Over the past seven decades, Engle Printing & Publishing Co., Inc. (EPC) has grown from one couple producing one paper to a company that employs 150 people, distributes 16 community newspapers and multiple specialty publications to close to 200,000 people, and provides printing services for numerous clients. Although the scope of the business has changed, one thing has remained constant: community.

"We want to make that connection to our local merchants and to our community members," said Charlie Engle, company president.

As EPC marks 70 years in business this year, Charlie and his daughter Jocelyn Engle looked back on what started in 1954 in the basement of Alvin and Pauline Engle's Mount Joy home.

"My dad bought his own little press and put it in our basement," Charlie said of Alvin. "He was working full time in the printing business, but he always wanted to do his own thing."

In 1959, EPC purchased its first community publication, the Merchandiser, and by 1960, Alvin had quit his day job to focus on the new business full time. It soon became a family enterprise, with Alvin and Pauline selling ads while their children - Charlie, Audrey, and Denny - helped where they could.

Charlie recalled the tedious task of cutting and hand-gluing address labels on the paper as well as folding each of the newspapers by hand. When Alvin died unexpectedly in 1971, the family faced a decision.

"My mother came to us and said, 'There are some people who are interested in buying the business,'" Charlie recalled. "The three children all agreed, and we all said no to selling. We knew we could do this."

Charlie became company president, with Denny serving as vice president, positions both men still hold today. Audrey also dedicated herself to the company before her death in 2018. Pauline continued to work for EPC well into her 70s. She passed away in 2020. Today, there are also four members of the third generation of Engles at EPC, with several fourth-generation family members helping out sporadically.

Outside printing is the bread and butter of the business, with production running 24 hours a day, five days a week. Along with continuing to publish the Merchandiser and other community papers, including the Pennysaver, Advertiser, and Community Courier, EPC produces local Chamber guides, Farm Show premium books and more.

Seventy years of business has included ups and downs for the company, Charlie said. Challenges have ranged from competition to rising costs to navigating the pandemic. Through it all, EPC has remained focused on its original mission: serving the community.

"Our family and the company have been blessed," Charlie said. "Since we've been blessed, we want to bless others. We started a foundation in the early '90s, and that supports a variety of local programs."

EPC publications focus on telling the good news happening at nonprofit organizations, schools and local businesses, and that's more important than ever, Jocelyn said.

"We are surrounded by bad news," she said. "Every time we turn on the TV, every time we open our phone, it's upsetting. It brings us down. There are so many good things happening in our community, and we want to shine a light on them."

Asked about the secret to EPC's longevity, Charlie didn't hesitate to answer. "We've had good people," he said simply. "We have so many longtime employees, some who have been here for 35 or 40 years."

As for the next 70 years, Charlie and Jocelyn envision a bright future. The company is transitioning into providing digital solutions for clients, while continuing to support local businesses and tell positive stories through its community newspapers and online at http://www.townlively.com.

"I love the legacy my grandfather started," Jocelyn said. "I never met him, but I know his goal and his mission was to support the community, and we won't lose that connection to the community. We will continue to be hyperlocal, providing our advertisers with options to target just their region and news specifically about your school district and local community. We're focused on right here, where we live, and all the good things that are happening."