The Print Shop

The Museum’s Print Shop is a re-creation of a printing business that would typically be found in communities throughout St Lawrence County in the early 20th century. A shop such as this would handle printing needs for local schools and government as well as publish a weekly newspaper.

The Print shop has some unique equipment. One very rare piece is a small automatic calling card printer. We may have to only functioning one of these in the country. Our print shop also has a restored model 14 Linotype, a Whitlock Pony press for the printing of the weekly paper, as well as all the type, small printing presses, paper cutters, and type metal casting equipment that would be found in a small publishing shop.

Our goal is to be able to compose and print a newspaper during the Museum’s exhibitions.

In May 2021 work on the Print Shop finally got under way with construction of the concrete foundation and slab. The building will be 24 x 40 feet in area and house not only the printing equipment currently operated by Bob O’Marah and Ted Ritzko, but also machines now stored at two sites off campus. The goal is to complete the building this year so congestion in the Collection Building can be relieved, allowing new exhibits.

By August 2021 the Village Printers building is up, dried-in, and ready for winter. Work on the electrical system has been started. Construction will continue in spring with completion expected in mid-2022. The finished building will feature a high false front with cornice and corbels at the top, a large sign beneath, and a roll-up awning. With about $1,000 remaining to be raised, the Sweetgrass Foundation Matching Grant will bring $5,000 to the project . Your donation to the Print Shop project will be very welcome. Bob O’Marah and Ted Ritzko are ready to move in as soon as the building is completed. All the machines currently in the Collection Building and others temporarily stored off-campus will be located there. The building will have 960 square feet of space in a single open room. When completed, Village Printers will be a premiere vintage job shop with its early-1900’s equipment.

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