{{Short description|Former newspaper in Chehalis, Washington}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = The Chehalis Bee-Nugget | logo = | logo_alt = | logo_size = | logo_caption = | image = File:Chehalis Bee-Nugget 01.jpg | image_alt = | image_size = | caption = Final edition of the Bee-Nugget, July 26, 1938 | motto = | type = Weekly newspaper | format = Broadsheet | owner = Dan W. Bush | founded = {{start date|1898|11|28}} | ceased_publication = {{end date|1937}} | relaunched = The Chehalis Advocate, 1938 | publisher = Bee Nugget Publishing{{efn|The ISSN listed for the ''Chehalis Bee-Nugget'' is 8808-5553. The cataloged number is not found at the WorldCat website.}} | president = | general_manager = | chief_editor = | editor = | custom_label = Origin | custom_data = Merging of The Chehalis Bee and The Chehalis Nugget | political_position = | language = English | publishing_city = Chehalis, Washington{{efn|The last address of the ''Chehalis Bee-Nugget'', before it merged with the ''Lewis County Advocate'', was 882{{fraction|1|2}} Market Street in the Bush building of downtown Chehalis.<ref>{{cite news |title=Moving Offices |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1939/05-02/page-3 |access-date=January 30, 2026 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=May 2, 1939 |page=3}}</ref>}} | publishing_country = United States | circulation = | circulation_date = | circulation_ref = | price = $2.00 annual subscription (1931) | readership = | sister_newspapers = The Chehalis Daily Nugget | ISSN = 8808-5553 | eISSN = | oclc = 17560756 | RNI = | website = | free = | module = }}
'''''The Chehalis Bee-Nugget''''' was a weekly newspaper published and circulated in Chehalis, Washington. The publication began in November 1898 after the merger of the city's first two newspapers, ''The Chehalis Bee'' and ''The Chehalis Nugget''.
The first owner was Dan W. Bush, who as the proprietor of the ''Bee'', purchased the ''Nugget'' for $2,400, {{Inflation|US|2400|1898|fmt=eq}}. The newspaper's headquarters were located in the Bush Block of the Chehalis Downtown Historic District beginning in 1908. Bush began selling his interest in the paper in 1916 but remained as an editor and correspondent after his stock interest was entirely sold by 1921.
In 1915, the ''Bee-Nugget'' produced a souvenir book highlighting the history of the city of Chehalis, as well as past and present businesses and prominent citizens. The book was updated and republished in 2011. The newspaper held a 50th anniversary celebration at the city's St. Helens Hotel in 1932.
The ''Chehalis Bee-Nugget'' ceased publication in 1937 when the newspaper was bought that year by Advocate Publishing Company, owners of ''The Lewis County Advocate'' newspaper. The ''Bee-Nugget'' combined with the ''Advocate'' to create ''The Chehalis Advocate''; the first official issue under the new name was printed in August 1938. ''The Chehalis Advocate'' ended in 1962.
==Background== {{main|The Chehalis Bee}} {{main|The Chehalis Nugget}} The first newspaper in Lewis County was ''The Lewis County Nugget'', published in 1883.<ref name="TCNFN">{{cite news |title=The Chehalis Nugget, First Newspaper In Chehalis, Appeared July 14, 1883, Albert Tozier, H.C. Mayfield, Publishers |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1932/07-22/page-19 |access-date=January 26, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=July 15, 1832 |pages=3, 16}}</ref> The following year, ''The Lewis County Bee'' was first issued.<ref name="ALBAT">{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Pat |title=A look back at the history of newspapering in Greater Lewis County |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/a-look-back-at-the-history-of-newspapering-in-greater-lewis-county,220924 |access-date=February 5, 2026 |work=The Chronicle |date=June 17, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Valued Papers Said Periled |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1951/03-17/page-1 |access-date=January 21, 2026 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=March 17, 1951 |page=1}}</ref> Both newspapers removed the county name, switching to "Chehalis" in their nameplates.{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011b|p=21}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Untitled - first column |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee/1897/05-21/page-40 |access-date=January 26, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee |date=May 21, 1897 |page=2}}</ref>
Separate circulation numbers for the ''Bee'' and ''Nugget'' were recorded in 1898 as 4,980 and 1,000, respectively.<ref name="NN&DG">{{cite book |title=National Newspaper & Directory Gazetteer, 1899 |date=1899 |publisher=Pettingill & Company |location=Boston, New York |page=591 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044090094988?urlappend=%3Bseq=697%3Bownerid=27021597765310750-759 |access-date=February 5, 2026 |via=HathiTrust}}</ref>
