Lewiston Sun Journal publisher Russell Costello, back, watches his son and soon to be publisher, James Costello Sr., work on the old Universal Goss Press in 1962 at the Sun Journal. Sun Journal file photo

1847 — The Lewiston Falls Weekly Journal was first published under the joint ownership of Col. William H. Waldron, a printer by trade, and Alonzo Garcelon, who later became governor. 

1856 — Nelson Dingley Jr., an employee of the Lewiston Falls Weekly Journal, purchased a half-interest in the paper and then bought it in 1857. 

Feb. 16, 1857 — The first daily Journal appeared and lasted 27 days, the duration of a murder trial in Auburn. When the trial ended, the paper reverted back to weekly publication. 

April 12, 1861 — With news of the first shots fired upon Fort Sumter setting the stage for the Civil War, Dingley again went to a daily format to provide ongoing coverage. On April 20, 1861 he published the Lewiston Daily Evening Journal.

February 20, 1893 — The Lewiston Daily sun was launched by founder Henry Aser Wing. The first issue, published during a blizzard, was four pages long and sold for two cents a copy. Subscribers: 1,700. Within a year, the circulation had almost doubled to 3,200. 

Late 1890s — The Journal began publication of the tabloid-sized Journal Magazine “in response to the general desire for a purely literary and household department of the newspaper.” 

1898 — George B. Wood assumes ownership of the Lewiston Daily Sun. His nephew, Louis Bartlett Costello, is hired as general manager. Offices were moved from 21 Lisbon St. to 102 Park St. 

1921 — The Lewiston Daily Sun passed the 10,000 circulation mark.

1922 — A Duplex Tubular press went into operation for the Lewiston Evening Journal. It had a maximum output of 16,000 papers per hour and a limit of 32 pages.

1926 — The morning Sun bought the Lewiston Evening Journal from Nelson Dingley, enlarged the plant at 104 Park St. and moved the whole operation there. The two papers continued to compete with each other.

1936 — In order to make the papers available for delivery, they had to be flown across the Androscoggin River from Lewiston to Auburn because the South Bridge was gone and the North Bridge was impassable due to flooding.

1937 — The major advertisers in the Lewiston Daily Sun were Peck’s, Sears and Montgomery Ward.

1943 — The Lewiston Daily Sun passed the 25,000 circulation mark.

1945 — At age 91, George Wood died leaving the papers to his nephew, Louis B. Costello.

1950s — Approximately 1,800 pounds of lead were used daily to publish the paper using the linotype machines of the time. 

By 1956 — The newspaper was five cents a copy.

1959 — Louis B. Costello dies. His son, Russell H. Costello, assumes presidency of the Sun.

1960s — The “paste up” technique of laying out pages was being developed.

1962 — The combined circulation of the Daily Sun and the Evening Journal was nearing 50,000. 

1962 — The new 70-ton high-speed Goss Universal press was marveled for its color capacity and capability to print 40,000 papers an hour. A new plant addition was constructed in the rear of the Sun’s Park Street headquarters to house the 16-foot press.

Late 1960s — A Comp graphic system enabled composers for the first tint design and print their ads on computers. The computer could also print Associated Press wire copy, whose perforated tape was previously fed into line casting machines.

Aug. 1, 1979 — Russell Costello replaced the nearly 20-year-old Goss Universal press with the more modern Goss Urbanite.

1980s — Technological advances continued. The newspaper began outfitting the newsroom with computer terminals; a dish on the roof allowed wire service news to arrive via satellite.

1983 — James Costello, son of Russell Costello, became publisher of the newspaper, while his father remained as president until his death. 

1983 — James Costello started a Sunday edition of the newspaper.

1986 — The paper began running color photos on a regular basis.

1988 — The Journal was named Newspaper of the Year by New England Newspaper Association.

1989 — Both the Journal and the Sun-Journal/Sunday were named Newspaper of the Year in their respective categories by NENA. 

1989 — The Sun and the Journal merged as the new Sun-Journal.

1991 and 1992 — The Sun-Journal/Sunday was named Newspaper of the Year by NENA. 

1997 — The Sun Journal and its Sunday paper underwent a redesign. 

2017 — The Lewiston Sun Journal is sold to Maine Today Media owner Reade Brower. 

2021 — Announcement made that Sun Journal will be moving printing operations to South Portland. 

May 31, 2021 — Goss Urbanite press, in service since 1979, is retired.