The Baldwin Bulletin recently marked 150 years — even pre-dating the official existence of the village.
The Bulletin was first published on October 18, 1873 — one year before the Village of Baldwin was officially incorporated.
A story in the Feb. 11, 2026 issue of the Baldwin Bulletin hailed the milestone. According to the story:
Orestus Kent (O.K.) Hawley purchased The Baldwin Bulletin on Jan. 1, 1892. The paper remained in the Hawley family for four generations.
In 1986, owners at the time, Tom and Peter Hawley added a weekly shopper to reach a wider reading audience. The Bargain Bulletin – delivered through U.S. Mail to residents in Baldwin, Woodville, Wilson, Glenwood City, Boyceville, and part of Roberts, reaching more than 10,000 households. The Hawleys also launched www. baldwin-bulletin.com during their time as owners.
The Hawleys then sold the Bulletin to Sentinel Publications, owned by Carter Johnson from White Bear Lake, Minn., in 2018.
Sentinel Publications also owns The Amery Free Press, The Osceola Sun, and the Burnett County Sentinel in Wisconsin, and The Country Messenger in Minnesota. The Bargain Bulletin has been discontinued, while the website has seen growth during the last few years.
The paper runs special sections and special pages during throughout the calendar year — including special pages that profile Windmill Days in Baldwin, Syttende Mai in Woodville, and Heartland Days in Hammond.
The paper has also earned multiple Wisconsin Newspaper Awards during the last five years for its news and photo coverage, as well as its advertising designs.
The Bulletin had long been based at 805 Main St. in Baldwin before moving to its current location at 990 Hillcrest St., Suite 104, at the end of December 2021.
