Special thanks to Bonnie Blau for transcribing and submitting this section to our project.
SAND AND SPALLS
For a period of upward of forty years sand has been removed from the base of Mt. Penn near the extension of Buttonwood street, and the parties engaged in the business of supplying sand from that vicinity for building purposes were Anthony BROWN and William SWEIMLER; and the son of the former is still engaged in the business.
Mr. SWEIMLER was succeeded by John ROTH and GALLAGHER & BRISSE, and since 1904 by GALLAGHER Brothers (John and James), who employ from 12 to 15 hands, and remove annually about 7,000 tons of superior sand for all purposes, with the aid of a crusher.
James GALLAGHER has been doing business there also since 1905 as the Construction Supply Company in supplying sand and spalls. He employs from 10 to 15 hands.
George L. KESTNER, Jr., has operated a sand works adjoining, for upward of ten years, employing several hands and a crusher. He has named his place "Alsando".
Haak Crusher. Michael HAAK owned a tract of land in the Northern declivity of Mt. Neversink and there he opened a place in 1850 for supplying gravel and building sand. Operations were carried on in a limited manner until 1895, when the heirs of Mr. HAAK with George E. HAAK as manager put up a crusher plant, and since then they have supplied large quantities of sand for buildings and concrete paving, also large quantities of sienna paint.
SEWER PIPE
E. S. FOX & Co. manufactures large quantities of sewer pipe at their Terra Cotta Works since 1870.
SHIRTS
The manufacture of men's and boys' Shirts at Reading was begun by Samuel L. McCULLOCH about 1872, and he carried on the business for a number of years; and during that time it was carried on also my William LARAMY.
Nathan N. SPRECHER began making shirts extensively in 1886, and he continued until 1890, when he was succeeded by John G. McGOWAN. In 1895 he established a large gents' furnishing store in the Y. M. C. A. building, no. 630 Penn street, and he continued there until his decease in 1907, when he was succeeded by his brother, J. Wallace McGOWAN, who then incorporated the John G McGOWAN Company to continue the business, including the manufacture of shirts. The company employs 5 hands in this department.
In 1880, James S. BRUSSTAR and Albert C,. WEILE engaged in the business and after trading together for a year, Mr. BRUSSTAR became the sole owner. He then operated the factory until Jan. 1, 1898, when his brother, George M. BRUSSTAR, and Henry M. RETTEW were admitted as partners. Since then they have traded as James S. BRUSSTAR & Co. The firm solicits orders for custom shirts of all kinds in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, in which a large trade has been established. They employ 50 hands.
Albert L. SMITH came from Trenton in 1882 and located at Reading, opening a gents' furnishing store at No. 431 Penn Square. In 1887, he began the manufacture of men's and boys' shirts, which he continued until his decease in 1904, when he was succeeded by his son, who has since carried on the business, employing 5 hands.
S. LIEBOVITZ and his two sons located at Reading in February, 1909, for the mnufacture of men's and boys' shirts, and on April 1st established a factory on the third floor of the P. & R. R. Co shop at Seventh and Chestnut streets, where they have become extensive manufacturers, employing upwards of 150 hands. They are interested in numerous factories of this kind, the largest being at Reading, Pottstown, Myerstown, and New York City.
In March, 1908, S. K. COHN and I. SATTENSTEIN began to trade as Wide-awake Shirt Company, for the manufacture of men's and boys' shorts. They employ from 30 to 50 hands.
Isaac M. FIDLER started in 1889 at No. 1042 Buttonwood street, and has continued until the present, employing form 10 to 20 hands.
SHOES
CURTIS & JONES Co. Frederick W. CURTIS and Frederick S. JONES came to Reading and embarked in the wholesale and retail shoe business in the old Academy Building on Penn Square and continued for three years when they sold out the retail department and started the manufacture of infants' and children's shoes at No. 527 Penn Square, occupying the second, third, and fourth floors of the building, in connection with the wholesale business. They remained there until 1883, when they removed their business to the Felix Building, northwest corner of Fifth street and Penn Square. They then employed 25 hands and produced 500 pairs daily.
In the year 1889 they erected a substantial four-story brick building at Fifth and Court streets which they supplied with the latest improved machinery to meet the demands of their rapidly increasing business, and they then employed 175 hands and produced 2,000 pairs daily. In 1902, upon the incorporation of the company, the plant was removed to a much large and more improved building at Nos. 724-732 North Eighth street, where this great enterprise has continued until the present time, with increasing success. The employees have come to number 700 and the daily product has been increased to 10,000 pairs of infants;, children's and misses' Goodyear-Turn shoe, which are shipped to all parts of the country. The officers of the company are: Frederick W. CURTIS, president; Frederick S. JONES, secretary-treasurer; and Clement H. QUINN, manager.
