Virginia Department of Historic Resources
(dhr.virginia.gov)
For Immediate Release
April 2026
Contact:
Ivy Tan
Department of Historic Resources
Marketing & Communications Manager
ivy.tan@dhr.virginia.gov
804-482-6445
—The marker focuses on the history of The Recorder, which was founded in 1877 in the Town of Monterey during a time of rising demand for local journalism after the Civil War—
—Text of marker reproduced below—
PLEASE NOTE: DHR creates markers not to “honor” their subjects but rather to educate and inform the public about a person, place, or event of regional, state, or national importance. In this regard, erected markers are not memorials.
RICHMOND – The Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) has announced that a state historical marker approved by the Virginia Board of Historic Resources was dedicated in the Highland County town of Monterey highlighting the history of The Recorder, one of the Commonwealth’s oldest continuously published newspapers.
The marker dedication was held on Friday, May 1, at noon, at the site of the marker, located outside The Recorder’s office building on 108 W. Main Street in Monterey (24465). The event was free and open to members of the public.
A dedication program took place prior to the marker’s unveiling. Individuals who gave remarks included Anne Adams, the owner and publisher of The Recorder; Del. Chris Runion of Virginia’s 35th District; and Brendan Burke, state underwater archaeologist at DHR. A reception was held inside The Recorder’s office building at the conclusion of the dedication.
The Recorder was established in October 1877 in the town of Monterey in Highland County by George M. Jordan and Philip E. Witts during a period of rising demand for local journalism in the post-Civil War years. Jordan and Witts had transported a Washington printing press—the most popular type of iron, hand-operated press in the country at the time—by horse and wagon from West Virginia. The press was used to print the weekly newspaper until 1903 and was later donated to the Smithsonian Institution. While The Recorder was based in Highland County, it maintained a regional focus at its inception before formally expanding into Bath and Alleghany Counties. The Recorder weathered downturns in the local newspaper industry to become one of the oldest continuously published papers in the Commonwealth.
The Virginia Board of Historic Resources, which is authorized to designate new state historical markers, approved the manufacture and installation of the historical marker for The Recorder in June 2025. The Highland County Economic Development Authority covered the cost of the marker through its Grant Incentive program.
Virginia’s historical highway marker program began in 1927 with installation of the first markers along U.S. Route 1. It is considered the oldest such program in the nation. Currently there are more than 2,600 state markers, mostly maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation, except in those localities outside of VDOT’s authority.
Full Text of Marker:
The Recorder
George M. Jordan and Philip E. Witts established The Recorder in Monterey in Oct. 1877 during a period of rapid growth for local journalism in the post-Civil War years. By horse and wagon they hauled a Washington printing press, the most popular type of iron, hand-operated press in America, from West Virginia. In use until 1903, the press was later donated to the Smithsonian Institution. Although based in Highland County, the weekly newspaper had a regional focus from its outset and later formally expanded into Bath and Alleghany Counties. Persisting despite downturns in the local newspaper industry, The Recorder became one of the oldest continuously published newspapers in Virginia.
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