The history of The Tavistock Gazette has never been as colourful as in its infancy when two rival papers began around the same time in the village.

"The Tavistock Mail" was to be a weekly newspaper published at Drumbo by Mr. N. H. Boden, however, it was discontinued after two weeks and the only copy ever found was Vol. 1, No. 2, dated September 13, 1895.

"The Tavistock Gazette" began publishing on September 25, 1895 by Mr. J. W. Green.

The Gazette was first "located in the Loth Block" which at that time was a hotel and outbuildings where the present Beckers store stands. According to information gathered by Mr. Carl Seltzer for his Tavistock History book "Fact & Fantasy", "Early files of The Gazette were burned in the Square one Hallowe'en night, and in the ashes disappeared much of our history."

Prior to the date that Frank H. Leslie took over as publisher in 1900, the plant was moved to the modest upstairs of a 11/2 storey wooden building which is now Quehl's Restaurant.

In 1904 Mr. Charles Fraser became owner/publisher and in 1908, Norman E. Dopp took over. Mr. Leslie assumed control again in 1910 with George Shibley and his son as editors.

In March, 1912, the plant was moved to the second storey of the Opera Hall, on Woodstock Street North across from the Arlington Hotel. William Appel acquired the rights to the paper in August of 1914 and on May 1, 1916, turned over the business to his son, Lorne W. (Chick) Appel.

In October, 1929, the Browns, George K. and K. Hartford came to town. With the aging of the old building, The Gazette transferred its equipment in December of 1961 to 119 Woodstock Street South, its present location, originally Strahm's Garage.

On July 1, 1969, C. Robert and Doris Gladding purchased the business with son, Bill joining the enterprise in September 1974 when the switch was made to offset printing. He became editor on January 1, 1980. Bill and his wife, Sheri, purchased the company on March 4, 1988.

Tavistock Gazette Ltd.
119 Woodstock Street, South, Tavistock
Telephone 519-655-2341     or     Fax 519-655-3070

email to: gazette@tavistock.on.ca