The Greeneville Daily Sun Archive

The weekly Greeneville [Tennessee] Sun was established by William R. Lyon and Joseph W. Howard in 1901. An increase in news wire reports during World War One prompted Lyon to begin a daily edition of the Sun, and the first issue was printed on March 28, 1918. The inaugural editorial stated that, "We have arranged to get the very latest press dispatches which will give war news and news of a general character up to 3:30 every afternoon. This will give our people a later service than is afforded them at the present time by any other daily newspaper that reaches Greeneville." The daily edition was published every day except Sunday. A month-long trial subscription was offered for 40 cents, for which Lyon promised readers a continuation of reliable news "of such character that it can be read by every member of the family." He also reminded local merchants of the inestimable value that advertising could provide.

Throughout the war, the Sun's front pages featured large banner headlines, the United Press War Review, and other war reports received by wire from Washington, New York, and Europe. As an afternoon paper, the Sun was able to publish news of the Armistice on the day it happened, and the whole front page was dedicated to news related to the historic agreement. Inside a typical issue, readers could peruse local news ranging from marriage and death announcements to politics, agriculture, and sports. Poems appeared regularly, as did letters from soldiers overseas. News from nearby communities was submitted to the paper and published under pseudonyms such as Farmer Boy and Yellow Jacket. The "Local and Personal" section announced the comings and goings of Greeneville's residents. Alongside the local news column were ads for local businesses and services, as well as notice of forthcoming events and club meetings, and a list of what was playing at the theater.

In October 1920, Lyon sold his interest in the Daily Sun to Edith O' Keefe Susong, who merged the paper with the weekly Greeneville Democrat  to form the Greenville Democrat-Sun. The paper operated under that name until December 1930, when it was renamed the Greeneville Sun. As of 2016, the paper continues to be published in print and online by the grandsons of Edith O. Susong.