Wood type, anyone?
Among other things
By Paul Fugleberg
Anyone know where any old-fashioned wood type or copper illustrations used in posters and oldtime newspapers might be?
Reason for the question is that Nils Rosdahl, who once worked in the print shop of the Sanders County Ledger and now is a journalism instructor at North Idaho College and writes a business column for the Spokane Spokesman-Review, came by the Leader office last week to see if we might know where some block type might be found.
Back in the letterpress days of the Flathead Courier, we had several cases of various fonts of wood type. But I sure can't remember what became of them — nor can Lorin Jacobson and Dick Giffin. Carmine Mowbray had a few items during the Mowbray ownership of the paper and those were sent to the Meagher County News at White Sulphur Springs.
Nils currently is creating 2-ft. x 3 1/2-ft. desk top for the new Coeur d'Alene public library that opens in September. Ten years ago, he took up the hobby using wood type to make boxes for pens and pencils and paper clips as gifts for family members and friends. Takes him about five hours to create a pen or pencil holder.
Each panel of the box has a meaningful message, family names, birth dates, places, occupations, etc. Of course the type is upside down, as printers would know.
Former Missoulian publisher Lloyd Schermer got Rosdahl interested in making items from block type. Nils donated a couple boxes of wood type and figures that Schermer used to create a wall of type in the new U of M journalism building.
After 10 years, Nils is beginning to run short of the old-fashioned wood block letters in all fonts and sizes.
If you know where some is available, give him a call at (208) 667-7368, (208) 769-3228, or his cell phone at (208) 661-1657, or email him at nils_rosdahl@nic.edu
He'd appreciate it.
Incidentally, Nils is a graduate of the U of M journalism school and his North Idaho College newspaper this year was judged the best non-daily college newspaper in the nation.
'Educating Rita'
The Port Polson Players' production of "Educating Rita" is an excellent presentation that faces some natural challenges: heat and smoke, but the theatre's air-conditioning system cools the temperature and filters out the smoke satisfactorily; the past busy weekend with so many activities hurt attendance, but hopefully the numbers of theatre-goers will pick up. The play continues through Aug. 26.
Mike Taylor and Megan Gran have really got their roles down pat. It takes real professionals to pull of a combination of humor and serious content and do justice to each. That's the situation faced by the two actors.
Rita is a cheeky Liverpool lass who wants an education. Fred is the professor who is an excellent teacher and mentor, but he has a fondness for booze. Despite this, he guides Rita through the intricacies of literature and writing as she develops her writing skills and gets a new outlook on life. As she does, "Educating Rita" becomes "Educating Fred." An interesting twist … that continues to entwine humorous and serious tones. I enjoyed it.
Showtime is 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and at 2 p.m., Sundays.
Best wishes, Gessners
Polson barber Bruce Gessner, owner-operator of the Ship Shape Barber Shop since 1985, has retired due to health problems. He and his wife Elizabeth will leave Polson Aug. 31 for Huntley, Ill., about 90 minutes west of Chicago, where they'll be closer to family members.
Elizabeth taught fourth grade in Linderman School for more than 30 years.
I always enjoyed visiting with Bruce in his "clip joint." They'll be missed and we wish them well.
Seasons are changing
Remember when Flathead and Mission valley residents used to say we have four seasons — Fall, Winter, Spring and Company? Seems the trend now is Fall, Winter, Spring and Smoke.