USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > History of Berks county in Pennsylvania > Part 143
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1841 Dr. William Bieber. David Neff.
1842. William Heidenreich ... David Neff.
1843 William Heidenreich
. George Hortzell.
1844 Jacob Graeff.
Wm. S. Bieber.
1845 George Bieber. Wm. S. Bieber.
1846. Daniel Bieber. Wm. S. Bieber.
1847
William Heidenreich ... Wm. S. Bieber.
1848 Daniel Bieber Wm. S. Bieber.
1849 David Fister. Wm. S. Bieber.
1850 Daniel B. Kutz. Wm. S. Bieber.
1851 David Levan. Wm. S. Bieber. 1852 Jacob Graeff. Henry C. Kutz. 1853 Reuben Sharadin Wm. S. Bieber,
1854. John Fister James M. Gehr. 1855 Daniel B. Kutz H. B. VanScheetz. 1856 Fayette Schaedler. J. D. Wanner.
1857-58 .Hiram F. Bickel. J. D. Wanner.
1859 J. S. Trexler James M. Gehr. 1860. B. H. Kutz J. D. Wanner.
Term.
Burgess.
Clerk.
1861
William Helfrich
J. D. Wanner.
1862.
Jacob Sunday.
J. D. Wanner.
1863-64.
C. H. Wanner
J. D. Wanner.
1865-66.
David Fister
J. D. Wanner.
1867
David Fister
A. C. Beidelman.
1868-69
Paul Hilbert.
H. H. Schwartz.
1870
John Humbert
H. H. Schwartz,
1871
David Fister.
J. D. Wanner.
1872
Lewis Hottenstein
Jonas Hoch.
1873-74
J. D. Wanner.
H. H. Schwartz.
1875
Daniel Hinterleiter.
E. D. Bieber.
1876.
S. S. Schmehl.
J. H. Marx.
1877
John M. Graeff.
J. H. Marx.
1878
.R. Dewalt.
J. H. Marx,
1879
Walter B. Bieber
J. D. Wanner.
1880
Walter B. Bieber
J. H. Marx.
1881-82
D. W. Sharadin.
J. D. Wanner.
1883-84
D. F. Bieber
J. D. Wanner.
For the same time the following have been the treas- urers :
1815-19, Henry Heist.
1820-22, Jacob B. Levan.
1823, Isaac B. Levan.
1824-54, Joseph Heist.
1855-56, Charles W. Esser.
1857-59, Charles Kutz.
1860, Henry Ege.
1861-64, C. W. Esser.
1865-66, Henry Biehl.
1867-68, Richard Dunkel.
1869-N. S. Zimmerman.
1870-71, S. S. Schmehl.
1872-74, D. B. Snyder.
1875, Isaac K. Rahn.
1876, John Humbert.
1877-78, S. S. Schmelil.
1879, Lewis A. Stein.
1880-84, William Stein.
In 1885 the borough officials were:
Burgess, W. B. Bieber; Councilmen, A. B. Urich (president), William Sanders, Benneville Levan, James Herman, James De Turk, Edward Hottenstein ; Clerk, J. D. Wanner ; Treasurer, W. W. Stein; Reg- ulators, John Humbert, David K. Hottenstein ; Jus- tices, James Marx, John Humbert.
Other justices have been the following : Henry Heist, Jacob Graeff, Charles Wanner, W. S. Bie- ber, John B. Van Scheetz, James M. Gehr, J. D. Wanner and Charles W. Esser.
The following statement comprises the first assessment roll of the borough for the year 1817:
Angstadt, Joseph, gunsmith.
20
Balty, Jacob, Sr., blacksmith.
592
Biehl, Daniel, tinman
905
Clerk.
1823. John Kutz.
1827 Jacob Esser James Donagan.
857
BOROUGHS OF COUNTY.
Balty, Jacob, Jr., blacksmith 32
Bryfogel, George, Sr., farmer 932
Busby, Samuel, shoemaker.
20
Bieber, Dewald, merchant.
1617
Bast, Dewald, farmer.
2904
Becker, Ephraim, doctor
705
Barner, Michael.
390
Benjamin, John, hatter.
20
Cupp, Conrad, town-erier.
600
Cupp, Andrew.
150
Cupp, Christian, cabinet-maker
20
Dennis, John, shoemaker.
752
Dum, Thomas
812
Deisher, John
350
Dennis, Jacob.
