History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 102

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 102

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The superintendents in charge of the plant were as follows: V. W. Weaver was the first superintendent, who was succeeded by his son, William Weaver, in 1873. He was succeeded by Edwin Thomas, May, 1877, who was succeeded by David Thomas in June, 1880. Daniel Davis who had formerly been superintendent of the Keystone furnace took charge of the Lockridge furnaces March 1, 1885, as the successor of Mr. Thomas and served in that capacity for over twenty-two years. On the 15th of October, 1907, he was succeeded by John Thomas, who

559

BOROUGH OF ALBURTIS.

served as superintendent until June, 1912. The furnaces are now being operated under the su- pervision of Henry Knerr, who has been in the employ of the Company for more than thirty- eight years and served as foreman for about twenty-five years. He assumed charge of the plant July, 1912.

Shirt Factories .- The town of Alburtis has done as much as many towns of larger size for its industrial development and improvement. Not every enterprise has been successful, yet on account of the enterprise of its citizens the result has been that Alburtis has a number of success- ful industries. For the purpose of improving the industrial condition of the town, in March, 1893, a stock company was formed for the purpose of manufacturing shirts, under the name of the Alburtis Manufacturing Co., Limited. The ob- ject of the company was to provide employment for the inhabitants of the town. For the accom- plishment of this purpose a series of citizens meetings were held at which steps were taken for the creation of such an industry. A com- mittee was appointed to solicit subscriptions from among the citizens, which resulted in $3,900 being raised for the avowed purpose. It was decided to lease the property of Mrs. Elizabeth Lichtenwalner, situated on Main street, which had formerly been used for a store and tinsmith business. Mr. Kengott who had been operating a shirt factory in another part of the State was the promoter of the Alburtis Manufacutring Company. The building on the Main street property was improved so that it might be adapted to install a plant for the manufacture of shirts. The equipment of Mr. Kengott was in- stalled and twenty-three Wheeler and Wilson machines were purchased for the use of the com- pany. A steam-boiler and engine was installed, certificates of capital stock to the amount of $3,900 were issued and in the spring of 1893 the factory began the manufacture of shirts. Messrs. W. F. Kengott, W. H. H. Meckley, Dr. S. K. Barndt, A. H. Berger and G. G. Greiss were elected to serve as a board of managers. W. F. Kengott was chosen as general manager of the plant. After being in operation until October the 23rd, 1893, the factory was closed. After lying idle for some time the factory was leased to the Einstein Mfg. Co., of New York, March the 6th, 1894. Mr. Fausset was the general

manager. He was succeeded by John Kurtz who was succeeded by Frank Herbert. After operating the factory for about twenty months the plant was again shut down and finally aban- doned by the Einstein Company. After lying idle for some months the Alburtis Manufactur- ing Company, decided to lease the machinery and

appurtenances to W. B. Butz for a period of five years, beginning Nov. 16, 1896. The fac- tory being in operation for nearly five years the building was sold to H. W. Shuler, May II, 1900. On June the 10th, 1901, the Manufac- turing Company was dissolved. This marks the beginning of the shirt industry in Alburtis.

The following is a complete list of the sub- scribers to the fund of the Alburtis Manufac- turing Company, Limited :

