Index to Berks County Businesses

Special thanks to Bonnie Blau for transcribing and submitting this section to our project.

The following information is from Morton Montgomery's History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1909 edition, pp. 170-185.

The following concise description of the numerous industrial enterprises at Reading, showing name and nature of business, date of founding, etc., will give the reader an idea of the great variety of articles manufactured. The compiler had hoped to supply particulars showing the extent of the business, persons employed, investments, etc., of the various establishments in existence at this time, whether large or small, but he found that the information could not be made complete, or reliable, and that changes in the firms and the business were constantly gong on; therefore he confined his efforts to the preparation of a simple statement. The list indicates truly that Reading has been and is a great industrial center. Its trading relations extend to all parts of the world. Many of the important facts will be found in the sketches of the manufacturers which are included in the biographical section of this publication. The iron industries have been described in a class by themselves, at the end of the alphabetical list.

ABATTOIRS

BADGES

BAKERIES, BREAD, PIES, etc. (the more important which employ several or more teams for delivering their products)

Joel A. Arnold	Jacob B. Mertz
William H. Behrle	William Moyer
Alfred E. Brossman	Andrew J. Muntz
Mrs. Minnie Brusch	Harry Pappa
Mrs. Lena H. Dallwig	John W. Pfautz
Charles H. DeHart	John F. Rauch
Charles G. Fender	Conrad Schamburg
Daniel H. Folmer	Henry Schofer's Sons
Conrad Gantert	James A. Schofer
Samuel A. J. Green	Samuel Spadofora
E.J. Howard & Andrew Christian	Daniel B. Spatz
Frederick K. Humrichouse	Edwin C. Stahl
Robert W. Kingkinger	John S. Stegman
Frank C. Kelb	Edward F. Stoeber
John P. Luft	Mrs. Kate R. Warfel
Gottlieb Mayer	Michael Wolicki

BAKERIES, BRETZELS

Pennsylvania Bretzel Company, 1900 (succeeded LICHTENTHELER Bretzel Company, which was started in 1860).

J.T. ADAMS & Co., 1907 (succeeded HENDRICKS & ADAMS, which was started in 1893).

BAKERIES, CRACKERS

BASKETS

BENDING WORKS

Anchor Bending Works, J. Harry and Charles E. LEIPPE, 1889 (succeeded father, 1880-89).

BOATS

John A. HIESTER, since 1878. Previously, Samuel KRAUSER, David ELY, William HIESTER (father of John), Peter KRICK, Adam WAID, William CALL, and Jerome RINGLER, covering a period of fifty years.

BOOKBINDING

HELLER Bindery, 1908 (succeeding Charles F. HELLER, 1883-1904, and H.C. WONNBERGER, 1894-1907.

ARNOLD's Commercial Book Shop, (Augustus W. ARNOLD), 1907 (succeeding F.P. HELLER, 1902-07).

National Text Book Company, at Reading, Pa., was organized in 1909 for the purpose of binding books, manufacturing text-books and tablets of all kinds, and publishing magazines, and, when fully established, to include a printing department. In this behalf the company purchased the Connard Brass Foundry at Sixth and Chestnut streets and secured possession on June 1, 1909. The building was equipped with the latest machinery and operations were started July 1st. Its trade will be extended throughout the United States. The officers of the company are: President, Hon. L.S. WALTER, Mt. Carmel, Pa.; vice president, J.B. STEINER, Reading Pa.; secretary, W.W. RIDGE, Centralia, Pa.; treasurer, Paul K. LEINBACH, Reading, Pa. The directors are: Hon. Thomas P. MERRITT, James H. RENNINGER, F.B. MUSSER, G.L. KLEINGINNA, Reading, Pa.; Hon. E.M. HERBST, Oley, Pa.; Hon. Leopold FUERTH, Honesdale, Pa.; J.V. LESHER, Esq., Centralia, Pa.; James F. CARLINE, Mt. Carmel, Pa.; Harry W. DAVIS, Esq., Wilmington, Delaware.

BOTTLING WORKS

J. FETT & Sons, 1887 (succeeding John FEHR, 1850-55, Herman FLOTO, 1855-64, SCHICK and FETT, 1864-87).

Empire Bottling Works, 1898 (Herman J. CROESSANT, succeeding FRIES and CROESSANT, 1882-98).

