USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Reading > History of Reading, Pennsylvania, and the anniversary proceedings of the sesqui-centennial, June 5-12, 1898 > Part 15
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through Berks and the surrounding counties, and dispose of them to the store-keepers. Besides locks, he also made strap hinges, turn-buckles, shutter-bolts, etc.
Another prominent locksmith from 1835 to 1850 was John Mellert. He emigrated from Germany in 1835 and, settling at Reading, he began making locks and wrought iron work. He supplied the locks for the Court House at Sixth and Court streets.
The next of prominence was Louis Neudoerffer, who began in 1859 at 428 Court street and continued in the business until his death in 1884, when he was succeeded by his son Frederick. In his time, the cast iron door lock was largely substituted, and on that account his attention was directed chiefly to iron railings and fencing. The son continued the business at the same place. He is recognized as an expert on safe locks.
The wrought iron lock is no longer made for general use in buildings. The hardware works have come to displace the lock- smith entirely.
Chain-Making .- About 1836 Nicholas Rapp, an experienced German blacksmith, emigrated from Bingen-on-the-Rhine to Reading, and began the manufacture of chains of all kinds to supply the trade at the hardware stores, and for a time for the Johnson Car Works. He continued in this branch of industry for fifty years, and during his time was the only one at Reading. He died in 1892. Several chain-makers attempted to carry on the business since then but they were obliged to suspend opera- tions on account of the cheaper price of machine-made chains.
JEWELRY.
The jewelers at Reading always manufactured various articles, but almost entirely to order, and they were mostly dealers. After members of different secret societies began to make fre- quent demands for badges, charms and emblems of various de- signs, the business of manufacturing them was established. Thomas W. Sweney was the first to engage in it extensively, having started about 1865 and continued until now.
Willson Factory .- Thomas A. Willson opened a jewelry store at 524 Penn square in 1868, and in connection with it car- ried on a department for manufacturing society marks and also
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HISTORY OF READING.
spectacles. In 1871 he erected a spectacle factory and in 1872 directed his entire attention to it, transferring the jewelry busi- ness to his father Giles J. Willson and an employee, G. A. Schlechter, who traded as Willson & Schlechter until 1880. Then Charles G. Willson and George W. Clous succeeded Schlechter and the firm name was changed to Willsons & Clous. In 1887 Charles G. Willson became the sole owner and he has carried on the business successfully ever since. He em- ploys 7 hands and manufactures all kinds of secret society marks and charms as a specialty, which he sends to all parts of the United States.
Schlechter Factory .- G. A. Schlechter was engaged as a jeweler with several parties from 1870 to 1890; then, besides carrying on a store, began to make numerous badges, charms, rings, etc., which he forwarded to all parts of the United States, and he has continued until now, employing generally 6 hands. He has been established at Sixth and Penn streets since 1882.
Anderson Factory .- In 1886 C. T. Anderson started making sulphur jewelry, consisting of rings, pins, badges and charms, and he has conducted the business quite extensively, employing 6 hands and shipping his goods to all parts of the United States.
There are altogether twenty-five jewelers at Reading, but they are mostly dealers or manufacture goods to order for local trade. The factories mentioned are most extensively engaged in the business.
LAUNDRIES.
General laundry work was begun at Reading in 1875 by Charles Ruth. He was engaged in the business for a short time when Soloman Hirshland and H. W. Adams became his successors. Hop Lee, a Chinaman, started about 1880. Joseph W. Auchenbach began the first steam laundry in 1879 on Sev- enth street near Cherry, and carried it on several years.
Excelsior Laundry .- In 1884 Charles E. and Morgan O. Witman, brothers, established the first extensive steam laundry at 139 Pearl street. Their business grew so rapidly that in sev- eral years they removed to Sixth and Franklin streets where they fitted up a large establishment. They located sixty offices for the collection and distribution of articles in Reading and elsewhere. It was named the Excelsior Laundry. In 1892
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LAUNDRIES.
Raphael Austrian became the purchaser and he operated it until his decease in 1897 with Samuel E. Willits as a partner for several years. He was succeeded by Samuel Tinkler, who em- ploys 25 hands and has fifty offices, mostly at Reading.
Penn Troy Laundry .- William Y. and Frederick A. Schmucker established the Penn Troy laundry at the southeast corner of Washington and Ash street in 1892. It is the largest laundry at Reading. The building is equipped with the most improved machinery, including a large ironing machine that weighs nine tons. A specialty is made of hotel and flat work. They employ from 50 to 75 persons, and have seventy-five agencies distributed throughout the city.