==History== ''The Chehalis Nugget'' merged with ''The Chehalis Bee'' in November 1898 to become ''The Chehalis Bee-Nugget''. Dan W. Bush, who was owner of the ''Bee'', remained the owner of the new publication.{{r|TNS}} The transaction was officially completed on November 28, 1898 for a price of $2,400, {{Inflation|US|2400|1898|fmt=eq}}, which included all ''Nugget'' holdings and machinery. Judd Bush, Dan's brother and previously an owner of the ''Bee'',<ref>{{cite news |title=Untitled - first column |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee/1897/05-21/page-40 |access-date=February 16, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee |date=May 21, 1897 |page=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chehalis Couple Wed Forty Years |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1933/10-06/page-2 |access-date=February 16, 2026 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=October 6, 1933 |page=2}}</ref> became the editor of the ''Chehalis Bee-Nugget''.<ref name="TNS">{{cite news |title=The Nugget Sold |url=https://washingtondigitalnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=PPLADVCT18981202.2.17 |access-date=February 5, 2026 |work=The People's Advocate |date=December 2, 1898 |pages=1, 2}}</ref>
The ''Chehalis Bee-Nugget'' moved to a new office in the Bush Block of the Chehalis Downtown Historic District in September 1908. The relocation to the Dan Bush-owned building was reported to be "permanent" though a small business office remained open at a nearby millinery shop. The offices, which included a composing room, were situated on two floors; the press room was situated in the basement. All printing of the ''Bee-Nugget'' was handled from the new location.<ref>{{cite news |title=Will Move This Week |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1908/09-11/page-1 |access-date=February 4, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=September 11, 1908 |page=1}}</ref> A large fire occurred during the morning hours of August 2, 1912, beginning in the Bush Block. The fire caused damages to some of the ''Bee-Nugget'' offices located above the city's post office.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chehalis Has Bad Blaze |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/oregon/portland/portland-morning-oregonian/1912/08-03/page-6 |access-date=September 30, 2024 |work=The Morning Oregonian |date=August 3, 1912 |page=6}}</ref>{{efn|At the time of the 1919 fire, the newspaper's phone number was "Black 1151".{{r|IEF}} The telephone number had previously been "133" in 1900.<ref>{{cite news |title=To The People's Advocate. |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1900/05-11/page-13 |access-date=January 28, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=May 11, 1900 |page=2}}</ref>}} Damages for the newspaper were estimated to be $20,000, {{Inflation|US|20000|1912|fmt=eq}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fireman Nearly Bleeds To Death |url=https://washingtondigitalnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=SEATSTAR19120802.1.1 |access-date=February 9, 2026 |work=The Seattle Star |date=August 2, 1912 |page=1}}</ref>
In 1916, Dan Bush sold a stake of the ''Bee-Nugget'' to Clarence Ellington.{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011b|p=55}} Bush sold his remaining ownership stock outright to Ellington in November 1921.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Washington Newspaper |date=December 1921 |publisher=University of Washington, School of Journalism |location=Seattle |page=88 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.c2581423?urlappend=%3Bseq=104%3Bownerid=13510798902831671-108 |via=HathiTrust}}</ref>{{efn|Other reports mention that Ellington may have purchased the Bee-Nugget in 1920.<ref>{{cite news |title=Paper To Observe 50th Anniversary |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1932/07-11/page-5 |access-date=January 26, 2026 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=July 11, 1932 |page=5}}</ref>}} The paper was sold in 1925 to Chapin Foster.{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011b|p=55}}
