BUSINESSES IN BERKS COUNTY: K through N

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

LADIES' GARMENTS

In 1903, the Great Eastern Manufacturing Company started manufacturing ladies' garments, of various kinds, consisting of wrappers, skirts, dressing sacques and kimonos and since then has produced large quantities which have been shipped to all parts of the country.  The factory is situated at Sixth and Washington streets and employs from 30 to 50 hands; in brisk times over 100.  The officers of the company are: D. E. HOUCK, president; J. W. WEIDNER, secretary-treasurer; and Mrs. M. E. BRAUNGART, superintendent.

LAUNDRIES

General laundry work was started at Reading in 1875, and the first Chinaman came here about 1880.  The first steam laundry was started in 1879 by Joseph W. AUCHENBACH.

Excelsior Laundry was started in 1884 by Charles E. WITMAN and his brother Morgan, and it has been continued by different owners until the present time; by William F. WILKERSON since 1899, and he employs 3 hands.

Penn Troy Laundry, by William Y. and Frederick SCHMUCKER in 1892, and continued till now, employing 48 hands.

Snow Flake Laundry, by John W. H. HARPST in 1896 and operated since with 15 to 20 hands.

City Laundry was carried on by Wesley K. LOOSE from 1897 to 1900, when P. G. PATTON became the owner and has operated it since with 14 hands.

Model Laundry, by Frank C. STRINGER since 1897, employing 5 hands.

Gem Laundry, by Frank M. HEFFNER until his death in 1908, when he was succeeded by his son Harry.  He employs 12 hands.

A. S. TEMPLIN carried on a laundry from 1902 to February , 1909, when he was succeeded by William KNABB, who continues the business with 6 hands.  His laundry is called the "Bee Hive".

People's Laundry, by Lewis O. DAVIS in 1905, and he employs from 7 to 10 hands.

Snow White Laundry,  by H. G. ELLIS in 1908, and he employs 10 hands.

Reading Overall Supply Company was organized by John B. BOWERS in 1903 and operated since, for washing overalls, with 2 to 5 hands.

Four Chinamen are also engaged in the business.

LEATHER:

The tannery business was prominent in Reading for over one hundred years, with plants in different parts of the place, but then it began to decline until the tanning by bark passed away entirely.

Ferdinand GOETZ Sons Co.: This plant was started by Ferdinand WINTER and Anthony BLATZ in 1869 and operated by them until 1875; then Ferdinand GOETZ took the place of BLATZ, and the business was carried on by WINTER & GOETZ in a very successful manner until the decease of GOETZ, in 1904, when the partnership business was settled  by the retirement of WINTER, and the sons of GOETZ (Frederick W. and Karl) and his son-in-law, W. C. BILLMAN,  organized the firm of Ferdinand GOETZ Sons Co., and have since carried on the business very extensively, employing 75 hands.  They prepare cow, calf and sheep skins, using the alum process.  It is the only industry of the kind now at Reading.

LEATHER GOODS

The Reading Saddle manufacturing Company was organized by Daniel F. PRINTZ and incorporated in the year 1900, for the manufacture of leather goods, consisting of bicycle saddles, school bags and cases, lunch boxes, etc.  The plant is situated at Nos. 316-320 Maple street, and in its different departments (including hardware specialties) employs 60 hands.  It has been very successful and its several lines of goods are shipped to all parts of the country.  The officers of the company are:  Daniel F. PRINTZ, president; Samuel H. FULMER, treasurer; and Miller M. DEAM, secretary and manager.

MALT

The manufacture of malt was carried on quite extensively at Reading for about forty years by different parties, having been started in 1863 by Frederick SCHULDT and Moses K. GRAEFF.

P. BARBEY & Son, brewers, began in 1885 manufacturing malt for their own consumption and have carried on this department of their extensive plant until the present time.

The marble mantel business was started at Reading by Daniel MILLER about 1865, he having been engaged in the marble business at Fourth and Washington streets for some years; and about 1875 Henry C. GEISSLER and Thomas WATT embarked in the business of supplying slate mantels, which they carried on for a number of years, until the decease of WATT.

GEISSLER then established the Penn Tile and Mantel Company with his sons as partners and they have developed a large trade, which extends to all parts of the country.  About twenty years ago wooden mantels began to be introduced and then gradually took the place of marble and slate mantels.  They are manufactured almost entirely in the West.

P. F. EISENBROWN Sons & Co.: In 1875, P. F. EISENBROWN located at Reading, started a Marble and Granite Works and carried on the business until 1899, when he formed a partnership with his sons.  The firm name has been continued until the present time.  The works were located at Sixth and Elm streets until 1906.whem they were removed to Muhlenberg township, along the P. and R. railroad, a short distance north of Reading.  This firm is extensively engaged in preparing granite works of all kinds and its trade extends throughout Berks and the surrounding counties.  They employ from 50 to 60 men.  They still retain their yard in Reading.

Ernst EPP embarked in this business in 1891, and has been actively engaged in it until the present time.  He employs from 25 to 30 hands.

SPANGLER Brothers, from Kutztown, located in Reading in 1908, having purchased the marble yard of F. F. BRESSLER after his decease.

John F. MOERS and his son Frederick were engaged in the marble business on Penn Street, above Second, for upward of one hundred years, more especially related to cemetery work.  Herman STRECKER and his father were also identified with this business in a prominent manner for seventy years, the former having been distinguished as a designer and sculptor of rate talents.  One of his most notable piece of work is €œChrist on the Cross: (also called the €œCrucifixion€) in Charles Evans cemetery.

Flagstone. Jacob MAYER has been engaged at Reading, putting down flagstone pavement, since 1890, securing the stones from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania; also concrete and cement work.  He employs from 10 to 30 hands.

Sandstone work for building operations was not common before 1890, but since then it has not been popular, used only in a limited way.

The manufacture of metallic cornice and ornamental work for churches, public buildings and dwellings was started at Reading by William T. HAIN and A. J. GEISSINGER in 1872 at No. 824 Court street.  In 1873, HAIN became the sole owner of the business and he has carried it on since at the same place.  His work is forwarded to all parts of Pennsylvania.  He employs from 3 to 5 hands.

William B. YEAGER started in  1886, and has continued till now, employing from 6 to 10 hands.

Daniel H. SOHL started in 1895, and employs 12 hands.  He is also engaged in manufacturing sheet-metal specialties for automobiles, etc.