Dr. S. K. Barndt ... $150 00 E. J. Lichtenwalner 25 00

W. B. Butz. .. 100 00

J. S. Levan ... 25 00

A. H. Berger. .. 100 00

W. P. Miller ... 300 00

W. T. Breinig. 100 00 W. H. H. Meckley . 200 00

H. F. Borneman .... 50 00

Lewis Meckley . ... 150 00

P. S. Butz .. 50 00 Dr. E. H. Mohr ... 100 00

G. G. Greiss ..

150 00

Percival B. Nuss ... 50 00

John Geisinger. . . 50 00 Charles E. Nuss. .. 50 00

D. D. Hensinger .. 150 00 G. W. Schmoyer .... 100 00

Charles D. Hoffner. 100 00

A. K. Snyder ... 100 00

Frank Herbert ...... 25 00

L. S. Schmoyer .. 100 00

W. F. Kengott .... 1,000 00

Thomas Shuler .. 75 00

Harry Keiser ... .... 50 00

J. L. Schmoyer. 75 00

Gideon Kemmerer .. 50 00

G. F. Schlicher. 50 00

Nathan Lohrman ... 100 00

Peter Wetzel .. 150 00

S. J. Lohrman .... 75 00

Leo Zuker . 50 00

Alburtis Shirt Mills .- The Alburtis Shirt Mills have their beginning in the Alburtis Manu- facturing Company, from whom W. B. Butz leased the machinery and operated the factory on the Main street site. After the sale of the prop- erty to H. W. Shuler, Mr. Butz moved his ma- chinery and equipment to Second street where he had purchased the building which was formerly used for school purposes. The building was en- larged and fitted out for the manufacture of shirts. It is a two-story structure and the dimensions are thirty-five feet by sixty-three feet with an engine-room of twelve feet by sixteen feet. The plant began operations in 1902. It was operated under the name of the Enterprise Manufacturing Company. After its operation for five years by W. B. Butz, he was succeeded by a son Robert F. Butz who formed a partner- ship with James F. Butz which continued for about four years. In 1911 James F. Butz re- tired from the partnership and he was succeeded by another son of W. B. Butz-Ralph J. Butz. The factory is operated under the name of the Alburtis Shirt Mills. The plant has been suc- cessfully operated since its erection and has fur- nished employment to many citizens of the town and the immediate community. The plant has outgrown its first capacity and has steadily in- creased so that to-day it gives employment to thirteen doing work regularly at their homes, op- fifty-seven men, women, girls and boys besides erating forty-eight machines which have an out- put capacity of 800 dozen per week, or an annual output of over 40,000 dozen finished shirts, mak- ing allowances for necessary repairs, the sleeves being made by the branch factory at Fogelsville, Pa. The factory does mainly contract-work al-

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560

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

though some custom work has been done since its erection.

Shuler's Shirt Factory .- This shirt fac- tory is under the management of H. W. Shuler, of Alburtis. He purchased the property from Mrs. Elizabeth Lichenwalner. The equipment was purchased from the Alburtis Manufacturing Company, Limited. This factory is one of the younger industries of the town. The Alburtis Manufacturing Company, which was organized to manufacture shirts is the progenitor of this factory as well as of the Alburtis Shirt Mills. Mr. Shuler purchased the building in 1900. The equipment was purchased in May, 1900. The building which is a brick structure was at the time of its purchase, twenty-four feet wide and fifty-two feet long. In November, 1901, opera- tions were begun. At that time there were thirty machines in the building and thirty hands were employed. For a number of years it was oper- ated with this equipment. There being an in- creasing demand for greater producing facili- ties a frame addition was built to the former building the dimensions, of which are forty-five feet by twenty-two feet, one story high into which nineteen machines were placed. There are now forty-nine machines in use employing fifty-eight hands having a weekly output of 525 dozen finished shirts, or an annual output of over 27,000 dozen shirts. The factory affords em- ployment to many men and women, girls and boys of the town and the immediate vicinity. The factory does solely contract-work. At present it is doing work for Unterberg & Co., of New York, for which company work has been done for nearly thirteen years. The factory has been working practically without interruption since its erection, making allowances for the time needed for necessary repairs.

The above named factories for the manufac- ture of shirts have been a great source of help to the town especially in times of panic and finan- cial depression. They afford employment to many of the townspeople and add also to the in- dustry of the people so that there is no excuse for idleness and lack of industry. These factories have been successfully operating for nearly thir- teen years and their loss would result in a great depression. The value of these factories for the industrial development of the town cannot be overestimated.

Alburtis Silk Ribbon Mills .- One of the most important, though one of the newest, manufac- tures in the borough is that of silk, carried on by the Alburtis Silk Ribbon Mills, which are a monument to the enterprise and liberality of Al- burtis' substantial men. In 1896 the Hartley

Silk Manufacturing Company, of Middletown, New York, advertised through a Mr. Freeland for a site in the Eastern States for the location of their silk mill which had been lying idle for some time. A letter sent by the above-named gentleman, to the Alburtis Board of Trade, such an organization not having been effected, was brought to the attention of the public-spirited citizens of Alburtis, and after a liberal discussion resulted in the call of a citizen's meeting, January I, 1897. The meeting was presided over by P. B. Nuss after which J. L. Schmoyer was elected secretary, whereupon it was decided to send a committee of two, consisting of W. B. Butz and William Richards, to Middletown, N. Y. to investigate the equipment of the Hartley Silk Manufacturing Company. The committee having visited the mills favorably reported the enterprise and in due process of time and after due deliberation, a number of the citizens de- cided to identify themselves with the new in- dustry. Immediately a meeting was called for the purpose of determining upon some means whereby the enterprise might receive the proper support. When the meeting was held, a com- mittee was appointed, consisting of W. H. H. Meckley, J. L. Schmoyer, W. B. Butz, Lewis Meckley and Peter Butz, to solicit subscriptions from the citizens for the purchase of the ground and the erection of the buildings suitable for the manufacture of silk. The committee carried for- ward the work, and with such success, that $9,000 was raised for the erection of the build- ings. An acre of ground was given gratuitously by Lewis Meckley on which the mills were erected. A building committee, consisting of Dr. S. K. Barndt, J. L. Schmoyer, W. B. Butz, Peter Butz and Tilghman Keiser were appointed to look after the building operation. In the spring of 1897, ground was broken for the foun- dations of the building, from which time rapid progress was made in the work of erection. The contract for the erection of the building had been awarded to W. H. Gangewere. The title to the property was vested in the Hartley Manu- facturing Company. The subscribers were se- cured by a mortgage given upon the property, and bonds secured by this mortgage were issued bearing 5 per cent. interest. The bonds were further secured by insurance policies which were held as collateral.

