Jan. 16, 1858 First edition of The Weekly Democrat published by the Rev. Dr. Williamson F. Boyakin.
1859-1891 A succession of owners, including Edward Roseline Stuart and William Shoupe, George A. Harvey, Russell and Dunlinger, and William J. Underwood.
Oct. 2, 1883 First edition of the Belleville News-Democrat after the News Publishing Co. buys the Belleville Democrat.
December 1891 Fred Kern and Fred Kraft buy News-Democrat and Belleville Zeitung
January 1895 Fred Kern buys out Kraft
Dec. 24, 1898 Fire destroys News-Democrat building on city's public square. Fred Kern moves paper to its current location at 120 S. Illinois St., with the Kern family living next door at 118 S. Illinois St.
1930 Kerns build addition between their home and paper to house a new press.
November 1931 Fred Kern, editor and owner, dies at 67. Son Robert becomes publisher; son Richard becomes associate editor.
Nov. 3, 1958 First edition of the Belleville News-Democrat and Daily Advocate after Advocate owners sell their remaining shares to the Kern family.
1962 Kerns remodel, adding the current neoclassic exterior of pink brick and limestone. A fiberglass cupola atop the roof houses a 24-inch bronze bell, cast in Philadelphia in 1865 and used at the original Washington School.
April-May 1972 Capital Cities buys the News-Democrat from the Kern family.
July 12, 1972 John Shuff Jr. becomes president and publisher.
Sept. 12, 1976 The first Sunday News-Democrat.
March 21, 1977 Darwin Wile becomes president and publisher.
March 21, 1983 Paper dedicates new printing plant at Belle Valley Industrial Park on Illinois 177.
Jan. 1, 1984 Belleville News-Democrat begins publishing 365 days a year, switching from afternoon to morning editions.
March 19, 1985 Capital Cities buys ABC.
Jan. 1, 1987 Gary Berkley becomes president and publisher
1988 Paper acquires former savings and loan building at 121 S. Illinois St. to house circulation department.
July 31, 1995 Walt Disney Co. buys Capital Cities/ABC Inc. for $19 billion.
April 4, 1997 Knight-Ridder Inc. buys Belleville News-Democrat and three other papers from Disney for $1.65 billion.
April 1, 2004 Jay Tebbe becomes publisher
March 12, 2006 McClatchy buys Knight-Ridder for $4.5 billion in cash and stock
Jan. 16, 2008 The Belleville News-Democrat marks its 150th anniversary.