Ernst, Nicholas, farmer
1122
Essert, Jacob, cabinet-maker
1384
Essert, Daniel, cabinet-maker
20
Essert, George, cabinet-maker.
20
Fister, George, inn-keeper.
1572
Fister, John, saddler.
20
Fritz, Peter, cabinet-maker.
532
Gross, Joseph
92
Geehr, Philip, Esq., justice.
32
Gifft, Peter, clock-maker.
102
Geehr, Benjamin, saddler.
20
Graff, Jacob, blacksmith.
760
Grube, Christina.
350
Glasser, Daniel, hatter
420
Geschwind, John
Geehr, Samuel, and Levan, Jacob
580
Grim, Jonathan.
2852
Geisweit, Peter, laborer.
32
Herbine, Samuel, cooper.
954
Humberd, Jacob, carpenter.
32
Hottenstine, Catharine.
682
Heist, Henry
962
Heninger, John, shoemaker.
882
Heirst, Hannah, widow.
500
Harmony, Benjamin, tailor.
32
Jung, John, laborer.
20
Kutz, Peter, tinman
1272
Kutz, Adam, carpenter.
1762
Kutz, Jacob, mason
32
Knoske, John, minister
772
Keaffer, Joseph
302
Kutz, John, tailor.
1077
Keiser, Joseph
1037
Kutz, Peter, Revolutionary soldier.
1209
Kutz, Daniel.
462
Kemp, George, Jr.
900
Kohler, Henry, propr. of Kutztown H'1 .. 1600
Klein, Philip
500
Kaup, Andrew, wheelwright
20
Klein, Jacob, tailor.
20
Klein, Isaac ..
430
Keller, Israel, shoemaker.
20
Kutz, Solomon, butcher.
722
Kister, George, tailor. ..
820
Keiser, Jacob, weaver.
432
Levan, Jacob, Esq. 1107
Levan, Daniel, inn-keeper. 1602
Levan, Jacob, inn-keeper
1923
Lehman, Jacob, tinman
20
Levan, Charles, inn-keeper. 95
Levan, Isaac, inn-keeper 44
McCandless, Robert.
Neff, John, mason 1494
Nevel, Jacob, laborer.
Neff, Henry, mason. 692
Neff, Peter.
1464
Neudorf, Susanna, widow
420
Owerbeck, Jacob, tobacconist
140
Old, Gabriel, carpenter.
32
Paltzgrove, John, weaver
854
Rudenauer, Samuel
52
Reifsnyder, Abram
20
Rever, Adam
760
Sharodin, John, hatter
1072
Sander, Henry
820
Strasser, Michael, carpenter. 70
Seigfried, John, Sr.
490
Seigfried, John, Jr.
50
Selfridge, Mathias, merchant.
32
Schofield, Ebenezer, shoemaker
232
Smith, Catharine (estate of). 300
Till, Jacob, teacher.
40
Wolff, Peter, laborer.
20
Wickert, Jacob, tailor
20
Wilson, Motheral.
2110
Winck, Dewald, hatter
744
Wanner, Abram, hatter.
1052
Single Freemen.
Bast, Jacob.
Becker, Samuel.
Becker, Benjamin.
Essert, Jacob.
Glasser, Jonathan.
Harmony, Jonathan.
Mehrman, William.
Owerbeck, Henry.
O'Neal, David.
Odenheimer, George.
Smith, James, each 75 cts.
Total valuation ...
....
.$56,465
Rate, 1} mills on dollar. GEORGE BRYFOGEL, Assessor.
Houses
69
Horses
47
Cows
63
PROGRESS OF THE BOROUGH .- After the incor- poration of the borough, in 1815, its progress was uneventful but steady. The condition of affairs in 1835 was as follows :
" In Maxatawny, in 1835, there were three hundred and sixty-four taxables, and in Kutztown one hun-
74
858
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
dred and fifty-nine. These latter lived in one hun- dred and five houses, and represented eight hundred persons. In the town there were four stores, five taverns, three esquires, one German and two English schools, and one church. They owned five hundred and fifty acres of out-lots, whilst the borough proper occupied twenty-dve acres. On three hundred and seventy acres of the former grew corn, potatoes, flax, hay, etc .; and one hundred and seventy-two acres yielded eight thousand and two shocks of grain, of which five thousand five hundred were wheat. Com- puting these (8002) at five and a half bushels to the hundred sheaves, they thrashed four thousand four hundred bushels, or twenty-five and a half bushels to the acre. If now we suppose that each of the eight hundred inhabitants needed for living five bushels, it follows that, in 1835, the town owned four hundred bushels of grain more than it consumed. The re- maining three hundred and seventy-eight acres pro- duced more than plenty of the other necessaries of life, while the land within the borough proper poured into the lap of its owners a rich supply of the delica- cies of each returning season.
