Valley Girl Views: Record & Star Anniversary Edition Page 7

Find An Index To All Of This Newspaper Here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-watsontown-record-star-silver.html

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The Watsontown Table And Furniture Company

A Brief Sketch Of the Company And Plant

This company was organized to manufacture dining tables and stands in February 1893 by William Follmer, J.C. Fowler, T.G. Caldwell, G.W. Romcach, G.W. Hess, S.O. Comly, J.E. Kramer, William McCoy, Josiah Stewart, Robert Johnson, James Percy, J.P. Russell, John McCoy, C.B. McClain.

In April of the same year they incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania with an authorized capitalization of two $20,000 of which $14,000 only was paid in the organization was completed by the election of the following officers: President William Follmer; Secretary J.C. Fowler;Treasurer T.G.Caldwell, Superintendent J.P.Russell; Foreman C.B. McClain.

The company bought a plot of ground adjoining Pennsylvania R.R. with a frontage of 104 feet on 8th St. and depth of 458 feet early in 1893 a three story basement brick factory with boiler and engine house attached a large dry kiln and other buildings were erected the plant was put in operation in August with 25 employees and J.C. Fowler in charge of the office with D.G. Rombach as assistant

In January 1894 the directors elected T.G. Caldwell, President; G.W. Hess, Treasurer; G.W. Rombach, Secretaryl and D.G Rombach, Office Manager. The following year C.B. McClain was elected Superintendent and in 1898 H.W. Romvach became office manager. These constitute the board of directors and officers at the present time excepting that S.O. Comly succeeded to the office of secretary on the death of G.W. Rombach in November 1901.
The rapidly growing business of the corporation required the enlargement of their facilities from time to time and in 1902 the $6000 of treasury stock was sold to provide additional working capital and to pay for the erection of a new three story basement warehouse and office building. In 1905 a new brick dry kiln was built and the following year a wing was added to the main building in 1906 the capital was increased to $60,000 of which $40,000 is now outstanding.

The plant of the company has always been operated to its fullest capacity and is quick with all the latest appliances with which to economically build and finish tables they have over 1,000,000 square feet of dry lumber in their yards and kilns at all times ready to use at present they have about 90 employees and produce about 18,000 dining tables and 5000 stands annually which is more than double
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Known to the trade shipments going to every state and territory in the union as well as to a number of foreign countries. The company and its officers enjoy full confidence in its stockholders and the community it has been a continuous dividend payer since its inception and its securities are regarded as being one of the staple instruments of the town.

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T. G. Caldwell, President

H.W. Rombach, Office Manger

G.W. Hess Treasurer

C.B. McLain, Superintendent

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See a 1907 Catalog for the Watsontown Furniture Company here:

https://archive.org/details/catalog1907wats/mode/2up

"The table industry which has become such an important factor of our community was launched by the father of our industries, Joseph Hollopeter, who associating with him Charles and James McLain, first made tables in the car shops. This subsequently became the Bower and Miller plant which, after numerous vicissitudes, is the present West Branch Table Company, on Main Street, opposite the Pennsylvania Station. From this plant spring the nucleus of the Watsontown Table and Furniture Company, organized in 1893 by G.W. Rombach, T.G. Caldwell, William Follmer, Chalres B. McLain, and others under the efficient management of Howard W. Rombach, pays larger dividends than any industrial enterprise in Central Pennsylvania." - Watsontown Historically, By Major Fred H. Knight, 1915

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E. Sherman Follmer

Former Chief Burgess

Attorney in Seattle Washington

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Seattle WA February 28th 1907
Editors Record & Star

Congratulations and best wishes to the silver anniversary souvenir edition! And on your golden anniversary 25 years hence then is now may one not say in the words of Rip Van Winkle “here's to your good health your family's good health and may you all live long and prosper”

Early after coming to the coast in 1898 I recall a letter to your paper in which I ventured the prediction that in five years Seattle should have 150,000 population. I gave you my first impressions of Seattle and somewhat of the state of Washington. As to the state of Washington “ it's is as large as all New England with Delaware included: more than 3/4 as large as New York and Pennsylvania combined, or about equal in size of both Ohio and Indiana, and her W front on the Pacific is 170 miles. The population of Seattle January 1907 was 196,000 which added to the city of Ballard and other suburban places approximately 25,000, makes the present greater Seattle more than 220,000. This is a splendid city and Washington is a great state.

The Alaska Yukon Pacific exposition in 1909 to be located in Seattle is widely advertised. It will repay your coming to the coast period to you, especially devoted to the rod and gun, fish cod halibut salmon herring clams crab and smelts-and in the mountains and farm lands nearby deer, and grouse await you.

The fisheries of Puget Sound alone employ 5000 men and the earnings are 1,500,000 annually period the output of the salmon canneries $5 million colon that of the lumber mills comma 2,000,000 feet comma with enough timber standing to operate the mills now running at present capacity 100 years. the mines canneries and factories employ more than 300,000 men. Coal, iron and precious metals, the output of the Washington mines exceed 3 million tons the year employing 5000 to 6000 men.

And agriculture wheat, rye oats and barley- Eastern Washington alone produces 35 million bushels of wheat each year, and the average yield is 24 to 27 bushels to the acre. This “Evergreen state”, ideal for dairying, is unsurpassed in climate and health with two seasons only summer and winter. The summer temperature 90, the winter rarely below zero. The death rate in January, 1905, and Seattle lower than any other city in the world. Even in the summer the night are uniformly cool and pleasant.

As to shipping and shipbuilding the headquarters for oriental lines period two of the largest passenger boats, the Dakota and Minnesota, apply between this port and the Orient, and the Nebraska, one of the largest vessels in the American Navy, was recently completed by the Moran brothers company. The Puget Sound Navy Yard is opposite Seattle.

I must mention the public schools of Seattle. And architecture, equipment, grounds, and able, painstaking teachers, unexcelled. The University of Washington, a noble institution, as well as the Carnegie library, recently established. Nor should I close without a grateful acknowledgment to the various churches of Seattle. The character and vital piety of the churchgoing people, and the splendid type of ministers, represented, all have immense influence in the molding and making of the very best citizenship.

E.S. Follmer

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