===''The Daily Nugget''=== The ''Bee-Nugget'' began a daily newspaper known as the ''Chehalis Daily Nugget'', was first circulated on June 8, 1911.{{efn|Early reports mention that the ''Chehalis Daily Nugget's'' first edition was planned for June 1, 1911, even including a direct announcement from the ''Bee-Nugget''.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Pacific Printer |date=January 1911 |publisher=The Pacific Printer |location=San Francisco |page=402 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433003132499?urlappend=%3Bseq=408%3Bownerid=121123505-412 |access-date=March 4, 2026 |via=HathiTrust}}</ref>{{r|TDNWS}}}} The first issue was given to J.T. Browning, an 85-year old pioneer from Claquato.<ref>{{cite news |title=J.T. Browning Noted Pioneer |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1911/06-15/page-6 |access-date=April 21, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=June 15, 1911 |page=2}}</ref> Also known as ''The Daily Nugget'', the afternoon-edition paper was free for a limited time, "until after everyone has become aquatinted with it".<ref>{{cite news |title=New Paper Is Well Liked |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1912/04-04/page-7 |access-date=January 26, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |publisher=Lewis County Advocate |date=June 15, 1911|page=2}}</ref> The ''Bee-Nugget'' ownership believed the city to be ready for a daily publication, considering the growth and recent national publicity of the city, but noted the attempt was to be a "heavy financial burden" considering the dependance on advertising revenue was necessary for the success of the new venture.<ref name="TDNWS">{{cite news |title=The Daily Nugget Will Start June 1 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1911/05-19/page-11 |access-date=April 13, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=May 19, 1911 |page=1}}</ref>
The paper was originally published as an evening issue and was a "six-column folio", expanded as needed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Washington State News Items |url=https://washingtondigitalnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=SANJISL19110526.1.2 |access-date=March 4, 2026 |work=San Juan Islander |date=May 26, 1911 |page=2}}</ref> A different typeface, considered clearer and more professional, was noted to be used.{{r|TDNWS}} In 1912, subscription options included forty cents for one month, a three or six month choice, and either $3 or {{US dollar|4|1912|long=no}} per year, by mail or delivery, respectively.<ref>{{cite news |title=Subscription Rates of The Chehalis Daily Nugget |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1911/06-29/page-2 |access-date=April 13, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=April 4, 1912 |page=4}}</ref>
Before the first edition was released, the ''Centralia Weekly Chronicle'' reported that paperboys of the ''Bee-Nugget'' had enticed several ''Chronicle'' delivery boys to work for the new daily paper in Chehalis. The report also stated that this action was a standard, but questionable practice of the ''Bee-Nugget'' and their actions revealed poor conduct in the newspaper industry.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nugget Has Bad Policy |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-weekly-chronicle/1911/06-07/page-2 |access-date=April 13, 2026 |work=Centralia Weekly Chronicle |date=June 7, 1911 |page=4}}</ref>
The Daily Nugget was the first to report on the November 8, 1911 fire at the city's Imperial Flour Company factory in which eight girls died. The afternoon edition covered the incident in full and the following day's print run included extra issues.<ref>{{cite news |title=Daily Nugget First In Field |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1911/11-09/page-9 |access-date=April 13, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=November 9, 1911 |page=1}}</ref>
Despite a "large circle of readers", the venture lasted until February 15, 1913 when it was discontinued for a lack of advertising revenue as the newspaper did not attract the attention of local businesses as a marketing strategy. In remarks announcing the cessation, the ''Bee-Nugget'' editors mentioned that the daily had become a "burden" but expressed that the ''Daily Nugget'' was successful in avoiding yellow journalism and was meant to help bring upon the "upbuilding" of both Lewis County and the city of Chehalis.<ref name="DND">{{cite news |title=Daily Nugget Discontinues |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ak9UAAAAIBAJ |access-date=March 4, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=February 13, 1913 |pages=1, 7}}</ref> Several local or regional newspapers, including the ''Columbia River Sun'', the ''Olympian'', the ''Skamokawa Eagle'', and the ''Toledo Messenger'', wrote messages of condolences on the Daily Nugget's demise, regretting that daily papers were not a viable option for smaller cities despite the need for such.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Dandy Little City - A Common Complaint - Absence Makes, Etc. - The Business Must Justify |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1913/02-28/page-10 |access-date=April 20, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=February 28, 1913 |page=10}}</ref>