Excelsior Bottling Company, 1894 (Thomas J. FESSLER, succeeding FESSLER and DUNKLEBERGER).

Mountain Spring Water Company, 1902 (John LAWRENCE, and his sons Edward and Richard).

BOXES, CIGAR

A. THALHEIMER Manufacturing Company, 1903 (succeeding John KAUL, 1865-66, Frederick BRECHT, 1866-68.

Old Honesty Cigar Box Company, 1907 (J.N. and C.W. BUCKS) (succeeding BELLMAN Brothers, 1905-07).

BOXES, PAPER

Reading Ribbon Badge Company, 1896 (succeeding Julius WEBBER, who manufactured ribbon badges, etc., from 1853 to 1896).

BOXES, PACKING CASES

Abner S. DEYSHER, 1894 (succeeding Jacob H. DEYSHER, 1860-88, and his widow, 188-94).

BRASS WORKS

Henry CONNARD, Est., 1907 -- May, 1909 (succeeding DOUGLAS & CONNARD, 1854-96, and Henry CONNARD, 1896-1907).

Excelsior Brass Works, 1903 (Succeeding Charles DICK & George A. WICKLEIN, who started in 1897).

Brass Foundries also carried on by P. & R. R. Company, Reading Hardware Company and Penn Hardware Company.

BREWERIES

LAUER Brewing Company, 1883 (Frank P. LAUER) (succeeding George LAUER, 1826-35, and Frederick LAUER, 1835-83).

DEPPEN Brewing Company, 1901 (succeeding J. A. FELIX, 1847-79, and William P. DEPPEN, 1879-1901).

Schneider Brewing Works, 1889 (August SCHNEIDER) (succeeding STOCKER & ROEHRICH, 1891-1907).

BRICK, FIRE

Reading Fire Brick Works, 1889 (succeeding William A. WELLS & Isaac BERTOLETTE, 1845-57, and McHOSE & THOMPSON, 1857-89); plant, Fifth and Canal streets.

George J. ECKERT manufactured fire-brick for many years on Canal street near Bingaman.

BRICK, BUILDING

The manufacture of building and paving brick was a prominent industry at Reading from the beginning of Reading until 1907, when the last brick kiln was abandoned.The manufacture is carried on prominently by parties residing in Reading, the but the plants are situated in West Reading and adjoining in Wyomissing.

BROOMS

SHANAMAN Brothers, 1873 (Jacob, William F. and Walter SHANAMAN, The last having retired from firm in 1896).

BRUSHES

J. O. FLATT & Co., 1895 (Joseph and George) (succeeding their father, Joseph O. FLATT, 1872-95.

Previous brush-makers were Benjamin WITMAN, Morris HELMS, Peter, STEINEL, 1847-70, John E. STEINEL, 1870-1905.

BUGGYAUTS

In 1906 Charles E. DURYEA became interested in the development of a horseless conveyance which he named the "Buggyaut", a carriage propelled by gasoline. He established a place in 1908 on Cherry street, above Third, for assembling the several parts, which are made by different parties here and elsewhere, and then started filling orders. He employs 4 hands.

CABINET WORKS

In 1907 John HERB and Daniel RHOADS associated together as the Reading Cabinet Works for the purpose of manufacturing cabinets, show-cases, etc., having succeeded J. Howard CUTLER, who had carried on business for a number of years at No. 834 Court street. They employ 5 hands. The Neversink Planing Mill, makes a specialty of supplying cabinets.

