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In
the summer of 1933, during the early years of the Great
Depression, Edwin F. Sharp uprooted his family in New
Jersey and traveled to Rutland, Vermont on the promise
of a job. He settled in the area and started as the
book-keeper for the Tuttle Family (a long time established
printing and publishing company). He worked for the
Tuttle Printing division for many years, until the family
decided that the division couldn't sustain itself and
were preparing to close it.
It
was 1936, and the economy was still soft but Edwin saw
the opportunity to keep a print shop alive. He entered
into an agreement with the Tuttle Family to purchase
the printing division through a weekly deduction from
his paycheck. It was at that point that the heritage
of printing by the Sharp Family began.
For
10 years the "letterpress" print shop ran
and prospered and in 1946 Edwin took another step out
in faith by starting the first commercial "offset"
print shop in Vermont. Over the next dozen years Sharp
continued to be a "pioneer" in printing by
offering true four-color process printing in Vermont.
The
"pioneer" continued until 1958, when Edwin's
poor health resulted in his two sons, Robert & E.
Farley (Ed) Sharp, assuming the operational control
of the Family's printing business. After Edwin's passing
in 1970, the boys combined both the letterpress and
offset operation under one roof. The company flourished
and many loyal customers were able to call SHARP their
printer and bindery for all of their needs.
Sharp
continued to be a premier printer and bindery for hundreds
of businesses and authors alike through the 70's, 80's,
and 90's. After Ed retired in 1990 and Robert passed
away in 1998 the printing company continued to operate
under the control of a long-time employee. In the spring
of 2005 the family was informed that control of the
print shop would be returned to the Sharp's. The family
formed a new company, cleaned up the presses and, in
Grandfather Edwin's "pioneer" spirit, started
the print shop going again.
So
here we are in 2007, and for over 60 years a Sharp has
been printing and binding in Vermont. Edwin's grandson
W. F. (Bill) Sharp is proud to carry-on the heritage
of his printing family.
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EDWIN F. SHARP
ROBERT AND E. FARLEY SHARP
WILLIAM F. SHARP
photo from Rutland Herald's Talking
Pictures
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I Am A Printer
I
am a Printer, and my profession is among the oldest and most honorable
known to man.
I
do not manufacture toys or television sets, but rather I command
and influence the thinking of man during every moment of his life.
Everything
man uses is built by technicians who refer to the printed word
for instructions by other people who market the product according
to printed instructions and printed pieces.
Products
are delivered to the consumer by using printed forms, and are
billed and paid for by more printed forms.
I
make it possible for every person to read and interpret descriptions
of thousands of products we use in order to make more intelligent
buying decisions.
Through
the printed word, I help educate and teach millions people every
day.
I
describe, I illustrate, I influence emotions, I arouse curiosity,
I cause pleasure, I evoke anger.
I
am a Printer, and I labor ceaselessly to perfect my profession;
to bring the printed work to my customers faster, at higher quality,
for less cost.
I
have watched the tools of my trade evolve from tedious hand setting
of type to millennious speeds of modern computers; from slow hand
fed presses to multicolor presses that produce 200,000 impressions
per hour.
I am a living, vital force in today’s
world.
I
am impossible to do without.
I Am A Printer
Web site and all contents © Copyright Sharp and
Company 2005, All rights reserved.
134 Park Street, PO Box 189, Rutland, Vermont
05702-0189
(802)747-4440 - FAX(802)747-4443
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A
Heritage In Printing