Reading Laundry was started by Annette Tounelier in 1880 with 7 hands. She conducted it until 1883 when she married Lewis C. Stringer, by whom it has been operated since. In 1895 it was removed to 52712 Penn square. He employs 26 hands; also 3 teams for delivering articles in all parts of Read- ing. Considerable orders are shipped to different parts of Berks county.
City Laundry was started in 1893 by Wesley K. Loose at. Seventh and Court streets. He employs 10 hands and I team for delivering articles in all parts of Reading. He executes large orders of new work for shirt manufacturers.
Snow Flake Laundry .- John W. H. Harpst started the "snow flake" laundry at 308 North Ninth street in 1896. Em- ploys 8 hands and 2 teams for custom work at Reading.
Model Laundry .- In April, 1897, Frank C. Stringer started the model laundry at 220 Washington street, and in April, 1898, removed to 144 Rose street. He employs 12 hands and 2 delivery teams for trade at Reading.
There are altogether fifteen establishments. Six of them are carried on by Chinamen.
LEATHER.
Kerper Tannery .- In 1763 Daniel Levan established on Sixth street near Chestnut, one of the largest tanneries then in Penn- sylvania. It had fifty vats. During the Revolutionary war the establishment was one of the most prominent industries at Reading. It was carried on by him until 1801, and afterward by his sons Isaac and Daniel until 1808, when John Dieffen-
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HISTORY OF READING.
bach became the owner, who operated it until 1825. The suc- ceeding owners were Abraham Kerper from 1825 to 1857, and his son Henry from 1857 to 1885, when it was discontinued.
Fichthorn Tannery .- Charles Fichthorn erected a two-story brick tannery on Chestnut street above Second about 1847, and with his brother William carried on the business until his death in 1853. They employed 12 hands and their annual business amounted to $50,000. Then William Fichthorn, Andrew Fich- thorn, Adam Fasig and Joseph Henry formed a co-partnership, trading as Fichthorn, Fasig & Co., and they became the owners and operated the plant until 1861. Andrew Fichthorn and his nephew Andrew purchased the tannery in that year and con- ducted the business successfully for seven years. Henry Kerper then purchased the property and carried on the business until 1886, when Oscar H. Haubner and William J. Heller, trading as Haubner & Heller, leased the plant and they have operated it since. They also carried on a plant at River and Hockley streets from 1891 to 1898. They employ 20 hands, and manu- facture annually 35,000 oak-tanned calf skins, worth $90,000, which are sold in all parts of the country, but mostly at New York.
Winter & Goetz Tannery .- In 1869 Anthony Blatz and Ferdinand Winter began the manufacture of calf and kid skins in fancy colors for gloves, shoes, suspenders, and actors' wear in a small factory at the foot of Jefferson street adjoining the Schuylkill canal, and they carried on the business under the name of Blatz & Winter until 1875. They employed from 6 to 8 hands and their product was shipped to New York and Boston. Then Mr. Blatz retired and Ferdinand Goetz took his place, the firm name becoming Winter & Goetz. The business was gradually increased until the construction of the Schuylkill Valley R. R. in 1883 caused the plant to be removed, and the firm then purchased the planing mill property at the foot of Pine street adjoining the canal. They made the necessary alterations and built a large addition. In 1885 they employed 44 hands and had invested $60,000; now they employ from 70 to 100 hands and have a much larger investment. They estab- lished a store at New York in 1885 for the sale of their skins, which are shipped from there to all parts of the world. The
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MALT.
hides are purchased from importers who procure them from Arabia, Africa and Brazil. The firm also obtain large quantities of sheep and calf skins from the surrounding counties.
Tiehel Tannery .- In 1892 Franz Tiehel and his son Charles began a tannery at 36 Hamilton street for kid leather. They obtain the sheep and calf hides from the vicinity of Reading and produce weekly 75 dozen of fine skins which are sold at their store in New York city. Investment, $12,000; employees, IO; annual wages, $5,000; and product, $55,000.
Other tanneries worthy of mention, operated for many years, but discontinued, were Manderbach's, (Second and Chestnut streets); Winter's, (opposite corner); Connard's, (Franklin street and Perkiomen avenue); and DeLong's, (Ninth and Muhlenberg streets. )
MALT.
In 1863 Frederick Schuldt and Moses K. Graeff began the business of making malt in large quantities, establishing a large malt-house along the P. & R. railroad below Muhlenberg street. They traded under the name of Schuldt & Graeff until 1867, when Mr. Schuldt retired, and Mr. Graeff carried on the busi- ness until 1895, when he discontinued it. The annual product amounted to $75,000, which was shipped mostly to Philadel- phia, Newark and Elizabeth. Mr. Schuldt started another · plant in 1876 on Orange street near Chestnut and made malt there for six years.