"During the same year wheat commanded $1.20 per bushel; rye, 80 cts .; corn, 75 cts .; oats, 35 cts .; po- tatoes, 50 cts .; rye whiskey, 35 cts. per gallon; apple jack, 35 cts. ; hams, 11 cts. per pound ; pork, 10 cts. ; beef, 6 cts .; firkin butter, 11 cts. ; hickory wood, $3.00; oak, $2.25; coal, $5.00 ; eggs, 8 cts. per dozen.
" For the year ending March 31, 1835, the post-office of Kutztown paid over to the department at Wash- ington $153.68, and of Rothrocksville, $17.12. It must not be forgotten, however, that many citizens of Maxatawny made use of the postal facilities of the borough.
"From April 17, 1835, to April 15, 1836, the income and expenses of the town were each $381.373." 1
During the next fifteen years few material changes took place. In 1850 the number of houses was one hundred and fifteen, occupied by one hundred and thirty-one families. The male population numbered three hundred and thirty and the female three hundred and seventeen ; the children of school age numbered one hundred and sixty-three. Certain customs and forms of enjoy- ment were then encouraged with great spirit, which caused the name of Kutztown to become widely known. It was the era of fairs, battalions and frolics.
On February 1, 1837, a daily line of stages from Reading, by way of Kutztown to Easton, was sub- stituted for the tri-weekly stages, and a line was then also established from Kutztown to Norristown
via Boyertown. The borough was on the princi- pal highways, south and west, and it was visited by men of distinction, who passed from one point to another. In 1836, during the first week in October, Governor Joseph Ritner, the Hon. H. A Muhlenberg and General William Henry Harrison were among the distinguished men who visited the borough. In 1839, Martin Van Buren was ten- dered a reception by a delegation which went out to meet him and escorted him to town with martial music. He dined at the present Ulrich Miller house. He was on his way to Easton from Read- ing, amid the huzzas of the assembled multitudes. In 1840, during the Presidential campaign, one of the most stirring events was the political speech of the Buckeye Blacksmith, an orator of great power and success in advocating the Whig doctrines of that day. He made a horseshoe in the shop of Nathan Wink, and then spoke to an immenes crowd of people assembled in front of Fauber's Hotel, keeping it in good humor in spite of a pur- pose on the part of many to molest him.
FAIRS AND BATTALIONS .- As early as 1831 that peculiar institution, the " Yearly Fair," had a popular existence in Kutztown. It was not a dis- play of mechanical and agricultural products, but an occasion for hilarious sport, as will be seen from the following announcement :
"The Yearly Fair will be held Aug. 12 & 13, 1831. Persons fond of military parade will see Capt. Grim's company of Horse, and Capt. Bieber's company of Infantry, and the Kutztown Band of Music parade on these days. Shows and pastimes of all kinds will he exhibited. Hucksters will be well provided with Beer, Mead, Sweet Meats and all the Fruits in Season. The Youth are informed that there will be an ahun- dance of good music and plenty of pretty girls to dance to it." 1
An example of the fairs at a later day is given in the following circular :
" GLANZENDE FAIR IN DER STADT KUTZTAUN.
" Am Freytag und Samstag, den 2ten und 3ten naechsten September, wird in der Stadt Kutztaun eine glaenzende Fair gehalten werden. Unter den vielen ansiehenden Gegenstaenden, welche dieses glaenzende Fest zieren werden, brauchen wir nur anzufuehren, dass ein ganzes Regiment Freiwilliger zur Parade aus- ruecken werden-Cavallarie und Infanterie, und dass verschiedenartige militaerische Manoever ausgetuehrt
1 Ermentrout.
+ Berks and Schuylkill Journal, July 13, 1831.
