USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > Catasauqua > A history of Catasauqua in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania > Part 16
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The Captain associated his son, Joseph D. Matchette, with himself in the business in 1891.
Long experience in handling high explosives and drilling machines has placed Messrs. Matchette and Son into a position to give expert advice and information to a great number of customers.
GRAFFIN BROTHERS. Harry E. Graffin started in business as Manu- facturers' Agent, November 1, 1897. He admitted his brother, George W., as partner on the 7th of April, 1898, and the firm title became "Graffin Brothers."
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On December 31, 1911, George W. withdrew from the firm and the business was taken over by Harry E. Graffin who has continued under the old name.
Graffin Brothers are Manufacturers' Agents for Mine, Mill and Quarry Supplies, Engines, Boilers, Pumps, Belting. Rubber Goods, Oil. Waste and a great many sundries.
Established in the old National Bank Building on Front Street, its longest tenure has been at 125 Bridge Street, from which place it has been moved recently into the Lehigh National Bank Building.
DANIEL MILSON. Jr. Daniel Milson, Jr., began the Coal business on Canal Street, below Race. in August, 1897.
Three years later he opened a limestone quarry on the Frank Deily Estate in order to furnish fluxing stone to the Crane furnaces. A crusher was erected on the premises in 1902.
During 1911 Mr. Milson entered the old quarry of the former Kurtz Estate and installed a five hundred ton per day crusher. From this quarry much stone and crushed material has been furnished for the macadamizing of our important streets.
JAMES FALLER. The blacksmith adds much to the music of a busy com- munity. When the wagon breaks, or the nut is lost no artist is so fine as he whose brawny arms give a graceful swing to the glittering hammer. Before the days of the patent calk, horseshoeing was much more of an art than it is now, and even vet no novice can trim a hoof or drive a nail where it will hold and not bring pain to the patient animal. JJohn Koons opened the shop on Pine Street in 1855. James Fahler succeeded him in 1867. and. assisted by his son Francis, still continues in business.
JOHN W. HOCHI. George Hoch pounded the anvil in the Rehrig black- smith shop on Railroad Street, near Race, in 1891. In 1897 he built the shop on Race Street near the Davies and Thomas foundry. After his death. August, 1898, JJohn W. Hoch, his brother, bought the shop from his estate. John learned the trade from his brother George in the Rehrig shop, and his work proves him master of his art.
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WILLIAM B. MARK. Aaron Lambert was proprietor of the blacksmith shop on Peach Street above Howertown Avenue for many years. During the spring of 1880, Benjamin Mark who formerly lived in Phillipsburg, N. J., ae- quired the stand and conducted a successful trade until 1896, when he retired. Ilis son, William B. Mark, began to learn the trade from his father at the age of thirteen years, and served his father with fidelity until the latter retired. Since 1896 William does a large business in his line, and his services are in demand.
CHARLES W. FRY. An early saddler in Catasauqua was Charles Rau, who opened a shop on Front Street below Bridge in 1861. Lewis M. Fry worked for Mr. Rau until 1863, when he bought and conducted the business for himself. During 1875 Mr. Fry was strieken blind, but he kept on with his work, cutting, fitting and sewing harnesses and collars as though his eyesight had not been impaired. After his death, February 27, 1902, his widow, assisted by her son, Charles W. Fry, continued the business, which ultimately fell into the hands of the latter. Mr. Fry has his place of business on Second Street below Church, and carries a full line of saddlery with such accessory stoek as is incident to the trade.
WILLIAM J. BUSS. Since 1879 William J. Buss has been making new and repairing old harnesses. His shop is at 207 Second Street, where he has a line of all the furnishings that the horseman may need. Machinery has taken, for the most part, the place of a harness maker, but, when a new part is needed in haste or the old is broken, the puller of waxed thread has his place, as of yore.
HENRY J. WERTMAN. In 1908 Henry J. Wertman bought the estate of George F. Wertman, the livery on Bridge Street back of the Penn Hotel. In the days when the national game was conducted on a large scale in this and neighboring communities, Mr. Wertman was an enthusiastic rooter and supporter of Lehighton teams. It was then that such men as Hugh Jennings were brouhgt ont. Now the team interest shows itself in the livery. Eight horses are con- stantly ready for cab service. The livery man has little use for the lighter driving horse, so he prepares almost solely for the heavier service.
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WILLIAM B. CLARK. In the early forties the Old Eagle Livery was established and has furnished teams for the public from that day to this. Dur- ing the past forty years the business has been carried on under the following names : Reber & Laubach, Reber & Clark, and Clark & Evans. Today William B. Clark is the sole owner. He built the large stable which his business now occul - pies on Second Street.
