Fargo, ND-based Forum Communications History
forumcomm.com
May 16, 2008
1878 The Republican founded as a semi-weekly paper by Major A.W. Edwards and H.B. Hall.
1879 The Daily Argus founded by Major Edwards.
1883 The Moorhead News founded.
LATE 1880's Major Edwards forced out of The Daily Argus.
NOVEMBER 17, 1891 The Fargo Forum founded by Major Edwards and Col. H.C. Plumley.
1894 The Daily Republican purchased and incorporated with The Fargo Forum.
1912 The Fargo Forum sold to J.P. Dotson of Crookston, MN.
1917 The Fargo Forum was purchased by N.B. Black, who brought in Norman D. Black and H.D. Paulson as minority owners.
1924 The Fargo Forum purchased the Fargo Tribune, successor to The Daily Argus, putting all papers founded by Major Edwards under one roof and making The Fargo Forum into a morning, evening and Sunday paper.
1926 The Fargo Forum built and occupied a new building, with a 48-page press, twice the size of the one purchased in 1917.
1935 The Fargo Forum buys 49% of WDAY radio, Fargo, ND.
1953 WDAY TV began broadcasting.
1955 Moorhead Daily News was purchased by The Fargo Forum.
1957 Moorhead Daily News and The Fargo Forum were merged into one publication with separate editions for Minnesota and North Dakota.
1958 The Fargo Forum purchased remaining 51% of WDAY, Inc.
1965 WDAY FM began broadcasting.
1966 Changed the name of The Fargo Forum to The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead.
1967 WDAZ TV in Grand Forks/Devils Lake, ND begins broadcasting.
1972 Purchased South Dakota Broadcasting Co. With TV stations in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen and Pierre.
1977 Purchased KMMJ AM Radio, Grand Island, NE.
1979 Purchased West Central Tribune in Willmar, MN.
1983 WDAY TV changes network affiliation from NBC to ABC.
1984 Marcil and Lewis families (daughters of Norman D. Black Jr.) purchased outstanding shares of Forum Publishing Co.
1985 Sold South Dakota Broadcasting Co. Purchased The Detroit Lakes Times, The Becker County Record, and Detroit Lakes commercial printing operations all located in Detroit Lakes, MN; and The Enterprise in Park Rapids, MN.
1986 Television stations in Bismarck, ND (KBMY) and Minot, ND (KMCY) began broadcasting.
1988 Marcil family purchased Lewis family stock, thus consolidating ownership into one family.
1990 Purchased The Pioneer Journal, Wadena, MN and WATCO, a commercial printing operation in Wadena, MN. Purchased The Echo Press newspaper and shopper in Alexandria, MN. Purchased The Reminder, shopper in Willmar, MN.
1991 Purchased Lakes Area Press, a shopper in Detroit Lakes, MN.
1993 Purchased Dakota Photographics in Fargo, ND. Company changes name to Forum Communications Co. The Forum installs a new state of the art Man-Rolland Offset Press.
1995 Purchased The Dickinson Press, Dickinson, ND; The Daily Republic, Mitchell, SD; and The Daily Globe, Worthington, MN.
1996 Sold WDAY FM.
1997 Developed In-Forum Web site. Purchased The Pioneer and Advertiser, Bemidji, MN; The Blackduck and American Shopper, Black Duck, MN.
1999 Purchased Kaye’s Printing, Fargo, ND. Developed I29 Internet Service Provider and Jump Interactive. Purchased The Morris Sun & Tribune and a shopper The Morris Adviser, Morris, MN; The Hancock Record, Hancock, MN.
2000 Acquired Perham Enterprise, Perham, MN; New York Mills Herald, New York Mills, MN. Purchased Jamestown Sun, Jamestown, ND. DL Printing changes name to Lakes Offset.
2001 Acquired the Republican Eagle, Red Wing, MN and weekly newspapers in Hastings, Rosemount, Farmington, Cottage Grove and Woodbury, MN; and Hudson, Ellsworth, River Falls and New Richmond in Wisconsin.
2005 Acquired Davon Press, West Fargo Pioneer, Midweek in West Fargo, ND; and Stillwater Courier in Stillwater, MN.
2006 Acquired Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks, ND; Duluth News Tribune, Duluth, MN; The Daily Telegram, Superior, WI, and weekly newspapers in Cloquet, MN and Two Harbors, MN.
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