Troutman Media LLC, which purchased the Cassville Democrat newspaper in January, hopes to revitalize its office after purchasing the building on June 7.
Kyle Troutman and Jordan Troutman, managers of Troutman Media LLC, purchased the property from Barry County Properties LLC for an undisclosed amount.
“We are beyond excited and blessed to even have the opportunity to purchase such a historic piece of property in the city of Cassville,” Kyle Troutman said. “Our office has been a staple on the southern end of downtown Cassville for more than 100 years, and to be able to produce a newspaper we own inside a building we own is a dream come true.”
John Logan first owned lot 114 of the Original Town of Cassville in the 1840s. Upon his death in 1867, the lot was auctioned and purchased by William S. McConnell for a price of $260.50, appraised at $12,000 at the time.
The property was divided for many years through the early 1900s, with the main office being built on the north end of the lot in 1900 according to courthouse records and 1894 according to Historian Jeremiah Buntin, with the Barry County Museum.
Through the early 1960s, the current Cassville Democrat office was home to, among other businesses, the Cassville Post Office and Doc’s Cafe, while the south end had the Skelly Oil Company, demolished in 1962 to make way for the addition to the original building.
The Democrat moved into the new office around 1962, relocating from its previous office on the south side of the courthouse square, where China Express is now located.
The Cassville Democrat operated under two generations of the Ray and Mitchell families since that time, with the building sold to former owners Lisa and Mike Schlichtman in the 1990s, then Barry County Properties in the 2010s.
“Going through the process of purchasing the property, we have learned more about the lot than we could ever believe,” Kyle Troutman said. “To see deeds, will and lease paperwork from as far back as the 1850s gives us a great respect for the building, its history and its impact on the city of Cassville over the last 170 years.”
While no plans are set in stone, the Troutmans intend to renovate and revitalize the property to create residential and business rentals.
“Our loft area above the main office has been abandoned since the addition on the south side in the 1960s,” Jordan Troutman said. “It would be incredible, after 60 years, to make use of that space and add value not only to the property, but to the community. We have no shortage of plans and ideas, and we hope to make as much of it come to fruition as possible.”
The Cassville Democrat newspaper was founded in 1871, serving and supporting the Cassville area for more than 150 years.
“It is humbling to have the opportunity to continue the work of our past owners and be such an integral part of the Cassville community, not only with our news product but also having a personal stake in the property and potentially the future of our business and others,” Kyle Troutman said. “We are driven to help Cassville move forward in as many ways as possible.”
