USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Kutztown > The centennial history of Kutztown, Pennsylvania : celebrating the centennial of the incorporation of the borough, 1815-1915 > Part 21
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN
129
inent factor in Berks county politics and Clerk of Quarter Sessions of his county.
A. F. DeLong, foreman of the press room department of the Kutztown Publishing Company's plant.
C. E. Gehring, who became known as one of the expert linotype operators in New York, established a linotype school and then entering politics, became Wm. Ran- dolph Hearst's first lieutenant. He held the office of deputy county clerk of the county of New York, and at the expiration of that term was made superintendent of records. He is now the publisher of the New York Hotel Register and Review.
Wm. G. Kern, of Saratoga Springs, N. Y., an experienced linotype operator and publisher of directories.
Jacob C. Hoch, still prominent school teacher of Maxatawny, with his residence in Kutztown.
E. M. Angstadt, the first linotype opera- tor in the Patriot office and still operates the machine satisfactorily.
Ed. Eshelman, an expert linotpye opera- tor in New York and noted for his speed and accuracy.
John D. Wink, who as teacher and print- er is at present employed by the Kutztown Publishing Company.
Charles Berkemeyer, who made the Beth- lehem Star shine as a star of the first magni- tude and still is active in the newspaper world of Allentown and in the political cir- cles of that city.
Robert Berkemeyer, who cut his path to fame as a Bethlehem hotelkeeper and then allied himself with the Schwab inter- ests.
Henry H. Bieber, who at the completion of his apprenticeship opened a job printing office here in Reading, which he is still con- ducting and where he is turning out good work.
Thomas S. Sharadin, a job printer, who is assisting the Reading Eagle Company and the Kutztown Publishing Company during the busy seasons.
James O'Neil learned his trade here and is now employed by the Kutztown Publish- ing Company.
The present force of the Kutztown Pub- lishing Company numbers fourteen.
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ARTICLES OF THE HOME ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
1 30
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN
INDUSTRIES, OLD AND NEW
A few locations in our borough have been well-known business places almost from the beginning. One of the oldest established places is that of William S. Christ, known for many years as Bieber's Store, situated on Main street, about one-half block from Greenwich street. In the long, long ago, a Mr. Wilson had a drygoods store at this place. Next came a candy store under the management of Samuel Bast. This was followed by another effort at a drygoods store in the hands of Reuben Bast, only to be followed again by a candy store.
Later on the property was bought by Joshua S. Bieber, who was married to a sister of Mr. Bast. From that time on to the present time it continued as a dry- goods and general merchandise store. At the death of Mr. Bieber, the property went over to his son, Walt. B., who successfully carried on the same line of business until the day of his death in 1910. The property then went into the hands by purchase of Solon A. Stein, who conducted the busi- ness for a short time when the property again exchanged hands, Dr. George Stim- mel buying the property and rented the store room to William S. Christ, the present proprietor. The old building was torn down and the present large brick structure erect- ed by Dr. Stimmel.
During Joshua S. Beiber's time a whole- sale liquor store was also established at the same place and was continued by his son, Walt. B., and Solon A. Stein,-Mr. Stein having given over this business to his cous- in, Byron A. Stein. It was discontinued a few years ago.
Shankweiler's store is another location where for many years the drygoods busi- ness was carried on. Simon Arnold handled the yard stick at this place many years ago; from him the business passed over in suc- cession to David Fisher, then Helfrich and Fisher,-the firm consisting of Charles H. Helfrich, Lewis S., and Frank Fisher. Then the property was bought by Joshua G. Hint- erleiter and he and his son, William G., carried on the business until the death of the father, from which time it was con- ducted by his son, William G., until his death in 1904. The widow of Mr. Hinter- leiter rented the store-room then to J. V. Shankweiler and his sons, H. O., and E H. These continued in the partnership business until Feb. 1, 1907, when the three brothers H. O., E. H., and J. S. Shank- weiler continued its management. On the
Ist of Feb. 1909, the brother, H. O., retired from the firm and since that time to the present, the two remaining brothers, E. H., and J. S., constitute the firm.