Walton K. Hagy and Benjamin Pott carried on a malt-house on Third street near Elm from 1882 to 1891, when the Reading Malt Co., limited, was organized by Mr. Hagy and Frank P. Lauer. They employ 6 hands and produce annually from 60,000 to 80,000 bushels which are sold to brewers in different parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
P. Barbey & Son began manufacturing malt in their brewing establishment for their own consumption in 1885, and they have continued until now, employing during the winter season 9 hands.
Most of the malt used here is manufactured elsewhere, the brewers requiring large quantities as evidenced by the great production of malt liquors.
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HISTORY OF READING.
MARBLE, SAND-STONE AND GRANITE WORKS.
Moers Marble Yard .- J. Frederick Moers started a marble yard at 214 Penn street in 1790, and carried on the business of manufacturing grave-markers, headstones and general cemetery work until his decease in 1816. He was succeeded by bis son John F. Moers, and the business was carried on by him until his death in 1861, when the present proprietor, J. Frederick Moers, a grand-son, became the owner. This is the oldest marble yard at Reading, having been at the same location for more than 100 years.
There are eight marble yards at Reading for supplying grave- markers, monuments, &c.
Eben Sand-stone Works .- About 1850 Ferdinand Behm started a sand-stone yard for cutting all kinds of building stones at Sixth and Spruce streets. He was succeeded by John Dinkel who carried on the place until 1870, when Christian Eben be- came the purchaser, and he located there, after having con- ducted a similar yard on Sixth street above Chestnut since 1854. He continued operations quite extensively until his decease in 1890, when his sons Frank W. and William succeeded him. They traded as F. W. Eben & Bro. and carried on the works successfully until April 1, 1898, when they removed to Second and Franklin streets. They have employed from 40 to 80 hands, and their annual operations amounted to $25,000 and . upwards.
Getz Marble Works .- In 1873 Hiram S. Getz and his son James K. began sawing marble at Spruce and Canal streets, carrying on the business under the name of H. K. Getz & Son. They employed 7 hands and the annual business amounted to $35,000; their trade having then been confined to Pennsylvania. In 1881 they removed to the foot of Second street, on Canal, enlarging the plant and introducing new machinery. In 1886 Hiram S. Getz died, and his son Hiram K. was substituted in his stead, the firm then trading as H. S. Getz's Sons. Their works are equipped with the most improved machinery. Em- ployees, 20; annual business, $125,000. The trade now ex- tends throughout the Middle States. The greater proportion of the marble sawed by them is imported from Carrara, Italy, and the balance is obtained from this country ..
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MATTRESSES.
Eisenbrown Granite Works .- In 1875 P. F. Eisenbrown located at Reading and started a marble and granite works at Sixth and Elm streets. After carrying on the business until 1889 he formed a partnership with his sons Harry W., Charles S., and George F., and also J. B. Faust, who have traded since then under the name of P. F. Eisenbrown, Sons & Co. Many fine monuments are made out of granite and marble, and gran- ite fronts for large structures are erected in all parts of Pennsyl- vania. Investment, $50,000; employees, 35.
Reading Granite Works .- John P. Dauth and G. A. Deemer opened a granite quarry in Cumru township in 1895 for the manufacture of paving blocks, curbing and building stones. Investment, $4,000; employees, 20. Their product amounts to $12,000, which is shipped to different parts of the country.
Miller Stone Works .- In 1892 August Haisch and Daniel Miller started an establishment at Washington and Pear streets for turning out building stone work with steam power, employ- ing six hands. Haisch died in 1896 and Miller became the owner. He employs 12 hands.
MATTRESSES.
All the furniture dealers make mattresses and couches, and carry on upholstering in connection with their business, having always done so, but they do not employ men for mattresses alone. There is one factory at Reading for this product.
Hodges Factory .- In 1896 Fred G. Hodges came from Wil- mington, Del., and located in Reading for the purpose of carry- ing on the manufacture of mattresses, in connection with a similar factory at Wilmington. He employs from 4 to 8 hands and produces about 5,000 mattresses annually, which are shipped to different parts of Eastern Pennsylvania.
METALLIC CORNICES.
Hain Works .- In 1872 A. J. Geissinger and Wm. T. Hain began manufacturing metallic cornice and ornamental work for churches, public buildings and dwellings at 827 Penn street. This consisted of copper and galvanized iron fronts, cornices, ceilings, finials, weather vanes, ventilators, &c. In 1873 Mr. Hain became sole owner, since which time he has conducted the place. His work is delivered to all parts of Pennsylvania. Employees, 8; wages, $5,000; product, $20,000.
