History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 123

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 123

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Slate Operations .- The slate quarries in the vicinity of Slatington are the following- those marked with a * are situated within the borough limits, all manufacture roofing slate,

SLATE QUARRY.

troduced a saloon and conducted the place for entertainments and amusements until his decease in 1901, when his sons succeeded him in its ownership, and since then it has been known as the Opera House.

Captains .- The following captains command- ed the company :

David G. Rhoads, 1877-78.

Hiram W. Hankee,

1885-90.

George McDowell,

Frank Jacobs, 1890-94.

1878-85. William H. Keener,

1894-96.

Capt. Keener was a war veteran, having been a private in Co. G, 128th Regt. P. V. for nine months from Aug. 17, 1862, and also a private in Co. H, 209th Regt. P. V. from July 19, 1864, to June 6, 1865, when he was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant.

He entered Co. H, 4th Regt., N. G. P. on Sept. 15, 1879; promoted to sergeant Feb. 4, 1881, to 2d Lt. July 14, 1885, to Ist Lt. July 23, 1887, and to captain April 23, 1894.

but those marked with a t also produce black- boards and structural slate with factories at the plants :

Name.

Started. Employees.

Big Franklin,

1910

15-20

Blue Mountain,

1895

30-50

Blue Valley,f

1907

40-50

Blue Vein,

1909

30-50

Carbon,f

1888

40-100

Cambridge, **

1895

40-50

Columbia,

1876

35-50

Ellis Owens,

1910

30-50

Ellis Owens Sons,

1910

30-50

Eureka,

1894

80-125

Fairview,

1890

25-35

Franklin,

1908

25-50

Hazel-Dell,

1890

25-50

Genuine Washington,t

1909

60-100

Manhattan,f

1903

60-100

Pennsylvania,*

1895

40-50

Provident,t

1890

60-100

M. J. Roberts & Co.,

20-50

Slatington,f

1852

100-120

Valley-Side, **

1912

15-20

Washington,*+

1885

60-100

E. D. Peters & Sons,

1907

25-40

687

BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON.

The following additional slate operations are carried on in the borough :

E. L. Krause and brother, school slates and black-boards (commonly known as the National School Slate Co.).

Rudolph School Slate Works.

J. F. Unger Slate Co., structural slate.

Bachman Brothers, black-boards.

Thomas Zellner, black-boards.

Elmer F. Snyder, sink-tops.

Besides the plants mentioned, the following parties are dealers in slate materials of all kinds :

Slatington-Bangor Slate Syndicate.

International Slate Co.

Griffith Brothers Slate Co., Ltd.

J. K. Hower. Henry N. Sieger & Son. O. A. Miller Slate Co.

Mantels - Black-boards. - The first slate factory at Slatington was put up in 1852 by Jones & Co., on the south side of Trout creek, opposite the present works of the Bachman Bros., on Factory street where the first mantels were made and finished and the business was carried on for seven years, then a new mantel factory was erected by the Lehigh Slate Co. on the south side of the creek (Bachman Works) and the machinery of the first factory was removed to it, and some of the largest slate machinery was brought from Vermont and introduced, then the business was carried on in the new factory in the manufacture of black-boards, slate slabs, sink- tops, etc., and it was continued until 1900, the last 12 years by Waltes Bachman. From 1902 to 1906 it was operated by the Pennsylvania National Slate Black-board Co., Howard Daum, proprietor. After lying idle for 5 years it be- came the property of John N. and Morris L. Bachman (sons of Waltes Bachman), who have since traded under the name of Pennsylvania Black-board Co., mostly engaged in the manu- facture of black-boards, their sister, Mrs. How- ard Daum being the owner of the real property.

Daum erected a stock-house to the east in 1901, but in 1903 it was rented to Elmer F. Sny- der, who equipped it with machinery for making sink-tops and he has since been engaged in manu- facturing them, with four hands employed.

John F. Unger started in 1883 manufacturing slate black-boards and structural work between the river and the L. V. R. R. at the outlet of Trout creek where he established a frame fac- tory, and he carried it on successfully until his death in 1909, and since then his estate has con- ducted the business under the name J. F. Unger Co. The product is sent to all parts of the coun- try ; also to Canada and Porto Rico. The rough material is secured from local quarry operations.

Thomas Zellner engaged in the manufacture of slate black-boards in the western part of the borough in 1893, and after continuing there five years, he removed his plant to Welshtown, along the Trout creek, where he has carried on the business until the present time. He employs 15 hands.

