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(A “heads-up” about this article came from David Brownell)
“Danbury
printers leave legacy”
printers leave legacy”
Article
by Robert Miller
by Robert Miller
bmiller@newstimes.com;
203-731-3345
203-731-3345
Published
11:58 a.m., Sunday, May 27, 2012
11:58 a.m., Sunday, May 27, 2012
DANBURY,
CT — There is grass growing in the parking lot of RR Donnelley,
the printing plant that announced last week it would close, laying off
150 workers.
CT — There is grass growing in the parking lot of RR Donnelley,
the printing plant that announced last week it would close, laying off
150 workers.
It was not always that way. In its heyday, the company had more
than 350 employees and was always busy.
than 350 employees and was always busy.
“We ran three shifts, seven days a week,” said James Heussner,
assistant treasurer and controller of the company when it went by the name of Danbury Printing
& Litho.
assistant treasurer and controller of the company when it went by the name of Danbury Printing
& Litho.
“That’s too bad,” Heussner, 77, said when told the plant
was closing. But in a world where everything is online, printing is not
thriving. Donnelley, based in Chicago, and the largest printing company in
North America, has been closing plants across the continent in the last
few years.
was closing. But in a world where everything is online, printing is not
thriving. Donnelley, based in Chicago, and the largest printing company in
North America, has been closing plants across the continent in the last
few years.
“It isn’t making a lot of money,” Heussner said from
Florida, where he now lives. “And the state of Connecticut isn’t making
things any better with its taxes.”
Florida, where he now lives. “And the state of Connecticut isn’t making
things any better with its taxes.”
The closing marks the end of a company with a history
stretching back to 1931, when the Previdi family owned a printing company. It
first began to grow after 1946, when Eugene Previdi
bought the family business from his brother, John.
stretching back to 1931, when the Previdi family owned a printing company. It
first began to grow after 1946, when Eugene Previdi
bought the family business from his brother, John.
Eugene eventually changed the company name from Modern Printery
to Danbury Printing & Litho.
to Danbury Printing & Litho.
“He added lithography to the business,” said Eugene’s
son, Eugene Jr. Even after he retired, the elder Eugene went to work and ran
the company’s Linotype and letterpress presses.
son, Eugene Jr. Even after he retired, the elder Eugene went to work and ran
the company’s Linotype and letterpress presses.
The company grew. Instead of one shop on Thorpe Street, it
added a second location near Danbury Airport,
then a third on Backus Avenue.
added a second location near Danbury Airport,
then a third on Backus Avenue.
The company’s rise was the work of Cecil Previdi, also Eugene’s
son, who had worked in the presses since he was a teenager. A graduate of the Rochester
Institute of Technology, he became the president of Danbury Printing
& Litho. He invested in new technology and the best workers available.
son, who had worked in the presses since he was a teenager. A graduate of the Rochester
Institute of Technology, he became the president of Danbury Printing
& Litho. He invested in new technology and the best workers available.
“He’d go to RTI and get the cream of the crop,” Eugene
Previdi Jr. said of his brother.
Previdi Jr. said of his brother.
The company consolidated its business in the Prindle Lane
facility in 1978. It invested in Harris presses — then state-of-the-art. It
had nationally known clients.
facility in 1978. It invested in Harris presses — then state-of-the-art. It
had nationally known clients.
“I would say our two biggest were Time-Life Books and
American Express,” said Heussner.
American Express,” said Heussner.
The company also printed materials for the Sotheby’s
auction house, for Avon and Reader’s Digest. It had a close working
relationship with Grolier Inc.,
the publisher with headquarters in Danbury. Danbury Printing & Litho had
its own training program for printers, buyers and art directors.
“It had a great customer service department and great
printers,” Heussner said.
printers,” Heussner said.
But in 1987, Danbury Printing & Litho suffered a huge shock
when a company plane crashed in southern Wisconsin. Cecil Previdi, then 44, was killed in the crash.
In all, eight people died — six employees of Danbury Printing & Litho and
two from Webtech, an Illinois company.
when a company plane crashed in southern Wisconsin. Cecil Previdi, then 44, was killed in the crash.
In all, eight people died — six employees of Danbury Printing & Litho and
two from Webtech, an Illinois company.
Previdi’s widow, Melissa, who was director of sales and
marketing, took over as president. She kept the Previdi name in the company
until 1994, when Banta Corp., a national printing firm, bought the Danbury
plant from the Previdi family.
marketing, took over as president. She kept the Previdi name in the company
until 1994, when Banta Corp., a national printing firm, bought the Danbury
plant from the Previdi family.
In 2007,
RR Donnelley bought Banta.
RR Donnelley bought Banta.
After
five years, it closed the place down — which is terrible news for its 150
employees and an occasion for melancholy for those who knew the company
in its prime.
five years, it closed the place down — which is terrible news for its 150
employees and an occasion for melancholy for those who knew the company
in its prime.
“It was an interesting place to work,”
Heussner said.
Heussner said.
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