CANDY

Luden Candy Factory -- in 1882, William H. LUDEN began modestly making candy for Christmas, with thirty pounds of sugar, at No. 37 North Fifth street, and he disposed of the result of his first efforts in his store. He continued there for ten years, gradually increasing his production, and then he was obliged to move into larger quarters, which he established in a four-story building on the northeast corner of Sixth and Washington streets. He employed then 140 persons and worked up a carload of sugar weekly, and his trade came to extend through the Easter, Middle and Southern States. By the year 1900 his trade had been developed to such proportions that he was obliged to secure still larger quarters, and he accordingly located his plant on Eighth street beyond Walnut, where he erected a four-story brick structure, 165 feet front by 110 feet deep, dedicating the building in June, 1900, and taking possession shortly afterward. And there, too, his business had been increasing from year to year until he has come to employ from 400 to 500 hands. During the summer of 1909 he erected a four-story brick addition to the south end, 60 by 110 feet, making the plant altogether 225 feet front by 110 feet deep. He manufactures all kinds of candies in very large quantities, which are shipped throughout the United States. For several years he has made a specialty of "Luden's Menthol Cough Drops", which have become very popular, the annual sales amounting to 5,000,000 5-cent packages.

Mr. Luden has endeared himself very much to all his employes by his kindness and generosity. Annually he provides an outing for them at his own expense, which is highly appreciated.

CARPETS

Carpets made are entirely of rags. Ingrain carpets were also made for some time but discontinued.

CARRIAGES AND WAGONS:

WETHERHOLD Brothers, 1891 (William and George) (succeeding father, William H. WETHERHOLD, 1862-91).

Keystone Vehicle Company. The Keystone Vehicle Company was incorporated May 4, 1909, with a capital of $75,000, for the manufacture of wagons and automobile bodies, as successor of the Keystone Wagon Works, which had carried on a large business at Reading since 1890, extending to all parts of the United States. It secured the established plant along the Lebanon Valley railroad at Third street, consisting of a four-story brick structure, 200 by 225 feet, equipped with first-class modern machinery. Operations were started immediately and employment was given to 100 hands. The annual wages will amount to $50,000, and the product to $300,000. The officers of the company are: Edward C. NOLAN, president; G. Stanley HENDEL, secretary; John L. COXE, treasurer and manager.

Tobias K. SHENK followed general contracting at Reading for eight years, and in 1903 embarked in the business of manufacturing heavy and light wagons, and carriages including rubber tires, at No. 1139 Moss street, and has continued until the present time, employing from 6 to 10 hands.

David L. REBER, (engaged in local express and storage) started in this business at Buttonwood and Cedar streets in 1905 and has since carried it on successfully with 7 to 10 hands, according to the demands of his trade.

CEMENT PAVING

Cement paving began at Reading about 1876. The first large pavements were put down at the Boys' High School in 1883, and the Post-Office building in 1887. Cement blocks began to be made at Reading in 1904 by WELLER Brothers.

CHEWING GUM

The Kola-Chemical Company was incorporated in the year 1903 with a capital of $20,000, for the manufacture of chewing gum at Reading, and since then has manufactured "Richardson's Kola Chewing Gum" in large quantities, employing 25 hands. Its quarters are located in the Luden Candy Factory. The officers of the company are: William H. LUDEN, president; Miss M. M. BOAS, treasurer; and A. N. BODEY, secretary.

CIGARS

The manufacture of cigars at Reading began about 1800, and the prominent manufacturers until the Civil war were James MORRIS, John EYRICH, Samuel EYRICH, Isaac JAMES, J. & G. W. HANTSCH, Charles BRENEISER and William HARTMAN. In 1908 there were over one hundred factories at Reading and each of the following parties made annually upward of five hundred thousand:

During 1908 the number of cigars manufactured in the Reading district exceeded 120,000,000; and the revenue paid was $361,873; and the revenue paid on manufactured tobacco was $14,782.

CLOTHING

LEINBACH & Bro., 1865 (Joseph and George), who were succeeded by Joseph and Charles H. LEINBACH.

There are numerous custom tailors who make suits to order; also upward of two hundred dressmakers who are constantly engaged in making women's and girl's dresses, employing from several hands to ten and even twenty. Large dressmaking departments are carried on successfully by C. K. WHITNER & Co., KLINE, EPPIHIMER & Co., and DIVES, POMEROY and STEWART, in connection with their stores.