The building erected by the citizens of Albur- tis was a frame structure, one-story high, and its dimensions were 40 by 80 feet. The mills were equipped with 25 broad silk looms. The works were formally opened during the month of Aug. ust, 1897. The mill employed about 30 hands. After having been in operation for about five years

561

BOROUGH OF ALBURTIS.

the building was destroyed by fire, in 1902. The mill was rebuilt and a brick building took the place of the former frame structure. The mill was under the superintendence of G. W. Smith, of Paterson, N. J. Two years later Mr. Smith purchased the mills from the Hartley Mfg. Co. From this time it was run under the name of the Alburtis Silk Ribbon Mill, G. W. Smith, Prop. The mills enjoyed a period of success. Five years later an addition of brick was made to the form- er structure, the dimensions of which were 60 ft. by 60 ft. After a lapse of three years of successful operation a brick addition was built, its dimensions being 125 ft. by 55 ft., one story high and a basement, to meet the demands of the growing business. It was incorporated under the name of the Alburtis Silk Ribbon Mills, G. W. . Smith, president, and Cyril G. Smith, secretary and treasurer. As the building was enlarged ad- ditional looms were erected, and at present there are 48 high-speed improved ribbon looms in oper- ation. These mills employ 60 hands having an annual output of $200,000 worth of ribbon. The plant, which is capitalized at $50,000, stands upon a solid foundation, and has been a great and substantial addition to the industrial devel- opment of the town, affording many of Alburtis an opportunity to eke out their living.

The following is a complete list of the sub- scribers to the fund for the building of the mills:

Peter A. Butz. . .$200 00

P. E. Texter. 100 00

George P. Seip .. 100 00

A. F. Nuss

100 00

Dr. S. K. Barndt ... 500 00

Lewis Meckley. 250 00

Knights of Malta .. 200 00

J. L. Schmoyer. 500 00

S. D. Becker. , 100 00

D. D. Hensinger. .. 100 00

G. W. Schmoyer ... 200 00

A. K. Snyder. 200 00

P. S. Butz.

200 00

H. F. Bornmann. .. 100 00

R. F. Deisher.

500 00

D. F. Keller 200 00 J. L. Butz. 100 00

W. P. Miller ...

500 00

W. T. Breinig.

200 00

T. B. Marsteller. . 100 00

Chas, Schaffer 100'00

P. B. Nuss. . 50 00

W. B. Butz ... 500 00

Albert Herbert. 100 00

W. H. H. Meckley. . 200 00

S. J. Lohrman. 100 00

F. H. Yeager. 100 00

Dr. E. H. Mohr .... 200 00

Daniel Dengler. .. 150 00

Morgan Hartman. .. 100 00

Benjamin Bloch,. . 50 00

Harry Keiser ..... . . 2000 00

Jr. O. U. A. M .... 200 00

Thomas Shuler .... 200 00

Alexander Pearson .. 100 00

CHURCHES.

Christ Chapel .- This is not a regularly organ- ized congregation, but only a preaching- point and has been such since its erection. In the beginning of the year 1883 Rev. W. A. Helffrich saw the need of a preaching-point at Alburtis and immediately began to agitate the matter and to awaken sentiment in this direc- tion. Subsequently the subject of having a preaching-point was taken up with Lehigh Classis, which body approved the plan and ap- pointed Rev. Thomas Reber to supply the same, providing a suitable place could be found to hold the services. The plan not being agreeable to

all parties concerned, an adjustment was finally made and in 1884, Rev. N. W. Helffrich began to preach in the former school-house on 2d Street, wherein he was assisted by Rev. O. E. Leo- pold. This school-house soon becoming too small for the attending worshippers, the permission was granted by the school board to use the larger school-house of the present site for the holding of services. The congregation soon outgrowing its present quarters a movement was started to erect a chapel. A meeting of the various church