The corner of Main and White Oak streets, in the center of town, is another old stand for business. Here we find that in the long ago, Jacob Sunday, and George Y. Kemp, conducted a business for a num- ber of years. After them came Charles Lesher, and Richard Dunkel ; they were fol- lowed by Richard Dunkel, and John S. Dunkel. Later on Richard left the firm and John S. conducted the business alone. He sold out to Valerius S. Reinhard, who after having managed it alone for some years, took in as partner, Bartolet Reinhart. From this party it passed into the hands of Sam- uel Rahn. Then came James E. Merkle, and Solomon Y. Peters. Then we find Harry H. Ahrens holding forth. Next comes Harvey O. Dietrich. At this point the business was discontinued for some vears, when Julius Bram and Jacob S. Kemp launched out in the delicatessen and caterer business for a while. At the pres- ent time John F. Angstadt conducts a groc- ery store at this place. The building was remodeled during the early part of the present year and is well adapted for a business place.
Another location where our people could buy their dry goods and groceries for many vears, is the northwest corner of Main and White Oak streets. The first proprietors of a store at this corner were William Heiden- reich, and Daniel B. Kutz. They were brothers-in-law, Mr. Heidenreich having married Louisa, a daughter of Dewalt and Elizabeth ( Sassaman) Bieber. About the year 1855 they went out of business and were followed by Lewis Hoffman. After Mr. Hoffman came Egedius Butz, the fath -. er of our worthy and venerable townsman. Lewis Butz. Simpson Schmehl and Na- than Zimmerman formed the next business firm of this corner. Then followed Lewis A. Stein, and William B. Stein; after a short time Mr. Lewis A. retired, leaving the business in the hands of William B. Stein, who added a wholesale liquor store to the business. Oscar Merkel took the store from the hands of Mr. Stein and continued it for some vears. At the present time the cous- ins, Richard. and Francis Sharadin, hold the place under the firm name of Sharadin and Sharadin.
The corner of Main and Greenwich
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN
streets has likewise since 1875 become a business centre. It was here where Mr. Milton T. Donmoyer, who had been in the saddlery and harness business since 1869, settled himself in 1875. It had been the property of Col. Daniel Levan. Mr. Don- moyer secured it and conducted the harness business until early in the 90's. He was succeeded by T. M. Wolf, who was followed by Stephen Keinert. Mr. Keinert bought the property. He continued in the harness business until 1913 when he sold the build- ing tothe Saul Brothers. Mr. Keinert trans- ferred his saddlery to his new home erected on the rear of the same lot which he re- tained, fronting on Greenwich street. Mr. Keinert still continues in business in his new place. The Saul Brothers' building is now occupied by the Kutztown post office.
In the carly days all the stores were open on Sunday. People came to church bringing their produce, which they would leave, with orders for what they desired The orders were filled while the country folk attended church. These folks often came in their shirt sleeves. Devout in church, men entering the pew. would stand and pray into their hats. The same cus . tom prevailed even among ministers; we remember a highly respected pastor of a large parish, the father of two sons. also in the ministry and later receiving the title of D. D., who would enter the chancel, take off his hat, and in front of the altar. hold a minutes' devotion. holding his hat in front so as to pray into it.
After the services were over, the church people returned to their homes, first stop- ping at the store for their goods.
HAT MAKING
Charles W. Esser, a native of Maxatawny township, father of Jacob B. Esser and grandfather of Charles H. Esser, member of the Kutztown Publishing Company start- ed hat making in Kutztown. He learned the trade of hat making early in life. His place of business was located on Main street in the building now owned by J. P. S. Fenstermacher, the front room serving as a salesroom for the stock manufactured in the shop to the rear. He died in 1853, aged fifty years.
HARDWARE
At first all the general stores kept a supply of hardware along with their other goods. As the town increased in size and the demand for hardware became greater, stores were established, where the business was almost exclusively confined to the hard- ware trade.
The first man who conducted a regular
hardware store was Simpson S. Schmehl. He had his store where the barber, Wm. Livingood, now holds forth. This was in the 70's. After him we have N. S. Schmehl who bought out his Uncle Simpson.
In 1888 Zach Y. Miller started a hard- ware store where N. S. Schmehl had been up to this time, Mr. Schmehl having moved his store to its present quarters.
On Nov. 1, 1892, E. P. DeTurk bought out Zach Y. Miller and in 1903-04 erected the large building on Main street where he has successfully conducted the business ever since.
UNDERTAKING BUSINESS
During and before the Civil War there were two parties who conducted the under- taking business. The one was Paul Hilbert, and the other Daniel Gehret. The Hilbert establishment was located on Noble street. After some years Mr. Hilbert retired.
Daniel Gehret established himself on Main street where the Boston Grocery Store now is. In 1867 he turned the business over to his son, William, who continued until 1902-a period of 35 years-when fail- ing health compelled him to retire.