Before the day of the trolley car and the automobile, a livery was the Mecca for pleasure seekers. In those days this place had forty horses while now only eight are in the stable. The empty stalls stand a lonesome memorial of better days. Then the night service was large, for the last train to Catasauqua left Allentown at ten-sixteen.
On the second floor stands the large eighteen passenger tally-ho, almost a stranger to the dust of the road. The omnibus is never hitched to. In the place of these heavy vehicles, Mr. Clark has a large touring car ready for hire.
Light driving teams are seldom sent out. The horses are used for the most part in cab and funeral service.
SAMUEL P. GEMMEL. On April 1, 1891, Samuel P. Gemmel opened a grocery, five-and-ten-eent and tin store on Second Street above Wood. Mr. Gemmel is one of Catasauqua's modern tin-smiths, a craftsman of whom Schiller's words are appropriate: "The work shall praise the master." During January, 1903, the store was enlarged and a full line of stoves, hardware (lim- ited), variety goods, metal work, kitchen utensils and enameled ware was in- stalled.
CHIARLES W. SCHNELLER. The name of longest standing in a given business in Catasauqua is that of Schneller, associated with stoves, tinware and house furnishing goods. Charles G. Sehneller established a tin store on the corner of Second and Mulberry Streets in 1848. During 1854 he moved the business to Front and Strawberry Streets. He continued in business until 1881 when he ad- mitted his youngest son, Charles W., into partnership under the title of Charles G. Sehneller and Son. In 1887 the senior member of the firm retired, leaving the avocation to his son .. During 1868 the store was doubled in size. In 1892 a
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line of hardware, paints, sporting goods, wall plaster, ete., was added to the stock. The shop for metal work is connected with the store, and a number of employees are constantly turning out first class work.
JOHN P. SCHNELLER. The patenter of the most scientifie Hot Air Radiator known to the trade, John P. Schneller, started in business as a tin- smith in Catasauqua in the spring of 1880. After a lapse of five years he de- termined to make his fortune in Kansas. While in the far west, Mr. Schneller learnt of the death of John Lair of Lambertville, N. J., whose stock he bought in November, 1886, and moved eastward. The following summer he sold out at a handsome profit and returned to Catasauqua. He opened his shop at Limestone and Raspberry Streets. Afterwards a luring proposition attracted him to Emaus, where he bought the establishment of Charles Zellner. In June, 1888, Mr. Schneller again returned to Catasauqua with the full conviction that the morning sun first shines here, and her lingering rays last longest when they glow upon Catasauqua's twilight. He built his store at number 120 Front Street. He sells stoves, tin and agate ware, and does all manner of jobbing in his line as a first- elass tin-smith.
F. HERSH HARDWARE COMPANY. Martin Graver began to deal in hardware at No. 505 Front St. April 1, 1888, and developed a fine trade until 1904, April 1st, when he retired, and the business was assumed by the F. Hersh Hardware Co. This is a branch of the large stores of the Hershes in Allentown. Pa., and is in charge of Harry H. Aubrey, as manager. and R. A. Savitz as elerk. On May 1, 1910, the store was moved to larger quarters in the Jr. O. U. A. M. Building. The store earries a stoek of everything that an up-to-date hardware store should contain.
CHARLES SCHNEIDER. Nearly fifty years ago Charles Schneider opened a store where the Ehle saloon is now located. It was through Mr. Schneider that many of the early settlers of this Borough furnished their homes, as he sold stoves, and all kinds of house furniture. He kept his store here for thirty years, when, in 1902, he built his present store at 108 Second Street. Mr. Schneider offers stoves, ranges, and many other articles in the house furnishing line.
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THE WALP SHOE. Some men are "'to the manor borne. " and this is quite appropriate when applied to Benjamin Walp, the shoemaker. He has never done any other work nor engaged in any other kind of business. Mr. Walp was born and raised at Roekdale, Pa. During his younger years he worked at his trade in Seranton, Carbondale, and places in Lehigh County.
In January, 1862, he came to Catasauqua and, for seven years, worked for Robert Streham. Hle set up his own beneh in the Romig Building, Front Street near Race. Mr. Wałp was not merely a cobbler. The making of a shoe was a scientific effort for him. He measured and studied his subject's feet and con- structed a last that was practically equal to a plaster cast of a man's foot and .over that model he built his shoe.
