In July 1862, the first proprietor of the Alloa Advertiser James Lothian died, so the business passed to his son James. Over the years Lothian had faced his critics but one of the earliest controversies arose with Peter Porteous.

Lothian Snr failed to print out the minutes of a meeting of the Trustees of the then McNab’s School, now Dollar Academy.

This was done following advice from Sheriff Clerk Andrew Jameson in Alloa who stated that he could face prosecution if he did so. The controversy in the Minutes regarded the children of Peter Porteous who wished them to attend the school, but they were refused because he had raised concerns about the misappropriation of funds at the institution.

Porteous went on to describe Lothian as ‘the timid, squeamish, hypocritical, would-be saint, who refused to print truth…’ and never forgave him for not publishing the Minutes.

James Lothian Jr made improvements by introducing the steam assisted printing press which printed 3000 copies in just three hours in 1891. He also employed sixteen members of staff.

He was the last Lothian at the paper as his sons all died young. James died on July 24, 1890 aged 67, although the Advertiser was by then under new ownership. He was buried in Greenside Cemetery four days later.

David Buchan and his brother William were natives of Alloa with David becoming an apprentice printer and photographer. He had joined the paper soon after he qualified and became a reporter, then was promoted to senior reporter.

In 1888, along with his brother, they took on the newspaper. His wife died in 1907 and three of his five sons were killed during World War I. He died in June 1926, leaving the paper in the hands of William.

He had worked under James Lothian Jr as a reporter in his early days before moving to Montrose but returned to help his brother run the Advertiser.

The next proprietor was John Ogilvie from Sauchie who had risen through the ranks at the paper. Buchan retired in 1941 in his 80s, and Ogilvie took over. He changed its format to tabloid, and expanded, purchasing the Circular and Hillfoots Record.

By this time, the business, based in the Candleriggs, had grown so much, new premises were required. These were found in Mar Street where modern printing machines were installed. In the 1960s Ogilvie bought the Alloa JournaI, although maintained different offices and printing facilities.

Today the Alloa Advertiser is part of the Newsquest Media Group Ltd.