Penn Shoe Company was incorporated in 1902 for the manufacture of infants' shoes. Its plant is located at No. 320 Maple street, and employs 100 hands. It has been operated very successfully, and its goods are shipped to all parts of the world. The officers are Daniel L. PRINTZ, president and manager; Samuel H. FULMER, treasurer.
In 1906, Charles W. SHARMAN and George A. RAAB, trading as the Crescent Shoe Company, began the manufacture of children's shoes at No. 222 Pearl street, and have continued until now, employing about 50 hands.
There are numerous boot and shoe makers at Reading, numbering upward of 150, who manufacture for customers in a limited way, but their attention is chiefly directed to repairing.
SILK
GRIMSHAW Mill. In the year 1887, John, George and David GRIMSHAW, trading as GRIMSHAW Brothers, came from Paterson, N. J., for the purpose of establishing a silk-mill at Reading and operating it in connection with their large plant at that place, if properly encouraged in their proposed enterprise. In this behalf, a number of public-spirited citizens organized an association and secured subscriptions, amounting to $65,000. The building committee comprised Henry EPPIHIMER, George D. STITZEL, Lewis KREMP, Jerome L. BOYER and William ROSENTHAL, who purchased a half-block of ground at Eleventh and Marion streets and erected a superior three-story brick structure 50 by 250 feet and leased it for a term of years, with an option to purchase, to the GRIMSHAW Brothers, who then equipped it with machinery for the manufacture of silk, costing about $75,000.
They carried on the mill successfully until Jan 1, 1908. Producing large quantities of dress goods, linings, thrown silk, and yarns, which were shipped to New York. Then they became an incorporated body, trading under the name of GRIMSHAW Brothers Company, and the plant was transferred to this company which has since operated it, employing from 300 to 400 hands, mostly girls. The officials of the company are: John GRIMSHAW, president; David H. GRIMSHAW, treasurer; and George GRIMSHAW, secretary.
On Jan 9, 1889, the building was blown down by a tornado, the most destructive storm that ever visited Reading. The mill was in full operation at the time. Many of the hands escaped, but 17 were killed and over 100 injured. A public meeting of citizens assembled in the Court-House on Jan. 10th for supplying aid to the suffering families, and altogether $12,000 was received from the people of Reading and elsewhere, which was judiciously distributed by a committee appointed for that purpose.
In 1905. Charles STEINER and William H. TALCOTT associated together as the STEINER & TALCOTT Silk Company, for the manufacture of broad silks, 36 inches wide, in all colors, and have since carried on the business at Nos. 234-240 Moss street, employing 85 hands.
SLATE SINKS:
Martin R. HOCH has manufactured slate sinks for dwellings since 1894, and employs 3 hands. His trade is mostly local.
Slate mantels constituted a prominent industry for thirty years until about 1900; then they became too costly and the business was discontinued.
SOAP:
In 1883, Franklin K. MILLER began making fulling, laundry, scouring and toilet soap, and also washing powder for local customers. His factory was established on Eighteenth street, near Perkiomen avenue, and there it has continued until the present time. He em ploys 4 hands and produces annually about 400 tons.
SPECTACLES
In the year 1871, Thomas AS. WILLSON erected a three-story brick factory for the manufacture of spectacles and equipped it with machinery especially designed for him. He began operations in 1872, and the established the only place in the world at which were made all the parts that constituted a complete pair of spectacles. The sand for the lenses was obtained at Berkshire, Mass., and he steel wire for the frames was also obtained mostly in Massachusetts. The lens was tinted. All kinds of spectacles were made and a large business was developed that extended throughout the world. In 1885 employment was given to 240 persons, and the average daily production was 3,800 [airs. The several machines were manufactured in the factory under Mr. WILLSON's direction, and they are perfect specimens of superior workmanship. Owing to the great competition in trade, the manufacture of lenses was discontinued in 1886, and these are now imported from Europe in great quantities of which a large stock is kept constantly on hand. Now the factory is devoted entirely to the manufacture of low-priced and medium grades of spectacles and this factory and that of the Pennsylvania Optical Company, also at Reading, are the only ones in the United States which produce exclusively in the cheaper grades of steel spectacles and eye-glasses. The daily production is 10,000 pairs, and the average number of hands employed is 200. The proprietor's son, Frederick WILLSON, has been manager since 1893. There are only eight other factories in the United States, but their product is mostly gold and silver frames.
