Santa says: We've been nice!

Nice enough for gifts to be sent to Letterpress Depot through Colorado Gives!

We are making great progress - so far we have raised over $45,000 of the $83,000 we need in order to access a new major grant from the State Historical Grant. The Colorado Gives special matching initiative ends December 10 (clock’s ticking!) but we can receive tax deductable donations any time in any way that works for you.

While getting our Depot home ready, we've been making a difference in the community by introducing kids to the fascinating world of letterpress printing. Just recently, we were at Cherry Creek schools and then, donning Elf hats, we printed with Santa at the Englewood Civic Center. Your support will be instrumental in opening our doors to the public and furthering our “Preservation through Education” mission: keeping letterpress and the book arts alive in this increasingly digital age.

Questions? Suggestions for major gifts? Call/text us at 720-480-5358 or email info@letterpressdepot.org

Giving Tuesday: An imPRESSive boost to our Capital Campaign

THANK YOU for the wondrous burst of activity and generosity!

But if you missed that day, no worries! The Capital Campaign continues. Colorado Gives goes through December 10; our campaign continues until we have enough to open the Englewood Depot building to all of you!

Even while we are fundraising, printing continues! Our press will be set up next to Santa during the Christmas Tree Lighting Holiday Market on Saturday, December 7 from 2-5pm. Stop by and say hello and come print with us! That’s at The Guild’s CitySpark space on Inca Street in Englewood CityCenter. HO HO HOPE you can join us!

5 REASONS WHY WE PRINTERS CARE ABOUT A RR DEPOT

And why we are asking for your help during Colorado Gives & beyond…

#1 It started as just being pragmatic – we know of too many community print shops and museums forced to move from their rented spaces; we wanted to find a home for our living letterpress museum that we could own, in every sense of the word.

#2  We then fell in love with the  1915 Englewood Depot and the fact it’s only one of two remaining Mission Style Santa Fe Railroad buildings in the country.

#3  There’s a lot of synergy between our depot and letterpress— they share a time period of glory, an historic legacy and artistic overlap. Railroads and letterpress printing both played large roles in the history of the West. And they both use very heavy equipment!

#4  We believe the way to preserve the legacy and the history of type is to use it, to bring traditional knowledge into the 21st century imagination. The same applies to a building. It is only brought to life by adaptive and creative re-use, while remembering its past.

#5  Besides preserving traditional printing and an iconic building, we also have become the home for the presses and typefaces once used by Colorado and other printers who have retired or passed away. They live on in the Depot.

 So our goal is to raise the needed funds to get the living letterpress museum opened in this rehabilitated railroad depot. Then we can welcome you all in for workshops, demonstrations, exhibits and events. Help bring the building alive so our living letterpress museum can truly come alive!

We have $50,000  to go to provide the $83,000 needed for our State Historical Fund grant. Then another $217,000 to help us get complete rehab done! Every dollar helps. And special gifts help especially! Colorado Gives goes through December 10. Let’s see how much we can raise by then!

Intertype used at the Denver Post back in the day! Press pictures by Bryan Dahlberg

Any questions or thoughts on where we might seek more funding, call/text 720-480-5358 or email info@letterpressdepot.org. THANK YOU!

It takes a community!

Lots of smiles when we printed recently at Cherry Creek High School with students and their families. Now we need your donation to help us open our Depot home to bring more smiles, more printing to the community. To achieve full occupancy and use of the Depot, we need $550,000 and we’ve already raised half that! The State Historical Fund has given us a grant for $250,000 to rehab more of the interior and our immediate goal is to raise $83,000 as a match for that grant. The Colorado Gives incentive program (now through December 10) is the perfect time to give us a special gift.

Your donations have already helped make it possible for us to accomplish construction milestones like a new eco-friendly HVAC system and electrical service.

Once we have this $83,000 match, we can: Fix the walls! Raise the floors for ADA access! Install plumbing! Repair plaster! Fix windows! Add fire safe doors!. We will be so much closer to opening the building, allowing people of all ages to participate in this historic art form. Please give before midnight December 10 to help us access the Colorado Gives incentive match.

Checks also welcome to PO Box 798, Englewood, Colorado 80151. Questions? email info@letterpressdepot.org or text 720-480-5358. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. And check out the most recent episode of the Hot off the Press Podcast to hear from our board members Jason Wedekind and Cara Jo Knapp about the Depot’s mission and how your donation will make an impact!

