Paul Harrison Barter

Belmont Man Once Served as Gen. Eisenhower’s Printer. Paul Harrison “Speedy” Barter, 83, of Belmont, NH, died Monday, October 18, 2004, at Laconia Center surrounded by his wife and his three children. Mr. Barter was born the son of John C. and Dorothy (Walker) Barter on August 27, 1921 and started his life long love of printing as a twelve year old apprentice. He graduated from Beverly High School in 1938 where he received two diplomas; one in printing. He excelled in high diving often diving from the masts of tall ships and was active in collegiate wrestling, ice skating and was a professional ballroom dancing instructor at Miss James Ballroom Dance School in Salem, Massachusetts. He graduated from the four year printing course at Wentworth Institute, Boston, Massachusetts in two years in 1941 with honors. Barter graduated from Officer Candidate School and was assigned as Commander of the US Army 9th Engineers Mobile Printing Unit from 1941 to 1946. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in 1945 for outstanding technical printing achievement in the face of the enemy up the Omaha Beach-Head, with Unit D + 1. His unit printed top secret maps and orders for General Eisenhower and his staff. Mr. Barter joined Rumford Press in 1946 working in the Concord and Boston offices until 1950-1952 when he was called back into the Army during the Korean Conflict. In 1952, he returned to Rumford Press, Concord, NH as Chief of Commercial Printing Production and Sales Service. From 1957 to 1963, he was Sales and Production Manager of Capitol Offsett Company. In 1968, Mr. Barter rejoined Rumford as President of Rumford Litho, No. Abington, Massachusetts, a 159+ man shop. In 1977, he returned to Rumford Press in Concord as Vice President. He was promoted to vice President of Rumford National Graphics, Inc. – parent corporation to Rumford Press, Rumford Litho, Portland Litho and Journal Press. He retired in 1984 and continued as President of PHB Printing Consultants aiding several printers in the New England Region. He was proprietor of 4- P’s Press (Antique Printing Equipment-Circa 1870) featured numerous times on NH Television including NH Crossroads with Fritz Weatherbee. Paul collected many printing artifacts for 71 years including treadles and front lever type platen presses all which function completely. His prized possession was a Golding Pearl Press – Pat. 1871 (treadle operated). For recognition of his lifetime of work and achievement in the printing industry, Mr. Barter received a Bachelor of Technology from Wentworth Institute in 1992. Mr. Barter was a life member of the Society of Printers, Boston, Massachusetts from 1949 and the only American member of England’s LEG (letterpress exchange group). He was a life member of the American Legion Post # 1 of Laconia, NH and a 32nd degree Mason of the Blazing Star Lodge # 11 Scottish Rite – Valley of Concord, NH. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Doris (Graves) Barter of Belmont, his son, David L. Barter of Hopkinton, NH, his two daughters; Deborah E. Kurz of Thornton, NH and Dorothy W. B. Clary of Gaithersburg, Maryland, six grandchildren and a number of beloved nieces and nephews. IN HIS LIFE he cherish this saying; “I am the printing press born of the mother earth. My heart is of steel, my limbs are of iron, and my fingers are of brass. I sing the songs of the world, the oratorios of history, the symphonies of all times---ROBERT H. DAVIES, “I am the Printing Press”. SERVICES: An Anglican Committal service will be held on Friday, October 22nd at 10 AM in the NH State Veteran Cemetery, Rte. 3, Boscowen, NH, with Father Dean T. Steward, officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Gail Singer Memorial Building 360, Route 101, Unite 8, Bedford, NH 03110 or the NH Veterans, Cemetery Association, Inc., P.O. Box 626, Concord, NH 03302-0626. The Cremation Society of New Hampshire, 243 Hanover Street, an affiliate of Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium, is in charge of arrangements. To view an on-line memorial go to www.csnh.com