School Slate Works .- In 1884, E. L. Krauss associated with Charles Nelson of New York, in establishing a plant at the western section of Slatington for the manufacture of school slate and black-boards and they carried on the busi- ness until 1892. The management was subse- quently changed several times and carried on until 1907, when Mr. Krause and his brother, Arthur H., became the owners and they have since operated it in a successful manner. The plant covers two acres of ground, embraces eight one-story brick buildings and employs from 150 to 200 hands. It is commonly known as the National School Slate Co.

John H. Rudolph started manufacturing school slate in 1898 and gradually enlarged his plant in lower Slatington on the south side of Trout creek as his business increased until he died in 1910. He employed from 50 to 100 hands. Since then his estate has continued the business under the name of American School-Slate Works. The factory is a large and very attractive build- ing, painted white.

Prospect Development Co. was first organized in 1905 as the Prospect Drilling and Develop- ment Co. by A. P. Berlin and R. J. Hongen for the purpose of core drilling to test slate and min- ing properties. Special machinery was invented by Mr. Berlin and the process was first applied here successfully which is recognized as the only reliable method of discovering a deposit without sinking a shaft or removing the earth at greater or less expense.

Grist-Mill .- Nicholas Kern, the first settler here in 1741, established a grist-mill along the east bank of the Trout creek, about 1742, and also a saw-mill adjoining it on the north. They were carried on together by him until his death in 1748, and afterward by his son, William, grandson John, and great-grandson Jonas, until 1850. The last named then rebuilt both but located the mill at the lower side of the bridge where it is now, and operated them until 1861, when he transferred them to his daughter, Vio- letta (married to Henry Kuntz). They were then rented to different parties until sold to Al- fred J. Kern in 1881 (who had rented them since 1874), and he has continued operating them until now.

Carriage Works .- In 1857 Phaon A. Semmel established a large works in lower Slatington

688

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

on the south side of Main street, at Factory street, for the manufacture of carriages, light and heavy wagons, and sleighs. He then pur- chased from George Kern a large stone barn (which had been built in 1820), and converted it into a general store and warehouse, and erected a large two-story frame building for manufactur- ing purposes, and here he carried on the business to a greater or less extent according to the de- mands of his trade until 1910. His son, Palmer A., then became his successor, and he has con- tinued the business until the present time. He employs four hands.

The strong walls of the old building are still in good condition though nearly one hundred years old. This barn was used in connection with the building on the opposite side of Main street, a short distance to the west, which was occupied as a tavern from 1824 to 1840.

Planing Mill .- In 1870 John Balliet started a cabinet shop to the rear of the Eagle Hotel in lower Slatington for the manufacture of fur- niture in an old brewery building, but in two years his business had grown to such proportions that he was obliged to seek new quarters. He then established a plant on Railroad street and carried it on until he died in 1888, in this time having devoted his attention more especially to building materials, such as doors, windows, win- dow frames, etc. Thomas Kern became the pur- chaser, and he has operated the plant in a suc- cessful manner until the present time, in con- nection with supplying all kinds of lumber to builders. Allen E. Leibfried has filled the po- sition of foreman since 1888, having previously been in the employ of Balliet from 1873 to 1888, altogether 40 years in the same industry.

Rolling Mill .- The Slatington Rolling Mill Co. was organized in 1890 by Wm. P. Hopkins, of Catasauqua, who was assisted by a number of leading citizens of the borough for the manufac- ture of bar-iron and the plant was established on five acres of land situated on South Walnut street, alongside of the L. V. R. R. The com- pany was organized with a capital if $100,000, and they employed 160 hands. It was operated for about 20 years when it was obliged to sus- pend because its product could not be put on the market in competition with steel products. The plant was then purchased by local capitalists who organized under the same name and have since carried on business there, giving employment to 100 hands. The president of the company is Edwin German, who is the principal stockholder.

Boiler Works .- Samuel J. Evans and - Mars- den embarked in the business of general repairs to boilers, etc., in 1889, on Race street, and continued business until 1895 when the enter-

prise was enlarged to include a foundry and machine shop and a limited partnership was formed to trade under the name of Slatington Foundry, Machine and Boiler Works, Ltd., with Mr. Evans as president and general mana- ger. Machinery and castings of all kinds are manufactured and the works employ from 20 to 25 hands.

Machine Shops .- The first machine shop for general repairs at Slatington was put up by Ed- ward MacConachie on Factory street and carried on by him until 1891 when he was succeeded by Joseph Custard, who conducted the plant three years ; then Peter Macconachie (son of Edward), became the proprietor and he has carried on the business successfully until the present time, de- voting his time mostly to automobile repairs.

