In 1971, another chapter in the history of the Hitchcock Press opened, which scaled new heights for the printing business. The 50-plus years of ownership under the helm of J. Guy Gaulin were about to begin.
J. Guy Gaulin was born in Holyoke on February 24, 1927. He was raised in Lambton, Quebec, Canada, and returned to Holyoke in 1944. He worked for many years in the printing department of American Pad and Paper Company (AMPAD). In 1965, he was elevated to the foreman of the department.
While at AMPAD, Mr. Gaulin invented the flexographic and gravure inking systems. He was named Craftsman of the Year by the New England District of the International Printing House Craftsmen Association.
In 1972, he and his wife, Geraldine (Norton) Gaulin, purchased the Hitchcock Press from David Kornetsky, who was retiring from the business. At the time, the company employed 6 workers in offset and letterpress.
In February of 1979, Mr. Gaulin was appointed an Action Council Member of the National Federation of Independent Business, a non-profit group representing the needs of small businesses throughout the country. Its mission was to promote free enterprise and give the independent business owner a voice in advancing business regulation.
On May 13, 1982, the Gaulins purchased land on Hanover Street with plans to build a new plant.
An interesting side note involves the sport of table tennis. 20-year-old David Hagar, a graphic artist working at Hitchcock Press, was the 14th-ranked table tennis player in New England in 1984.
Also in 1984, the company moved from 78 Hitchcock Street to a new building at 8 Hanover Street, in the Springdale section.
In 1986, Hitchcock Press was awarded the Benjamin Franklin Award for its outstanding contributions to the printing industry. The company provided summertime job opportunities for students to earn extra money and learn new skills.
Mr. Gaulin advanced the idea of a shared-cost model in which government and employers would each contribute funds to teach future workers technical skills.
In 1992, Mayor William Hamilton named J. Guy Gaulin, along with several others, to the Mayor's Industrial Advisory Committee to provide input and guidance on advancing manufacturing in Holyoke.
In 2004, the then-77-year-old was awarded the first Small Business Champion Award for his efforts to support small businesses. Hitchcock Press had grown from a six-person business to employing twenty, with a tenfold increase in business, with greater increases anticipated.
He continued working into his 90s and was at the forefront of introducing new computer technology into his printing business. The business was noted for the high quality of its Letterpress printing, showcasing Mr. Gaulin's award-winning creative designs. It was described as modern technology meets old-world craftsmanship. His dedication to his craft spanned close to 70 years.
The business is currently operated by the late Mr. Gaulin's daughter, Deanna Gaulin, who is the President and Treasurer of the corporation.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.
Registry of Deeds, Hampden County, Springfield, Massachusetts
Price & Lee, City of Holyoke (Massachusetts) City Directories
Assessors' Office, City of Holyoke, Massachusetts
Massachusetts Secretary of State, Boston, Massachusetts
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