In 1917, the business was passed to Charles Bohn, who returned from World War I to run the shop, eventually renaming it to Bohn’s Printing, as well as moving the shop from its original location in the Pioneer Building to its current location, 308 Union St., The Dalles.
In 1939, Bohn’s Printing was passed to Jordan, current (fourth generation) owner Rick’s father, who expanded the business and designated the current lay out of the store to have the front of the shop be for office supplies, with the printing equipment located in the back.
Ellen Kilkenny has been working with her (fourth generation) father Rick Bohn since 2008. She will eventually become the fifth generation to run the shop.
Photos and old printed products were on display at Bohn’s Printing’s 120th anniversary party last Thursday.
Kelsie Cowart photo
Adam Bohn, who opened the business in 1904 as “A.J. Bohn, Job Printer." The business was then located in the Pioneer Building.
Kelsie Cowart photo
In 1917, the business was passed to Charles Bohn, who returned from World War I to run the shop, eventually renaming it to Bohn’s Printing, as well as moving the shop from its original location in the Pioneer Building to its current location, 308 Union St., The Dalles.
Kelsie Cowart
In 1939, Bohn’s Printing was passed to Jordan, current (fourth generation) owner Rick’s father, who expanded the business and designated the current lay out of the store to have the front of the shop be for office supplies, with the printing equipment located in the back.
Kelsie Cowart photo
Marcile and (third generation) Jordan Bohn.
Kelsie Cowart photo
Current fourth generation owner of Bohn's, Rick Bohn.
Kelsie Cowart photo
Ellen Kilkenny has been working with her (fourth generation) father Rick Bohn since 2008. She will eventually become the fifth generation to run the shop.
THE DALLES — Last week, Bohn’s Printing in The Dalles celebrated a major milestone — 120 years of business.
A commercial printing shop located on Union Street, Bohn’s provides a variety of services like printing and copying — including envelopes, business cards, brochures and posters — fax and bindery services, office supplies and graphic design and is an acting, authorized Konica Minolta dealership. While spending their entire 120 years in The Dalles, Bohn’s services have extended much farther than just the Gorge.
“We’ve have customers in Bangladesh … we’ve done work for a restaurant over there,” Rick Bohn, owner of Bohn’s printing said. “[And we] do a lot of printing for the hotels and motels on the coast.”
Current owner Rick Bohn became the fourth generation to own the business in 1986. His daughter, Ellen Kilkenny, has been working with him since 2008.
Kelsie Cowart photo
First opening in 1904 by Adam Bohn — Rick’s great-grandfather — under the name “A.J. Bohn, Job Printer." According to the Bohn’s printing website, Job Printers typically provided services such as printing letter head, announcements and invoices. In 1917, the business was passed to Adam’s son, Charles. As the second-generation owner, Charles returned from World War I to run the shop, eventually expanding the business and renaming it to Bohn’s Printing, as well as moving the shop from its original location in the Pioneer Building to its current location.
In 1939, Bohn’s Printing was passed to Charles’ son, Jordan, Rick’s father, who expanded the business and designated the current lay out of the store to have the front of the shop be for office supplies, with the printing equipment located in the back of the building.
Bohn recalls working in the shop when he was young. “I started to work as an 8-year-old to earn money so I can be in the bowling league. That’s the way we did it back then,” he said. “Then I used to come down from orthodontic appointments — instead of going back to the junior high, I would come here and work a little bit … emptying garbage, sweeping the floor and was running a hand-fed press before I was in high school.”
Bohn's printing workshop today.
Kelsie Cowart photo
According to the Bohn’s website, he served two years in the Army working in the printing department at an Army hospital in Monterey, California, following his high school graduation in 1971. In 1974, he returned to The Dalles to work with his father in the family business.
In 1986, he officially became fourth generation owner of Bohn’s Printing, expanding the business and updating tools and equipment to make the business what it is today, including becoming an authorized Konica Minolta printer dealer in 1994.
Since 2008, Bohn has been working in the business with his daughter, Ellen Kilkenny. Kilkenny recalls starting off in the shop in a similar fashion to her father. “I started the same way he did, by emptying trash cans when I was 5,” she said.
“Started ‘em early,” Bohn joked.
While eventually planning on taking over from her father, Kilkenny isn’t in a rush to take the helm from him quite yet. “There’s still a lot in his brain that I have yet to learn,” she said, “and yeah, he has people for a lot of things now, but there’s still things poking around in his head that I have no idea about.”
Some of the historical photos displayed at the 120th anniversary open house.
Kelsie Cowart photo
Kilkenny hopes her own daughter will eventually take an interest in the family business. “She’s 2 and a half, she loves to play with the safer equipment … so I’m crossing my fingers she’ll hold interest, but, you know, she doesn’t have to.”
With having the unique experience of not only celebrating 120 years of business in one town, but for the business to remain in the same family for so long, Bohn’s printing celebrated by holding a business after hours event on Aug. 15, in collaboration with The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, which Bohn’s has been a member since first opening in 1904.
An old photo on display at Bohn's is of Jordan Bohn working the Linotype Machine. For more photos from this event, visit columbiagorgenews.com.
Kelsie Cowart photo
“Celebrating Bohn’s Printing’s 120th anniversary is a true celebration of achievement, resilience, and community spirit,” The Dalles Chamber President Lisa Farquarson said in an email to Columbia Gorge News. “Since 1904, Bohn’s has not only been a vital part of The Dalles’ business landscape but also a steadfast partner of the chamber. Their commitment to quality and service has left an indelible mark on our community, and we’re proud to have had them by our side for over a century. Their journey is a testament to the power of local businesses and the enduring bonds that strengthen our community.”
When asked if there was anything they wanted to say to the community, Kilkenny wanted to express gratitude. “We appreciate all the business the community provides,” she said.
“We’ve been here for 120 years,” Bohn said. “We hope to be here for quite a while longer.”
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