For a while David Sharadin started (11) in this business on Lower Main street ; this was in the 80's.
In 1002, after the retirement of Mr. Gehr- et. J. H. Stump began business on Lower Main street and has continued ever since.
William Fritz has conducted a similar business for the last one and one-half years on Lower Main street.
DRUG BUSINESS
Late in the 70's, Jacob Breininger opened a drug store on Main street where John Kohler's lot is, in a one story building ; later he procured quarters in the Snyder build- ing, now the property of the Snyder Es- tate. Here he continued until his death. The business was then carried on by his brother, Toe, and still later, for a short time by the widow of Jacob Breininger, when it was discontinued.
About this time another drug store was started by Dr. Berkemyer, across the way from Breininger's, in the building then own- ed by Dr. J. S. Trexler. This was in the 80's Dr. Berkemyer moving to Allentown, sold his interests to the Whittiker Bros .. who in turn sold it to Dr. Trexler. In 1887 it passed into the hands of the present pro- prietor, Dr. E. J. Sellers.
TANNERIES
In the lower part of the borough a tan- nery was operated for a number of years,
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN
with success, by Nathan Levan, who was also a currier by trade. It was removed about twenty-five years ago.
From 1870, for some thirty years, J. D. Sharadin conducted the Silver Spring Tan- nery. It consisted of a main building, thirty-three by seventy- two feet, two stories high, with an extension thirty by thirty feet. The power was furnished by a ten horse-power engine. The product was chiefly oak-tanned harness-leather, although kipp and calf-skins were also prepared The site of this building is now occupied by the Kutztown Motor Car Company and J. S. Knittle, dealer in agricultural imple- ments.
KUTZTOWN FURNACE
Kutztown Furnace was erected by the Kutztown Iron Company which was incor- porated in 1872. Most of the stockholders lived in Kutztown and vicinity, although some persons from abroad were interested. A tract of five acres of land was secured from the D. S. Kutz farm, near the bor- ough, and thereon the furnace was built in 1873, the first ground having been dug July 2d, by Henry Boyer. The contractors were Lee, Noble, and Company. The furnace was first operated under a lease by Charles H. Nimson and Company, with Henry C. Cooper as manager. In the course of a few years the furnace became the property of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, who leased it to different parties. William M. Kauffman and Com- pany have been the most successful opera- tors. In July, 1883, the boiler of the fur- nace exploded upsetting the smoke stack, which fell across the casting house and de- molished it. Several workmen were fatally injured. Since that time the property has lain in ruins. The capacity of the furnace was nearly two hundred tons per week.
KUTZTOWN BRICK YARDS
John H. Mohr and William Weaver each had large and well-appointed brick yards, just outside the limits of the borough, which gave employment to a large number of hands.
Keiser and Miller are the present lessees of the Kutztown Brick Yards, owned by Wm. F. Stimmel. This plant is one of the finest equipped in the state. The operations are conducted by steam power throughout. The bricks are steam dried, thus enabling the work to run the entire year. The pro- prietors, who also operate a plant at Top- ton, are running their industries to their ut- most capacity. They took possession in the spring of 1915 and employ sixteen men. The daily output is 16,500 bricks. They
make only the common bricks. The com- pany ships the product of their plants to Reading and Allentown and supply the local demand.
CIGAR INDUSTRIES
In the borough the manufacture of cigars was carried on by Fritch and Merker, Har- vey Bast and C. W. Keiter, the latter em- ployed sixteen hands.
The cigar industry of Kutztown is taken care of by four concerns, namely : J. B. Kei- ter, O. R. Keiter, Ed. L. Schatzlein and S. Dries. J. B. Keiter has the largest plant, lo- cated on Noble street, and employs about five men. His product, such as "Ten Inches for 5 Cents" are well known to many. Ed. L. Schatzlein, the maker of the popular cigar, "Smokers Inn" has been in the tobacco business for many years. The past year he confined himself entirely to the wholesale trade. S. J. Dries, a veteran cigar maker but a new manufacturer, will no doubt make a success. He is located on Upper Main street. O. R. Keiter's factory is located on Walnut street, and his "Durham" brand is very popular.
HOSIERY MILL
Eck's Hosiery Factory was established in the fall of 1882 by J. L. Eck. He began operation with three machines, and steadily increased his business, until there were thir- tv weaving and knitting machines in the factory. A new building was fitted up in 1884, with steam for motive power. The operatives were girls and boys and the pro- ducts were plain and fancy hose, chiefly for women and children. About three hundred dozen pairs were manufactured weekly.