In 1886, William W. ESSICK started making cheap spectacles and eye-glasses at his home on Third street, near Franklin, and continued there until 1901, when he moved into a large factory which he established at No. 125 South Fifth street. He enlarged this plant in 1906. He now employs 120 hands, manufactures daily nearly 1,000 dozen, including goggles, and ships his productions to all parts of the world. He has been trading from the beginning under the name of Pennsylvania Optical Company.
SPICE AND ROASTING MILLS
George W. MOYER came from Easton, and in 1872 associated with John McKNIGHT for the manufacture of spices of all kinds. In 1878 Mr. MOYER started for himself and carried on the business until his decease in 1889, when the mill at Rose and Elm streets was purchased by KURTZ & MAYERS, wholesale grocers, by whom it has been operated since. Employees, 4; monthly product, 30 tons, which is shipped to all parts of Pennsylvania. Large quantities of coffee are roasted in the establishment.
In 1861 Francis X. BLESSING and John SHOEMAKER began roasting coffee on Carpenter street near Spruce. In 1870 they removed to No. 311 Chestnut street, and shortly afterward Mr. SHOEMAKER died. Mr. BLESSING then became the sole owner and he carried on the business until his death in 1902, when his son Henry succeeded him, carrying on the business as the Reading Steam Coffee and Spice Mills. He employs 3 or 4 hands and roasts 1,500 pounds of coffee and peanuts weekly, which are disposed of in Reading and different parts of Pennsylvania.
Augustus C. KLEINSCHMIDT was engaged in this business at No. 27 Peach street for many years until his decease in 1904, when he was succeeded by his son Charles, and the son and son-in-law Irwin SCHICK, have carried on the establishment since under the name KLEINSCHMIDT & SCHICK.
George BECKER has also carried on the roasting of coffee and peanuts for some time, but in a limited manner.
STAINED-GLASS WORKS
J. M. KASE, trading as J. M. KASE & Co., began making stained-glass work in 1885 at No 511 Washington street, and has continued there. He designs and manufactures memorial windows for churches and artistic work for private residences, which he puts up in different parts of Pennsylvania. He employs 20 hands.
STOVE LINING
The Terra Cotta Works of E. S. FOX & Co. produce stove lining at their plant in large quantities.
TERRA COTTA
FOX Works. John LOTZ carried on a hat factory at the foot of Franklin street from 1800 to 1824; then Riah GILLSON purchased the property and converted the building into a general store for the purpose of supplying boatmen with groceries, provisions, etc. It was continued as a store for about forty years.
In 1868, Eli S. FOX, Walter K. HAGY and William KEELY, trading as FOX, HAGY & Co., established a terra cotta works on the premises. In1870 HAGY and KEELY sold their interests in the business, and George K. WHITNER became a partner, the firm trading as E. S. FOX & Co. Eli S. FOX died in 1890, and his sons William, Benjamin F. and Eli W., succeeded him. In 1896 the interests of Mr. WHITNER and son William were purchased by Benjamin. The firm manufactures all kinds of terra cotta ware, especially stove lining, sewer pipes and vases, which are shipped to all parts of the United States, and they employ from 25 to 30 hands.
TOBACCO
The following persons are engaged at Reading in manufacturing shorts for chewing and smoking tobacco:
BRENEISER Brothers, trading as Atlas Tobacco Company
Morris GOLDMAN
HANTSCH & RHEIN
George W. LEHR
George MALTZBERGER
Walter ORTH, trading as the Pompey Manufacturing Company
Charles SHIRK & Company
TRUNKS
Joseph J. WEIGHTMAN started making trunks at Reading in 1888 and continued for twenty years. His son Burt E. started for himself on Jan 1, 1906. Besides making trunks of various kinds to order, he also manufactures suit cases.
UMBRELLAS
Leopold HIRSCH located at Reading about 1847 and manufactured umbrellas until 1860, when he removed to Philadelphia.
In 1869, August ROLLAND, a Frenchman, came to Reading and embarked in the business and it was continued successfully by him, and afterward by his wife until her decease in 1902, when their sons Augustus and Charles carried it on together until 1905, when they separated and established places of their own. Augustus J. ROLLAND is located at No. 722 Penn street and makes a specialty of a "brass-tip" umbrella, employing several hands. Charles L. ROLLAND is at No. 631 Penn street and makes a specialty of a "silver-tip" umbrella, employing 5 hands to meet the demands of his trade.
