Hartville News

In 1923 and 1924, Alton Knowles served as a senior at Hartville High School and was the editor of the school newspaper. As part of his responsibilities, he would take the newspaper to North Canton for printing at The North Canton Sun. This experience sparked his interest in the printing industry. The owner of The Sun, Mr. Sell, provided Alton with a catalog, and in the spring of 1924, he ordered a small hand-operated Kelsey press along with a printing instruction manual. After graduating, Alton landed a full-time position at The Monarch Rubber Company but also pursued printing as a hobby. He set up a small operation in his parents’ basement at 306 East Maple St., where he created business cards, letterheads, envelopes, and invoices.