Claude Zellner started a general machine shop on Church street, west of 5th, in 1910, and has conducted it until now with two hands.

Bottling Works .- In 1876 Frederick Hor- lacher moved from Bauman's, in Carbon county, to Slatington and embarked in the bottling busi- ness and from that time for nearly forty years has been prominently identified with the establish- ment of various local enterprises and taken a practical interest in the government of the com- munity. He bought the small works of

Woodring, on Dowell street, a short distance west of Main, and carried on the business for four years, but finding the quarters too small, he removed to lower Slatington, on Race street, near Walnut, at the rear of a large lot where he had built his residence, and there put up a large plant. He conducted this in a successful manner until April, 1913, when he transferred it to his son, John, and the son has carried it on until now.

Hosiery Mills .- In 1895 Thomas Zellner, Wm. A. Fritzinger, Robert F. Muschlitz and Frederich E. Wyle associated together for the purpose of manufacturing hosiery and have since carried on the business under the name of Slat- ington Knitting Co. It employs about 70 hands. It is located in a two-story frame building on Main street and Center alley. A dye-house was established in 1903 and since then operated in connection with the mill. Their production is disposed of through jobbers.

In 1900 Henry A. Muschlitz erected a large two-story frame building, north of Main street bridge along the Branch R. R. and equipped it with knitting machinery for the manufacture of hosiery, and he has since conducted the business with an average of 75 hands. It is called the "Crystal Knitting Mills."

Silk Mill .- In 1901 a silk mill was established on Race street by the Slatington Textile Mfg.

689

BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON.

Co. for the manufacture of broad silks and, erected a large, three-story brick building. After conducting the business three years it was pur- chased by the Post & Sheldon Corporation, of Paterson, which has carried on the business until the present time. The plant was enlarged in 1904 and about 350 hands are given constant employment. This corporation has two similar plants at Allentown besides an extensive estab- lishment at Paterson, and a similar plant is now being erected at Slatedale, three miles west of Slatington, where 250 hands will find employ- ment.

Box Factory .- The Keystone Box Manufac- turing Co. was organized in 1902 by Edward L. Krause, Wm. A. Fritzinger and Robert F. Mus- chlitz for the manufacture of lock-corner and lid-slide pencil boxes and also counter- trays and pyrographic boxes and established a plant in the western section of Slatington near Church street which has been carried on successfully until the present time. It employs 75 hands and has de- veloped a large trade which extends throughout the country.

Saddlery .- Dennis Miller carried on a general saddler business at Slatington from 1865 to 1870; then Thomas F. Schiffert conducted a prosperous shop for forty years until his death, and his brother, George D., succeeded him who has con- tinued it until now.

Bakery .- Lewis Best embarked in the baking business in lower Slatington about 1880, but he carried it on only two years when he was suc- ceeded by William H. Mory and he conducted the business in a successful manner for thirteen years. Then different parties had the estab- lishment for varying periods until 1912, when Edwin Bailey became the proprietor. He em- ploys two bakers and has two delivery wagons.

Slaughter House .- About 1885 Amandus A. Kern and Thomas Zellner embarked in the slaughtering business on School Hill (the south- ern section of town), and carried it on five years when Mr. Zellner retired from the firm, then James Ringer became associated with Kern and they put up a plant at 4th and Franklin streets, which they conducted for several years.

In 1893 Mr. Kern established a large plant on Church street, between 5th and 6th, and he car- ried it on successfully until his death in 1909; since then the business has been continued in the name of his estate, including a meat-store on Main street, near the postoffice.

Ice .- Frederick Horlacher embarked in the ice business in 1888 by manufacturing it at his bot- tling works, and he continued it for two years when he was obliged to suspend further opera- tions on account of the limited consumption and

the high cost of production. He then secured the right to harvest ice on the Kern mill-dam where he erected a large frame storage house with a capacity of 3,200 tons, and supplied the citizens with natural ice for a period of twelve years. In 1902 he sold the ice plant and business to C. H. Hodges, who has conducted the business until the present time. In 1906 Hodges erected a dam and storehouse with a capacity of 3,000 tons at Emerald from which he has since supplied his customers.

In 1912 H. A. Beers, of Walnutport, started supplying ice at Slatington and he delivers a large quantity.