COTTON FACTORY

In the year 1849, certain capitalists at Reading organized a company for the manufacture of muslin and in 1851 erected a large plant 69 by 274 feet on a block of land at Ninth and Cotton streets, which has continued in operation almost constantly until the present time. In 1886 it was enlarged to 360 feet. GARNER & Co. of New York, have operated it since 1860 in a very successful manner, in connection with other plants. They have employed nearly 300 persons, and paid out annually in wages upward of $75,000, evidencing the important character of this enterprise to Reading. Ellis L. CASTOR, has been the manager of this large plant since 1900. His predecessor from 1884 to 1900 was Jonathan SMITH; and from 1857 to 1884 the manager was John GRAGG. From 1872 to 1900, Mr. CASTOR served as clerk under the managers named.

COTTON GOODS, HOSIERY

Reading Knitting Mill. Hosiery, both cotton and woolen, was commonly made by hand by many females at Reading, and sold to the stores. Great Quantities were made elsewhere, brought here, and sold at retail in the stores. By the year 1876, the custom of wearing home-made stockings was almost entirely abandoned.

In 1883, the first factory was established at Reading for the manufacture of hosiery by machinery, and after passing through several hands, the plant in 1885 became the property of I. C. HUNSICKER & Co., who traded as the Reading Knitting Mills, and were the first firm to employ upward of a hundred hands and produce daily about 500 dozen. In 1891 they erected a fine large plant, increased their hands to 250 and their daily product to 800 dozen daily; which evidences the growth of this new enterprise at Reading. In 1896, J. GAENZLE & Co. became the successors, and in 1898, Charles E. LEIPPE secured an interest in the business, when the name was changed to GAENZLE & LEIPPE. In 1905 Charles T. DAVIES succeeded GAENZLE and the firm became LEIPPE & DAVIES, but trading under the same name. In December, 1907, Mr. LEIPPE became the sole owner, and has since operated the plant very successfully.

NOLDE-HORST Hosiery Mill. -- Jacob NOLDE and George D. HORST began to manufacture hosiery on the third floor of the THALHEIMER Power Building on Cedar street, south of Walnut, in 1888, with 25 hands. Their annual product amounted to $20,000. In 1890, they built a brick factory on Cedar street beyond Walnut, and there continued the business in connection with a plant which they carried on at Eighth and Springs streets, until 1892, when they took possession of a four-story brick building on Moss beyond Douglass, which they erected. In 1896 they enlarged the building by adding two wings; and in 1897 the became incorporated as The NOLDE & HORST Company, with a capital of $250,000.

In December , 1899, the entire plant was destroyed by fire, but it was rebuilt immediately on the same site, much improved, with slow-burning construction, fire walls, sprinkler equipment, stairtowers, etc. These stair-towers at the north and south end of the large structure are the first of the kind introduced at Reading and they afford absolutely safe exits in case of fire.

In 1906 they added the Ninth Street Mill, which practically doubled their plant. They are now the largest hosiery manufacturers in the eastern section of the country, if not in the entire country. They produce annually 1,000,000 dozen pairs of hose and half-hose, worth $2,000,000, and employ 1,500 people. Their annual pay-roll is $600,000. Their product is sold in all parts of the United States, but none of it is exported. The officers are: Jacob NOLDE, president; George D. HORST, secretary-treasurer; John D. HORST, superintendent.

COTTON GOODS, UNDERWEAR

LEWIS & SCHULTZ Manufacturing Company, 1906 (succeeding C. E. SMITH, W. W. MOYER, and R. T. BROWN, who started in 1902); have another factory at Ephrata.

CREAMERIES

Keystone Creamery, 1902 (William M. and Charles D. TOOLE) (succeeding Joseph STAUFFER, 1893-97, and A. S. CLOUSER, 1897-1902).

DEPARTMENT STORES

The dry-goods merchants at Reading continued to handle distinct lines of merchandise in their respective stores until about the "Centennial" year; then the most enterprising proprietors began to add different lines of goods in order to satisfy the demands of their increasing trade.

KLINE, EPPIHIMER & Co. In 1862, Amos K. KLINE and Henry EPPIHIMER engaged in the general dry-good business at No. 522 Penn Square. Jerome L. BOYER was a partner from 1865 to 1869 and Calvin K. WHITNER from 1869 to 1877. In 1888 they enlarged their store, adding the greater part of the adjoining building on the west, four stories in height, and then it became a recognized department store. In 1892, they re-organized the firm by admitting William W. KLINE (son of the senior partner), Richard LENHART and Franklin RIESER as partners, and then they traded as KLINE, EPPIHIMER & Co.