LIME AND CRUSHED STONE
Lime was manufactured extensively by John D. Deisher, Neff Bros .. Lewis Brown, A. W. Fritch and William Wessner. The first named had a dozen kilns. This busi- ness afforded occupation for a large num- ber of men.
Dr. U. S. G. Bieber, veterinarian and an extensive builder of homes is conducting two stone crushing and hydrated lime plants, one in Kutztown and the other at Alburtis. employing upwards of 25 men. Dr. Bieber finds a ready market for his products.
Martin Koller is the proprietor of a lime and crushed stone plant near Kutztown. Mr. Koller employs a number of men the entire year.
MILK DEPOT AND CREAMERY
Many farmers bring their milk daily to a depot operated by L. G. Balzreit, of Phila . delphia, and managed by Mr. Musselman,
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN
who only a few weeks ago moved to Kutz- town from Lititz. Most of the milk is separated and both cream and milk is ship- ped daily to Philadelphia where it is bottle. 1 and sold to the general public. They ship daily thirty-five to forty 40-quart cans of milk and two cans of cream. Mr. Balzreit is conducting several other stations in this vicinity.
An association with forty-nine members was organized in the spring of 1881 for the manufacture of butter and cheese, and on the following summer a fine two-story brick building (thirty-four by forty-four feet ) was put up, and the other necessary buildings provided to carry on the business. The entire outlay was about four thousand dollars. In 1885 William S. Kutz was president ; David S. Schaeffer, treasurer, and Jonathan Biehl, secretary.
PIPE ORGANS
One of the first industries of the place, aside from the ordinary mechanic pursuits, was the building of pipe organs by the Openheimer Brothers, who moved to Read- ing where they followed the same occupa- tion.
MARBLE AND GRANITE WORKS
Prior to the year 1855, Charles Sharadin conducted a stone cutting establishment in Kutztown. This establishment never grew beyond the needs of the immediate commu- nity.
About the year 1855, a German stone cutter came to Kutztown and started the stone cutting business on a small scale. This was Philip Wenz. He was the father of the Wenz brothers. The father retired in 1895 and gave the business over to his sons, who carried it on under the firm name of Wenz Bros.
The plant, situated on Greenwich street, grew year after year; additional ma- chinery of the most modern type was in- stalled until it had grown to such propor- tions that it competed favorably with any marble yard in the State. Soon the plant became known far and widc. There is hardly a cemetery to be found in eastern Pennsylvania where their work in the shape of tombstones, beautiful and imposing monuments, vaults or mausoleums are not to be found. The firm extended their business ycar after year and in 1912 felt themselves obliged to scek larger space for the growing industry. Kutztown not of- fering a site sufficiently large, they felt themselves constrained to move to Allen- town, which they did on July 1, 1913. When they left Kutztown they employed about 50 men, all told.
The company was entirely reorganized and the work begun at Allentown. The present officers are : Wm. Wenz, president ; T. E. Hensinger, secretary and treasurer. Directors, William Wenz, T. E. Hensinger, J. D. Wenz, J. Lawrence Rupp, Esq., C. L. Hollenbach, E. S. Eberts, and Harvey Bas- com.
Geo. W. Ramer, the owner of a marble and granite works on Greenwich street, Kutztown, started out on a very small scale in 1905. He was the only workman at first but his business grew to such an extent that today he employs eight people and has in- stalled a steam plant and the latest machin- ery. He has turned out some very fine tombstones and monuments, which can be seen in the Kutztown cemeteries and the burial grounds of many other places.
KUTZTOWN BOTTLING WORKS
The Kutztown Bottling Works has been in existence for about 30 years. It was started by Ed. Immel and carried on succes- sively by C. J. Rhode and Charles H. Rhode. and C. J. Rhode and Son (John W.) Harry Sharadin bought the business from that firm and after conducting it for four years sold out in 1908 to J. P. Dreibelbis, who is the present proprietor. The business has grown considerably and Mr. Dreibelbis with the aid of a Mack Truck covers quite a territory. He makes all kinds of bottled drinks and also bottles Barbey's bcer. His product can be seen at almost every hotel and restaurant in Berks and Lehigh coun- ties.
THE SHIRT FACTORY
The Kutztown shirt factory is located in the building on White Oak street which was for years the public school of Kutz. town. The first proprietor was C. U. Bens- ing, formerly of Kutztown, who started in 1897 and after being in business six months sold out to Daniel Sharadin, who conducted the same from 1897 to 1900 and in turn sold the business to his son, Francis E. He conducted the business successfully for nine years and then sold out Nov. 16, 1909. to S. Leibovitz and Son.
