Individual Details
Arvel Augustus FURR
(August 14, 1917 - March 3, 1997)
Rare posters make Benton print shop a type apart
By Kevin Cullen, Journal and Courier
EARL PARK -- American printers have been printing advertising posters since colonial days. But the oldest, continuously operating poster print shop is the country isn't in Boston, New York or Philadelphia. It's on Oak Street in this little Benton County community. And its new owners -- with volunteer help -- are determined to preserve its history and educate the public about "showcards." "There's a lot of history behind them," says Cinda Kelley, who, with her husband, Alan, bought the shop and its antique letterpress equipment from John Furr in October 2001. "It could be a great history lesson -- the printing, the artwork, the craftsmanship, the ink ... so many things from so many different eras." Tribune ShowPrint began in 1878, making it 125 years old in 2003. An exhibit of some of its splashy, eye-catching old posters will be exhibited at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation from Jan. 10 through Feb. 9. A printing demonstration will be held, too. "I think it's a real hidden treasure. There's a lot of history up there," TAF spokesman Sarah Tacker says of the business. The Kelleys were amazed to find posters from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s in an upstairs storage room, plus the wooden blocks that were used to create them. Dennis Ichiyama, a professor of visual and performing arts at Purdue University, says the blocks are rare. They were carved by hand and produced in sets, one for each ink color. "I couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw them," he says. He also was struck by the visual appeal of the showcards themselves. They were printed on cheap, lightweight cardboard, so it's amazing that they survived, he says. "The sports posters show football players with the old, leather headgear," he says. Tribune ShowPrint has printed showcards for countless politicians, fairs, carnivals, races, auctions and movies. Some of its more famous clients have included the Jackson Five, the Blues Brothers and George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic. Years ago, the business printed newspapers, letterheads and other items. It moved to Earl Park from Fowler after World War II and its owner, Arvel Furr, specialized in posters. Because the press runs are usually small, the company still uses wooden type, set one letter at a time. The Babcock flatbed presses are identical to those used by weekly newspapers in the 1800s. The prints and blocks are "just marvelous things," Ichiyama says, "too good to be true." A new group, called the "Friends of Tribune ShowPrint" wants to preserve the relics and plan more exhibits. Anyone with an interest should call (219) 474-6061.
Journal and Courier, Lafayette, Indiana, December 22, 2002
By Kevin Cullen, Journal and Courier
EARL PARK -- American printers have been printing advertising posters since colonial days. But the oldest, continuously operating poster print shop is the country isn't in Boston, New York or Philadelphia. It's on Oak Street in this little Benton County community. And its new owners -- with volunteer help -- are determined to preserve its history and educate the public about "showcards." "There's a lot of history behind them," says Cinda Kelley, who, with her husband, Alan, bought the shop and its antique letterpress equipment from John Furr in October 2001. "It could be a great history lesson -- the printing, the artwork, the craftsmanship, the ink ... so many things from so many different eras." Tribune ShowPrint began in 1878, making it 125 years old in 2003. An exhibit of some of its splashy, eye-catching old posters will be exhibited at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation from Jan. 10 through Feb. 9. A printing demonstration will be held, too. "I think it's a real hidden treasure. There's a lot of history up there," TAF spokesman Sarah Tacker says of the business. The Kelleys were amazed to find posters from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s in an upstairs storage room, plus the wooden blocks that were used to create them. Dennis Ichiyama, a professor of visual and performing arts at Purdue University, says the blocks are rare. They were carved by hand and produced in sets, one for each ink color. "I couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw them," he says. He also was struck by the visual appeal of the showcards themselves. They were printed on cheap, lightweight cardboard, so it's amazing that they survived, he says. "The sports posters show football players with the old, leather headgear," he says. Tribune ShowPrint has printed showcards for countless politicians, fairs, carnivals, races, auctions and movies. Some of its more famous clients have included the Jackson Five, the Blues Brothers and George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic. Years ago, the business printed newspapers, letterheads and other items. It moved to Earl Park from Fowler after World War II and its owner, Arvel Furr, specialized in posters. Because the press runs are usually small, the company still uses wooden type, set one letter at a time. The Babcock flatbed presses are identical to those used by weekly newspapers in the 1800s. The prints and blocks are "just marvelous things," Ichiyama says, "too good to be true." A new group, called the "Friends of Tribune ShowPrint" wants to preserve the relics and plan more exhibits. Anyone with an interest should call (219) 474-6061.
Journal and Courier, Lafayette, Indiana, December 22, 2002
Events
| Birth | August 14, 1917 | Benton County, IN | |||
| Marriage | May 26, 1945 | Benton County, IN - Mildred June LESTER |  | ||
| Occupation | 1950 | printing shop printer - Fowler, Benton County, IN | |||
| Death | March 3, 1997 | Pinellas County, FL |  | | |
| Alt name | Orville Augustus FURR | ||||
| Alt name | Orval FURR | ||||
| Soc Sec No | 304-09-3339 | | |||
| Burial | Fowler Cemetery, Fowler, Benton County, IN | | |||
| Military | SSgt, US Marines - World War II |
Families
| Spouse | Mildred June LESTER (1917 - 2000) |
| Child | Johnny Dean FURR (1946 - 2023) |
| Father | Ferman Augustus FURR (1887 - 1959) |
| Mother | Laura Ellen COPENHAVER (1894 - 1976) |
| Sibling | William Edward "Eddie" FURR (1917 - 1990) |
| Sibling | Ruby Lorene FURR (1914 - 1979) |
| Sibling | Lillian Anna FURR (1920 - 1998) |
| Sibling | Living |
| Sibling | Ferman Gerald FURR (1927 - 1992) |
| Sibling | Freeman Harold FURR (1927 - 2012) |
| Sibling | Robert Leroy FURR (1928 - 1975) |
Notes
Death
Arvel A. Furr, 79, of Fowler, died Monday evening, March 3, in Venice, Fla., from injuries sustained in a traffic accident. He was spending the winter in Florida. Born Aug. 14, 1917, in Fowler, he graduated from Fowler High School and was a lifelong Fowler resident. He married Mildred J. Lester on May 26, 1945, in Tangier. She survives. Mr. Furr formerly was president and chairman of the board of the Tribune Showprint in Earl Park, the publisher and editor of the old Benton County Tribune. He designed show cards for many of the top entertainment stars in the United States for many years. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, all in Fowler and Elks Lodge of Watseka, Ill., chef de gare of 40&8 and cheminot of the 2nd district. For several years he was precinct committeeman and chairman of the Benton County Young Republicans. He served as a staff sergeant in the Marine Air Corps during World War II. Surviving with his wife are a son, Johnny Furr of Boswell; a brother, Harold Furr of Fowler; and two sisters, Mrs. Melvin (Lillian) Harris and Linnie Mae FitzHenry, both of San Bernadino, Calif.Journal and Courier, Lafayette, Indiana, March 6, 1997
Endnotes
1. "Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D97W-SKT2 : 30 December 2021).
2. Florida Death Index, 1936-1998. [database online] Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004. Original data: State of Florida. Florida Death Index, 1877-1998. Florida: Florida Health Department, Office of Vital Records, 1998..
3. United States Social Security Death Index.
4. National Cemetery Administration. U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: National Cemetery Administration. Nationwide Gravesite Locator..