A NEW CENTURY

Although the exact date is not known, it is believed that the Steamboat Rock Pilot News was established in 1904. The plant was owned by Fred W. Eilers and finally leased to Sidney McCourty of Eldora.

The Pilot passed through a succession of owners during its first two years of existence, some printing just two or three issues, others staying with it two or three months. 

In 1906, the Pilot was purchased by Charles E. Sentman, who was only 18 years old. Sentman had the distinction of being the youngest editor in Iowa. 

The Steamboat Rock Pilot News, described Steamboat Rock, in an article dated January 14, 1910 as follows: 

“Steamboat Rock is a town of 500 inhabitants, situated on the main line of the Iowa Central Railroad and within easy reach of the county seat. The Iowa River flows through our little city, making it one of the most picturesque in the state. We can proudly boast of a fine public school, three churches, three fraternal orders, up to date telephone system, three general stores, two hardware, drug store, and barber shop, furniture store, two physicians, printing office and newspaper, two restaurants, hotel, blacksmith shop, two implement houses, roller-mills, pool room and billiard hall, meat market, lumber yard, bank, post office, two elevators, coal yard, harness shop, millinery store, three stone quarries, two live stock dealers, livery and bus line, and one of the best creameries in the state. Steamboat Rock is surrounded by the best agricultural land in Iowa, and is noted for the enterprise, generosity and hospitality of its citizens.” 

Charlie Sentman moved the newspaper office from an alley to Market street and published the paper regularly for three years before he closed. He then moved to Union, to publish the Union Star. 

Sentman returned to Steamboat Rock to publish the first issue of the Steamboat Rock Star on September 20, 1911. On returning Sentman rented the old Voiles building as the headquarters for the Star. 

In that first issue, Sentman wrote: “Ever since the Pilot was discontinued early in 1910, there seems to have been a strong desire among some of the business men, citizens, and farmers of this vicinity to again have a paper in Steamboat Rock. Your dream has come true and we hand you herewith Volume I, Number I. The paper starts out with the assurance of a better patronage than before. This does not mean that we must not have the cooperation of the entire community. 

The paper will be called The Steamboat Rock Star and it is our purpose to make it shine for the interests of the people of this community.” 

The paper was a weekly and came out on Wednesdays. The price per copy was five cents. A yearly subscription was $1.00. 

Mr. Sentman also wrote, “ We are quite fortunate in securing Miss Bessie Briggs to assist us as typesetter. She is doing nicely for a beginner.” 

Bessie Briggs, later Mrs. Ben Jaspers. 

The most interesting article in this first issue of the Star, was as follows: 

“Prof. H.C. Quick has moved his headquarters from Eldora to Steamboat Rock. A profit is not without honor save in his own county and among his own friends.” 

This passage refers to author and educator Herbert Quick, who moved north to Mason City. 

It is not known how long the Star was published, but is was not long. Charlie, as he was known became a merchant in Steamboat Rock, and later in Wellsburg, retiring in the late 1950’s.