In 1900, George Hibbert and Frank Gaither published the first edition of The Observer in Chinook, Washington.[4] The press came from the defunct Tribune in La Conner.[4] Early on Gaither left and was replaced by Charles A. Payne, who worked with Hibbert for nearly a dozen years. In 1912, Payne bought out Hibbert due to a disagreement.[5]
Elton C. Durkee published the paper for about seven years until his sudden death in 1927.[6][7] His son and daughter-in-law John and Margaret Durkee then took over the paper. In 1937, the couple sold it to John M. Stone[8] That same year James M. O'Neil became the owner. At that time circulation was 325.[9] In 1938, he relocated the Observer to Long Beach as the population of Chinook had drastically dropped in recent years since trap fishing was outlawed.[10]
In 1964, O'Neil turned the paper over to his son Wayne O'Neil.[9] Circulation then was around 2,000.[9] He and his wife operated the Observer for the next 20 years.[2] In 1984, the paper was purchased by Craig and Geri Dennis,[11] who sold it in 1988 to the East Oregonian Publishing Company,[12] which later was renamed to EO Media Group. After the sale, printing was moved to The Daily Astorian.[13][14] Matt Winters became the paper's editor in 1991.[15]
In April 2024, the newspaper's office was sold. All staff have since worked remotely from their homes.[16] In October 2024, EO Media Group was sold to Carpenter Media Group.[17]