CHRIST CHAPEL.

members representing different congregations of the surrounding community, was held on the 8th of December, 1884, in the school house on 2d Street. On motion of G. F. Schlicher, J. W. Gernerd was chosen chairman of the meeting; G. F. Schlicher was elected secretary; A. H. Ber- ger was elected treasurer ; J. S. Saul, D. D. Hen- singer and Styles Levan were elected trustees ; G. W. Schmoyer and Thomas Shuler were elect- ed to serve as ushers. At this meeting the trus- tees were instructed to purchase a suitable plot of ground and to proceed to erect a chapel. The ground was purchased from Lewis Meckley on

P. O. S. of A. Camp 27 200 00

Marcus Kline .... . 50 00

562

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the site of the present building, and in the spring of 1885 building operations were begun. The building committee consisted of G. W. Schmoyer, G. F. Schlicher, D. D. Hensinger and John S. Saul. Agreeable progress was made, and in the spring of 1885 the corner-stone was laid by Rev. W. A. Helffrich and Jacob Schindel. After the space of one year the building was completed and the dedication services were held on Whitsunday, 1886. The morning sermon was preached by Rev. O. E. Leopold ; the sermon in the afternoon by Rev. A. J. G. Dubbs, and the sermon in the evening by Rev. W. R. Hofford. Rev. N. W. Helffrich and A. R. Horne had charge of the services. The funds for the building of the chapel were raised by subscriptions from the peo- ple of the town and the immediate vicinity. All the money was raised with the exception of $1,000. The chapel was erected at a cost of $5,000. The indebtedness was finally disposed of by a Ladies' Aid Society, which organization was occasioned by the indebtedness on the prop- erty. After faithfully laboring for several years the amount was raised, the note was paid and burned, and the chapel became free of debt.

Some time after the completion of the chapel an association was formed, being styled the Christ Chapel Association, and the following officers were elected: Trustees, J. L. Schmoyer, B. D. Laudenslager and Joseph Hensinger; A. H. Berger was elected treasurer. The first or- ganist was James F. Hensinger, who ably filled that position until his demise in 1896. He was succeeded by O. J. Kneedler, who has ably filled the position until the present time.

The chapel was erected as a preaching-point in connection with the Lehigh church, as a union place of worship, that is for the preaching of both Reformed and Lutheran pastors. The said ministers were to preach here without compen- sation. It was intended to be a means of con- servation for the Lehigh church. The privilege was also extended to pastors of the adjacent con- gregations to preach in the chapel who had rep- resentatives residing in the town. But in the latter years it has been wholly served by the pas- tors of the Lehigh church.

The following pastors have preached here: Rev. N. W. Helffrich, who was succeeded by Rev. Frank P. Laros, Dec. 17, 1905. The fol- lowing are the Lutheran pastors: Rev. A. R. Horne, who was succeeded in 1901 by Rev. I. B. Ritter, who preached for two years; he was succeeded by Rev. C. A. Sandt in 1903, who preached until his decease in 1905. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. C. A. Kerschner, Feb. 1, 1906, who has preached here up to the present time.

There is a large Sunday-school connected with

the chapel, having a membership of 275. Perci- val B. Nuss is the superintendent. This Sunday- school formerly met in the school-houses of the town. It is the combination of two Sunday- schools, the German school, which met in the former school house on 2d Street, and the Union Sunday school formerly which met in the present school house.

Memorial Presbyterian Church .- It is com- coming more and more to be recognized as a duty by Christian men, and as a wise policy by business men to provide the means of grace, wherever centers of population are formed. The establishment of a Christian church and the preaching of the Gospel attracts the best class of workmen, gives stability and order to society, counteracts the tendency toward vice and evil habits, and stamps a semi-Christian character upon even a secular enterprise, and the Sabbath- school supplies that moral training and instruc- tion from the lack of which the children of the poor, the ignorant and the toiling too often suffer. In accordance with this reasoning, soon after the erection of the furnaces of the Lockridge Iron Company, a Sabbath school was established and or- ganized April 12, 1868, by V. W. Weaver, su- perintendent of the furnaces, Mrs. V. W. Wea- ver, Mrs. C. H. Welty, Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Mclaughlin, and others, in the office of the Thomas Iron Co. A short time afterward they placed at the disposal of the school a small build- ing, formerly used as a school-house. The building was equipped with the pews of the First Presbyterian church of Catasauqua, which church had already done efficient service in the formation of the First Presbyterian church of Hokendauqua. Rev. Cornelius Earle, of the First Presbyterian church, of Catasauqua, com- menced services once a month on Wednesday evening. On Christmas following the organiza- tion, when presents were distributed, the Sab- bath-school numbered 13 teachers and 92 schol- ars. During the following year preaching serv- ices were held somewhat irregularly owing to many interruptions, and the fact that Rev. Earle was obliged to come from a distance and remain over night. At the second Christmas gathering, Dec. 25, 1869, there were enrolled 18 teachers and 120 scholars. The friends of the new enter- prise by this time felt that not only more fre- quent services were necessary, but that if possible these services should be held on the Sabbath day. Since it was impossible for Rev. Earle to do this, and being anxious that the enterprise should suc- ceed, he made arrangements with Rev. Richard Walker, of Allentown, then without a regular charge, to preach on the afternoons of the first, second and fourth Sabbaths of each month. who

