If you walk past the former Fox Knapp Factory, in Milton Pa, this plaque is still hung by the door. It lists 5 employees, 4 from the Pottsville area, and one from Milton, who did not return from WWII.

Fox Knapp, a sportswear manufacturer, operated a factory in Milton for 40 years, closing in April of 1983. They also had an additional factory in Pottsville Pa.

In Honor Of
The Employees Of The
Fox-Knapp Manufacturing Co
Who Served Our Country
During World War II
AND
In Grateful Memory Of
The Following Who Made
The Supreme Sacrifice
*****
Harold A. Zerbe
Willard W. Aungst
Clyde W. Bennet
Richard M. Sattizahn
Sterling E. Schaefffer

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I had mistakenly assumed these were all Milton men, however, an article in the

The West Schuylkill Press and Pine Grove Herald in 1946 states that this plaque was unveiled at the Pottsville location. Whether this is a duplicate plaque [most likely], or the plaque was moved to the Milton location, I do not know.

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Harold Zerbe, age 23, of Molleystown Pa

His parents were notified in 1943 that Harold was MIA

A year later they received a telegram saying he was deceased.

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Willard Wilson Aungst, age 22

Pine Grove, Pa

Born May 1922, KIA July 6 1944

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CLYDE W. BENNETT, JR.
T/SGT.
307TH BOMB. GROUP 13TH AIR COMMAND
BORN MAY 5, 1923 --LOST IN ACTION
APRIL 6, 1944 AT SEA -- SOUTH PACIFIC

Memorial Stone at Harmony Cemetery, Milton Pa

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PVT Richard M. Sattizahn Age 22, Pine Grove

KIA April 1945 in France

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Sterling E. Schaeffer

Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-24 44-4114 based out of Castellucio, Italy. The plane was hit in the bomb bays and exploded after making it's bomb run over Vienna, Austria. Nearly the entire crew was killed in the explosion. It was reported S/SGT Schaeffer did not have a chance to bail out as the explosion happened so quickly.

Lest We Forget
An Index Of Stories & Photos Of Those Who Didn't Make It Home
And A Closer Look At Some Of The Memorials Erected For them.
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/memorial-day-in-valley-through-decades.html

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FOX-KNAPP in MILTON PA

The Former Fox Knapp Factory, in Milton Pa

Fox Knapp, a sportswear manufacturer, operated a factory in Milton for 40 years, closing in April of 1983.

They first opened in 1941, during the war. They originally planned to build a new factory on Cameron avenue near front street "on a lot to the rear of Waldron's garage". But in 1941, there was a steel shortage due to the war. Plans had been severely delayed "due to the inability of the contractor to secure steel due to the national defense rush on orders for such material."

Chef Boirdi owned the former H.D. Bobb building, and they agreed to sell it to Fox Knapp so that the company could begin manufacturing immediately.

Milton Manufacturing, who had sold the lot on Cameron Avenue to Fox Napp, agreed to cancel the land sale and take back that plot of land.

In 1970, operations expanded to include using the L.A. Fromme building on Matthew street in Watsontown.

Cable Industries used the former factory as a warehouse to store women's coats, in the fall of 1983. In 1984, West Chester Narrows Fabrics, a company that manufactured elastic lace, was expected to begin operations in the building.

In 1982, two Milton women with a combined total of 81 years working for Fox Knapp, retired. Alice Noriconk worked there for 41 years, Bathsheba Seidel for 40. Both women had started with the H.D. Bobb shirt company, which was purchased by Fox Knapp.

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