USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cumminsville > History of Cumminsville, Ohio, 1792-1914 > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
The H. Weber Company
FLOUR :: GRAIN :: COAL :: LIME CEMENT
This old reliable firm was started shortly after the Civil War by Joel Strong. In 1877 Mr. Henry Weber purchased a half interest in the business, which was continued under the name of Strong & Weber. In 1882 Mr. Barney Topmoeller bought Mr. Joel Strong's interest. The firm's name then changed to H. Weber & Co. In 1888 the old one-story feed store was enlarged to an elevator with a capacity of 25,000 bushels of grain. Through their industrial efforts additional property had to be bought to meet the demands for coal and building material. In 1912 a stock company was formed under the name of The H. Weber Company. Their office is located at the corner of Blue Rock and Apple Streets.
BERNARD TOPMOELLER Vice-Pres. and Treas.
HENRY WEBER President
1
WEBER CO
THE H. WEBER CO. FLOUR & FEED
SALT, LIME, CEMENT AND SEWER PIPE
:
HENRY J. WEBER General Manager
GRAIN ELEVATOR OF THE HI. WEBER CO.
FRED TOPMOELLER Secretary
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
The F. & A. Weber Company
ANTHONY WEBER
The father of Frederick and Anthony Weber was one of the earliest settlers in this com- munity. He came to New Burlington in 1838, and in 1850 found employment in Cumminsville as coachman for Jacob Hoffner. Here he remained for thirty-one years, until the time of his death in 1881. The sons, Frederick and Anthony, both enterprising young men, learned the carpenter trade. In 1883 they built a mill on Cherry Street. Fortune smiled on the brothers, and their business increased so rapidly that they enlarged their mill each year for three years. In 1886 they built a factory on the corner lot adjoining their present mill, and carried on the business until 1890. They then engaged in real estate business on a large scale, having pur- chased and developed the Fuller property, which was the cause of great improvement in that lo- cality, greatly beautifying the community.
The Weber Brothers were the first to build conerete buildings in Cumminsville, building three in three years. The first one built is now occupied by the Scheiffele Shoe Co .; the second is occupied by the Helming-Mckenzie Shoe Co .; and the third, by the Williams Shoe Co. This last building was intended to be used as a warehouse and factory by the F. & A. Weber Co., but the Williams Shoe Co. finally persuaded them to lease it.
FRED WEBER
Anthony Weber was married to Mary Ruthemeyer in 1884. They have three daughters --- Mary, Cecelia, and Agnes. Anthony Weber died in November, 1911. Frederick Weber was married May, 11, 1875, to Gertrude Topmoeller. They have six children, three boys -- Charles,
William, and Frank-and three daughters- Catherine, Ella, and Anna.
In 1906 the brothers incorporated, the busi- ness thereafter being known as The F. & A. Weber Company. Charles A. Weber has suc- ceeded Anthony Weber as secretary-treasurer. This firm has been the cause of much of the progress that has been made in Cumminsville.
tns
RESIDENCE OF ANTHONY WEBER
CHAS. WEBER
RESIDENCE OF FRED WEBER
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
William E. Wright
William E. Wright was born in Harrison, O., August 14, 1863, a product of old English and American stock, being descended on his mother's side from Colonel John Bledsoe, on whose plantation the entire city of Lexing- ton, Ky., now stands. After leaving school, he worked with his father in the painting busi- ness. In 1884 he came to Cumminsville, and after plying the painting trade for two years. secured employment as a wall-paper hanger for the Rightmeyer store.
On February 15, 1891, he entered the busi- ness for himself, opening a store at 3909 Spring Grove Avenue. In 1902 he purchased the building at 3911 Spring Grove Avenue, into which he moved his store. He has since re- modeled the building, and today it is one of the best and most up-to-date wall-paper stores in the northern end of Cincinnati.
Mr. Wright handles only the most up-to-date and approved styles of wall paper, and in his employ may be found only expert hangers. These facts, coupled with his desire to please, insure one of receiving strictly first-class work.
With a store like Wright's in our com- munity, anyone wishing anything in the Wright line should apply our slogan in deed as well as word, and "Get it in Cumminsville."
George K. Weissenberger
George K. Weissenberger, whose roofing and galvanized iron cornice establishment is lo- cated at 4011 Spring Grove Avenue (Knowl- ton's Corner), is one of Cunnninsville's oldest and best known merchants in this line of business. For twenty-eight years Mr. Weis- senberger has seen almost continuous service in metal work in our suburb. He specializes in tin, slate, and tile roofing: manufactures galvanized iron cornice work, dormer windows, door caps, finials, skylights, etc. Through his up-to-date facilities, he is enabled to execute all possible orders with the greatest dispatch. Among the many contracts secured by the firm are the Miller Block, German Protestant Church, and the Baptist Church.
