About

The Machias Valley News Observer has been serving Washington County citizens and businesses since 1852. Initially it was owned by George Parlin, whose grandson would take it over in the 1900’s. The newspaper of today is an amalgamation of four newspapers, two of which, the Union and the Republican, pre-date the Civil War. The paper became the Union-Republican in 1924, the Machias Valley News in 1930, and, with the absorption of the Addison Observer in 1932, the Machias Valley News Observer. In 1967 the paper was bought from the widow of Francis Parlin by Jay Hinson and Eugene Townsend. It is currently edited by Hinson’s wife, Karen. It remains the county-seat weekly and is distributed throughout Washington County and the United States.