In 1905, they made another enlargement of their store by taking in the adjoining building to the west, excepting the first floor, which gave them superior accommodations for their rapidly increasing trade. At first the store employed 5 hands; in 1900. Over 100, and in 1909, upwards of 200; which shows the development of their business. Their trade extends throughout Berks and the surrounding counties.

C. K. WHITNER & Co. Calvin K. WHITNER began his business career in 1861, in Oley township, Berks county, not far from the place of his birth, when he entered the country store of Jacob S. SPANG & Son in Spangville. He remained there as a clerk until 1835, when =he went to Friedensburg and with Edwin S. BAER as a partner, trading as WHITNER & BAER, carried on a store for two years. He then removed to Reading and was employed as bookkeeper with KLINE, EPPIHIMER, & Co. for a short time, when he became a partner. After continuing in this firm until 1877, he started a drygoods store for himself at No. 432 Penn Square, with six employes. By the year 1883, his trade had increased so much that he was obliged to obtain larger quarters, and in that behalf he removed to the commodious store building at Nos. 442-444 Penn Square. In 1887, his son Harry became a partner and the store was enlarged to twice its previous capacity. The firm traded as C. K. WHITNER & Son until the son's decease in December, 1890. In 1891, Mr. Whitner added other lines of goods and he made his place a department store; and by way of anticipating additional facilities for his growing business, he purchased two properties on the west, Nos. 438 and 440. In 1896, a faithful employe for many years, John A. BRITTON, was admitted as a partner, and the firm name was changed to C. K. WHITNER & Co.; and Jan I, 1907, Mr. WHITNER's son-in-law, John RICK, became a partner. In April 1898, the adjoining buildings, Nos. 438-440 were attached to the store as an annex, and an interior direct connection was made, evidencing the continuous growth of the firm's trade. In 1909 the employed 175 hands and upward, and the stock comprises many lines of goods generally carried in a large department store. Their patrons come from all points in the Schuylkill, Lebanon and East-Penn Valleys.

J. MOULD & Co. In 18732, Jonathan MOULD removed from Newburgh, N. Y., to Reading and opened a general dry-goods store, which came to be popularly known as the "Bee Hive.: He then employed ten hands and did an annual business of $40,000. As his trade increased he made several changes in location for enlarged accommodations. In 1887 his brother-in-law George H. BELL, became a partner and the business was thence carried on under the name of J. MOULD & Co. In 1892 the firm erected a large four[story brick building at Nos. 647-649 Penn street and made it a department store to supply all kinds of articles, such as dry goods, notions, laces, furnishings, chinaware, jewelry, etc., and placed each department in charge of a competent manager. Shortly afterward, they added a wholesale department, and set apart the third and fourth floors of the building for this branch of their business. They have several traveling salesmen on the road supplying many orders to merchants in Berks and the surrounding counties. The employes number 100 hands and upwards.

DIVES, POMEROY & STEWART. Josiah DIVES, George M. POMEROY and John STEWART cam from Hartford, Conn., in 1876 and began a general dry- good business at No. 533 Penn Square, trading as DIVES, POMEROY & STEWART. Their establishment was known as "The Globe Store." In several years they removed to Nos. 442-444 Pen Square, and the store t that place also becoming too small in a short time they secured the premises at Nos. 606-612 Penn street in 1882, and established a large store there. From that time, owing to increasing trade, they have made enlargements in the various departments of the building, more especially in 1901, when they secured the adjoining premises to the corner at Sixth street and erected a large seven-story building as an extension. They employ 550 hands.

LORD & GAGE. Charles LORD and R. B. GAGE of New York City, trading as LORD & GAGE (incorporated), located at Reading in 1908, for the purpose of conducting a large and progressive department store in connection with a syndicate of high-grade stores, now numbering twenty-nine, which extend from New York City to Tacoma, State of Washington, and they established a superior place of business at Nos. 422-426 Penn Square, in a commodious four-story brick structure whose dimensions are 60 feet wide and 230 feet deep, with a superficial area of 65,000 square feet. The store was opened to the public in November with a full line of goods in twenty-four departments, and immediately attracted great public attention, and though here less than a year has nevertheless developed a large volume of business. The appurtenances of the store are of a superior order, the rosewood show-cases and the mahogany shelving costing $50,000. The store employs 350 hands and upward. Mr. GAGE (the president of the corporation) is general manager of this store, having moved with his family to Reading and made the city his place of residence.