When his health failed and he went out of business in the fall of 1911, he had a regular lumber yard of lasts in his shop on Second Street near Bridge. Many of his patrons bought their lasts for use by some other shoe maker.
So well pleased were men with his work that orders for as high as three pairs of shoes to one customer was not infrequent. He shipped shoes all over the United States.
Since his retirement from the business, his son, Edwin W., has taken charge of the shop; but the production of new work has been discontinued.
JOHN STREIIAM. Robert Streham worked upon the bench as a cobbler for John Wilson at Front and Bridge Streets from 1851 to 1856, when he started in business for himself. A number of young men learned the trade in his shop. He re-located his business several times ; but finally settled for good at 220 Second Street. His son John learned the trade from his father and, when the father retired in 1908, he continued to build and repair boots and shoes at the old place. Since 1910 Mr. Streham devotes all his time to repair work.
A. OSTHEIMER. The Ostheimer shoe store, on Front Street above Pine, was established by John Blum in 1867. John Blum succeeded the elder Bhum in 1894 and continued in business until 1904, when the present ineumbent, A. Ostheimer, took charge of the place. The younger Blum enlarged the store to twice its original size and in 1911 Mr. Ostheimer added a modern repair depart- mient. The stock consists of everything in the boot and shoe line.
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SCHICK & HAUSMAN. The firm of Schick & Hansman was started at No. 121 Front Street, Angust. 1890. Since that time, the business has grown to such an extent that at times more than twenty men are employed.
They have done some of the largest and most important plumbing and heating jobs in this section.
Their shop is equipped with machines and tools which permits this firm to perform all work entrusted to them in a satisfactory manner.
Their display room contains samples of plumbing and heating material from which customers are enabled to make their own selections.
Their present location. No. 621 Front Street, permits the handling and storing of material which enables them, at short notice, to take care of a job of- any size.
BECK AND FREY. David J. Beek founded a plumbing establishment at 109 Front Street in 1910. After his removal to New York City, Frank C. Beck succeeded his brother in 1904 and moved the business to 528 Pine Street. In the spring of 1911 Mr. Beck associated Messrs. John A. and Monroe W. Frey with himself to form a partnership. The firm contracts for all manner of plumbing and has a number of fine jobs to its eredit. The Webster system of vapor and vacuum heating is their specialty.
CHARLES KEMP. Simon Kemp began the gents clothing business on lower Front Street during 1866. In July, 1869, his brother Charles arrived from Germany and entered into partnership with him. During 1880 the firm moved into the fine store on Front below Bridge Street, where they developed a large custom trade. When his brother, Simon, died in 1908, Charles Kemp assumed the business. A shoe department was added in 1907. Mr. Kemp is a merchant tailor of large experience and is well prepared to please the most fastidious.
JACOB W. LIPSKY. In 1889 Jacob W. Lipsky opened a men's furnish- ing store at 515 Front Street. The business grew steadily and so encouraged the proprietor that he added a women's furnishing stoek to his line of maseuline at- tire. Mr. Lipsky is now in a position to "fig-leaf" the whole household.
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SOLOMON SCHIFREEN. During the seventies Fuller and Schlauch con- ducted a book and stationery store in Fuller's Block on Front Street above Church. The firm also ran a news stand and carried school supplies. They were succeeded by Rev. Christ and later by Edward Sheckler. When Mr. Sheckler moved the stationery store to his new building on Church Street, John Clugston converted the place into a meat market. In 1912 Solomon Schifreen turned it into a ladies' and gents' furnishing store. It is indeed a miniature department store. In the stock of furnishings may be found wearing apparel, head gear, shoes, jewelry, watches, clocks, musical instruments, etc.
F. J. CAMPBELL. Here is a gentleman who is in love with his business and succeeds remarkably well. This tale can be told of any man who is in earnest. F. J. Campbell purchased the tailoring outfit of H. L. Miller at 129 Bridge Street, September 1, 1911. The increased number of customers demanded larger quarters. On July 1, 1913, Mr. Campbell moved to 215 Bridge Street, where he is well equipped to satisfy the most fastidious tastes.
ALFRED L. MILLER. Alfred L. Miller has been in the tailoring business for eighteen years. For ten years his shop was at the corner of Second and Church Streets and the past eight years it has been on the second floor of the Applegate building at 131 Bridge Street. During the past few years he has done only part of his new work, sending the orders to the Royal Tailors of New York ('ity. The largest part of his work is cleaning, pressing and repairing. Skilled and up-to-date tailoring, such as Mr. Miller has given Catasauqua for eighteen years, is of much value to the men of a community.
