Page 4 - Dresden Buzz 07/11/25

PAGE 4 | LOCAL NEWS JULY 11 - 24, 2025
The legacy continues as Franklin Printing Company celebrates

75 years in business by Lynette Dotson

Not many small businesses stand the
test of time like Franklin Printing Com-
pany has. They have been bringing print
services to the community for 75 years
and are still going strong, adapting with
the times and providing top-notch small-
town customer service and high-quality
print products from their family-owned
and operated business.
Franklin Printing Company was found-
ed by Everett H. Jackson, Sr., who origi-
nally ran the operation out of the base-
ment of the family’s farmhouse.
Everett Jackson Sr. served as a medic
in the military and wanted to continue
working in the medical industry after re-
turning home. But the GI Bill required
that he take a vocational class, and he
chose a class in printing. After his train-
ing he got a job with one of the local print
shops. Some time after, another print
shop was selling all their equipment so,
he decided to purchase everything and
bring it home to the family farm.

Everett Jackson Sr. representing his business at a
show. submitted
“He was milking cows in the morning
and the evening, coming to Zanesville
and selling printing,” explained Everett Eldon Jackson, Sarah Jackson, and Everett Jackson stand in front of their family owned and operated print shop, Franklin Printing Company. The business is
Jackson Jr., the President of Franklin celebrating its 75th anniversary. Lynette Dotson
Printing.
The business may have started in the “I remember all of these different digital, and as technology changes, those by the thousands some people
basement of the farmhouse, but with stages because I was born before that, Franklin Printing Company has adapted even order 50,000 cards ... there’s like
Everett Jackson Sr’s dedication to his and the farmhouse in the basement to meet the latest standards. 340 countries in the world that an ama-
work, the business eventually outgrew there and moving to Maple Avenue. We “My dad was the kind that when new teur radio operator can talk to and we
the space. were on Maple Avenue for quite a few technology came out, he bought it,” Ev- print cards for many of these countries
years until about the year 2000, and erett explained. “He was always on the when someone goes there for them to
then we secured this land here and built cutting edge, even though some of the send out to other people to confirm that
this building, and this is where we are new technology didn’t work too well, they actually talked to that country.”
today. My mom worked in the pre-press you know, he still got it. I remember one
setting the type. Originally, it was all day we were here at the office in the old
hand set, and then they got a line of type plant, and my dad called up (he’d gone
machines so they could set the type,” Ev- to Chicago) and he says, ‘What do you
erett recalled. think we need to buy to increase our
75 Years later, and the business re- productivity?’ ... He bought a four-color
mains centered around family and com- printing press for almost half a million
Groundbreaking for current location. munity values. Everett’s brother, Eldon dollars sight unseen because he thought
submitted Jackson, is the Vice President. Sarah that was, and he did, he was correct,
Jackson, Eldon’s daughter, also works that was the new technology.” In-house photography studio. submitted
for the company. Over the years, the in- The business offers all kinds of print-
dustry has changed from a more man- ing services, including business cards, “We’d like to thank the community
ual type setting method flyers, brochures, annual reports, book- for their support,” added Everett. Even
to everything going lets, and even large-format items like though we have seen many name
yard signs. changes in the community, I can think
“We do all types of work, we do pro- of some of the very first customers my
gram books, we do oil paintings—we do dad had when he started the business
reproductions for artists who come in 75 years ago, and we still are printing
and want note cards made, we have a for those institutions, even though the
photography studio here where we pho- personnel have changed and even the
tograph the original artwork, and then name has changed.”
we can print whatever they want, Franklin Printing Company is located
explained Everett. “We also do at 984 Beverly Ave, Zanesville. They can
a lot of mailings ... sometimes be reached by calling 740-452-6375 or
we’ve done as many as you by email at franklin@franklinprinting.us.
know, seven mailings in the
same day for different compa-
nies.”
A unique offering that
the print shop produces is ama-
teur radio QSL cards.
“I’m an amateur radio opera-
tor,” said Everett, “my call sign
is WZ8P I’ve been licensed since
1962 so I have a little niche here
because when you talk to some-
body in a foreign country you like to
get a card from them and they have Donald Boyd runs a full-color job on one of the
Everett Jackson Sr. (right) with his sons Eldon and Everett Jr. submitted what they call QSL cards and we print presses. Lynette Dotson