We all have experiences of the power of the “press”—even if that is nowadays often social media rather than the press of olden days. The ability to share information with each other—whether via electrons or printer’s ink—has always had immense power.
We recently managed to visit the printing shop at Shelburne Museum just as the printer was cleaning up at the end of her day. She was generous enough to take a few minutes longer to answer all our questions about the 19th century printing press they still use and to make a wonderful print for us to take away. Clearly it was a different world when this press was in full-time use but it was also not difficult to imagine a point in the future when a simple press like this might not again find a place in our complex world.
Do “google” Shelburne Museum and enjoy it the next time you are in Vermont!
