Our Viewpoint

The first edition of the Sanders County Ledger was published 115 years ago in February 1905. This week is our first edition of the 116th volume.

Here in the office we have all of the past books of Ledgers. You can also view them online at http://www.montananewspapers.org. The Thompson Falls Library received grant funding to digitize old editions. Looking back through that very first edition, there was a lot of information on happenings across the country, but there was also a lot of local news. The first edition started with:

"The Sanders County Ledger has been established for the people of Sanders County, and will be first, last and all the time for the interests of all the people in the county. We expect to see Sanders County one of the most prosperous counties in the state.

The Ledger will endeavor to be for the people and will assist to the best of its ability in building up and will never lend its aid to tearing down. It will depend upon the people for support but will never try to hold them up. It will endeavor to give all the news in a condensed form and will pay particular attention to local events."

The ad below was also featured in that first edition in 1905. It's funny that with all the changes in the last 115 years, these values and statements still hold true.

Small towns survive because we support each other. We don't always have to agree. In fact, progress comes from new ideas, from people thinking outside the box, and from people standing up for what they believe. However, we do need to be there for each other. Not just on small business Saturday or when there's a parade or fundraiser, but every day we need to remember that good things happen when people work together.

We look forward to the next 115 years of keeping Sanders County informed.