He has taken his son, George K. Weissen- berger Jr., into the business; and the firm is now one of the busiest in Cumminsville. The experience of the elder member of the firm with the enterprise of the younger has formed a very strong combination. Their business extends all over Cincinnati.
George Durban
Mr. Durban is one of Northside's most en- ergetic and progressive citizens, which is evi- denced by the recent improvements made by him. He started in business in December, 1909, at 4141 Hamilton Avenue, and has but re- cently moved to his present location-4179 Hamilton Avenue-where he maintains a store that is an added attraction and ornament to our community. There is also a large store, together with green houses, in Clifton, from which Mr. Durban draws most of the flowers offered for sale. These green houses have ap- proximately ten thousand square feet under glass. The latest equipment is used in the caring for and delivering of cut flowers, and every modern convenience is provided to in- sure first-class service for customers. We feel that Mr. Durban's business is a necessary ad- junct to our suburb, and gives to us the privi- lege of availing ourselves of the full satis- faction and pleasure gained from the ob- servation or possession of the beautiful line of plants and flowers handled by him.
To all lovers of plants and flowers we recommend a visit to this store, and can assure you always of the satisfaction of having a most varied and up-to-date assortment from which to make your purchases.
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
1
George Bauersfeld
George Bauersfeld is the well-known pro- prietor of Cumminsville's only five- and ten- cent store, which has been in operation for about five years. Owing to the demand for goods of greater value which are not ordi- narily carried by five- and ten-cent stores, he has added many other lines to his stock. Cum- minsville is exceptionally fortunate in having a merchant of Mr. Bauersfeld's type-one whose aim is to combine quality and price. Shoppers neglecting to visit this store once a week lose many bargain opportunities.
Mr. Bauersfeld built up this successful busi- ness through close attention and much hard work, and has quite recently been rewarded by an increase in business of such volume that it has been necessary to move into his present large quarters. It goes without saying that he is one of the Northside Business Club's most active and progressive members, and is cer- tainly a credit to our community. He is ever ready to lend his best efforts to any project that may be beneficial to our suburb.
William J. Erd
The Consolidation Coal Company
The Consolidation Coal Company has for the past thirteen years operated a Coal Hopper and Storage Yard at the intersection of Spring Grove Avenue and The Baltimore & Ohio, South-Western Railroad. From here they distribute the various grades of Coal and Coke they produce in the States of Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania to the Cumminsville trade.
This company is one of the largest, if not the largest Coal Mining Company in the world, having a capacity of fifteen million tons annually.
Mr. Henry Feis, who is well known and popular with the Cumminsville trade, is su- perintendent of this plant.
William J. Erd, better known as "Bill, " is one of the leading brick-laying contractors of our suburb. He has worked at this trade for over a quarter of a century, and for the last 17 years has been doing contracting for brick work. The Americus and Liberty Thea- ters, Heilman's Garage, and the residence of Peter G. Thomson are a few of the many structures that he has erected in our suburb. He is an expert in his line, and whenever he builds a structure you can rely on the fact that it is a good one.
Bill has lived in Cumminsville all his life and is well known to everybody. He is & member of the Northside Business Club, has served on many committees and is an active citizen in our suburb. He lives at Hamilton Avenue and Glen Parker. Phone, Park 596.
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
The Eagle Manufacturing Company
THE EAGLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
The Eagle Manufacturing Company was established in 1897, and at that time oeeupied a floor in the Lion Power Building. In 1901 it was ineorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio. and since that time R. B. Goodrich has been its president.
In 1903 the Odd Fellows' Building, at the southwest eorner of Blue Roek and Turrill Streets, was purehased, and the Eagle Manu- faeturing Company oceupied this building until 1909, when it found that through its growing business it would need larger quarters. The property at the southeast corner of Blue Rock and Turrill Streets was then purchased, and the five-story steel and eonerete building
was erected; and in 1910 the eompany moved to its present loeation. The business has worked up from a very small beginning, and is now the largest metal specialty manufacturing faetory in the United States. It has a national reputation on fine tool and die work, special machinery, etc .; and now employs about seventy-five expert tool and die makers, meehanies, and machine hands. Besides manu- facturing metal specialties of all kinds for outside firms, they also manufacture a line of patented specialties which they own.
