It’s a sad chapter that local historians will be loath to record. Several newspapers that have served east-central Iowa communities since the late 1800s are coming to an end.

Marengo Publishing Corp. and Poweshiek Publishing, companies under Gannett’s large umbrella, have published three weekly advertisers, seven weekly newspapers and a monthly magazine for several years. The seven newspapers — Belle Plaine Union, Brooklyn Chronicle, Marengo Pioneer-Republican, Montezuma Republican, North English Record, South Benton Star-Press and Williamsburg Journal-Tribune — will be consolidated or shuttered.

“Everyone should be aware of our nation’s economic crisis and the recession we are experiencing,” wrote Dan DeBettingnies, MPC publisher. “Here in Iowa we are often insulated from much of the pain economic changes bring to the rest of the country. That’s a thing of the past. Today we are being affected directly.”

Today, Dec. 31, is the final publication date for both the Brooklyn Chronicle and the Montezuma Republican. The two papers will merge into a county-wide publication, the Poweshiek County CR (Chronicle-Republican). Offices in Brooklyn have already closed and offices in Montezuma are expected to close at the end of January. In addition to the two newspapers, a smaller news effort sent with the Pennysaver advertiser to Grinnell addresses ceased publication on Dec. 29.

The final issue of the The North English Record, which has published since 1891, will be on Jan. 1. After that date it will be repackaged with The Williamsburg Journal-Tribune. News from North English will have a page within the existing Williamsburg paper.

On Jan. 7, 2009 The Belle Plaine Union, a paper which began in 1866, and The South Benton Star-Press, a merger of three smaller newspapers in 1967, will merge into one publication, The Star Press Union, which will aim to serve the residents of southern Benton County. The company plans to keep offices in Belle Plaine.

Gannett announced a 10 percent staff reduction in late October. On Dec. 1 The Des Moines Register, which is owned by Gannett, announced a 6.9 percent reduction in its workforce.

“We will have to say goodbye to our friends and co-workers, who have worked hard and loyally, who helped us create the best product possible. Keep them in your prayers,” editors NIck Narigon, Dann Hayes and Jim Magdefrau wrote in a joint announcement.