The nonprofit Mancos Common Press surpassed its goal of raising $15,000 in 30 days via a Kickstarter campaign.
Launched in 2014, the Mancos Common Press is dedicated to restoring, revitalizing and reusing the 200-year-old Cranston Printing Press housed in the original Mancos Times building downtown. Roughly two weeks ago, some 30 people had pledged nearly $2,500, and by the campaign's close on Saturday, 73 people had pledged $15,855.
"We are thrilled with the success of the campaign and feel it clearly demonstrates our communities support for this exciting project," said Tami Graham, Mancos Common Press board member. "We will know in August if we will be awarded a grant from the Colorado State Historical Society, which will enable us to move forward with preservation of the Mancos Times building and historic press. The funds raised from the Kickstarter campaign will support our requirement of a 25 percent cash match for that grant."
If the Colorado State Historical Society grant is approved in August, the funding would be utilized to renovate both the press and former newspaper building. The end vision is to revamp the building as community arts center, complete with an artist in-residence program and an educational graphic arts center using the refurbished Cranston Press as a training platform. The entire project could cost up to $250,000.
Only a handful of similar Cranston Presses are believed to exist, and most of those are on display in various museums.
The Mancos Times-Tribune was the town's first newspaper, founded in 1893, and in 1910 moved to its current location on Grand Avenue. The press, constructed in Connecticut, was last used in 1968.