The present offieers are R. B. Goodrich, president; Roger Mor- iison, secretary and treasurer, and O. C. Daugherty, general manager.
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
1
1
Park Theatre
The Northside Amuse- ment Company, which built and owns THE
PARK Motion Picture Theater and Billiard Room, located on Hamil- ton Avenue opposite
Lingo Street, was organ- ized and incorporated on February 12, 1913, by John J. Vogelpohl, Wm. A. Schmid, Chris. J. Keller, J. H. Brown Jr., and H. G. Kruse, all Cumminsville busi- ness men. Ground was broken on April 1st : the contracts for all work being awarded to Cumminsville contract- ors. The building was completed and thrown open to the public on Thanksgiving Eve.
PARK THEATRE 1913
-
9+ 12
-
-
-
-
D5 PARK 5
floor is sloped so that every patron has comfortable and unob- structed view of the pictures at all times. The company has re- cently installed a Wur- litzer Ochestra Organ at an expense of $5,000, the sole idea of the company being to give Cumminsville people a sanitary, comfortable. up-to-date motion pic- ture playhouse equal to any in the city. This is by far the biggest improvement in Cum- minsville during the past year. the com- pleted plant having cost about $55,000.
It was the first mo- tion picture theater in America to install a di- rect ventilating system, at an expenditure of some $7,500, the air being taken direct from the outside, and forced by means of a sixty-inch fan through a large tun- nel to an outlet under cach seat, supplying thirty-seven cubic feet per minute for each and every occupant, or 21,600 cubic feet per minute, the air then being forced upwards and out six large ventila- tors placed in the ceiling. The entire atmosphere of the theater is changed every four minutes. The scats are all nineteen and twenty inches in width, thirty-two inches back to back; and the
The management of this theater will en- deavor to offer at all times only such enter- tamment as will be consistent with Ameri- can Manhood and Wo- manhood. Our honse is a theater for mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives: where the purity- of their thought will be conserved above all things. The officers and the members of the board of directors are leading business men of this suburb, and men of family, as follows: John J. Vogelpohl, president : Chris. J. Keller, treasurer; Harry G. Kruse, secretary and manager: Louis Usinger. and John H. Brown Jr .: and all the stockholders are residents of Cumminsville.
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
Louis Usinger
Louis Usinger, the father of the present Louis Usinger, was one of the oldest business men in this community. Mr. Louis Usinger Sr. was born in Oberrad Nassau, Germany, in 1829. He came to America in 1850, and landed in New York City. Here he worked at his trade as a blacksmith, but was dissatisfied with conditions, and two years later he decided to go West, and settled in Pittsburgh. Here again he did not like conditions, and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he remained for four
CARRIAGE & WAGON WORKS.
F
L. USINGER.
PAINTING TRIMMING & REPAIRING.
HORSE
SHOEING
months only. He then came to Cincinnati, and settled in Cummins- ville in 1855. Here he entered into a partnership in the wagon busi- ness, and in 1863 he started in business for himself at the present location, 3807 Spring Grove Avenue.
Here he continued in business until the time of his death, which occurred October 28, 1902. The business is still continued as here- tofore, Louis Jr. assuming the responsibilities, assisted by his brothers, Peter and Fred.
The business methods of this firm are beyond reproach, and the work gives excellent service and splendid satisfaction. Mr. Usinger therefore has the patronage of a large number of people of this community. Mr. Louis Usinger resides at 1845 Hanfield Street; and he is always ready to aid and assist in anything that is for the betterment of this community. He is very active in the affairs of the Northside Business Club, and never shirks any re- sponsibilities that are thrust upon him.
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
-
-----...
is a valuable asset to this community. He has gone to a great expense in remodeling and renovating both the grove and the dining rooms. His manner of serving meals tickles the palate, and his patrons always return. During the summer months he gives caberet shows nightly, and the programs rendered are of the highest type. Twiee a month he gives a band concert, and that it is appreciated is best gauged by the large number of people who attend.
His garden has become the place for family gatherings, and the community can well feel proud in having a man like Mr. Hoelscher in its midst. He believes in serving his patrons well, and spares neither time nor money to gain that end. The result is that his patrons are of the best of this community.
Theodore K. Hoelscher 3733 Spring Grove Avenue
Theodore K. Hoelscher was born in Rhine, Ger- many, in 1863, where he lived until he was twenty- seven years of age. While there he assisted his brother-in-law as a contractor, and he laid the first concrete sewer in Germany in 1890. He then came to America, where he became a chef and a cook, and dishes prepared by him are known to many Cincinnatians.
