The history of Eatonia’s printing press

By Joan Janzen

In 1920, just after the village of Eatonia was incorporated, a weekly newspaper called the Eatonia Enterprise went to print. According to information obtained from the book entitled “A Past To Cherish” depicting Eatonia’s history, The Enterprise’s building was located on lot 3, block 4 on Main Street, nestled between a butcher shop and a drug store, where Mr. T. Atkinson set up his press and equipment.

A business directory from 1925 listed eighteen businesses in the village. In 1929, failing health forced Atkinson to try and sell his business. When no buyer came forward, Atkinson packed up his printing equipment, planning to ship it to a location where he could find a buyer. However, before he was able to load it onto a boxcar, Andrew Graham came forward with an offer to purchase. One year after Atkinson had printed his last edition, Graham resumed publishing on November 30, 1930.

Andrew Graham was born in Ontario and was described as having “printer’s ink for blood.” Mastering the trade as a young man, he moved from one town to another, successfully establishing at least fourteen weekly newspapers along the way.

In 1923, at the age of 67, Graham experienced a sad turn of events. That was the year his wife died, and he lost his life’s savings in the collapse of the Home Bank. He proceeded to wander from town to town, employed in towns in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, before settling in Eatonia in 1930.

By this time, Graham was 74 years old. His expertise enabled him to bring the Enterprise back to life, and his editorials were often reprinted in city papers across the country. Alfred Lloyd, Graham’s long-time friend, worked along side him at the Enterprise. Lloyd had previously worked for Graham in Ontario, Manitoba and Canora, Sask.

Andrew Graham died at the age of 81 years in 1937. By this point in time, the harsh economic conditions of the depression had brought the Enterprise close to financial ruin. Alfred Lloyd carried on with the printing business but was forced to suspend publication in 1942. Alfred and his wife Mary lived out their lives in Eatonia; both are buried in the Eatonia Cemetery. They had one daughter.

A few years later, J.C. Adair revived the Enterprise, publishing a special Golden Jubilee edition in 1955.

Photo (from A Past To Cherish) Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Lloyd, Jeanette Rosher and Cissy Phillips, granddaughter. Alfred Lloyd worked at the Eatonia Enterprise from 1930-1942.