563

BOROUGH OF ALBURTIS.

was to alternate with Rev. J. A. Little, of Hoken- dauqua. The wisdom of this arrangement and the results of the earnest endeavors of Rev. Wal- ker were soon apparent, since the congregation began to increase numerically, increased interest was awakened, and it was resolved to attempt to erect a house of worship. To bring this matter to a successful issue a meeting was called by V. W. Weaver, July 27, 1870, at which meeting the following persons were appointed to constitute a committee to solicit subscriptions, viz: Dr. S. K. Barndt, chairman; George Welty, Jr., Jones F. Long, Thomas Mclaughlin, William Shank- weiler, Charles Welty and V. W. Weaver, sec- retary and treasurer. To this committee Rev. Walker was added, who volunteered to canvass Ironton and Allentown in behalf of the new in- terest. After weeks of earnest endeavor, a creditable amount of subscriptions was received, which seemed to justify the erection of a house of

MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

worship. A building committee was appointed, consisting of V. W. Weaver, Dr. S. K. Barndt and Jonas F. Long, to procure a site and con- struct a building. On the strength of this action an application was drawn up by Rev. Earle, for a building site and land for a cemetery signed by the building committee and presented to the Thomas Iron Co., who, with their usual liberal- ity (as witness a former grant of both land and money to the first Presbyterian church of Hoken- dauqua), the request was cheerfully granted and at once the board of directors at a meeting held in the office of the company held at Hoken- dauqua, Sept. 15, 1870, Messrs. David and Sam- uel Thomas were appointed to locate the grant. They with equal promptitude acted upon the

matter, and on the following Saturday, Sept. 17, 1870, they assembled at the place, and in the midst of a falling rain fixed upon the site for the church edifice. Afterward they also located the ground for the cemetery. The title of the prop- erty was vested in the Memorial Presbyterian church of Lockridge, as soon as the same was in- corporated. The building was drafted by V. W. Weaver, Sr., and the contract was awarded for the erection of the same to George Welty, Jr. The beautiful cornerstone was the gift of Messrs. Schmeyer and Wieder, of Allentown; the stone door-sill of the basement was presented by Messrs. Snyder and Schadler, and that of the main en- trance by Benjamin Mull. At the first stated meeting of the newly organized Presbytery of Lehigh, held in Allentown, Sept. 13-15, 1870, a standing committee on Missions was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Nelleville, Dinsmore and Earle, and elder David Thomas were designated to permanently organize a church at Lockridge, as soon as Rev. Walker should deem it advisable, and was also added to the committee, of which he became the chairman. The Memorial Pres- byterian church derives its name from the com- memoration of the reunion of the two great branches of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S., in 1870. The laying of the cornerstone took place on Sunday afternoon, October the 9th, 1870. The following ministers took part in the serv- ices : Rev. Walker, J. A. Little, Jno. McNaugh- ton, Theophilus Heilig and Rev. Earle. The cornerstone having been laid, the work of the building under the efficient management of V. W. Weaver, was speedily carried forward, so that the basement was ready for the holding of serv- ices by Sunday, Dec. 11, 1870. During the fol- lowing winter, besides the regular, special serv- ices, were held for two weeks by Revs. Earle, Fulton and Little, assisting Rev. Walker with such success that in the latter part of March, 1871, Rev. Walker reported to the committee appointed by the Lehigh Presbytery, that it was now advisable to organize the congregation. This was accordingly done on Sunday, April 2, 1871, by Revs. Walker, Earle and Elder Samuel Thomas, members of the committee. V. W. Weaver was ordained to the eldership and a congregation was organized, consisting of the following members:

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 102

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1158

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158