DYE WORKS

Neversink Dye Works, 1898 (succeeding Nathan S. ALTHOUSE and James H. KNOLL, 1894-1906).

There was a prominent dyer at Reading for a number of years before and after the Civil war, named Sebastian BOEHNLEIN.

ELECTRO-PLATING

Franklin Specialty Company carried on electro-plating, nickel-plating and the manufacture of specialties from 1901 to 1909, when Charles ENGELMEYER became the proprietor of the plant. He employed from 10 to 15 hands.

EXPRESS AND TRANSFER COMPANIES

Albright Express. Soon after the opening of the Philadelphia and Reading railroad, Philip ALBRIGHT established an express line for the delivery of goods and merchandise, and he continued in the business until 1872. For a long time he had an express car attached to the passenger trains, which enabled him to despatch shipments of Philadelphia and delivery at Reading.

Express Companies. The HOWARD Express was the first company to locate at Reading, having established an office here in 1849 and continued until 1870; the Central conducted an office here from 1870 to 1880; and the ADAMS from 1880 to the present time. The P. & R. R. Co. started in 1872 and continued until 1889 when the business was transferred to the United States Express Company.

Local Express. Edwin C. HIESTER embarked in the local express business at Reading in 1861 for delivering baggage and freight and for transferring passengers,. The latter was discontinued in 1888 when the Union Transfer Company was started expressly for this branch of the business. The former was continued until 1900, when Maurice E. ROEDER became the successor, and Mr. Roeder has carried on the business until the present time, employing 11 teams.A number of other persons engaged in this business, the important lines being:

Union Transfer Company. -- In 1888, the P. & R. R. Co. began the business of transferring baggage and travelers at Reading with C. A. DOUGHERTY as manager, and in 1889 cabs were added to the system. In 1893 the business was sold to the Union Transfer Company, which was conducting similar systems at Philadelphia, Pottsville, Atlantic City, and other places. In 1896, this company erected a large stable at Court and Cedar streets, costing $25,000. The company employs 20 men, 25 horses, 4 cabs, 3 coaches, and 2 baggage wagons. Mr. Dougherty died in 1902 and his son acted as manager until 1907, when Michael C. QUINN became his successor.

Reading Taxicab Co. -- The automobile having demonstrated its great utility in the matter of locomotion with increasing success at Reading since its introduction in 1891, and a car called the "taxicab" having come to be made since then to answer the purposes of cab service in and about Reading, Harry O. KOLLER organized the Reading Taxicab Company with a capital of $20,000 on Dec. 17, 1908, which introduced six fine taxicabs, and these immediately came into general demand on account of their quick, neat, and satisfactory service.

FIRE APPARATUS

FIXTURES, BAR, BANK, STORE AND OFFICE:

FIXTURES, GAS AND ELECTRIC

FLOUR MILLS

Three prominent mills were operated along the canal for many years after it was opened for traffic; KRICK's (on North River street), BENSON's (at foot of Penn street) and PACKER's (at foot of Bingaman street); and there were two old mills opposite Reading at the mouth of the Wyomissing creek and one at the mouth of the Tulpehocken creek (converted into a paper mill).

H.G. Burkey	George W. Lehr
Dibert Bros. (Samuel D.)	N. & N. Cigar Company
Otto Eisenlohr & Bro.	A.R. Orth
Fleck Cigar Company	Penn Cigar Co.
F.Ganter	H.H. Roland
Julius G.Hansen	John H. Riegel
P. Hildebrand	Charles Ream
Heymann Sons	Rush Mfg. Co.
Haller & Whiteraft	M. Steppacher
Industrial Cigar Mfg. Co.	J.G. Spatz & Co.
E.E. Kahler Cigar Co.	J.W. Sheridan & Co.
W.W. Stewart & Son	Yocum Bros.
Valentine Wilk

BUSINESSES IN BERKS COUNTY: A through F