Next Up: Belleview Park March 23 & Spectra Gallery

If you missed us at Arvade Center, come see us at the Spring Market in Belleview Park this coming Saturday, 10-2pm. And see our work on display the rest of March at Spectra Gallery (1836 S Broadway). If you haven’t been to Spectra and seen its immersive display, GO!

And here’s what you missed at Print Jam! Lots of people, lots of printing - Bryan Dahlberg on a mini etching press, LEGO (tm) printing conceived of by Dave Laskowski II and printed on an Adana by Jason Wedekind, Tom Parson on another Adana, and Marc Silberman on a Vandecook proof press. And note the mini press in a box made by Bryan too!

For more info, get in touch: info@letterpressdepot.com, 720-480-5358. And see you at the Spring Market!

Last year’s Spring Market

"Print Jam" March 16---and a whole lot of other printing going on!

Four different presses, historic prints, plastic building blocks and even some Jabberwocky - all will be part of the Letterpress Depot’s demonstration and hands-on events at the Arvada Center March 16, 11-4. We promise you will see presses and printing you’ve probably never seen before! Mo’Print, the Month of Printmaking, has been a busy time for us. But as always, we’ve also made time for the schools. At Cherry Creek High School, we tried out LEGO(tm) printing, inspired by Depot board member Dave Laskowski II. (You’ll have a chance to do this with Dave at “Print Jam.”)

We also printed with the kids at Cherrelyn Elementary, and loaned press and type to Colorado’s Finest High School of Choice for their “Wanted” project.

Print Jam demonstration is in the Arvada Center’s Main Gallery, with hands-on fun in their History Museum. Other March events include the Spring Market, March 23 at Belleview Park, and the Small Press Fest, March 30 at Globeville Center. We look forward! If you need more details, info@letterpressdepot.com.

What a Year! Thanks for being part of it!

We have one more opportunity for those who would like to help us get heat in our 1915 railroad depot aka the Letterpress Depot. We are about to receive a generous check which we would like to use to match all donations received the rest of this month. (We already matched all the Colorado Gives donations). You can donate on our website or mail a check to us at Box 798, Englewood, CO 80151. For those who’ve already given/opened our emails/visited our website. Thank You!

2023 was a busy year (very hard to believe it’s almost over).

We printed at:

*5 schools

*5 fairs/events

*3 outdoor markets

* 2 Neighbor Nights at local parks

*2 private workshops

*1 block party

At the Depot, we completed:

*Replacement of more rotten structural beams

*Remediation of lead paint

*Removal of damaged plaster

*Installation of brick walkways

*Planting of trees and perennials

*Installation of a light pole for future electricity (and got the electrician to finally order parts he originally said he did over a year ago)

*  Receipt of 3 proposals for a heat transfer system.

We received printing donations & deals:

*Presses, rare wood type, useful metal type and type cases from Joanne Martin

* Type and more from Louise Padden/Evert Brown, David Ashley, Lexi O’Neill and Lonnie Peterson

*Adana presses used at all our outdoor events

Thank you for all you did to make this a busy year

For more information or to volunteer, please email us or call/text 720-480-5358. Follow our website, facebook, Instagram and X posts.

"The most popular booth at the Festival"

And it sure felt like it!

Lettepress Depot printers had a great time meeting our Englewood neighbors at the Englewood Spring Festival — and showing off our fire engine red Adana presses.

Come print with us next at Celebrate Englewood, May 6 at Civic Center.

Tick tick tick four days until Colorado Gives ends on Dec. 6

We so appreciate everyone who has given so far, either through Colorado Gives or Facebook. And as you can imagine with the cost of construction these days, more is always welcome! We will be counting down the days here. A beautful and intriguing typeface to share in appreciation. Click on ANY image to donate.

William H. Page No. 171, Hamilton No. 299, printed by Tom Parson

THANK YOU

Busy May (but wait, how is it almost over?)

An unwelcome surprise this year was the discovery that the Depot’s main structural beam and other supports had rotted. But this month, temporary vertical supports to hold up the roof were erected, the old vertical and horizontal beams replaced and the temporary ones removed. All part of the rehabilitation funded by the State Historical Fund and donors like you.

We also did more printing with elementary school kids - at Bishop, Cherrelyn and, below, at Charles Hay World School.

Board members Kirk Benson and Dave Laskowski II. Kirk also is an arts specialist in Englewood schools.