859
BOROUGHS OF COUNTY.
werden sollen. Dir Wirthe haben sich nebenbei mit den besten Getraenken versehen; stark und seh wach, vom besten Braendy bis aufs klare Wasser, so dass auch Temperenz Leute accommodirt werden koennen -wie auch mit den besten Speisen fuer Van Buren und Harrison Leute-wie auch mit Platz fuer 8000 Mann, denn man erwartet, dass diese Fair ungewoehn- lich zahlreich besucht werden wird. Fuer gute Fid- dler ist ebenfalls gesorgt worden. Dass auch Pferde Wettrennen stattfinden werden, versteht sich von selbst. Namentlich wird das bernehmtc Virginien Pferd Bncephalus gegen das vollbluetige importirte Pferd Rosinante springen. Auch werden einige kleine Ballons in die Hoehe gelassen werden.
"P.S .- Es wird erwartet, dass die Laedies vom Lande sich ein wenig schoen aufdressen werden-indem die Kutztanner Laedies sich von Kopf zum Fuss mit den praechtigsten nenen Stoffen aus unsern Stohren verse- hen haben.
"Kutztann, Angust 17, 1836."
At first the battalions and the militia trainings were one and the same thing. When the latter were abolished, the festivities originally connected with them were continued under the name of the former. These were held in the month of May, the fairs in September, and the frolics whenever the humor of the people and the wishes of land- lords required them. About forty years ago fairs died out. These became so unpopular that it sometimes happened that no sufficient notice of the time of their holding was given. As a result of this, the lovers of fun who lived in the remoter parts of the county, occasionally made their ap- pearance in Kutztown a day too late. From this fact originated the well-known phrase " a day after the fair."
The battalions were the occasion of immense gatherings. Not only did the militia turn out, but the volunteer organizations swelled the ranks until more than a thousand men were in line. General Jeremiah Shappell is best remembered as a brigade inspector who ably handled this body of citizen soldiers, and his military bearing is still re- membered by the old citizens. These gatherings were seldom bloodless. Men of brutal disposition looked forward to them as the time when they would meet kindred spirits, and in sanguinary combats determine who should be entitled to homage as the " bully " the ensuing year. Hence fights and brawls were of constant occurrence, and the whole influence was debasing. The battalions
were not inclined to elevate life, and it was not until the Normal School, with its refining influence, had made them obnoxious in the sight of the respectable element of the community that they finally succumbed in 1873. The "Frolic" has also been relegated to the past, and its departure should cause no regrets. It was a low form of amusement, whose existence is not possible among refined people ; and those who regarded it as a form of enjoyment in their youth looked upon it as mad folly in their maturer years, and so severely discountenanced it that it died for want of patronage.
RAILROAD .- " The tendency toward public and social improvement was now also greatly aided by the branch railroad which connects Kutztown, by way of Topton, with the chief centres of American civilization. Failing in their plans to have the East Pennsylvania Railroad pass through the borough, the people bent their energies upon the completion of what once bore the name of the Allen- town and Auburn Railroad, but is now known as the Allentown Railroad. To this had been sub- scribed by Kutztown and vicinity more than twenty thousand dollars. Work was commenced on it in 1857, but the financial panic that ensued put a stop to the project. Meanwhile the Phila- delphia and Reading Railroad Company obtained control of the stock. In 1868 our citizens, in public meeting assembled, drew up a petition, in which they requested the company to complete the road from Topton to Kutztown. Their petition met with a generous response. On June 9, 1869, work was begun. Mr. Fayette Schoedler had the honor of digging up the first earth. Under the direction of Engineer G. W. Hoover, Conductor George Snodgrass and Baggage-Master Theodore G. Faber, the first train was run on January 10, 1870."1
The depot building was completed in 1870, and the telegraph line constructed in February, 1873. Half a dozen trains each way are daily maintained, enabling the borough to have rapid communica- tion with all points in the country. Population and all forms of industries increased rapidly. In 1870 there were 945 inhabitants, an increase of but 30 during the preceding decade. In 1880 the in-
1 Ermentrout.
860
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
habitants numbered 1198, and in 1885 the popu- lation was estimated at 1500.
PUBLIC-HOUSES .- Kutztown has always had a liberal supply of inns and hotels. One of the first was that of George W. Fister, which occupied the site of the present " Pennsylvania House." Later, he kept the " Washington House" many years, and made it the headquarters for a line of stages in which he was interested. At this place he entertained James Buchanan, Martin Van Buren and other noted public men. He was succeeded by his son David, and a later landlord was Ulrich Miller- The " Black Horse " tavern is also an old stand' the first house then having been a weather- boarded log building. The keeper was Killian Borst. The present house was built by Jacob Fisher in 1845 ,
and kept by him until 1858, when he was suc- ceeded by Daniel Zimmerman, who has since that time been its popular landlord.
