The San Diego Union

The birthplace of the San Diego Union is 2626 San Diego Avenue, Old Town, San Diego, California.

First publication of the San Diego Union: Founders and History of the San Diego Union

After the demise of the weekly San Diego Herald in 1860, San Diego was without a newspaper until publication of The San Diego Union in 1868. On October 10, 1868, the San Diego Union was born.

Early that year, Philip Crosthwaite, a San Diego pioneer, visited his sister in San Andreas, a gold town near Sacramento, and enthusiastically described the prospects of San Diego to her husband, Colonel William Jeff Gatewood, a lawyer and publisher of the San Andreas Register. Acting on his brother-in-law 's suggestion, Gatewood came to San Diego and was greatly enthused. He returned to San Andreas, closed the Register, and prepared to move his Washington hand press and "a very good assortment of type" to San Diego.

Gatewood formed a partnership with Edward W. Bushyhead, a San Andreas miner and printer, and employed J. N. Briseno, probably as a printer. Gatewood came overland to San Diego while Bushyhead packed up the hand press and printer's paraphernalia and traveled south by steamer. The equipment was installed in a small frame building in Old Town, San Diego.

The first edition of the San Diego Union

The first edition of The San Diego Union appeared on October 10, 1868. Briseno was listed as publisher and Gatewood as "editor and proprietor." Edward Bushyhead 's name did not appear at all in the earliest editions. In the first issue, Gatewood eloquently stated the purpose of his newspaper:

"In the grand struggle for the improvement of Southern California - in opening the way for the march of civilization - in leveling the hills - grading streets - developing the mines - tilling the soil- planting vineyards and fruit trees - in building wharves, docks, arsenals, forts and fortifications adorning the hills, beautifying the valleys and spreading the white sails of Commerce - for the education and refinement of the present and future generations - to spread the doctrines of Christianity and inculcate pure morals, and toward the enlightenment and perfection of mankind, it must and shall labor earnestly and unceasingly. Its world must be a world of stern reality."

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