He came to his present location on November 23. 1912. Mr. Hoelscher, as proprietor of Popular Grove.
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
The John J. Vogelpohl Company
The extensive plumbing and heating business operated by this company at 4156 Hamilton Avenue, with branehes at College Hill and on State Avenue, is the result of years of hard work and elose appli- eation to business by its president, John J. Vogelpohl. This eompany is one of the largest and best known plumbing and heating estab- lishments in the eity of Cineinnati; and in its time has had the eon- tracts for some of the largest and most important business houses and institutions. At the present time they are working on the contraet for the heating and equipment of the Good Samaritan Hospital and a number of other buildings of equal size. They have had in the past
the heating eontraets for the Helming-MeKenzie Co. and several other of our larger industries in this section of the eity.
Mr. Vogelpohl began business on State Avenue in 1899. He moved to College Hill in 1900, and eontinued his business there until about 1904, at which time he transferred his business headquarters to his present loeation in Cumminsville. The business has grown to such an extent in the last few years that it has been necessary for the com- pany to make some additions to their plant. At the present time they are at the height of their business prosperity, and find it necessary to carry a larger stock of merchandise than any company in a similar line of business in Cineinnati. The elass of serviee given by the John J. Vogelpohl Company has been such as to merit the confidence and to eommend them to the eitizens of Northside and Cumminsville.
The members of this company are known particularly through their having been identified with various of the most important business institutions in this city, and have all been active members of the Northside Business Club and other organizations for a number of years. Mr. Vogelpohl was vice-president of the Northside Business Club for two years, and has been president of the Cineinnati Master Plumbers' Association and a member of the State Board of Directors of the Ohio Master Plumbers' Association. He is presi- dent of the Northside Amusement Company, di- reetor of St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum, director of the Northside Bank, president of the Unity Home Company and president of the Spring Lawn Realty Company. The other members of the company are Messrs. Charles Duwel, Benjamin .J. Topmoeller, Bernard Topmoeller, J. E. MeGrath, and A. A. Dehler They ean always be depended upon to lend their assistance to any matters per- taining to the improvement and betterment of our community.
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
PLUMBING
HEATING
Jewa J. YOEKLPOHL
PLUMBING
HEATING
1
1
The Douglas Granite Company
Among the natural advantages in which our suburb abounds, one of the most distinctive fea- tures is our beautiful "City of the Dead" --- the Cemetery of Spring Grove, noted to be the most beautiful in the world. Surrounded by magnificent scenery, dreamy lakes, trees and shrubbery, it is the last resting-place of Cincinnati's most promi- nent citizens and pioneers.
The beauty of this ideal spot is enhanced by the many elegant memorials placed by The Douglas Granite Company at the graves of the most exclus- B. J. Ostenkamp ive old families of our city, such as: Alphonso Taft, Charles Schmidlapp, George McAlpin, Oliver Perin, Wm. Ebersole, P. R. Mitchell, A. H. Mitchell, Perin Langdon, Isaac Bates, Marcus Warth, M. B. Farrin, Judge S. W. Smith, Mary A. Duhme, James M. Glenn, George F. Dieterle, James Albert Green, John A. Pitts, D. R. Baldwin, Gazzam Gano, Sarah M. Gibson, Wm. G. Hosea, George M. Stone, R. W. Neff, etc., etc.
Established in 1870 by George A. Douglas, who was known
as the Dean of the monument industry in the Middle West, the name of The Douglas Granite Co. has become a household word for all that is beautiful and artistic in memorial building. Its stern principles for all that is honorable in business methods, and in its dealings with its employes as well as the public in general. has won for it an enviable reputation in the business world. Its unalterable standpoint of accepting no contraets unless specified for the very best of workmanship and material, has won for it the confidence and patronage of Cincinnati's most exclusive families.
B. J. Ostenkamp, the president and general manager of the company, has been a life-long student of monumental design, and a large number of the beautiful memorials that decorate the graves of our prominent citizens have been designed by him. His thorough technical knowledge, acquired during a period of over twenty-five years at his chosen profession. assures those seeking his advice of the very highest ideals in the monumental art. Mr. Ostenkamp has been a resident of Cumminsville for over thirty years, and resides in a beautiful bungalow of his own design at 1675 Pullan Avenue.
THE DOUGLAS GRANITE COMPANY
MONUMENTS
The DOUGLAS GRANITE CO.