Garage .- There are two garages at Slatington for the accommodation of automobiles. The first was started in 1897 by Lewis F. Sauerwine, on Middle alley, to the rear of the Opera House, which he equipped with machinery for making all kinds of repairs and he carried this on in a very successful manner until the Fall of 1913 when he erected and equipped a much larger plant, two story brick building, 40 by 85, on the same alley farther south, at the rear of his resi- dence to accommodate his increasing trade and the requirements of his patrons.

The other was established in 1909 by Frederick Horlacher, he having changed his bottling works for this purpose and equipped it with a machine shop which has been carried on since by Charles Snyder.

Peter Macconachie has a similar establishment on Factory street, in lower Slatington, which is devoted entirely to making repairs.

Concrete Blocks .- Daniel D. Olewine began to manufacture concrete blocks for building pur- poses about 1900, and in 1906 erected a plant in the western section of the borough which he has since carried on. In connection with the factory he deals in cement, sand, lime and plaster.

Cigars .- A number of persons have been en- gaged at Slatington in the manufacture of cigars, those worthy of mention being Jacob Hummel from 1864 to 1875, his son, Charles P., for up- wards of twenty years, and John F. Miller from 1883 to the present time.

SLATINGTON IN 1913.

Town Hall, Taxables,

Fire Companies,

3 Cemeteries, 2

Police,

3 Newspapers, 2

Water Works,

Livery-Stables, 2

Gas Works,

Garages,

Bridges,

Hotels,

Banks,

2 Saloons, I3

Steam Railroads, .

4 Restaurants, Pool-rooms,

Car Barn,

Amusement Halls,

Churches,

II Telephone Lines. 2

School Buildings, . 3 Telegraph (W. U.), I

Population, 3,000

Societies,

Street Railway,

690

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Halls,

7 Hardware,

6 6

Physicians,

Millinery,

Dentist,

Meat,

Optician,

5-10 Cent,

Veterinarian,

Dealers in slate, . .

Painters,

Industries :

Plumbers,

6 Box Factory, Grist Mill,

tors.

2 Saw-Mill, Slaughter-House,

Shoemakers, 6 Marble Works, .

Rolling-Mill,

I H

Cigar manufactur- ers.

2 Machine Shops, .

Laundry,

Knitting Mills, 2

Umbrella Han-

Photographers,

5 Slate Works :

Black-smiths,

Roofing, 21

Stores :

Dry-Goods,

Structural, II

Drug, Etc.,

16 3

Black-Boards, 3

For particulars of Slatington relating to cen- sus, taxables, property valuation, &c., see chapter XVIII on CENSUS.

CHURCHES.

The churches and schools of Slatington began to be organized with the beginning of the town and they have continued to co-operate in a most successful manner, so that now the borough con- tains eleven of the former and three of the lat- ter.

The churches are as follows:

St. John's Reformed.

St. John's Lutheran.

St. Paul's Evangelical. Trinity United Evan- gelical.

Presbyterian.

Baptist.

Christ Episcopal.

Welsh Calvinistic.

Methodist Episcopal.

Methodist.

Roman Catholic.

Welsh Congregational- ist.

St. John's Reformed Church .-- With a view to forming a religious organization at Slatington, constituted of members of the Lutheran and Re- formed denominations, a number of meetings, ad- dressed by ministers of the respective churches, were held in the old town hall and also in the public school-house, and a final meeting was held Aug. 7, 1868, when it was determined that a union church should be built, to be known as "St. John's Union Church of Slatington." A joint building committe was appointed, consisting of the following members:

Reformed-Jonas Kern, Philip Wotring. Lutheran-David Ross, Henry Handwerk.

The site for the building was selected on Sec- ond street, south of Main, on a lot adjoining the public school property. The corner-stone was laid with proper ceremonies June 17, 1869, the officiating ministers having been Isaac Loos and Samuel Leinbach, who represented the Reformed denomination, and L. Grove and J. S. Renninger, the Lutheran.

The church was erected under the superin- tendency of the committee named, and dedicated on Dec. 26, 1869. The officiating ministers were: Reformed-Revs. D. Brendel, Levi K. Derr, Samuel Leinbach. Lutheran-Revs J. D. Schindel, Ferdinand Berkemeyer (the latter still living in the 85th year of his age, in retirement at Sellersville, Pa.).

This relationship between the two denomina- tions was carried on in a harmonious manner un- til 1881. The Reformed denomination then pur- chased the interest of the Lutheran for the con- sideration of $4,000, thereby becoming the sole owner of the property. General repairs were immediately made to the building, costing $4,000, and from that time until now it has been oc- cupied by the St. John's Reformed congregation.

