It was 1866 when the founders of The Belton Weekly Journal, Maj. James H. Davenport and publisher James T. Longino, purchased printing and typesetting equipment from a facility in Waco, Texas.
They moved the equipment to Belton and set up operations in the John Henry Building on the southwest corner of the courthouse square—now the location of the newly restored 1895 Belton Opera House.
In 1868, Davenport purchased full interest in the paper from Longino and held ownership until he was elected State Senator in 1874. The paper was then sold to Capt. J.G. Batte, and in 1883 to Hunter and George C. Robinson.
After 38 years of publication and several changes in ownership, the Journal experienced its first major disaster in 1898 when the building burned, destroying all equipment, files, and records. Robinson immediately purchased the equipment and files of the rival newspaper, the Belton Reporter, and quickly renamed the paper The Journal-Reporter.
At the turn of the century, the paper changed hands again, with C.H. Wedemeyer and J.F. Crouch publishing it until 1911, when O.P. Pyle ended a major feud and purchased both The Journal-Reporter and the Bell County Democrat. After Pyle’s death in 1919, his son, Charles W. Pyle, took over and renamed the paper The Belton Journal and Bell County Democrat.
In 1925, Pyle sold the paper to C.C. Watson and then to F.B. Russell in 1927. After Russell’s death in 1943, Mrs. Russell and their son, James H. Russell, assumed ownership and continued operations until 1981, when they sold the paper to Sam Kinch Jr.
In the April 21, 1966 issue, in an article titled Journal Observes 100 Years of Continuous Publication, the paper celebrated its 100th anniversary and featured a warm congratulatory Western Union telegram from Texas Governor John Connally. The article candidly noted:
“In the interest of honest reporting, the Journal must admit it was not the first newspaper in Belton—but it was the only surviving one, there having been, by the best count available, a total of 13 others, which gave this town an earned reputation as ‘the graveyard of newspapers.’”
In its April 8, 1982 issue, the paper announced new ownership and adopted the name The Belton Journal—a name it proudly carries to this day.
In March 1996, current CEO and Publisher David Tuma took over operations of The Belton Journal, remaining committed to publishing a local, family- and small-business-oriented newspaper. In addition to weekly news coverage, the publication produces specialty monthly editions highlighting the families and businesses that make Belton and the surrounding areas unique.
“The Belton Journal doesn’t belong to any one person or corporation—it belongs to you. Every time you pick up a copy, you become a part of our story. Whether we’re in print or online in the years ahead, our mission remains the same: to share the stories and news that shape our community,” Publisher David Tuma said. “It’s been my privilege and greatest joy to serve Belton through these years.”
One constant throughout its long history is that the paper continues to be printed and delivered to subscribers. Although computers have replaced traditional layout production methods, the newspaper is still set on a printing press using broadsheet paper. The old typeset ink blots are no longer used to create the paper, though it remains visually close to its original design.
Over the years, the newspaper has developed strong, collaborative relationships with community members, local chambers of commerce, city leaders, and the school district. The Belton Journal places a high priority on local news and works closely with community businesses to offer affordable advertising rates that even the smallest businesses can manage.
During challenging economic times, the local business community has continued to support the newspaper, understanding the importance of mutual assistance and fostering a shared sense of respect and partnership.