Where Isaac Hottenstein now resides, Michael Hendel lived in 1823-24, and his swinging sign, with Andrew Jackson emblazoned on it, told the weary traveler, as he trudged or rode up the street, that he could be accommodated with refreshments to warm his freezing body in winter and to cool himself in summer. Farther up, the " Full Moon" shed its mellow beams on the belated wanderer, and invited him in to "Apple Jack " and pure "Old Rye." Its landlord, David Moyer, it is said, astonished the natives by the erection of a clover-mill, which was operated by ox-power. More than seventy years ago a man named Lesher had an inn on the site now occupied by the John Kohler mansion. It was a yellow frame building and quite popular in its day. The Levan family furnished many of the first landlords, at one time three persons by that name having conducted taverus in the borough. In 1885 Kutztown con- tained six public-houses.
BUSINESS PLACES .- It is believed that Jacob Herman sold the first goods at Kutztown, in a regular store, which was in a building on the lot now owned by John Gonser, and a little later George Fister was in trade. Motheral Wilson was a successful merchant in the borough for many years; he was succeeded by his nephew, Matthew Selfridge. They last occupied the present Walter Bieber stand. Grim & Odenheimer were in trade in the house of Rev. J. S. Herman, long since
converted into a residence. Dewald Bieber was an early merchant of prominence, at the present Reinhart stand. Heidenreich & Kutz and M. Arnold also had stores after 1825. In later years the Bieber, Fister, Fisher, Hinterleiter and Stein families furnished representative merchants, whose business was a credit to the place. Schmehls had the pioneer hardware store, the Breningers the drug store and I. F. Christ one of the first book-stores.
The first grain warehouse was built in 1869, by John R. Gonser and James S. Heffner, which has been occupied by the latter since 1873. Near by, George Ludwig built the second warehouse, in 1870, in which Fogel & Zimmerman carried on business a number of years. Since 1885, William H. Heffner has been engaged in this business. Both firms transact a heavy business.
PROTECTION FROM FIRE .- From the town rec- ords interesting extracts, relating to protection from fires and the improvement of the streets, show that in 1816 fire-ladders were provided. William Henninger was authorized to take the same to the shop of Jacob Baldy and have them shod. As early as 1820 steps were taken to secure a fire-engine, but none was purchased until 1830, when Dr. Christian L. Schlemm, George Bieber and William Heidenreich, as a committee, pur- chased an engine. The following year an engine- house was built by Benjamin Bachman for $44.75. In 1836 the fire company then in existence com- plained that the engine was out of repair. In 1840 another engine was bought, and January 1, 1841, Dr. Bieber was appointed a committee to procure a fire bell for the use of the
AMERICAN FIRE COMPANY .- This company became an incorporated body April 2, 1844. Its members were, ---
Charles W. Esser.
Henry G. Henninger.
Samuel Schneider. John Kover.
Wm. Heist.
John G. Wink.
Isaac K. Strausser.
Joshua Bieber.
Jonathan Fritz.
John H. Esser.
James M. Leidy.
Jacoh Dieter.
Elias Fegely.
Jonathan S. Grim.
David Neff.
Peter Angstadt. Harrison Ohl. John Schneider.
John Y. Houck.
Edward G. Knoske.
David Levan. Abraham Levan.
Levi Reppert.
David Fegely.
Edwin H. Bieber.
Charles H. Gehr. William Schlem. Reuben Bast.
Daniel Gift.
Isaac Baldy.
861
BOROUGHS OF COUNTY.
In 1854, there being no fire company in exist- ence, owing to the engine being out of repair, the young boys of the borough petitioned the Council for permission to organize a company. The re- quest was not allowed. The engine was repaired by Paul Hilbert and Henry Glasser, but not thor- oughly, it would seem, for in 1858 two hundred dollars more were expended for this purpose, through D. B. Kutz & Co.
· In 1860 the Borough Council decided to build an engine-house, but the Civil War caused the matter to be suspended. The building was not put up until 1871. It is a two-story brick, twenty- one by thirty feet, and cost one thousand three hundred and forty-nine dollars. In it are housed the old fire-engines, but no company to man the same is now maintained.
STREET IMPROVEMENT .- In 1855 an ordinance was passed to grade Main Street, which was op- posed by many property-holders as not conducive to the public welfare, and as tending to increase the taxes unnecessarily. " But we are in favor of having the pavements made, every man's according to his neighbor's."