Then it was time for the Rocky Mountain Stamp Show at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds. Some samples of what we printed: Board member Marc Silberman designed the vegetable laden-tribute to Colorado agriculture for the event and Executive Director Tom Parson had fun printing various cuts.

Also some great railroad finds at the next door ephemera show!

Volunteers always welcome! Englewooddepot@gmail.com or call 720-480-5358.

A new old press, at home at the Depot

One of the Letterpress Depot’s most recent acquisitions – a Jones Gordon press, generously donated (along with other goodies) by Stacey Steers, David Brunel and Nena Restrepo-Gil of Boulder. THANK YOU!

After cleaning and oiling the press, Tom Parson got it rolling

A label on it says it was from “Chicago Newspaper Union. ” The donors got it a few decades ago from the weekly Dongola, Illinois, Tri-County Record, Its rollers were still wrapped in a six page issue dated June 15, 2000, which has an ad for “Does-the-Job Printing.”  A functional and historic addition to our printing museum collection! 

The press was manufactured between 1890-1903 in Palmyra, New York by John M. Jones. Jones made presses for George Phineas Gordon, who is celebrated as having developed the basic design of the most common printing press ever, the Gordon Letterpress. As Gordon’s patents expired, others such as Jones produced their own versions of his innovative machines.

The press has a treadle and several creative and practical additions to the original Gordon platen press. It has an easier new way to remove the chase, roller lifters so when you’re inking the press the ink doesn’t get on the form, and hand dial that adjusts the pressure—even while in the midst of printing - so you don’t have to open the packing to make small adjustments to improve the impression. And much more. The press is missing the sophisticated upper disk ink roller system noted in the ad, but has a detached small New Century inker.

Interestingly, Jones also invented one of the first typewriters or, as he called it, “Domestic Printing Machines”. His was only the third to reach manufacture—but the factory burned down after 130 had been fully or partially assembled.

Fun with families in Sheridan

Depot executive director Tom Parson and board member Marc Silberman worked the roller proof press and the Curtis and Mitchell Columbian platen press for those attending Sheridan Celebrates on September 24, 2016.

Sheridan comes to Englewood (again)

In 1994, the Depot was moved from Sheridan to its current location. And this past Saturday, Sheridan came to the Depot for a VIP event to honor those who worked so hard on Sheridan Celebrates. Depot executive director Tom Parson printed for the crowd, along with board members Kim Morski, Jason Wedekind and Patti Parson. Organizer Jean Ray was there, along with Sheridan Mayor Dallas Hall, City Council members Tara Beiter-Fluhr and Sally Daigle and other community supporters. They all got to hear Sheridan idol Michael Cox sing. He will be singing again (and Tom printing again) at Sheridan Celebrates, September 24. (See http://www.letterpressdepot.com/events/.)

Getting to know us...

The Depot welcomes a host of new faces, experiences, and officers to our board. All of those involved are focused on community, art, design, history or printing.

Talking, planning, eating & more planning

Peter Bergman, an Assistant Professor of Communication Design at MSU Denver, who was been with the Depot project since the start, is our new president. Jason Wedekind, a stalwart board member and principal of Genghis Kern Design and Letterpress has taken on the role of Vice President. Brad Hammond, a Certified fraud examiner at CBIZ HMH, LLC, is our new treasurer. Other new board members include; Alexandra Jimenez, program director at the Platte Forum; Kim Morski, printmaker and artist book maker; Mike Ruberto, a Professor in the Multimedia Graphic Design department at Front Range Community College; Marc Silberman, a printer with strong philatelic bent; and Ian Van Mater, a MAC expert at Apple.

Staying with us are Alicita Rodriguez, Wilson Thomas, executive director Tom Parson and secretary Patti Parson.

We are forever grateful to those board members who are leaving – Lonnie Smith, David Ashley, Karen Jones and Jimi Bernath – for all the support they have provided and continue to do so.    

Inking it up at a student workshop

Students from Front Range Community College got to learn about letterpress while designing their own business cards.  Depotians and master printers Tom Parson and Peter Bergman lent a hand in the Metro State University of Denver print shop, as did their teacher Mike Ruberto, who also is on the Depot board.  Spreading the word about letterpress and getting ink on everyone's hands is in the DNA of the Letterpress Depot - so we look forward to leading more workshops.  Email us for details: englewooddepot@gmail.com. 

