Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
Historic Treasure of the Week -
August 18, 2002
By Freida Murphy
Vigo County Historical Society
Vigo County Historical Museum features Woodburn Graphics
The current exhibit at the Vigo County Historical Museum is a celebration of businesses that have been in Terre Haute for a long time. Some for 50 years, some for 75 years, and some for 100 years. One of the businesses that has been here for 100 years is Woodburn Graphics. It started out in 1902 as T.R. Woodburn Printing.
Thomas Ross Woodburn was born in Clay City on Nov. 25, 1879. He was educated in the Clay County schools. He came to Terre Haute in 1893 and started his printing business in 1902. He was active in the business for 35 years. His son, Ross, started in the business in 1921 when he was 17 years old and worked in it for 55 years.
In 1938, “T.R.” sold the business to another family member, O.W. Pendergast. In 1957, his son Don and Don’s wife, Marilyn, took over the operation of the business. Don passed away in 1986 and Marilyn became president of the company, an office she still holds today. Their sons Curt and Jim hold management positions with the company. Jim is director of planning and development and Curt is chief financial officer. Larry Natalie is general operations manager.
What began with 11,000 square feet, Woodburn Graphics now encompasses about 60,000 square feet in downtown Terre Haute. The office is located at 25 S. Sixth St. and the plant front faces Ohio Street. The firm has 44 full-time employees and keep the presses running for printing projects that will be delivered throughout the United States. Many employees have been with the company from 30 to 50 years. The manufacturing plant is based in Terre Haute, but there are sales offices in Indianapolis, Columbus, Ohio, and Knoxville, Tenn.
The company’s main product today is processed color printing of booklets, pamphlets, presentation folders, magazines and brochures. Although the company logo has changed from T.R. Woodburn Printing Co. to Woodburn Graphics, the guiding principles of quality in the work, value in service, and integrity in dealing with customers and customer relationships are as entrenched in the daily operations and employees now as it was when “T.R.” established the business a century ago.
The mission statement is framed on the wall: “To provide the customer with a value that exceeds their expectations.
If you would like to know more about Woodburn Graphics, you can check the Web site at www.woodburngraphics.com.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The Web site: http://web.indstate.edu/community/vchs.