WALL-PAPER
In 1905, a plant was established at Reading in one of the large buildings of the P. & R. R. Co. at Seventh and Chestnut streets, for the purpose of manufacturing a medium grade of wall-paper by a number of enterprising gentlemen who organized a company which was incorporated under the name of Sun Wall Paper Manufacturing Company. J. W. SCREVEN has been the manager of the plant. A large and successful business has been developed which extends throughout the country.
WASHING MACHINES
In 1894, James H. KNOLL and Nathan S. ALTHOUSE, associating together as KNOLL & ALTHOUSE, designed and patented an improved washing-machine which they called the "Queen", and until 1906 made large quantities of them, when Mr. KNOLL became the sole owner and he has since carried on the business. He employs 7 hands.
In 1899, Augustus G. CHRISTMAN designed and secured a patent for the "Royal" washing machine, and large numbers of them have been made and sold throughout the country. He died in July, 1908, and since then his son H. Herbert CHRISTMAN has conducted the business for the estate.
The Reading Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1904 for the manufacture of washing-machines and since then has manufactured them in large quantities, known as the "Lehigh, "Five Arrow," "Big Five" and the "Reading Motor." The manager of the plant is James A. KALBACH, and the president of the company Paul K. LEINBACH. The company employs 12 hands.
In 1907, Daniel F. PRINTZ designed and patented an improved washing-machine called the "Printz," which is manufactured in large quantities at Reading Wood Pulley Works.
WINDOW VENTILATORS
In the month of December, 1908, William G. HINTZ, William E. ALTHOUSE, and Howard B. HEATH associated together under the name of HINTZ & ALTHOUSE for the purpose of manufacturing window ventilators out of wood and metal, after a special design of their own, and since then have manufactured large quantities of them at No. 640 Cherry street. They employ 3 hands.
WOOD PULLEY WORKS
In the year 1893, the Reading Pulley Company was incorporated and its factory was established at No. 247 Poplar street. In 1899, the plant was removed to Eleventh and Muhlenberg streets, where it has continued until the present time, manufacturing all sizes of wood pulleys, which have been shipped throughout the United States and foreign countries. The hands employed number 75. The officers of the company are: Daniel F. PRINTZ, president; Samuel H. FULMER, treasurer; and Henry J. GLASER, manager.
WOOLEN GOODS
Robert M. SHOUSE, of Easton, Pennsylvania, came to Reading in 1859 and began the manufacture of gingham and shirting check. Some months afterward, his enterprise was destroyed by fire. He then selected a lot on Fourth street beyond Elm as a suitable location and erected a two-story stone factory with basement, where he resumed the manufacture of the articles mentioned, and continued the same until 1864, when he converted it into a woolen-mill for manufacturing jeans, plaids, and doe-skin cloths. Jonathan G. LEINBACH became the manager and in 1867 he was made a partner, the firm trading under the name of R. M. SHOUSE & Co. They employed 50 hands, and their annual production amounted to $100,000, which was shipped to commission houses at New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. The firm continued operations until 1875, when Mr. Leinbach became the sole owner. Shortly afterward, he formed a co-partnership with Aaron S. LEINBACH and William F. P. DAVIS, who traded as J. G. LEINBACH & Co. In 1880 John SHOALED became a partner. In 1887 Rev. Mr. DAVIS died and his interest was purchased by Mr. LEINBACH.
In 1889, the senior member gave an interest in the business to his three brothers, Daniel, Albert and Mahlon; and in 1894, appreciating the long-continued fidelity of certain of the older employes who had worked in the mill from twenty to thirty years, he also gave them an interest. In 1896 Aaron S. LEINBACH died, and the surviving partners (LEINBACH and SHOALED) purchased his interest. After the firm had organized in 1875, improvements were made to the plant, additional ground was purchased, and new machinery was introduced from time to time. In 1880, the manufacture of Jeans was discontinued. The volume of business increased steadily, and with it the number of hands.
The plant is equipped with the best machinery, including four self-acting spinning machines with 1,508 spindles, and a 100-horse-power Corliss engine. The enterprise has been named the Reading Woolen Mill, and the manufactured cloths are so known in the market, having a superior reputation. This is the only enterprise at Reading in which the older and more experienced hands have been permitted to share in the profits. The generosity of the senior member has been appreciated and it has resulted in mutual benefits, as well to the firm as to the recipients.
In 1904, the company introduced the manufacture of pants and vests from their own cloths, and has since been very successful. In all the departments of this enterprise, the employees number from 180 to 200.
The officers of the company are: J. G. LEINBACH, president; A. Ellsworth LEINBACH, treasurer; Samuel W. REIFF, secretary.
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