S. Leibovitz and Son have their generat office in New York City, 75 Leonard street. They are classed as one of the largest man- ufacturers of shirts in the country, being proprietors of 65 factories, located in Penn- sylvania, New York, Delaware, as far south as South Carolina. Forty-one hands are employed here and their output is about 350 dozen shirts per week. Their product is sold to wholesalers.
Mrs. A. H. Fritch is the general manager.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN
KUTZTOWN FOUNDRY AND MACHINE COMPANY, INC.
The Kutztown Foundry is our largest enterprise and is in a prosperous condition. The business was organized by Chas. G. and Fred. S. Zehm, wno came to this coun- try from Herzberg, Germany. They locat- ed at Reading, but being desirous of get- ting into business for themselves, came to Kutztown in 1866 and started business in the old Kutztown Foundry and Machine Company's shops, located on Kutz's Alley, near the centre of the town, where the livery stable now stands.
In 1869 they bought three acres of ground near the railroad station and that was the beginning of the present shops. The busi- ness was run as Zehm & Brother until April 1, 1896, when Chas. G. Zehm retired. It was then run as Zehm and Company until Oct. 15, 1896, when it was incorporated into the Kutztown Foundry and Machine Company.
This business has had a steady growth from one employing half a dozen men until now about 200 men are employed, with buildings covering approximately 80,000 square feet. The officers are: G. T. Schnatz, President, Philadelphia ; Chas. Edgerton, Vice President, Philadelphia ; Irvin Bair, Secretary, Philadelphia ; Arthur Bonner, Treasurer and Superintendent of Works, Kutztown ; Philadelphia Office, 800 Morris Building, 1421 Chestnut street.
The company had a disastrous fire on Dec. 8, 1898, destroying part of main shop, office and most all the patterns, after which all buildings were built one story. When enlarging the shop later on it was found necessary to have more ground, and the company purchased the farm of the late Rev. B. E. Kramlich.
They manufacture a general line of med- ium size castings, and of late have made some very large ones. They make a spec- ialty of garbage work, sometimes furnish- ing roller presses and parts, and other times have contracted complete plants. They en- gineered and built complete plants at Co- lumbus and St. Louis. Roller presses have been sold in a number of States and in South America. Another specialty is eva- porators. Recent orders filled cover all sizes up to 13 feet inside diameter, which had to be made in sections for handling and shipping. Shipments of evaporators have been made to a number of different States, Cuba, and Europe.
Fred S. Zehm was born in Herzberg, Germanv. Feb. 2, 1836, educated and learn- ed machinist trade there, came to Reading June 9, 1853, worked at John Noble's Ma-
chine Shop, then at Addison and Mellert's Machine Shop, then Franklin Iron Works.
Chas. G. Zehm came to Reading in 1854. Both came to Kutztown in 1866. Bought ground at railroad in 1869.
Isaac and John F. Wentzel operated a machine shop in town for a number of years. They were in business in Leesport before coming here, starting there in 1854, and on August 3, 1868, came to Kutztown. Isaac Wentzel was then steward at the Normal School for several years and John F. Wentzel was his assistant. In a few years they started in the machine business in the old foundry building where the livery stable now stands. In 1872 they moved down to a building adjoining Zehm Bros'. shops, near the railroad. They worked here for several years until the building was destroyed by fire. From there they moved up-town to a shop in the rear of Richard Miller, Sr., coachmaker's shop and remain- ed there about one year.
They then moved to Jacob Sanders' coachmakers shop on Walnut street, which property is now owned by Jacob Kemp, and remained there about three years. From there they moved down town to a new shop they built, where John F. Wentzel now lives. Two years later they built an addi- iton in the rear for a dwelling.
Henry Biehl built the present paper box factory, expecting to start his son in it, as a roller flour mill, but it was never used, the son having died at college. The Wentz- els occupied this building for a while and then sold the business to Kroninger Bros., who also built and sold implements and wagons. Later on they sold out to Abram Zimmerman.
After this the building stood idle for some time, but later on the Saucony Shoe Company was started and occupied the place until they built their present brick factory on Heffner street.
Chas. L. Ahn started up a paper box factory in the Biehl building, and later on sold out to U. B. Ketner who now runs it.
CARRIAGE INDUSTRY
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