20 Steps to a Christmas card and the joy of letterpress!

After taking workshops with the Depot, German Murillo  of the Antique Photography Studio wrote two wonderful blogs 

•   20 steps to creating a Christmas card, from making the paper with Ray Tomasso, learning to print at a Depot workshop, burning polymer plates with Tom Parson and sewing the card with wife and daughter http://antiquephotostudio.blogspot.com/2014/12/merry-christmas-and-beautiful-new-year.html 
• on the the experience of letterpress and of Depot workshops:  http://antiquephotostudio.blogspot.com/2014/12/aboard-letterpress-experience.html  

 Treats for the holidays!

Vandercook Session

The Vandercook press was the center of attention at the second session of the Depot's Traveling Workshop held at Metro State University of Denver. Tom Parson (above) and Peter Bergman (in slideshow below) worked with  Victoria Adams-Kotsch, Megan Duffy, Cristy Fernandez, Emily Lennon, German Murillo, Bradley Wacjman and Jen Wisler. 

Interested in workshops? volunteering? landscaping? donating?  email us at englewooddepot@gmail.com

We're picking up steam - come along for the ride

Woohoo we’re official! This week we received final confirmation from IRS that the Letterpress Depot is a non profit –a 501(c)(3).  We’ve been “pending” since November. That means all donations to us are now officially tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.  Thanks to Executive Director Tom Parson for tackling the application, and our wonderful active board for helping see it all through: President Lonnie Smith; Vice-President Jason Wedekind; board members David Ashley, Peter Bergman, Jim Bernath, Karen Jones, and Wilson Thomas, and me, the secretary and blogger.

But we could use some extra hands and heads.  We are looking for someone familiar with accounting (CPA?) who could volunteer some time.  And an affordable licensed contractor who would like to work on a project such as the Depot.  Not to mention some help on lawn maintenance as needed (Lonnie and wife Sandy, Wilson, Tom and I have all been down with the grass and the weeds—thanks!)

In other news, the traveling workshop has started (for some pix from that, click on Workshops at the top of the page).  And Tom and Patti just came back from the ATF Conference in Salem, New Hampshire. No, that’s not an Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms reunion but rather the American Typecasting Fellowship (a nod to the American Type Founders of past renown).  It’s a biannual gathering of all those interested in type- and line-casting and it was just a fascinating bunch to be with.  Frank Romano, director of the Museum of Printing in North Andover, Massachusetts was the generous host, and ATF founder and guiding spirit Rich Hopkins regaled the crowd with tales of how he acquired all his casters. There was  one particularly gruesome image of old monotype casters being forklifted into dumpsters when Rich couldn’t fit all 12 being discarded into his pickup—or his shop.  Frank and Rich also had a lively duel on monotype versus linotype: their expertise also clear in their  gorgeous books – Rich’s Tolbert Lanston and the Monotype (http://bit.ly/1wzriQp) and Frank’s History of the Linotype Company  (http://amzn.to/1pd7JJS) - two must-haves for anyone interested in printing and type history. These will be in our depot library collection!

Also speaking at the conference - Frank Brannon of Speakeasy Press who has been working with Ed Rayher of Swamp Press to cast type of the Cherokee language.  Frank came across a syllabary of the language that Sequoyah created in 1821 and it became his life’s passion to get it cast and spread the knowledge. Ed took up the challenge. Now it is being used in North Carolina to pass on the language as well as the art of printing.

Two apprentices from M&H Type —Mark Sagianis and Chris Godek – told of their adventures being thrown into the world of casting.  The apprentices there have to commit to 4 years at minimum wage, and then they are expected to stay on afterwards.  Their enthusiasm and sheer joy about their work was infectious. 

Greg Walters of Piqua, Ohio described the challenges of casting 120 point type Cloister Initials on a huge pivotal caster obtained at the American Type Founders auction in 1993; Stan Nelson(formerly with the Smithsonian) described and demonstrated his molds for hand-casting type; Bill Welliver gave a full update on his system for computer interface with the Monotype composition caster - there were talks on just about every type of casting equipment, a swap meet and auction, endless delicious food (including one unforgettable 5 course Italian dinner) and connections with wonderful typenuts all around the world. 

Below: Gary Gregory who prints as Ben at the Old North Church; George Hamilton who flew in from Austria; Bill Welliver with slides of his work; Stan Nelson and Rich Hopkins; Tom, Gary, and Stan; and  Sky Shipley and some of the fonts he has cast at Skyline Type Foundry.

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