B.
Johnson became the editor and publisher of the WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES;
and
WHEREAS, In 1950, John Johnson orchestrated an expansion of the print-
ing plant on Arcade Street, giving the paper the ability to print a
40-page issue, increasing by eight pages the previous capacity; and
WHEREAS, The name Brockway disappeared in December 1977, when a new
name, Johnson Newspaper Corp., was adopted; and
WHEREAS, In the 1980s the company expanded its newspaper holdings,
first buying the BATAVIA DAILY NEWS; over the next decade, the company
acquired the CARTHAGE REPUBLICAN-TRIBUNE, the MALONE TELEGRAM, the CATS-
KILL DAILY MAIL, the GREENE COUNTY NEWS, the LOWVILLE JOURNAL & REPUBLI-
CAN and 10 newspapers of the former Park Newspapers in St. Lawrence and
Columbia counties; and
WHEREAS, The WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES inaugurated its Sunday issue on
September 28, 1986, and broke away from its traditional evening paper on
September 30, 2002, introducing a daily morning paper; and
WHEREAS, Today, the company is guided by John B. Johnson, Jr. as
chairman and chief executive officer and his brother, Harold B. Johnson
II, as president and chief operating officer; they succeeded their
father after his death in May 2001; and
WHEREAS, With the widening of print news coverage throughout the North
Country, the company has taken on yet a newer name, Northern New York
Newspapers Corp.; and
WHEREAS, The WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES covers the news of the North Coun-
try including Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence and Franklin counties;
throughout its history, the newspaper has been one of the main genera-
tors of local news for the region; and
WHEREAS, For over a century, this prominent newspaper has been a
powerful tool in documenting the social, political, religious, cultural,
artistic, business and literary histories and events for the community
of Watertown and its surrounding areas; and
WHEREAS, The unbridled success of the WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES is a
direct result of its dedicated staff, who work diligently to provide

quality journalism, top-notch production and service on behalf of their
readers; and
WHEREAS, Our newspapers provide a tremendous service to citizens
across the State of New York by keeping them informed about current
events; the democracy of our State and Nation is strengthened by a
responsible citizenry which is actively engaged in reading and kept
abreast of news affecting their lives; and
WHEREAS, As the WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES moves into the future, it
carries with it the legacy of a distinguished journalistic history and
an outstanding record of growth and achievement; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES.