History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 189

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 189

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INDUSTRIES.

committee to complete the work which had been pushed forward so successfully.

Morris L. Kauffman, Esq., was appointed the trustee for the proper application of the fund subscribed, and known as "The Silk Factory Fund."

The title to the property is held in the name of Levi Line until such time as the Phoenix Man- ufacturing Company should demand the title under their agreement, a deed for which was placed in the hands of Morris L. Kauffman, the trustee in escrow.

Levi Line, after due advertisement and pro- posals being received, awarded the contract for the erection of the building to Thomas W. Sny- der, after receiving the approval of the execu- tive committee appointed at a meeting of the subscribers known as the Silk Factory Fund As- sociation, which committee consisted of Messrs. James K. Mosser, David O. Saylor, Col. T. H. Good, Aaron G. Reninger, and H. A. Still- wagen, the contract price being $14,970.66.

The erection of the building was under the superintendence of Thomas Steckel, for Levi Line and the subscribers; A. J. Derron, Jr., & Co., being the supervising architects.

During the third week of September, 1880, the ground was broken for the foundation of the building from which time rapid progress was made in the work of erection.

It becoming apparent to the executive commit- tee that the amount subscribed and covered by the mortgage of $70,000 would be insufficient for the completion of the buildings, efforts were made for further subscriptions. Several meet- ings of all the subscribers being held, a second mortgage of $15,000 was given upon the prem- ises, the bonds secured by this mortgage being willingly taken by the parties who had originally subscribed for the first mortgage bonds; the balance of the cash was obtained from the Allen- town National Bank, by placing the unissued bonds amounting to $12,000 as collateral se- curity; twenty-four of our prominent citizens guaranteeing payment thereof to the bank, which guarantors were obtained in the course of three hours.

The engine was built by the Buckeye Engine Company, at a cost of $4,900, and it was 150- horse power.

All disbursements were made through Morris L. Kauffman, the trustee, the bills being first approved by Thomas Steckel, the superintendent, and an order granted by the executive committee.

It is said by those who are in a position to know that the Adelaide is one of the finest and handsomest silk mills in the country, and the largest in the state. It is four stories high, 250

feet long, and 50 feet wide. The extension on the west side is also quite capacious and supplied with large vaults and safes in which to store the valuables of the mill. The business department is also located in this portion of the building and is handsomely and conveniently arranged for the prompt transaction of business. The walls of the entire structure are built of excellent brick, resting upon a solid foundation of cemented stone. The floor in the basement is of cement, preventing all moisture and dampness. The works are abundantly supplied with water and gas and all other conveniences. The Jordan Meadow Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad connects with the mill, which renders the receiv- ing and shipping of goods and materials a mat- ter of great ease.

PIONEER SILK MILL .- John Ryle, said to have been the first manufacturer of silk in the United States, established a silk mill in Allentown, at the corner of Seventh and Allen streets, in 1886, being the second mill of this kind started at Al- lentown, the first having been the Adelaide. It was operated under the name of the Pioneer Silk Co., until 1901, with John A. McCollum, Sr., as superintendent; then it was purchased by the Allentown Silk Co., which has carried on the plant until the present time.

PALACE RIBBON MILL .- This mill was built in 1893, by Max Wolff, on Auburn street, in the Twelfth ward. It is a three-story brick building, 50 by 425 feet. The company manufactures all kinds of plain and fancy ribbons. The annual pro- duction is 3,500,000 yards, with 126 looms and 25,000 spindles. The employees number 350. The officers have been Max Wolff, president and treasurer; and William Reichmann, secretary. John Graeflin has superintended the mill since 1897.

WEILBACHER SILK MILL .- This mill at Front and Gordon streets, was erected in 1897, by Franklin Weilbacher. The plant covers half a block, and comprises two four-story brick buildings, each 50 by 140 feet. He carried on the business five years, then leased the plant to the present operators. Joseph L. Haas is the superintendent. The employees number 400.

RIONOR SILK MILL .- This plant was erected in 1899, on Auburn street, in the Twelfth ward, by Charles A. Zinderstein. He adopted the name from the names of his two children, Mar- rion and Norton, and carried on the business of manufacturing narrow ribbons until his decease, in 1902. Then the Rionor Silk Co. was in- corporated, and C. T. Davis, of Allentown, has since filled the offices of secretary and treasurer. H. Hauptman has superintended the plant since Oct. 1, 1904. The plant was enlarged in 1902.

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

It produces annually 40,000,000 yards; the em- ployees number 135.

LECHA SILK MILL .-- The Lecha Silk Co. was incorporated Nov. 15, 1901, by John A. Mc- Collum and Charles Riber, who had been con- nected with the Pioneer Silk Co. The plant is located at Twelfth and Monroe streets, is ex- tensively engaged in the manufacture of high- grade silk ribbons, and employs 150 hands. The officers of the Company are: President, Hugh E. Crilly; secretary and treasurer, John A. Mc- Collum.

KALTENBACH & STEPHENS SILK MILL. -This firm became incorporated in New York, in 1891, under the name of Kaltenbach & Stev- ens, for the manufacture of silk ribbons. In March, 1907, they established a large mill in

The general manager of the Allentown plant is . Otto Suther, whose son Julius, is assistant. The main office of the corporation is at Newark, N. J.

WINONA SILK MILL is situated at Mountain- ville, in Salisbury township, and comprises a building 40 by 80 feet, erected in 1909, with an addition 70 by 85 feet, erected in 1912. The incorporators of the company were: President, M. J. Kauffman; vice-pres. and general man- ager, John J. Weaver ; secretary, M. A. Bitting; William Daubenspeck, and Walter Crush. The plant produces broad silks, and employs 36 hands.

KEYSTONE TEXTILE Co .- Edwin F. Miller, Paul L. Semmels, Alfred Soland, Charles N. Gossard, D. F. Kelchner, and Charles S. Mad- eira associated together for the manufacture of

QUEEN CITY SILK MILL.

East Allentown, 92 by 350 feet, which was equipped with machinery and started with 100 hands. The business was conducted in a most successful manner, which necessitated an enlarge- ment of the plant; and, accordingly, a second mill was built in 1909; a third in 1910, and a fourth in 1914. This large enterprise now op- erates 500 looms and employs upwards of 500 hands.

These mills produce only narrow ribbons, with an annual capacity of 50,000,000 yards. They manufacture the famous blue ribbon which is distinctively used by the Pabst Brewing Co., of Milwaukee, as a popularizing advertisement of the beer of that western city, and produce an- nually on order 20,000,000 yards.

broad silks, under the name of The Keystone Textile Co., and became incorporated under the laws of Delaware, with a capital of $125,- 000. They established a plant, 50 by 200 feet, in South Allentown, at Furnace and Godfrey streets, which was equipped with 100 looms, op- erated by electric power. They employ 60 hands and produce weekly 15,000 yards.

HUNSICKER, GOOD & Co .- In 1908, Charles O. Hunsicker, Israel F. Good, and Herbert J. Hunsicker organized a company for the manu- facture of fine silk ribbons and have since traded as Hunsicker, Good & Company. Their plant comprises a three-story brick building, 50 by 60 teet. They employ 35 hands.

POST & SHELDON SILK MILL .- This great

WALNUTPORT SILK CO., WALNUTPORT.

H. J. FELDHEGE SILK Co., EGYPT, PA.

INDUSTRIES.

WALNUTPORT SILK CO., WALNUTPORT.

H. J. FELDHEGE SILK Co., SIEGFRIED, PA.

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

corporation was organized in 1901, and operates three prosperous mills in Lehigh county at Allen- town, Slatington and Slatedale. The mill at Allentown is 210 by 210 feet, operates 280 looms, employs upward of 200 hands, and produces large quantities of broad silk.

QUEEN CITY SILK Co. was organized and in- corporated in 1907, at Allentown, by Thomas H. Kinney, Leo Schimpff, and John McCollum, Sr., with the first-named as manager. The plant is situated at Twenty-first and Linden streets, and equipped with the necessary machinery, in-

prise in the borough of Macungie, and produces annually large quantities of silk bindings and ribbons, amounting to $60,000. It was organized in 1908 by G. Byron Kleppinger as the manager, with Dr. D. D. Fritch as the president. The plant consists of a one-story brick building, 50 by 74 feet, with a brick annex, 50 by 80 feet, and employs upward of 30 hands. It is run by electric power, day and night, on two shifts.

McBRIDE SILK MILL .- In August, 1911, John and William J. McBride (brothers), of Cat- asauqua, established a silk-mill at Fullerton, a

MCBRIDE BROS. SILK MILL, FULLERTON.

cluding 100 looms for the manufacture of silk ribbons, employs 260 hands, and has an annual production of $700,000.

STATE SILK Co. was incorporated in 1911 by H. Kahn, of New York City, and I. Saperstein, and Charles Saperstein, of Allentown, for the manufacture of broad silks. They run 50 looms and employ 40 hands.

WIDMER SILK Co. was organized in 1913 by Godfrey Widmer and George Van de Water for manufacturing broad silks, with Mr. Widmer, of Allentown, as president and general manager. They run 60 looms and employ 40 hands. Their plant is at Fourteenth and Liberty streets.

MACUNGIE SILK Co. is a prosperous enter-

one-story brick building, 84 feet long by 42 feet wide, with a two-story brick annex, 108 feet long by 48 feet wide, and a brick building for engine and boilers. The plant is situated at the corner of Quarry and Mulberry streets and they have' since carried on the manufacture of broad silks and linings, under the name of McBride Broth- ers. They employ 65 hands.

H. J. FELDHEGE SILK COMPANY .- In 1912 the H. J. Feldhege Silk Company of Egypt, was organized by H. J. Feldhege and E. T. Zellner, where they employ 250 people. The following year the same people started a mill at Siegfrieds. Besides these mills, Mr. Feldhege is the sole pro- prietor of two silk mills at Walnutport, which

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were started in 1913. The company manufac- tures broad silk and employ 600 hands at the four mills.

SILK MILL SUPPLIES .- In 1900, Isaac A. Hall, of Paterson, N. J., erected a large five- story brick building along the L. V. R. R., south of Hamilton street, near the passenger station, for the purpose of manufacturing reeds, loom harness, and silk mill supplies, and has since car- ried on a successful business, employing 70 hands. His trade extends in the states of Pennsylvania and New York. His residence is at Paterson. The local manager since 1912 has been Frank- lin Van Gieson.

BOBBIN WORKS .- In August, 1901, H. A. Mack, James K. Bowen, and Avon Barnes as- sociated together as the H. A. Mack Manufactur- ing Company, for the manufacture of high grade silk bobbins as a specialty, including train, organ, and doubler bobbins, made under the Mack pat- ents. In 1902, they became incorporated as the Allentown Bobbin Works; and in 1904 located at Nos. 417-31 North Fourteenth street, where they erected a two-story brick building, 40 by 160 feet, and equipped it with special machinery. They employ 75 hands and their trade reaches throughout the United States.

SHUTTLES .- G. Pavia, L. Pavia, C. C. Sacco, and P. Rescinguo, have traded as the Pavia Shuttle Company since 1906, at Hall and Maple streets, in the manufacture of weaving shuttles and silk loom supplies ; employ 10 hands ; forward product to all parts of United States. This is one of the largest factories in the country wholly devoted to shuttles.

NATIONAL WARPING AND WINDING CO .- In August, 1914, Leonard Orcurto and Al- phonse Lova, of Philipsburg, N. J., located at Allentown, and began trading as the National Warping and Winding Company, for the manu- facture of silk goods. They secured a large ware-room on Hall street, south of Hamilton, which is being equipped with the necessary ma- chinery and will employ from 25 to 50 hands.

BRADFORD WINDING Co. is at 613 Court street, Allentown, with 40 machines, run by elec- tric power. They employ 30 hands, and ship their cones to all parts of the country.

NATIONAL SILK DYE WORKS .- Edward Lotte was born at Paris, France, in 1811, and became a leather merchant. He identified him- self publicly with the Republican movement there and, in 1855, was obliged to emigrate. He was in England three years, then proceeded to Pennsylvania and located at Reading, but soon after moved to Philadelphia, where he embarked in the business of stamping and embroidery. His

son, Edward A., born at Paris in 1845, learned the trade of skein silk dyeing at Philadelphia, and was employed at different dye-works until 1879, when he engaged in the business for himself, and continued until his decease, in 1884. His sons, Edward F. L. and Charles E., then carried on the business under the name of Lotte Brothers, until 1899, when they sold the plant and located at Allentown, where they have since been en- gaged most successfully until the present time. Besides the works at Allentown, they have es- tablished large works at Williamsport, Pa., and Paterson and Dundee Lake in New Jersey. On Jan. 1, 1909, these several works were incorpo- rated under the name of the National Silk Dye- ing Co. and employ 3,000 hands. At Allentown they employ 700, and the manager is Walter C. Lotte. They dye large quantities of goods from mills in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and the New England States.

ALLENTOWN SILK DYEING WORKS .- In 1864 William Ross embarked in the business of dyeing silk materials and established a plant at 345 North Seventh street, which he carried on there until 1888, when it was removed to 417 Sumner avenue, where it was continued by him until 1895. His son, Richard F., became his successor, and has since conducted the business under the name of Allentown Silk Dyeing Works. He employs 15 hands.

PICKUP & KEAN started in 1910, to mercerize and dye cotton yarns. They have a large three- story building, 75 by 175 feet, on Sumner avenue, and employ 45 hands.

THE ALLENTOWN SPINNING COMPANY, lo- cated at the northwest corner of Gordon and Jor- dan streets, was established in 1886, by Robert Barbour, the father of the present president. It is a Pennsylvania corporation and the capital origi- nally invested was $200,000.00, and the number of employees was about 300. The concern has now an invested capital of more than $1,000,000, and employs 700 people. A superior grade of jute yarns and twines are manufactured which have a ready market in this country and in Canada. The business consumes a floor-space of 170,000 square feet. The buildings are all mod- ern, and a 1700-horse power engine furnishes the power that runs the machinery.

The present officers are: President, J. E. Bar- bour; vice-president and general superintend- ent, D. R. Malcolm ; secretary, Malcolm Hain; and treasurer, John Edwards. Al the officers except D. R. Malcolm reside in Pat- erson, New Jersey, where the same company has a branch factory, where a similar grade of prod- uct is manufactured and 150 people are employed

WILLIAMSPORT WORKS

DUNDEE LAKE WORKS.

VAN HOUTEN STREET WORKS.

888 7 888

FAST MAIN STREET WORKS.

EAST FIFTH STREET WORKS

WOOD STREET WORKS

VALLEY WORKS.

WORKS.

POWERS PHOTO ENG CO NY

ALLENTOWN

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

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by them. D. R. Malcolm is connected with this concern since the year 1890. His son, James F. Malcolm, is the assistant superintendent of the Allentown plant, in which city he and his father reside since coming to this country.

ALLENTOWN KNITTING Co. was organized by Andrew K. Jacks, C. W. Knouse, and Wilson M. Gift, for manufacturing ladies' and children's knit underwear, with Mr. Gift as the superin- tendent. Their plant is at 36-38 South Church street, Allentown. They employ 32 hands, run 21 knitting and 14 sewing machines, and produce daily 300 dozen.

SWISSONIA KNITTING MILLS were erected in 1903 by John J. Taylor, at No. 32 North Foun- tain street, for the manufacture of ladies' light knit underwear. The plant consists of a three- story brick building, 60 by 110 feet, where 37 knitting machines and 60 sewing machines are in constant operation, affording employment to 120 hands.

In 1913, A. M. Sanderowitz started a plant at 157 Gordon street for manufacturing nainsook underwear and jean drawers, and afterward re- moved it to 25 North Hall street. He employs from 20 to 25 hands.

In May, 1914, Louis Dennison and Maurice Sanderowitz started a plant at 954 Jackson street for manufacturing loose-fitting underwear, and have since traded as the D. & S. Manufacturing Company. They employ from 30 to 40 hands, and sell their product to jobbers at New York City ; also in the southern states.

In the summer of 1914, Patterson & Humes, at 113 South Seventh street, started making knitted underwear.

In February, 1914, C. E. Brooke began trading as the C. E. Brooke Knitting Company, for the manufacture of children's waists. His factory is at No. 722 Linden street, and he employs from 30 to 35 hands. His trade extends throughout the United States.

In 1902, E. A. Hirner, A. F. Henninger and O. H. Mink incorporated the Novelty Hosiery Company for the manufacture of fine silk half hose. They erected a three-story brick building, 260 by 340 feet, and equipped it with the neces- sary machinery ; and have since conducted a large business, employing from 200 to 300 hands. Their trade extends over the United States.

The Alacrity Knitting Mill Company was in- corporated in 1910 by J. C. Smith, William Sinwell, and William Stuber, with a capitaliza- tion of $15,000. The factory is located at 824 Cherokee street, Fountain Hill, where they em- ploy 28 people in the manufacture of a fine grade of seamless hosiery. The building, a two-story

brick, 22 by 100 feet, is equipped with electricity and steam power. The product is sold direct to firms in the large cities.

CEMENT MILLS.

To the general public cement is usually asso- ciated with the numerous works of the Romans; but the mortar used in their constructions was not cement, but a mixture of slaked lime and pozzolana, a volcanic dust, which was found in large quantities in Italy. It was not until the end of the Eighteenth Century that the true principles of hydraulic cement were discovered by Smeaton.

The first class, or natural, was made by Jo- seph Parker, in 1796, who discovered what he called "Roman Cement." This was practically the first cement of commerce and gave excellent results. Investigations by Gen. Sir William Paisley and, contemporaneous with him, by Vicat, a French engineer, resulted in the production of Portland cement, artificially made by calcimining mixtures of chalk and clays at high temperatures to incipient vitrifaction.

While these experiments were going on Joseph Aspdin, a brick-layer or plasterer, took out a patent in England, in 1824, on a high grade ar- tificial cement, which was the first Portland ce- ment on the market. It obtained its name from its resemblance to the celebrated Portland stone, one of the leading building materials in England.

Natural cement was used in the United States as early as 1818. In the construction of the Lehigh Canal it was manufactured at Lehigh Gap, from 1826 to 1830, and at Siegfried's, from 1830 to 1841, by Samuel Glace, employed by the canal company as supervisor, and a resident of Catasauqua from 1841 to the time of his de- cease, in 1892.

FIRST CEMENT MILLS .- The first cement mill in this section of country was at Lehigh Gap, between the canal and river, opposite Craig's hotel. The kilns were four in number, IO to 15 feet in height, conical in shape and built against the bank of the canal. The rock was hauled by teams six miles from the ridge above Palmerton to the mill. The deposit became ex- hausted until 1830, when the mill was aband -- oned. It was destroyed by the flood of 1841.

While constructing the canal at Siegfried's, another deposit of cement-rock was found, and thereupon, in 1830, Mr. Glace erected a second mill at that place with four kilns, which was operated by him until 1841. The capacity was ten barrels per day. Subsequently, about 1860, this mill was leased by Messrs. Menninger,

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Kohl, Eckert, and Ackerman, and operated for a time, when it was sold to the Lawrence Cement Co., and abandoned. The ruins can still be seen along the river bank. These facts have been taken from a small pamphlet, published by William H. Glace, Esq., of Catasauqua, Mr. Glace's son, in 1912, entitled "A Narrative of Hydraulic Cement in the Lehigh Valley," which shows that his father was the first person who made cement in the great Lehigh region.

COPLAY WORKS .- Excavations made by the L. V. R. R. Co., along the west side of the river, laid bare an extensive formation of cement-rock similar to what had been discovered on the op- posite side of the river twenty-five years earlier. The value of the deposit was soon recognized by David O. Saylor, Esaias Rehrig and Adam Wool- ever, who organized the Coplay Cement Co., in 1866, and secured a large amount of desirable property. They built two small kilns for burn- ing the stone and fitted out an old distillery building near the railroad station for a grind- ing mill. The business was started in a small way, but, finding it profitable, the owners en- larged the plant, in 1869, by erecting a mill near-by and two additional mills, which increased their capacity to 250 barrels a day. In 1870 they opened a new quarry, and in 1871 put up an additional mill.

Until this time, only natural cement had been made; then Mr. Saylor discovered a process, se- cured a patent, and named it "Anchor." In 1873 they started the manufacture of "Portland" cement and named it the "Saylor Portland," which became popular and in great demand, which necessitated other enlargements in 1874, 1875, 1877, and 1882, which gave them alto- gether 17 kilns, 13 for "Portland" cement and 4 for "Anchor," with a daily production of 600 barrels, and employees numbering 150.

This company is recognized as the first to have made "Portland" cement in large quantities, and its quality is equal to the best foreign brands. It has been extensively used for many years in the construction of government works. In 1890 it produced 170,000 barrels in six months.

In 1892 and 1893 the methods of manufactur- ing cement underwent a change. The rotary kilns were introduced by some companies and by the Coplay Co. in 1899; but this company fav- ored the Schoefer process, known as the "Dutch Kilns," and they used them until 1904.

In 1914, electric power was introduced for operating the plant. Mill A was dismantled in 1906 and used for a bag-house until 1914, when it was destroyed by fire. Mill B contains three 100-foot rotary kilns with a daily capacity of

1,700 barrels. Mill C contains ten 60-foot ro- tary kilns with a daily capacity of 2,800 bar- rels.

The company owns and operates two large quarries, in which the rock materials are rec- ognized as of the best in the cement belt, one opened by Mr. Saylor along the Lehigh river, and the other on the Schaadt farm in West Co- play, which they purchased in 1900 for the sum of $100,000. The company employs 400 hands. The chief chemist is H. S. Hartzell.

The superior Saylor Portland Cement has been in extensive use for a period covering forty years, which evidences the popularity of this com- pany's product. Architects and builders through- out the country have given it preference in the construction of piers, sewers, bridges, aqueducts, reservoirs, factories, and massive buildings of all kinds. Many medals have been awarded to the company for the excellence of the samples of their cement placed on exhibition at expositions.

The officers of the company are: President, Ferdinand L. Loeb; vice-pres. and general man- ager, C. H. Breerwood ; secretary, George A. Christ; treasurer, Joseph L. Berg. Capitaliza- tion, $3,000,000.

AMERICAN WORKS .- The American Portland Cement Co. was organized in 1885, by Frank Thompson, Alexander McGough, Dr. Fil- bert, Robert W. Leslie, John W. Trinkle, John W. Eckert, and James Brand, and purchased 400 acres of land in Whitehall township, near Egypt, comprising parts of the Lazarus, Kohler, Rhoads, Schadt, and Woodring farms, besides other tracts, on which they established four large mills, with a combined capacity of 1,800,000 barrels a year. In 1898, the plant was sold for $3,000,000.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 189

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