The Evening Independent: News for Sunshine City

The Independent was St. Petersburg, Florida's first daily newspaper; however, it began as a weekly newspaper in March 1906 under the ownership of Willis B. Powell. In November 1907, Powell turned it into the city's first daily newspaper, the Evening Independent.  The following year, the paper was purchased by Lew Brown.

The newspaper was known for its "Sunshine Offer," which was first enacted on September 1, 1910 by "Major" Lew Brown. Then owner and editor of the Evening Independent, Brown proclaimed St. Petersburg as the "Sunshine City" and made the famous "Sunshine Offer": On any day the sun didn't shine, the newspaper would be given away the following day - for free.

The “Sunshine Offer” was meant to draw national attention to the growing waterfront city, and it worked as the city became a popular tourist and retirement destination. During World War II, the Evening Independent halted the free paper offer, but reversed course after five days.

In 1962, the paper was purchased by St. Petersburg Times owner Nelson Poynter from then owners, the Thomson Newspaper chain, which had threatened to close it unless it could be sold. By the early 1980s, afternoon newspapers were struggling everywhere, and on Nov. 7, 1986, the Evening Independent published its final edition and the paper's 53 employees transferred to the Times.

The Evening Independent was merged into the Times initially as part of the Times’ "City Times and Independent" section; the "Independent" name would soon be dropped. In the 76 years of the "Sunshine Offer," the newspaper was given away 296 times- roughly 6 times a year. Indeed, St. Pete is Sunshine City.

Photo: P02032
Caption: A young Evening Independent newsboy pauses on his bike between deliveries to “smile’ for the camera.