Time Machine: From railway guides to color printing

CEDAR RAPIDS - Charles A. Laurance grew up in a very young Cedar Rapids, a fact he chronicled in his limited edition book, 'Pioneer Days in Cedar Rapids, 1860-1880,” published by his company, Laurance Press, in 1936.

The book was an unintended result of Laurance's plan to write a 32-page booklet of memories to send to his friends for Christmas. As he worked on the project, it grew into a 170-page bound volume.

He consulted with other Cedar Rapids pioneer residents to refresh his memory as he wrote. In the book's foreword, Laurance credited William R. Boyd, the Hon. Cyrenus Cole, Frank D. Denlinger, Calvin G. Greene, the Hon. John M. Grimm and Barthinius L. Wick for their contributions.

Boyd and Cole were co-editors of the Cedar Rapid Republican newspaper. Boyd went on to become instrumental in the establishment of the University Hospital in Iowa City and a member of the state Board of Education. Cole was a historian who served as a congressman from Iowa's 5th Congressional District from 1921 to 1933. Denlinger, a Cedar Rapids native, was vice president and director of Perpetual Savings and Loan Assn. Greene, son of Cedar Rapids pioneer George Greene, established the First Street railway and electric light system in Cedar Rapids. He was the first president of the Linn County Historical Assn. Grimm went from Linn County Attorney to justice on the Iowa Supreme Court. He was the builder of the Iowa Memorial Union. Wick, a lawyer, was the resident authority on Cedar Rapids history and helped launch a home for the aged that became Meth-Wick Manor.

Laurance founded his company, Laurance & Carr, in 1888, 28 years after he had arrived in Cedar Rapids, at age 5, with his parents and four siblings from New York in 1860. William Carr was the firm's junior partner.

The company bought the popular Russell's Railway Guide in August 1891 and immediately began to improve it. Passenger train numbers were included, along with a list of at least one reliable bank in each city and another list of attorneys. The local BCR & N railroad subscribed for 100 copies per month.

By 1898, Laurance was on his own. As the company grew, so did the city.

In 1911, Waclav F. Severa built a solid brick building on First Street SE, between Fourth and Fifth Avenues. The 60-by-110-foot building, with concrete floors to house Laurance's medical almanac and pharmacy business, was 'one of the most costly and greatest improvements Cedar Rapids has had this year,” according to the Evening Gazette. 'The company selected a building style of originality, the useful and attractive window effect being a big feature.”

Laurance Press leased the four-story Severa building in February 1929 - a short move from 412 to 400 First St. SE. The new location was furnished with new equipment and set up so efficiently that raw copy came in the front door and passed in a straight line to composing, makeup, press room, bindery and shipping.

The company Laurance had started in a small room with two people had grown to employ 50 and served clients within a 300-mile radius of Cedar Rapids.

In the 1930s, Laurance began focusing on color printing, adding a five-color press and developing more efficient methods of making color plates.

In addition to its printing business, the company sold office equipment for many years. In 1936, a salesman for the products was added to the staff, and a new display room was added. It was stocked with office furnishings from General Fire-Proofing Co. of Youngstown, Ohio.

Laurance moved from his home at 2511 First Ave. SE to the Roosevelt Hotel in 1942, following the death of his wife, Jennie. Their only child, Harry M. Laurance, had died in April 1941 at the age of 55.

After suffering a stroke in his office in mid-April 1943, Laurance died May 21 at the age of 87. Laurance Press closed the day of his funeral, May 24, to honor him. He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery with his wife and son.

The company continued to operate as Laurance Press. Lyman Jones, who joined the company in 1932, became president as well as general manager. The company continued to print World War II materials from a contract awarded following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Laurance Press employees became teachers in April 1957 when a group of Filipino printers and publishers, that wanted to learn about how to increase production and improve their processes at home, visited the company. The group was looking for ways to increase literacy in their homeland by providing more printed materials.

In 1966, Laurance Press acquired the Frank Spikins Co. of DeWitt, moving it into an expansion at 400 First St. SE location. The 42-year-old Spikins company, which specialized in calendars, funeral director supplies and vinyl advertising, was the fifth self-contained division of Laurance Press.

A year later, in 1967, the company's executive vice president, C.R. 'Bob” Jones, Lyman's son, took over the helm.

In October 1981, Laurance Press Co. was sold and became Igram Press Co. It moved to 2020 16th Ave. SW when the city acquired the First Street SE property for the new Ground Transportation Center.

Since the building was scheduled for demolition in the fall, it was chosen as the site for a civil defense drill, 'Exercise Smokey Hotel.” The exercise was a simulation of a high-rise hotel disaster to give public safety agencies a chance to practice their skills.

Several hundred people from 23 governmental and service groups were involved in the simulated evacuation, using Lifeguard helicopters to 'rescue” people from the roof of the abandoned building.

Laurance Press disappeared with the demolition of the building in November 1981.

l Comments: (319) 398-8338; diane.langton@thegazette.com