''The Daily Nugget's'' issues were sold on Fridays, supplanting the ''Chehalis Bee-Nugget's'' editions which shifted to Thursdays. After the end of the daily newspaper, the ''Bee-Nugget'' resumed printing on Fridays. The ''Bee-Nugget'' editors, stating their intension to use "all of our time for the present to the weekly edition of the paper", instituted news departments for education, horticulture, and poultry with additional remarks that the newspaper was to make other improvements "from time to time" for a "better and more interesting paper".<ref>{{cite news |title=Bee-Nugget To Issue Fridays |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1913/02-20/page-5 |access-date=April 20, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=February 20, 1913 |page=4}}</ref>
===50th anniversary=== thumb|Nameplates, Chehalis Bee Nugget The newspaper celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1932 at an event held at the city's St. Helens Hotel.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zylstra |first1=Matthew |title=A Look Back in Time: Chehalis Celebrates 50th Anniversary of The Chehalis Bee-Nugget Newspaper |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/a-look-back-in-time-chehalis-celebrates-50th-anniversary-of-the-chehalis-bee-nugget-newspaper,296854? |access-date=October 2, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=July 15, 2022}}</ref> The toastmaster was Mayor John West. Other speakers included prominent men in the city, as well as past and present editors of the newspaper. Dan Bush, who remained as a correspondent, recalled early pioneer days and previous owners. The founder of the ''Chehalis Nugget'', Albert Tozier, recollected the early history of news media in the city and presented a pair of tweezers used during the first ''Nugget'' publication to the ''Bee-Nugget's'' editor, Clarence Ellington.<ref name="CPI50">{{cite news |title=Chehalis Paper Is 50 Years Old |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1932/07-16/page-1 |access-date=October 9, 2024 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=July 16, 1932 |page=1}}</ref>
The ''Bee-Nugget'' noted in the lead-up to the celebration that the issue count was incorrect, listed as 52; the reason for the error was simply stated as, "someone blundered along the line".{{r|TBNTC}}
In a column from a May 1932 edition, residents of Chehalis and the county were asked to fill out a blank form on the front page. The form included parameters for their personal information and history, as well as experiences living, working, or being of public service in the area. Of particular interest were those who lived in Chehalis or the surrounding region for more than 40 or 50 years, and anyone who had subscribed to, or were long-time readers of, the ''Bee'' or ''Nugget''. The effort was to create an honor roll in the 50th anniversary edition, which was published as a special issue on July 15, 1932.<ref name="TBNTC">{{cite news |title=The Bee-Nugget To Celebrate Its 50th Birth Date |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1932/05-13/page-1 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=May 13, 1932 |page=1}}</ref> Artifacts and early copies of both newspapers, including the first ''Lewis County Nugget'' edition, were displayed in the ''Chehalis Bee-Nugget'' office windows. The ''Bee-Nugget'' did not have a copy of the first issue of the ''Lewis County Bee'' and implored any resident who might have had a copy to loan the historical printing to the company.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bee-Nugget's 50th Anniversary Edition To Be Celebrated Next Week; Will Feature Honor Roll County Pioneers |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1932/07-08/page-1 |access-date=February 4, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=July 8, 1932 |page=1}}</ref>
===Publication ceases=== {{main|The Chehalis Advocate}} thumb|Ghost sign for ''The Chehalis Bee-Nugget'', 2019 The ''Chehalis Bee-Nugget'' ceased under its own separate name and publishing in 1937. The newspaper was bought that year by Advocate Publishing, combining the ''Bee-Nugget'' with ''The Lewis County Advocate'' to create ''The Chehalis Advocate''.{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011b|p=55}} The first official issue under the combined name was printed on August 2, 1938. For a time after the merger, the paper switched between using the ''Bee-Nugget'' and ''Advocate'' nameplates between editions. The editors printed a column on the front page of the August 1938 issue explaining that a unified new name, combining "Chehalis" and "Advocate", was a better solution and would end any confusion. The column also mentioned that the inclusion of, "The", to the title was simply because the word existed in both previous names.<ref>{{cite news |title="The Chehalis Advocate" |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B1M9AAAAIBAJ |access-date=February 5, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Advocate |date=August 2, 1938}}</ref>