This year the wages for working on the roads were, for men, eighty-seven and a half cents; for boys, forty-three and three-fourths cents, This exactness and regard for the fraction of a dollar finds a counterpart in the report of the treasurer in 1829, which indicated a balance in the treasury of $30.31ª.
For a long while the borough maintained the office of clerk of the market, a position which was filled first by Conrad Capp and many years by John Baer.
In 1857 the first lock-up was built by Nathan Levan, by contract, for one hundred and forty- nine dollars. The principal street of the borough is well paved and fairly well lighted. The public improvements were much retarded by the Civil War. The borough was at great expense during that period in procuring volunteers and filling quotas. The following table shows the men fur- nished and appropriations made :
First call, Oct. 6, 1862, nine men volunteers. $927.33 First call, June 29, 1863, thirty men, State defense 150.00
Second call, Feb. 5, 1864, seventeen men 5100.00
for quota.
Second call, Apr. 7, 1864, four men addi- tional 1155.00
Third call, Sept., 1864, fifteen men for
quota 7180.00
Third call, Sept., 1864, two men additional 400.00
Fourth call, March, 1865, thirteen men. 3900.00 Expenses in filling third and fourth calls. 157.88
Expenses in filling fourth call 15.00
Total amount. $19,005.21
"Of this sum, $1810.00 were raised by private sub- scription, and $3,000.00 by county bounty ; the re- mainder by the borough.
"The bounty tax in Maxatawny amounted to $48,000.00."
MANUFACTURES .-- One of the first industries of the place, aside from the ordinary mechanic pur- suits, was the building of pipe-organs by the Open- heimer Brothers, who removed to Reading where they followed the same occupation.
In the lower part of the borough a tannery was operated for a number of years, with success, by Nathan Levan, who was also a currier by trade. It was removed about twenty-five years ago.
The Kutztown Tannery was established in 1870 by the present proprietor, J. D. Sharadin. It con- sists of a main building, thirty-three by seventy- two feet, two stories high, with an extension thirty by thirty feet. The power is furnished by a ten horse-power engine. The product is chiefly oak-tanned harness-leather, although kipp and calf-skins are also prepared. From five to six men are employed.
The Kutztown Shoe-Factory was established in the fall of 1883 by a company composed of Hon. H. H. Schwartz, Dr. J. S. Trexler, Nathan Levan, Wil- liam F. Stimmel, Lewis A. Stein and A. A. Lentz, under the firm-name of Levan, Stein & Co. Leutz withdrew in 1884. The business has since been carried on successfully by the firm. The factory occupies a large building, formerly used by Davied Saul as a brewery, but not operated for many years. The firm employ thirty workmen in the factory, and manufacture shoes for ladies, misses and children. An increasing trade indi- cates the prosperity of their enterprise.
Eck's Hosiery-Factory was established in the fall of 1882 by J. L. Eck. He began operations with three machines, and has steadily increased his bus- iness, until now there are thirty weaving and knit- ting-machines in the factory. A new building
862
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
was fitted up in 1884, with steam for motive- power. The operatives are girls and boys and the products are plain and fancy hose, chiefly for women and children. About three hundred dozen pairs are manufactured weekly.
Carriage-Factory .- The carriage-factory of R. Miller's Son, on Main Street, was established by R. Miller in 1837. The present building has been occupied since 1873. It is of brick, sixty by sixty- four feet, two stories high, with a blacksmith- shop, thirty by sixty feet, attached. From twelve to eighteen hands are employed on light vehicles and sleighs.
Kutztown Foundry and Machine-Shops .- This industry was established in 1851 by Daniel B. Kutz and Elias Jackson. In 1865 the Zehm Brothers became the proprietors, who, four years later, moved to the present site. The foundry was burned down in 1870 and the present shops were erected the same year. The main shop is of brick, forty-two by one hundred and two feet, two stories high, and is well supplied with lathes and iron- working machinery. The motive-power is fur- nished by a thirty horse-power engine. The plant embraces about one and one-fourth acres, which include smaller work-shops and buildings for stor- age purposes. A track from the railroad, close at hand, affords easy shipment for the products of the establishment. Twenty hands are employed in the manufacture of engines, boilers, steam-pumps, mining, milling and slate machinery. A specialty is made of the Keystone Turbine Water-Wheel. The present proprietors are Chas. G. and Fred. S. Zehm.
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