Bainbridge Island Review: A Legacy of Journalism and Civil Rights
The history of the Bainbridge Island Review is more than a chronicle of a local newspaper; it is a testament to the power of community journalism and the courage to stand against systemic injustice. While much of the publication's early archive was lost to fires in the 1940s and 1962, the surviving records reveal a turbulent yet principled journey through the 20th century.
Early Beginnings and Ownership Shifts
Before the establishment of the Review, Bainbridge Island saw a rotating door of local publications. It is estimated that as many as 40 papers operated on the island over the years, including the Golden West of Port Blakely (1895), the Bainbridge Island Gazette and Eagle Harbor Pilot (1912), and the Bainbridge Island Beacon (1922). When the Beacon suspended publication in November 1924, a group of high school students stepped in to start the Review.
The paper was soon purchased by R.M. Hitchcock of Rolling Bay, with assistance from Frances Martin Niemeyer. After a brief hiatus, the publication was relaunched in May 1925 under the leadership of Frances and her husband, Henry W. L. Niemeyer. The operation moved through several locations, from Rolling Bay to Port Blakely, and finally to Pleasant Beach on February 7, 1927. Following the sudden death of Henry Niemeyer in 1936, Frances managed the paper alone until July 1940, when she sold it to Laurance A. Peters, Claire Taft Peters, and Mildred Logg Woodward.
By September 1941, Mildred Woodward became the sole owner. She was joined by her husband, Walter C. Woodward Jr., a former reporter for The Seattle Times and the Juneau Empire in Alaska. Together, the Woodwards would steer the Review through its most defining era.
A Stand Against Japanese Internment
During World War II, the Woodwards used the Review to take a courageous and rare stance against the Japanese internment—the forced relocation and incarceration of people of Japanese ancestry. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Woodwards warned against the "danger of a blind, wild hysterical hatred" toward those of Japanese descent.
Bainbridge Island residents of Japanese ancestry were the first in the United States to be relocated to internment camps, with 227 civilians incarcerated without charge. The Review was the only English-language newspaper on the West Coast to openly criticize the internment. To maintain a voice for the displaced, the Woodwards hired incarcerated community members as correspondents to report on camp events.
This advocacy came at a high cost. The paper suffered a loss of subscribers and advertisers, and a meeting of 300 people was held with the intent of driving the Woodwards off the island.
Expansion and Corporate Transitions
In the late 1950s, Walt Woodward attempted to purchase the Kitsap County Herald of Poulsbo. When the owner, Leo F. Perrault, declined the offer to prevent job losses in Poulsbo, Woodward responded by launching a rival publication, The North Kitsap News. This venture was briefly edited by Terry Schick before Perrault sold the Herald to David Averil.
In November 1962, David Averil purchased both the Review and the News. The News was absorbed into the Herald, and Walt Woodward remained as the editor of the Review. At that time, the Review had a circulation of 2,200, while the Herald had 2,400 and the News had 1,200.
The papers remained under the operation of David and Vera Averil until 1988, when they were sold to Black Press and managed by its subsidiary, Sound Publishing Inc. In 2024, Black Press was acquired by the Carpenter Media Group.
Key Facts
- Founding: Started by high school students in the winter of 1924; relaunched in May 1925.
- Civil Rights Milestone: The only West Coast English-language paper to openly criticize Japanese internment during WWII.
- Community Impact: 227 Japanese civilians from Bainbridge Island were incarcerated without charge.
- Recognition: The Woodwards received the Edison Uno Memorial Civil Rights Award (1986) and a posthumous Special Recognition Award from the Asian American Journalists Association.
- Cultural Legacy: Walt Woodward inspired the character Arthur Chambers in the book and film Snow Falling on Cedars.
| Era/Date | Key Owner/Editor | Significant Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1925 | Frances & Henry Niemeyer | Relaunch and establishment of printing presses. |
| 1941 | Mildred & Walt Woodward | Advocacy against Japanese internment. |
| 1962 | David Averil | Acquisition of the Review and North Kitsap News. |
| 1988 | Black Press | Transition to corporate management via Sound Publishing Inc. |
| 2024 | Carpenter Media Group | Acquisition of Black Press. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Bainbridge Island Review significant during World War II?
The Review was the only English-language newspaper on the West Coast to openly criticize the internment of Japanese-Americans, warning against hysterical hatred and hiring incarcerated residents as correspondents to report from the camps.
Who were the Woodwards?
Mildred and Walt Woodward were the owners and editors of the Review during the 1940s. Mildred was also a teacher at Bainbridge High School, and Walt was a former reporter for The Seattle Times and Juneau Empire.
How did the community react to the paper's stance on internment?
The paper faced significant backlash, including a loss of advertisers and subscribers, and a public meeting attended by 300 people who sought to force the Woodwards to leave the island.
What is the connection between Walt Woodward and 'Snow Falling on Cedars'?
Walt Woodward served as the inspiration for the character Arthur Chambers in the 1994 novel Snow Falling on Cedars, which was later adapted into a film in 1999.
Who currently owns the Bainbridge Island Review?
The paper is owned by the Carpenter Media Group, which acquired Black Press in 2024.