''The Chehalis Advocate'' ceased publication in 1962.{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011b|p=55}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Advocate Writes '30' |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1962/04-13/page-1 |access-date=January 28, 2026 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=April 13, 1962 |page=1}}</ref>
==1915 Historical Souvenir Edition== In 1915, the newspaper under the Bee-Nugget Publishing Company printed a special issue book originally known as ''The Chehalis Bee-Nugget Historical Souvenir Edition, May 14, 1915''. The book covered the history of Chehalis, with some general inclusions about Lewis County. Authorized under the Lewis County commissioner's board, the cover contained a photograph of Mt. St. Helens and Spirit Lake. Facts and photographs of neighborhoods, prominent Chehalis citizens, and businesses were featured throughout the issue.{{r|LNH}}{{r|EIE}}{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011a|pp=25-197}}{{efn|Several original advertisements from the 1915 Historical Souvenir Edition, as well as the cover featuring Mt. St. Helens, were republished in the 2011 edition.{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011a|pp=179-184}}}}
{{Quote box | quote = We have always adhered to the policy that readers secured through the merits of the paper are of more value to us...we prefer to issue less frequently editions of greater merit and expanse. | author = Bee-Nugget Publishing Company | source = <br/>Proem, ''The Chehalis Bee-Nugget Historical Souvenir Edition, May 14, 1915''{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011a|pp=27-28}} | align = right | width = 50% }}
In a proem, the publishers mentioned a free copy was to be given to any existing subscriber to the ''Bee-Nugget''. The issue was printed on "high grade book paper of superior quality" and credit for the new, "not an old one in the book" illustrations was given to R.C. Rohrabacher, an experienced editor of "exceptional ability in special edition work".{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011a|pp=27-28}}. A copy sold for 25 cents, with a discount of 20 cents if more than 5 issues were purchased. The print run for the 1915 edition was 3,500 copies;{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011a|pp=27-28}} only a few copies were known to remain by 2011, including a small number stored at the Lewis County Historical Museum.{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011a|p=1}}
The effort was considered by the ''Centralia Daily Chronicle Examiner'' to be "artistic in makeup and unique in design", "excellent", and the "finest publication of its kind" ever printed in Southwest Washington.<ref name="LNH">{{cite news |title=Local News Happenings - Edition is Artistic |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle-examiner/1915/05-17/page-3 |access-date=February 4, 2026 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle-Examiner |date=May 17, 1915 |page=3}}</ref><ref name="EIE">{{cite news |title=Edition Is Excellent |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle-examiner/1915/05-18/page-6 |access-date=February 4, 2026 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle-Examiner |date=May 18, 1915 |page=6}}</ref> The issue was an extension of an earlier descriptive booklet issued by the ''Bee-Nugget'' in 1909 that the ''Centralia News Examiner'' referred to as "handsome", "typographically perfect", and a "credit" to the publishers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Untitled - 2nd column |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-news-examiner/1909/11-17/page-4 |access-date=February 4, 2026 |work=The Centralia News-Examiner |date=November 17, 1909 |page=4}}</ref>
The book was updated and republished in 2011 by local historian, Julie McDonald Zander.{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011a|p=1}} Containing 208 pages, the updated publication included an eight-page inclusion for Elizabeth "Eliza" Tynan Saunders Barrett, the "Mother of Chehalis".{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011a|pp=13-21}} In the original publication, Barrett was unnamed and alluded to only twice, both in regards to her refusals to sign her land claims to the city during its growth phase in the late 19th century.{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011a|p=13}} While McDonald Zander admitted that the reason for Barrett's lack of mention in the 1915 edition was historically unknown, the historian theorized that chauvinism and frustration over her caution in deeding her property were possible causes. Barrett's three divorces were also suspected for her absence in the first edition.{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011a|p=1, 13}}
