The Wagner Printing Company: A Family’s Legacy of Living, Working, and Innovating The Wagner Printing Company, founded in 1854, has always been more than a business—it’s been a family legacy. Starting with a German-language newspaper that connected a growing immigrant community, the Wagners built their reputation on hard work, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to quality. In 1903, when the family constructed the iconic Wagner Printing Building at 1 East Spring Street, it became not only the center of their business but also their home. The three-story structure, the first in Freeport designed with electricity, housed the printing presses on the first two floors and a garment company on the third. For the Wagner family, however, the building was much more than a workplace—it was their home, a place where life and business intertwined. A Family at Work and Play The Wagner children grew up in the heart of the business, playing among the machinery, helping with daily tasks, and learning the value of hard work. Summers were spent contributing to the family trade, with jobs ranging from running errands to hands-on tasks. One memorable story tells of Mark Wagner, who, while home from college, spent a summer laying the maple wood flooring that still supports the building today—a testament to the family’s dedication and craftsmanship. But the building wasn’t all work. It was also a place for family moments and celebrations. On the third floor, once bustling with garment production, the Wagners gathered to share milestones and watch history unfold. One particularly cherished memory is the family coming together to watch the Chicago Bears win the Super Bowl, their cheers filling the space where sewing machines once hummed. Wartime Adaptation and Innovation During World War II, the family’s ingenuity was on full display as the building became a Department of Defense facility. Incredibly, components for switches used in tanks and planes were manufactured between the printing presses, demonstrating the Wagners' ability to adapt their operations to meet the nation’s needs. A Living Monument Today, the Wagner Printing Building still stands as a testament to the family’s enduring legacy. Its maple wood floors, laid by Mark Wagner, and its tongue-and-groove ceilings tell stories of hard work, ingenuity, and the blending of family life with business. Pins and needles from the garment factory days occasionally emerge, as do memories of the children who grew up playing and working within its walls. The building remains a place of family pride and shared history, from reporting on Lincoln-Douglas debates to cheering for the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl victory. The Wagner Printing Company continues to inspire, a reflection of the resilience, warmth, and vision of a family that turned a business into a living legacy.

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