B. J. OSTENKAMP, President and General Manager.
GEORGE A. DOUGLAS, Founder.
E. M. SCHWEIN. Vice-President and Secretary. Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
The Helming-McKenzie Shoe Company
Cumminsville's
Leading Industry
WM. S. MeKENZIE
"The Swellest Line in Cincinnati"
JOHN HELMING, Jr.
GEORGE R. VOLLMAN
The photos herein shown represent the of- ficers of Cumminsville's greatest industry -- The Helming-Mckenzie Shoe Company, located at 4015-19 Cherry Street-namely, Wm. S. Mckenzie, president ; John Helming Jr., vice- president; and George R. Vollman, secretary.
About twenty-three years ago this concern organized to manufacture ladies' fine shoes in a very humble way; and by persistent efforts, coupled with honest, upright business deal- ings throughout their career, they have grown to such an extent as to be numbered among Cincinnati's greatest and most prosperous shoe manufacturers. Erecting a plant on the pres- ent site eight years ago, and after having oe-
cupied it only three years, they found they had already outgrown it, and were forced to enlarge; so that their buildings now extend from Cherry to Delaney Streets, showing a frontage of one hundred and fifty feet or more on Cherry Street.
Cumminsville may justly be proud of this organization, who employ about five hundred people, and whose weekly pay roll averages seven thousand dollars or more, the majority of which is distributed amongst the workers residing in this village.
They have deservedly earned and look upon their slogan with much pride-namely, that of "The Swellest Line in Cincinnati Today."
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
Thomas J. Conner
When Patrick Conner, the father of our well-known Councilman, left Roscommon, Ireland, in 1847, and came to Cincinnati, this country gained a citizen of the same stock that helped to make our nation what it is today. Young Patrick, who was but sixteen, secured a job on an Ohio River steamboat. Later he drove a team. Patrick, with his Irish vigor, soon went into the teaming and contracting business for himself with a vim, and success crowned his efforts. In 1863 he came to Cumminsville, and two years later he built his home on Delaney Street (the site of which is now used by a part of the Helming-MeKenzie Shoe Co. plant), and lived there until his death in 1883. He was one of the THOMAS J. CONNER pioneers who helped build Cum- minsville, and was always an en- thusiastic worker for anything that might better conditions here. Soon after Patrick Conner moved to Cumminsville, Thomas J. Conner was born. Thomas J. was certainly "a chip off the old block," as the old saying goes. Inheriting his father's energy, today he stands out as one of the most prominent figures in Cincinnati. and especially in our locality. He is engaged in the steam and hot- water heating and power pipe fitting business. That he is an ex- pert in his line is attested by the fact of the many jobs he has com- pleted throughout this locality. One of his late big jobs was the installation of a Warren-Webster Heating System and Power Plant for the factory building of Cumminsville's new big industry, the Ohio Knife Company, located at the intersection of the C. H. & D. R. R. tracks and Dreman Avenue. He gives prompt attention to all work, large or small, new or repair jobs.
Cumminsville is justly proud of its Councilman, "Tom" Conners. The evidence of this is shown by the fact that this is his third term. "Tom" represents the people; and his honest, straight- forward, clean methods have gained the respeet of everyone.
"Tom" has been a member of the Northside Business Club for many years, being one of its hardest workers. His enthusiasm and ardent speeches for a "Better and Bigger Cumminsville" has in- jected a fighting spirit into that organization, which every civic body of its kind needs. Whenever "Tom" undertakes to do a thing you can count on it being done, and done well. He resides at 1618 Glen Parker Avenue. Phone, Park 1133-X.
The Old Conner Home on Delaney Street.
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
M. Kraemer
KAWNUM UNI QUEANING.
M. KRAENE
Mr. Kraemer was born in Oberfranken, in Byern, Germany, in 1875. After learning the tailoring trade in his native land, he emi- grated to America in 1892. Through glowing reports of Cincinnati received by him from friends, he immediately came to this city upon bis arrival in this country. He was engaged in the tailoring business on Eighth Street until 1906, when he moved to Cumminsville, and suc- ceeded to the business of Howard Johnson at 4210 Hamilton Avenue, his present location. Mr. Kraemer has been very successful in gain- ing and retaining the confidence of the people of this community, and by patronizing him you are assured of the highest class of service in his particular line of work. He has made some improvements in his property which have added to Northside's attractiveness. A member of the club, he is ever ready to assist in the betterment of our suburb.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.