==Publishing aspects== ===Advertising=== The city's Coffman, Dobson & Co. Bank first advertised in both the ''Bee'' and ''Nugget'' when the financial institution first opened in August 1884. By 1911, the ''Chehalis Bee-Nugget'' reported that the bank had advertised, uninterrupted, in each weekly publication since.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Good Record |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1911/06-22/page-3 |access-date=April 21, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |publisher=Yakima Republic |date=June 22, 1911 |page=6}}</ref>
===Content=== The paper began featuring a long-running column that listed prior news reporting from the archives of the ''Chehalis Bee'' and ''Chehalis Nugget'' from twenty and forty years prior. The first column was published on December 31, 1926 and featured a list of events from the ''Lewis County Bee'' in December 1884.<ref>{{cite news |title=Will Feature Pioneer Days |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1926/12-31/page-2 |access-date=February 4, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=December 31, 1926 |page=1}}</ref>
===Subscriptions=== By 1919, a subscription to the ''Chehalis Bee-Nugget'' could be purchased in advance for three months at $0.50, a six-month term for $0.75, or a year-long delivery contract priced at $1.50. The paper could be delivered via the Chehalis Post Office as "second-class matter".<ref name="IEF">{{cite news |title=Issued Every Friday |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1919/09-05/page-9 |access-date=January 22, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=September 5, 1919 |page=6}}</ref> The rates were increased to seventy-five cents, one dollar, and $2.00, respectively, by 1931.<ref>{{cite news |title=Colonel Robertson's Paper Is 28 Years Old |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1931/10-23/page-6 |access-date=January 26, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=October 23, 1931 |page=6}}</ref>
==Dan W. Bush== thumb|upright=0.5|Dan Bush, publisher and editor, Chehalis Bee-Nugget, {{circa|1920s}} After Dan W. Bush sold his shares of ''The Chehalis Bee-Nugget'', he remained in the newspaper business as a correspondent for the ''Bee-Nugget'' and several papers in the region, including ''The Oregonian'' and the ''Tacoma Ledger''. He continued to write feature articles for the ''Bee-Nugget'' up until his death.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dan W. Bush Is Accident Victim |url=https://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/clipping/id/94186/rec/321 |access-date=February 3, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=March 13, 1936}}</ref> Bush died on March 7, 1936, succumbing to pneumonia after puncturing a lung during an automobile accident.<ref>{{cite news |title=Injuries Fatal To Dan Bush |url=https://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/p16866coll10/id/1956/rec/2 |access-date=February 3, 2026 |work=The Oregonian |date=March 9, 1936}}</ref>
In the week following Bush's death, the ''Bee-Nugget'' published a column featuring remarks about Bush from various editors and newspapers in Oregon and Washington.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dan W. Bush |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1936/03-13/page-4 |access-date=February 4, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=March 13, 1936 |pages=4, 8}}</ref> His funeral was attended by a crowd that overfilled the church and included many newspapermen in the Twin Cities and Lewis County; the ceremony was described as "impressive". The long funeral procession led to Claquato Cemetery, where Bush was buried amongst the "district's most loyal citizens". Other honors included the flag at the Chehalis Post Office lowered to half-mast; Bush was city's postmaster beginning in 1898,<ref>{{cite news |title=Little Locals |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/nebraska/sidney/sidney-telegraph/1897/09-25/page-8 |access-date=January 21, 2026 |work=The Sydney Telegraph |date=September 25, 1897 |page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Beautiful And Commodious New Federal Building And Postoffice In Chehalis That Was Appropriately Dedicated With Ceremonies Recently |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h4A9AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA8 |access-date=January 21, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=January 19, 1934 |page=8}}</ref> remaining in the position into 1923.<ref>{{cite news |title=Postoffice Change October 1 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1923/09-28/page-2 |access-date=January 21, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=September 28, 1923 |page=1}}</ref> Additional memorial services were held by organizations in the city that counted Bush as a member.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dan W. Bush Is Accident Victim |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1936/03-13 |access-date=February 4, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=March 13, 1936 |pages=1, 7}}</ref>
