Chickens, A Peach Tree and Freshly Inked Prints

Grand Haven, Michigan's Freshly Squeezed Print Shop Prints More than Wedding Invitations

What struck me most about Michigan’s harbor town is what they share in common with Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It’s not the lake front, the seagulls or even the weather, it’s the old-fashioned center-of-intersection streetlights. Milwaukee has a few of them in different parts of town, some are near Brady Street, others are just east of historic Mitchell Street.

But Michigan’s harbor towns have miles and miles of these street lights along major roads. The houses in the areas date back to the 1950s, so I’m guessing these lights are just as old. In Milwaukee’s case, I’m thinking these lights date back to the 1940s. In an event, these lights might not be the brightest way to light up an intersection, but they add a certain quaint charm.

I saw these lights on my way to Freshly Squeezed Prints in Grand Haven, Michigan. The print shop, with its sharp shingle, sits in on a residential property in an old garage. This is where Annie prints wedding invitations on her old presses, Chandler and Price (a play on the actual names for these old presses, Chandler & Price). She got the presses, wood type and drawers from a printer who was retiring in the city’s downtown.

Annie stands outside underneath the sign for her print shop

Annie uses polymer plates in addition to the wood type for her work. What’s so beautiful is that she gets to work feet away from her house with a view overlooking her chicken coop, her vegetable garden and peach tree. (Her chickens stay safe under a wired cage, although a hawk once tried to kill one of the chicken, but only snatched a few feathers).

The peach tree bears fruit but a mysterious intruder has been making off with the peaches before anyone can pick one.

If you’re thinking her children have been influenced by raising chickens and growing a vegetable garden, one already says she wants to be a farmer when she grows up.

Old paper cutter, still in use, in the background. Old Chandler & Price printer is cranked by hand with a treadle, just like a vintage sewing machine.

Old yardstick and pica rulers frame an old furniture cabinet along with a few quoins needed to tighten spacing on letterpress lock-ups.

Annie also offers tours to local school groups and the occasional letterpress workshop. If I had known earlier, I would have definitely signed up for a workshop. I love making prints at different shops and studios across the country. Where have you printed letterpress posters, readers? (And where have you seen the center-of-street-intersection streetlights? I want to know!)

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