During the first thirteen years the congregation carried on a successful organization, and for the first ten years Rev. Levi K. Derr served it as pastor when he was obliged to resign on account of failing health. The first communion was ad- ministered in May, 1870, and at that time sixty-six persons presented their names for mem- bership. Rev. William J. Peters became Mr. Derr's successor ; the membership then was 225. The Slatington charge was composed of St. John's and Frieden's Church (situated about one half mile to the south in Washington township), but in 1886 St. John's became a separate charge. In 1885 Rev. Peters ended his pastorate and was succeeded in 1886 by Rev. Neri Peters, who has served the congregation until the present time in a most efficient manner, covering a continu- ous period of 27 years.

In 1889 the Sunday school rooms were en- larged and improved and a parsonage was erect- ed on an adjoining lot to the south at an expense exceeding $5,000. In 1894 the interior of the church was largely improved and handsomely decorated and electric light chandeliers and large ventilators in the ceiling were introduced. In 1898 a superior new organ with 930 pipes, was installed, a brick annex having been built at the rear of the church for that purpose. In 1900 a new steeple was erected and the exterior of the church repainted, which was done by the Ladies' Aid Society at an expense exceeding $1,200. In 1906 extensive improvements were made to the church edifice including a renovation of the Sun- day school room at an expense of $4,000.

The membership of the congregation in 1913 was 920 and of the Sunday school 715. During the pastorate of Rev. Peters 1,727 members were added to the church; 840 by confirmation, and 887 by letter and renewal of profession; and in this time $75,220 contributed by the members for various church purposes.

Concrete Contrac-

Tailors,

Undertakers,

dles, I

Barbers,

School,

691

BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON.

St. John's Lutheran Church .- The introduc- tory history of this church will be found in the history of St. John's Reformed Church.

In 1871 this congregation elected Rev. D. K Kepner as its pastor and he served until Jan. I, 1875. For the following year there was no regu- lar pastor but during this short period Rev. J. D. Schindel, of Allentown, and four students of the Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia conduct- ed the religious services. One of the students was Jesse S. Erb and his ability and success came to be so highly appreciated by the members that he was unanimously elected as pastor in 1876 and he has continued to serve the congregation to the present time, covering a period of 37 years.

The Union Church having become the prop- erty of the St. John's Reformed congregation, the Lutheran congregation immediately proceed- ed to establish a new church for themselves on a large lot of ground situated on the same street, a short distance south on the opposite side, which had been generously donated, including a two- story frame building for a parsonage, by a gen- erous and zealous member, Mrs. David Ross. The corner stone was laid June 2, 1881, with appropriate ceremonies by the pastor, Rev. J. S. Erb, who was assisted by Prof. N. N. Wacker- nagel and S. A. Zeigenfuse; and the completed edifice was dedicated Dec. 2, 1883, the pastor having been assisted in the dedication by Revs. B. Sadtler, D.D., and J. D. Schindel. In 1888 an addition of 28 feet was erected at the rear of . the church and other improvements were made, including the installation of a superior pipe or- gan at an expense of $8,000.

During the inception of the foregoing church movement, addresses were also made on the sub- ject of Sunday school and the first meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church where a school was started with 18 pupils. This number was augmented at the second meeting to 64 pupils, and a proportional increase was made at subse- quent meetings which required a more commo- dious building which was secured in the public school house at Second and Main streets. Upon the erection of the Union Church in 1869 the meeting place was transferred to the church and it was there until the dissolution was effected when each congregation conducted a separate school for the children of its members; and this has been continued until the present time.

A bible-class was organized about the same time which was regularly instructed by Rev. Renninger, assisted by Rev. S. A. Leinbach, of the Reformed denomination and by their united efforts they succeeded in establishing the Union Church.

Presbyterian Church is an attractive frame

structure, with a steeple 120 feet high, painted white, situated at the northern extremity of the main street in the upper section of Slating- ton. The organization of the congregation was effected by a number of the first English settlers in this vicinity who held religious meetings from 1850 to 1855 in the various homes, which were under the directing influence of Rev. Dr. Gray, of Easton, Rev. Leslie Irvine, of the Allen town- ship church and James Kennedy (a ruling elder of the Allen church) with the encouragement and support of thirteen original members, among whom were the ruling elders, Robert McDowell and James Marshall, and the deacons, W. S. Crosbie and W. Jones; and the result of these meetings was the erection of a frame church on the site mentioned during the years 1854-'55, the corner stone having been laid in July, 1854, and the structure dedicated in February, 1855, with the Rev. Dr. D. V. McLean (then presi- dent of Princeton College), officiating in the ceremonies.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 123

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