==Competing local newspapers== The ''Chehalis Bee-Nugget'' was the predominant newspaper in Chehalis beginning in the late 1890s despite competition from two upstarts, the ''Chehalis Examiner'' and ''The People's Advocate''.{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011b|p=21}}{{efn|''The People's Advocate'' was commonly referred to as the ''Chehalis Advocate'' in news reports around the turn of the 20th century decades before it officially became the ''Chehalis Advocate'' in 1938. See sourcing throughout the article.<ref>{{cite news |title=Librarian Bashford to Go |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/oregon/portland/portland-morning-oregonian/1901/03-05/page-5 |access-date=January 27, 2026 |work=The Morning Oregonian |date=March 5, 1901 |page=5}}</ref>}} ''The Examiner'' was originally known as the ''Pe Ell Examiner'' out of Pe Ell, Washington; it began in 1895 and relocated to Chehalis in late 1898.{{r|ALBAT}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Untitled - 2nd column |url=https://washingtondigitalnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=PPLADVCT18981216.2.4 |access-date=February 5, 2026 |work=The People's Advocate |date=December 16, 1898 |page=1}}</ref> Due to having "two Republican papers" in Chehalis and thus an "unprofitable investment", the ''Examiner'' consolidated with the ''Centralia News'' to become a "Democrat paper" retitled as ''The Centralia News-Examiner'' on July 1, 1901.<ref>{{cite news |title=News-Examiner |url=https://washingtondigitalnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=PPLADVCT19010621.2.83 |access-date=February 5, 2026 |work=The People's Advocate |date=June 21, 1901 |page=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Too May Papers |url=https://access-newspaperarchive-com.trl.idm.oclc.org/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1901/07-12/page-14 |access-date=February 5, 2026 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |publisher=Montesano Vidette |date=July 5, 1901 |page=14}}</ref>
''The People's Advocate'' became known as the ''Lewis County Advocate'' in 1902.{{sfn|McDonald Zander|2011b|p=55}}{{r|ALBAT}} Outside of a daily, mimeograph newspaper published in the mid-1950s, known as the "''Scoop''", no other newspaper competed with the ''Chehalis Advocate'' until its closure in 1962. The last newspaper in Chehalis was a weekly known as ''The Weekly News''. Established in 1979 by Phil Roewe, it was sold the following year to Bill Loesch. The paper was renamed the ''Chehalis Times'' in 1981 and ceased that same year.{{r|ALBAT}}
Competing newspapers in nearby Centralia included ''The Centralia News'', established in 1877,<ref>{{cite book |author1=William Farrand Prosser |title=A History Of The Puget Sound Country, Its Resources, Its Commerce And Its People: |date=1903 |publisher=The Lewis Publishing Company |location=Chicago, New York |page=308 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044099867954?urlappend=%3Bseq=392%3Bownerid=27021597765581760-398 |access-date=February 5, 2026 |via=HathiTrust}}</ref> and ''The Chronicle''. Both ''The Chronicle'' , in 1910, and the ''News-Examiner'', in 1911, switched to daily publications. In 1912, the two papers merged to become the ''Chronicle-Examiner'' due to the difficult competitive nature of two, daily newspapers in the city. The moniker changed to ''The Daily Chronicle'' in 1916, eventually becoming known succinctly as ''The Chronicle''.{{r|ALBAT}}
Other competing newspapers that existed in Lewis County included the ''Lewis County News'', the ''Little Falls Citizen'', the ''Morton Journal'', the ''Pe Ell Enterprise'', the ''Toledo Recorder'', and the ''Winlock News''.{{r|ALBAT}}<ref>{{cite news |title=As Others See It |url=https://washingtondigitalnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=LYNDTRIB19210804.1.9 |access-date=February 4, 2026 |work=Lynden Tribune |date=August 4, 1921 |page=9}}</ref>
Newspapers that competed in the area located in south Thurston County included the ''Bucoda Enterprise'' and ''Bucoda News'', the ''South County Sun'', and four papers located in and named after Tenino, the ''Enterprise'', ''Independent'', ''Journal'', and ''News''.{{r|ALBAT}}
==Recognition and criticism== [[File:St. Helens Hotel 05.jpg|thumb|The ''Bee-Nugget'' offices, immediately north of the St. Helens Hotel, {{circa}}1904-1910]] In 1904, ''The Seattle Republican'' wrote a political commentary deeming the ''Bee-Nugget'' to be "in the bushes", though not in the "woods"; the editorial, however, did not accuse the paper of being involved in "bushwhacking".<ref>{{cite news |title=Untitled - 1st column |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/seattle/seattle-republican/1904/09-09/page-4 |access-date=February 3, 2026 |work=The Seattle Republican |date=September 9, 1904 |page=4}}</ref>
