Did You Know? (Creekites)

That Cricket Press was named after the Creekites, what the early inhabitants of Jeffries (or Jeffreys) Creek were called, before it incorporated in 1645 and became Manchester, and then Manchester-by-the-Sea in 1990?

Established as a family owned business more than 87 years ago, The Cricket Press, Inc., remains steadfast to the ideals on which the company was originally founded in 1921. They strive to insure that each product that leaves their building is held to the highest quality standards, led by a seriously experienced and professional print team and backed by dependable customer service. These basic business ideals have weathered the test of time and technology and are as true today as they were 87 years ago.  The business has grown from a small printing company, whose main job was to output the town’s newspaper, The Manchester Cricket (which by the way only prints good news), to one of the region’s most respected commercial printing companies. Harry E. Slade, Sr., The Cricket’s original owner and president, would not recognize his print shop as it is today, but he would be proud that his forebears continue to operate it with care, innovation and reliability.

I can personally attest to their professionalism, highest quality standards, patience, good humor and willingness to work with a customer to make a job happen.  I originally had planned to print Did You Know? with a company in NC, mainly due to cost considerations.  After running into Barry at the Chamber’s Home and Business Expo, just before I was preparing to send the files off to NC, we decided to see if we couldn’t work something out to have Cricket do the printing.  I have to thank David Slade and Barry Pollock for making it work that this project could be all Cape Ann from start to finish.  Some of you might say that Manchester is not officially part of Cape Ann; however Barry Pollock is from and very involved in Gloucester, and David Slade, although he lives and has his business in Manchester, is so connected to Gloucester through the Rotary, Interact Club, his wife and other endeavors, to make them totally Cape Ann in my mind.  I also wanted to mention Jim Graham Clyde from Sales, who popped into the video in the pressroom and put his arm around Barry – Jim is an exceptional painter, and he looks really dashing in a kilt!  

This short video was taken to capture the birth of Did You Know? as it started coming off the press.  If you’ve never been inside and watched the running of a large press, it is very interesting; and GMG was heavily represented.

I won’t have the books in hand until Tuesday, but it was very exciting yesterday to have my first Did You Know? book sale from my website to GMG reader and Cape Ann lover, Bruce from Ontario, Canada.

E.J. Lefavour

http://www.khanstudiointernational.com/did%20you%20know%20book.htm