Reuter’s Stamp and Stencil Works was founded around 1903 in Henderson, Kentucky, by Henry W. Reuter, a skilled craftsman whose business became one of the region’s most respected industrial suppliers. Originally located at 23 Green Street and later at Second and Green Streets, the company produced rubber stamps, brass and steel stencils, seals, name plates, trade checks, and other marking equipment for businesses across Western Kentucky. Known for its precision workmanship and clear printing, Reuter’s built a loyal clientele among local banks, manufacturers, and merchants. Henry Reuter was noted in local papers as both a businessman and active community member. By mid-century, the business continued to thrive, and in January 1950 Waverlie D. Crafton purchased its supply and equipment division, forming Crafton’s Office Supplies and Equipment while Reuter retained the stamp-making side at the same location. Crafton’s opened officially on January 4, 1950, and over time became a local institution, later known as Crafton’s Office Supply, serving Henderson for 67 years. The store eventually moved to 117 North Main Street in 1966 and was operated by Waverlie Crafton II and Donna Hatfield until its closure on March 31, 2017. An auction of its building and inventory that August marked the end of a continuous business lineage dating back to Reuter’s original workshop—over 114 years of craftsmanship and service in Henderson’s downtown community.