Competing newspapers in the Twin Cities{{efn|Centralia and Chehalis are referred to as the Twin Cities due to their immediate location to one another. See articles of both cities for additional information.}} were often at odds with the ''Bee-Nugget'', usually pertaining to differing political opinions or a perceived lack of pressing certain local matters. The paper was often accused of siding with particular politicians and being in league with powerful leaders and businessmen. Personal insults or a lack of professional decorum were also common, such as the ''Centralia Daily Chronicle'' referring to Dan Bush as "Bee-Nugget Danny".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ferrier |first1=J.W. |title=Because Cash Book Is Closed |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1908/09-05/page-1 |access-date=February 4, 2026 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=September 5, 1908 |page=1}}</ref>
''The Centralia News-Examiner'' warned the ''Bee-Nugget'' in 1905 to "watch our smoke" after the Chehalis paper was criticized for unfairly comparing the higher receipts of the Chehalis Post Office over the Centralia Post Office.<ref>{{cite news |title=Only Smoke |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-news-examiner/1905/11-10/page-4 |access-date=February 3, 2026 |work=The Centralia News-Examiner |date=November 10, 1905 |page=4}}</ref> In 1908, the ''Bee-Nugget'' was accused by the ''Centralia Daily Chronicle'' of being an "organ" to certain political members of the county. The commentary was based on the belief that the ''Bee-Nugget's'' reporting on a potential investigation of county affairs before an election was only due to "political motivation".<ref>{{cite news |title=Investigating County Affairs |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1908/09-02/page-2 |access-date=February 3, 2026 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=September 2, 1908 |page=2}}</ref>
The Centralia Weekly Examiner expressed concerns in 1911 over the ''Bee-Nugget's'' upstart, ''The Daily Nugget'', claiming that the new venture was similar to that of the weekly issue, which was accused of "twisting the fact(s) to please a certain ring". The ''Examiner'' suggested that if the two papers instead employed a live correspondent, the Chehalis newspapers would no longer be considered part of a "joke class".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fund |first1=Edna |title=Today in History: Watch Out for Mr. Berry in 1886! |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/today-in-history-watch-out-for-mr-berry-in-1886,164838? |access-date=March 4, 2026 |work=The Chronicle |date=June 8, 2011}}</ref> ''The Centralia Daily Chronicle-Examiner'' mentioned in 1915 that the ''Bee-Nugget'' was "one of the best weeklies" in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |title=Old Papers Interesting |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle-examiner/1915/10-30/page-1 |access-date=February 3, 2026 |work=The Daily Chronicle-Examiner |date=October 30, 1915 |page=1}}</ref> A similar sentiment was shared by the ''Eatonville Dispatch'' in 1923, referring to the ''Bee-Nugget'' as the "best weekly newspaper in Southwest Washington".<ref>{{cite news |title="Printers Galore" |url=https://washingtondigitalnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=EATONDISP19230615.2.22 |access-date=February 9, 2026 |work=Eatonville Dispatch |date=June 15, 1923 |page=3}}</ref>
== See also == * List of newspapers in Washington (state)
==Notes== {{notelist|30em}}
==References== ===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} * {{cite book |last1=McDonald Zander |first1=Julie |title=Chapters of Life in 1915 Chehals - The Chehalis Bee-Nugget Historical Souvenir Edition, May 14, 1915 (Illustrated and Republished) |date=2011a |publisher=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget, Chapters of Life |location=Chehalis, Centralia |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Chehalis_Bee_Nugget/VUHUZwEACAAJ |access-date=February 6, 2026}} * {{cite book |last1=McDonald Zander |first1=Julie |title=Images of America - Chehalis |date=2011b |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=9780738576039 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NaVwkcPhFwEC |access-date=January 21, 2026 }} {{refend}}
===References=== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://books.google.com/books?id=BlM9AAAAIBAJ The Chehalis Bee Nugget - Final edition, July 26, 1938] * [https://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433097921468 The Chehalis Bee-Nugget Historical Souvenir Edition, May 14, 1915 (Original edition), via HathiTrust] * [https://www.loc.gov/item/sn88085553/ Library of Congress - Chehalis Bee-Nugget]
{{Chehalis, Washington}} {{Newspapers in the United States}}
Category:Chehalis, Washington Category:Defunct newspapers published in Washington (state) Category:Newspapers published in Washington (state) Category:Newspapers established in 1898 Category:1898 establishments in Washington (state)