A. E. SCHIELER COMPANY. This paragraph must necessarily be brief and promptly written lest the styles change before it is finished. Millinery means the largest field of art in the country. It is confined to no genus in any kingdom, be it vegetable, animal, mineral, or the all-comprehensive chemical laboratory. Mrs. Charles Snyder opened the millinery store on Front Street below Mulberry in 1870 and conducted a thriving business until 1899, when Miss Annie E. Schieler and Company, the company being Mrs. Dr. C. J. Keim, purchased the business. In January, 1911, the firm name was changed to A. E. Schieler Com-
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THE HISTORY
pany. There is nothing in the line of ladies' and children's headgear this pro- gressive firm does not have in stock or cannot promptly produce.
C. F. ROTHI. In 1874 Cornelius F. Roth opened his Photograph Gallery at Second and Bridge Streets. After an absence of one year, from 1877 to 1878, he returned to town and opened his gallery on the third floor of Schneller's Block. After a season of successful operations he concluded to return to his old stand at Seeond and Bridge Streets, where he is still touching up the negatives of posi- tive looks. Mr. Roth makes the unmistakable boast of having been by far the best photographer in town for many years. He bases the confidence of his asser- tion upon the fact that he was the only photographer in the place. Mr. Roth is a clear headed and genial fellow. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1906, and re-elected in 1912.
IRA H. MILLER. The photographer in Fuller's Block, on Front Street above Church, Ira H. Miller, has had experience in his line for twenty years. He moved into his present bi-roomed quarters in July, 1913. His lenses are clear and strong, and for dark days or evening exposures he is equipped with merenry lights. Ife offers first class work on photos, enlargements, and post card finishes.
THE LAWALL BROTHERS. Jacob S. Lawall served his apprenticeship as a student of pharmacy with his older brother, Cyrus Lawall, at Easton, Pa. After he was pronounced qualified for the drug business he came to Cata- sauqua and opened a store, March 4, 1856, on Front Street in the building now occupied by the meat market of C. D. W. Bower. After two years he had built the present Lawall store at 409 Front Street, where the firm has conducted the business ever sinee. An interesting feature in the building is a pane of glass in the show window. It measures fifty by eighty inches and was set in 1858. At that time it was the largest pane of glass in Lehigh County. Men looked upon it as a curiosity. Blasts and explosions shattered other windows but the large glass in Lawall's show window is still intaet.
During Mr. Lawall's time there was a transition from primitive to modern methods of illumination. In his day the poor people lit up their homes with
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candlelight, while the rich used tallow oil-in faet different kinds of oils. Mr. Lawall manufactured an illuminant composed of a mixture of aleohol and tur- pentine. This afforded a much cleaner light than the neat's foot oil, although it was highly explosive. It was used in pewter or leaden lamps of various de- signs and was called burning fluid. When he died, March 4, 1889, his sons, Edgar J. and Charles E., succeeded him. The former was graduated from the Catasauqua schools, and the college of Pharmacy in 1882. The latter attended the town schools until he was ahnost through his senior year in High School, when his father needed him in the store, and he dropped out of his class. Subsequently he went to the College of Pharmacy at Philadelphia and graduated in 1884. Since the store was built it has been enlarged and altered several times. The firm carries a full line of drugs and medicines and such side lines as are inci- dent to their trade and are needed to equip a first class drug store. They have a soda fountain in operation during the summer months.
HECKENBERGER DRUG STORE. The building occupied by the Heck- enberger Drug Store and the Miss A. E. Schieler Millinery Company was erected
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HECKENBERGER DRUG STORE
by Frederick Eberhard in 1859. The store room on the corner of Front and Mulberry Streets was occupied first by Daniel Davis and Company of Easton,
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THE HISTORY
who conducted a general store. Then followed Mr. Baird. After him came A. F. and John W. Koons, as the Koons Brothers, and then William Miller. Finally, a Mr. Menangh of Newark, N. J., condneted a Dry Goods and Notions store here. In 1874, William Heckenberger purchased the property, remodeled the store, and opened a Drug Store (Die Deutsche Apotheke). Mr. Heckenberger was the oldest son of the well known veterinary, William A. Heckenberger. While a member of the senior class in our High School, he was offered an apprenticeship in the drug store owned by John Black on Front Street above Bridge. He ac- eepted the position and served his time. Then he attended the College of Phar- maey at Philadelphia, from which institution he was graduated March 10, 1874. From the fall of 1874 until his death, Jannary 16, 1914, Mr. Heckenberger con- (Ineted his store. His son, William W. Heckenberger, succeeded his father in business immediately after his graduation from the College of Pharmacy, in June, 1914. William W. is a graduate of the Catasanqua High School. He has made good use of his time and, being a young man of strong traits of character, he will hold the confidence of his father's patronage besides gaining new friends. Dur- ing the time intervening Wm. Heckenberger's death and the occupaney of the store by his son, Mrs. Cora Heckenberger secured the services of Dr. Loekman of Allentown, a registered druggist, as the manager of the store. She also renovated the store and installed an up-to-date Walrus Soda Fountain.