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HISTORY OF READING.
Yeager Works .- In 1886 William B. Yeager and E. L. Gar- verich established a general cornice works at Eighth and Chest- nut streets for manufacturing all kinds of ornamental and archi- tectural metal work for dwellings, stores and public buildings. In 1891 Mr. Yeager became the sole proprietor. He fills orders from different parts of Eastern Pennsylvania. Employ- ees, from 5 to 10; wages, $3,000; investment, $3,000; product, $8,000.
Hafer Works .- In 1893 James D. Hafer began making all kinds of architectural metal work. His place is at 1046 North Eighth street. Employees, 7: wages, $2,500; product, $10,000, which is sent to different parts of Eastern Pennsylvania.
O1L.
Atlantic Refining Co .- In 1881 William S. Miller and Sam- uel R. Kerper, trading as the Reading Oil Co., carried on the business of refining oil at Reading until 1885, when they trans- ferred the same to the Acme Oil Co. In 1892 the Atlantic Re- fining Co. became the owner and this company has carried it on until the present time. Reading is the central station for this company, which has thirty-three sub-stations in Eastern Penn- sylvania, Western New Jersey and Northern Maryland. Em- ployees, 28; production, all the different grades of naphtha gasolines, refined oils, lubricating oils and greases, paraffine wax and candles. There is a large storage capacity at each of the sub-stations, but Reading is the general office to which re- ports are made daily. Henry S. Comstock has been the man- ager since 1888. Officers: James McGee, pres .; C. E. Bush- nell, sec. and treas.
OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS.
Reid Works .- Philip S. Reid and J. Ernest Reid, after hav- ing been employed for some years at Philadelphia as opticians, located at Reading, and organized the Standard Optical Co. in 1892 for the manufacture of opthalmascopes, trial frames, peri- meters, pupilometers, retinoscopes, etc. at 132 Church street, and they have continued the business successfully until the present time. They started with 3 hands, now employ 13. Their productions are disposed of in all the large cities of the United States, being used principally by the students in the
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ORGANS AND PIANOS.
different medical colleges. Their place is equipped with superior machinery, equal to that for the manufacture of the finest watches.
ORGANS AND PIANOS.
Bohler Factory .- Daniel Bohler was engaged in the manufac- ture of organs at Reading from 1820 for over 30 years, and his son Samuel afterward for fifty years. Both supplied organs for churches in the country districts in Berks and the surrounding counties, which were reputed to be superior in character. The latter died in 1896, his last factory having been on Bingaman street near Tenth. He was succeeded by Gideon S. Jefferies, January, 1896, who continued the factory until June, 1897. He employed from 8 to 12 hands and made 15 pipe organs a year.
Schoener Factory .- John B. Schoener carried on the piano- forte business at Reading from 1838 to 1870, and lived in retire- ment afterward, until January, 1898, when he died. He had worked at cabinet-making for 12 years, having learned his trade under William Weimer. His pianos were sold to different parts of Pennsylvania, but mostly in Philadelphia to dealers. They were square and all hand-made. He employed from 5 to 9 hands and made 15 pianos a year. Selling pianos on the in- stallment plan by large dealers obliged him to discontinue. It is reported that a party at Reading preferred to buy an instru- ment of this nature at Philadelphia. 'Some time afterward it required repairs, and the owner was obliged to call on Mr. Schoener to remedy the difficulty. The maker (Mr. Schoener) recognized his handiwork, but the owner denied it, saying the instrument was made at Philadelphia, whereupon the lid was raised and Mr. Schoener pointed out his name in plain letters.
PAINT.
Wilhelm Works. - Aaron Wilhelm began the manufacture of paint at Easton, Pa., in 1857, and continued the business there until 1871, when he removed to Reading. His brother William H. was then associated with him under the name of A. Wilhelm & Bro., and they continued the business until 1878, when William H. retired and Walter S. Davis was admitted in his stead. From that time the firm traded as A. Wilhelm & Co. In 1889
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HISTORY OF READING.
Aaron Wilhelm died and a company was incorporated under the name of "The A. Wilhelm Co." of which Charles W. Wilhelm · became president and Walter S. Davis, sec. and treas., they serving these positions until the present time. They manufac- ture paints of every description which are shipped to all parts of the country through distributing houses at Boston, Baltimore, Buffalo and Pittsburg. The establishment is situated on Poplar street beyond Walnut and comprises the largest paint enterprise in Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia.
