The Daily Star


The Daily Star has a rich history that spans more than a century. The newspaper has been honored annually with numerous awards from organizations that include the New York State Associated Press Association and the New York State Newspaper Publishers Association.

1890 The first edition of The Oneonta Star - four pages and handset - was published on June 19, 1890, by Harry W. Lee, just 20 years-old. More than a century of daily news reporting and public service begins for Oneonta and the surrounding area.

1901 After a decade of newspaper growth, Mr. Lee buys a building on Broad Street and expands the newspaper. The Oneonta Star remains here for nearly a half-century.

1937 Harry W. Lee, founding editor and publisher, dies. He is succeeded by his son, Francis A. Lee, who manages the newspaper for seven years.

1944 James H. Ottaway, Sr., founding director of Ottaway Newspapers Inc., purchases The Oneonta Daily Star from Francis A. Lee. Eugene J. Brown is named publisher.

1949 The cornerstone is laid for a new building on the corner of Chestnut and West Streets.

1950 Operations begin at the new site.

1956 Elton P. Hall is named publisher.

1967 Donald J. Clifford succeeds Mr. Hall as publisher.

1970 Ottaway Newspapers Inc., which has now grown to nine community newspapers, incuding The Oneonta Star, merges with Dow Jones & Company Inc.

1974 Major production changes are made. The old hot-lead printing process is replaced with the more efficient and environmentally friendly offset, photocomposition method of printing. Edward J. Somers is named publisher. To reflect wider circulation of the newspaper, the name is changed to The Daily Star.

1976 James H. Ottaway Jr., succeeds his father as chief executive officer of Ottaway Newspapers Inc.

1983 Editorial production is revolutionized through computerization of the newsroom. A satellite dish is placed on the roof to receive Associated Press wire service stories.

1984 Richard J. Anthony succeeds Mr. Somers as publisher.

1988 The building is expanded to add a new mailroom, newsprint inventory storage area, and additional office space.

1993 A new computerized pagination system is installed, increasing layout efficiency of the paper in the production process. Daily paid circulation exceeds

20,000 copies per day for the first time (20,056).

1994 Publication of The CoopersTown Crier begins, a weekly newspaper with a separate editorial staff located in Cooperstown. Bill Gates is named editor of this new venture, with Richard J. Anthony as president and publisher.

1998 A new service at The Daily Star begins offering free web space on its site, www.thedailystar.com, to local nonprofit organizations and schools.

Publisher Richard J. Anthony retires. Dan Swift is named publisher.

2001 The Daily Star began publishing its editions in a narrower format as it reduces it press web width from 27 ½ to 25 inches. The reduction for The Daily Star amounts to a savings of 9.1 percent in newsprint.

2002 A new main entrance, located on the West Street side of The Daily Star’s office at 102 Chestnut St., has been designated as the official entrance. A direct dialing system was also recently installed.

The first Daily Star regional spelling bee is held at State University College at Oneonta with 25 contestants.

2004 The Daily Star, with 60 full-time and 45 part-time employees, is named the Otsego County Chamber Distinguished Business of the Year along with NBT Bank.

2006 James Moss, Ottaway’s chief financial development officer and a veteran Ottaway publisher is named interim publisher following the April retirement of Dan Swift.

Al Getler is named publisher. The Daily Star and five other papers in the Ottaway Newspapers Inc. group are sold to a publishing firm based in Alabama called Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.

The Daily Star begins using Legacy.com, a nationwide resource for obituaries and guest books, for its obituaries appearing in the online edition of The Daily Star.

2007 “Water, Mud, Despair and Recovery” is the title of a special exhibit of 30 photographs taken during the June flood by Daily Star photographers and published in the newspaper and in the book “Flood 2006.” The exhibit, which was at the invitation of the State University College at Oneonta, is a first for The Daily Star.

Tanya Shalor is promoted from comptroller to publisher.