JOHN FISHER. After devoting some time to the mercantile business in Mahanoy City, Pa. John Fisher came to Catasauqua, February 5, 1897. Ile served as proprietor of the Farmer's Hotel for one year. In March, 1898, he directed all his attention to private banking and the foreign exchange business. Ile also runs a steamship ageney. It is easy to secure passage and passenger accommodation to any port of the globe through Mr. Fisher, who makes himself personally responsible for accuracy and correctness of tickets and transports.
TIME PIECES. A sun-dial was set up near the gate leading to the David Thomas home on Front Street, by the Crane Company in 1840.
In those days watches and clocks were expensive and not in genral use, there- fore, a sun-dial in a public place was a valued convenience.
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Whoever was fortunate enough to possess a watch had to go to Massey's at Allentown in case of an accident until James C. Beitel established a JJewelry Store at 215 Front Street in 1863.
Beitel always spelt guarantee and still stands for full value to the purehaser.
In 1900 Mr. Beitel admitted his son, Robert JJ., into the business, hence the name "J. C. Beitel & Son."
In April, 1909, the store was moved into its new quarters in the Lehigh National Bank Building, where the firm maintains the most beautiful and the most modern jewelry store in the Lehigh Valley.
Mr. Robert Beitel took a course in optics, and now holds a diploma showing him fully qualified to examine eyes and fit lenses. An optical department has since been added.
The firm carries lines of Piammas, Silverware, Cut-glass, China, Diamonds, Watches, Clocks, Umbrellas, Fountain Pens, and all manner of Jewelry.
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BOB SHARPE
ROBERT SHARPE. In Robert Sharpe, Catasauqua enjoys an asset that cannot be counted by cash nor valued in figures. Bob has been our auctioneer since 1872. When the air swells with Oh, Yes! Oh, Yes! to the accompaniment of
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THE HISTORY
a butcher's bell, every one knows there will be a vendre that night and that Bob will preside. Prices will soar in proportion to the number of jokes and jolly squibs he dispenses. Mr. Sharpe was born in Glascow, Scotland, on Christmas Day sixty-five years ago. At the age of six years he was brought to Mt. Hope. Lancaster County, Pa., where he grew up as a farmer boy. He came to Cata- sauqua in 1867 and wrought at the furnaces for many years. Since 1894 he runs a Corner Shop at Front and Church Streets. Ilis stock consists of tobacco, candy, nuts, fruits, soft drinks, pretzels, etc. During his spare moments he de- lights to attraet the young roosters in his neighborhood. He coaxes them to his knee when he feeds them peanuts and entertains his friends by encouraging them to erow. Mr. Sharpe built himself a beautiful home at Third and Union Streets, Fullerton, Pa., in 1905.
FREDERICK AND SCHERER. Owen Frederick began the Undertaking business on Front Street, June 3, 1848, and continued in business until his death in 1878. At that time the beautiful and stately appearing hearse was not in use but was introduced later by Mr. Fred- erick. Undertakers, and even Churches, owned a bier on which bodies were borne to their graves. The bier was a frame made of walnut, mahogany or cherry wood, resting on four legs, about eighteen inches in length. hu the cross pieces of the frame were grooves bearing sliding clamp screws. Where the coffin was placed on the bier the sliding clamp screws were pushed hard against it and screwed down tight so as to prevent any slipping while being carried by the pall- bearers. At each corner was an arm, or long handle, fastened by a strong hinge. Having placed the coffin on the bier and fastened it by means of the four elamp screws, four WILLIAM H. SCHERER strong men, pallbearers, would straighten out
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the handles by lifting them up on their hinges and then, at a signal given by the undertaker, elevate the bier to their shoulders, and thus bear the body to its grave. When a body was heavy extra men would change off those who had grown tired on the march. When distances were too long for bodies to be borne to their graves, the casket (coffin) was pushed into the body of a farm wagon on which some or perhaps all of the surviving members of the deceased's family rode. The children, or some light weight persons, usually sat on the coffin on the journey.
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