Ruth Works .- B. Frank Ruth was employed in the Wilhelm works from 1873 to 1884, when he organized a company for the manufacture of paints of all kinds, fillers for wood and iron, varnishes, japans, putty, &c., consisting of himself, C. Edward Hecht and Edward Scull. They traded as B. F. Ruth & Co. and established a mill at 229 South Eighth street. They car- ried on the business until 1894, when the mill was removed to 210 South Eighth street, where larger facilities were provided and Mr. Ruth became the sole owner. His productions are for- warded to all parts of the United States. Employees, 10; in- vestment, $30,000.
Jackson & Hill Works .- In 1896 Henry H. Jackson and Jenkin Hill formed a co-partnership, trading as Jackson & Hill, for making paints, etc. They purchased the establishment of Morgan-Ruth-Mohr Paint Co., which had been carried on at Eleventh and Muhlenberg streets since 1890, and removed it to 810 Windsor street where they erected a large three-story brick building and equipped it with improved machinery. They em- ploy II men, and manufacture paints of all shades, putty, oils, varnishes and japans. Their trade is mostly of a local character.
Morgan Works .- In 1887 F. H. Morgan, after being in the employ of the Wilhelm works for some years, began the manu- facture of paints in a limited way in connection with James Ruth on Court street above Second, and in 1890 William G. Moore became associated with them. They located the works' at Eleventh and Muhlenberg streets and carried on the same ex- tensively. In 1896 H. H. Jackson and Jenkin Hill became the purchasers, when Mr. Morgan established a place for himself at I22 Wood street.
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PAPER.
PAPER.
The Reading Paper Mills is a corporation organized in 1886 with a capital of $300,000, for the purpose of operating three superior mills in the manufacture of fine book and plate paper. The following sketch embraces the important facts of the three establishments.
Penn Street Mill .- In 1841 Philip Bushong, a prominent and successful distiller, moved from Reamstown to Reading, pur- chased a large brick building at the foot of Court street on the west side of Front (which had been occupied for several years previously as a machine shop) and converted it into a distillery. He carried on the business of distilling whisky there until 1865, when he substituted the manufacture of paper, equipping the building with the necessary machinery for that purpose. He died in 1868. The mill was then carried on for several years by his son George and his son-in-law Alexander Jacobs for the estate, and afterwards by his sons Jacob and Henry until 1887, when it was sold to the corporation named.
Packerack Mill .- In 1838 Asa Packer and Robert W. Packer purchased a large lot of ground at the foot of Bingaman street adjoining the Schuylkill canal from Daniel Seiders, a boat builder, and erected thereon a large warehouse for storing mer- chandise in connection with operating boats on the canal. In 1853 the premises were sold to George R. Frill, who then con- verted the building into a large grist mill, and he and Solomon Brubaker carried on the milling business until 1872, when it was sold to Jacob Bushong, Henry Bushong and George B. Con- nard, and changed into a paper mill. This mill was then oper- ated by Mr. Connard for some years, and afterwards by him, Christopher Loeser and James Symington, trading as the Read- ing Paper Co. until 1882, when George F. Baer became the owner; and after the organization of the Reading Paper Mills, it was conveyed to the corporation. The building was enlarged and improved, and subsequently an addition was built to it to supply a department for coating paper.
Tulpehocken Mill .- Samuel Bell owned and operated a grist mill at the mouth of the Tulpehocken creek, in Bern township, for a number of years, and subsequently until 1866 it was known as the Kissinger mill. Then Benjamin F. Schwartz and
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HISTORY OF READING.
William H. Schwartz became the owners. They converted it into a paper mill, and carried on the manufacture of paper for two years. George W. Bushong then purchased the mill and operated it successfully until 1876, producing a superior grade of paper which had a wide reputation and came to be known in the market as the "Bushong Paper." The mill was afterwards operated by different parties until 1882, when George F. Baer became the owner, and in 1887 he conveyed it with the two mills mentioned to the Reading Paper Mills.
The three mills have been operated by the corporation named very successfully for the past 10 years; the Penn Street Mill producing fine book and plate papers; the Packerack Mill, book and coated papers; and the Tulpehocken Mill, manilla paper exclusively. The product of the first two mills has been dis- posed of principally to publishers and lithographers in the United States for fine book work; and of the last in the United States and England for making sand paper. All of them have been running night and day and have given steady employment to 150 persons. Officers: George F. Baer, pres .; Thomas O. Yarrington, Jr., sec .; and Chester A. Bushong, treas.
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