Page:Brunswick 100 Years of Memories.pdf/119

From Brunswick MD History
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has not been proofread

walking the car tops to the caboose. As he stepped

onto the top ladder rung, which was of wood, the rung broke. His fall damaged his fifth vertebra, causing him to live three years in a plaster cast. He had a porch of his home enclosed, providing a shop for him to conduct a clock and watch repair business, where he worked from about 1903 to 1930. At one time he was B&O watch examiner before Mr. Moore's tenure at that position. Assisting Mr. Moore with repair service was William Hardy, who learned his profession from a Mr. Kronk in Harpers Ferry. Miss Bessie Lowery clerked for Mr. Moore. Having met there, Hardy and Miss Lowery eventually married. When Mr. Moore retired, the Hardys opened a shop at 6 West Potomac Street. Their final move was to a small room on South Maple Avenue, next to the Horine building. The Maple Avenue location was the same room where Mr. John VanPelt had earlier opened a watch shop after moving here from Tazewell, Virginia, in the southwestern section of the state. Unfortunately, the doctor stated that for his health's sake (what might be called an allergy today), he should work out of doors. He then began a career on the B&O Railroad, where he worked until retirement. Still a vibrant person, he opened a watch repair shop in a small room on West Potomac Street, just east of the building where Antiques N' Ole Stuff operates in 1990 (or where the Cincotta family lived for many years). His shop is not distinguishable today, because siding incorporates it with the adjacent storeroom. This writer recalls with amusement the tag he attached to her watch in the late 1930's. It read "She had a bath." S. and N. Katz extended their chain to Brunswick in the early 1940's when they opened shop, south side, first block, West Potomac Street. A Mr. Kreeger from Lovettsville worked there. He later returned to his hometown to open his own shop. A Mr. Butler, who rented a room in the Dave DeLauter "double house" at 21-23 Petersville Road (next to Feete's apartment) also worked for Katz, and two others as yet unidentified, replaced Kreeger as watchmaker. In 1946 Katz moved to L. B. Darr's corner storeroom, 1 East Potomac Street. Frank Miglio came to Brunswick from Cumberland in 1954 to work for Katz when Dave DeLauter managed the jewelry store. Although Katz chain sold to Reliable in the late 1950's, the Brunswick store was the only link in the jewelry chain that remained in the "Katz" name until Miglio retired in 1980, the year Katz closed.

During the 1950's Sam Wilson ran a jewelry and watch repair store on West Potomac Street. S - Paul Moore, Frank Miglio - Ms. Pauline VanPelt - Austin, Helen, Elsie Cooper - Dutch Burns W-MMM

J.P. KARNS Jeremiah P. Karn, born of Dutch extraction in 1857 near Burkittsville, learned carpentry and building from his father and first worked for the C&O Canal Company and the B&O Railroad. He later began a contracting business with his brother William. After working in the District of Columbia, he returned to Brunswick in 1891, then opened alumber yard with his brother in 1892. In an 1896 directory, the ad for Kam indicated they were dealers in "sash, doors, blinds, moulding, framing, flooring, siding shingles and building materials of every description. Florida cypress shingles a specialty. Contractors and builders. Plans and specifications furnished on all types of Buildings." Karn also handled Carmote paints, hinges, nails, tools, plaster and plasterboard and plywood. The company served Virginia and West Virginia in addition to Maryland. This lumber business, J.P. Klam & Bro., was, according to William's History of Frederick County (1910), the largest in the southern section of the county. The site of this business was the eastern side of South Maryland Avenue across from the Kaplon residence. As time passed, the building expanded to accommodate storage space for lumber, machinery, and supplies. Kam received their lumber in box cars on the B&O, unloading by hand and trucking to the storage area. They needed about three days to empty a car, and extra help was hired for this work, Jim and Chester Voorhees being among those who were used. Trucks began transporting the lumber in 1966.Many in Brunswick will remember dealing with Oscar Karn, the last of the family active in the business. Among longtime Kam employees were Turner Conner, originally from Oakland, Virginia, who spent almost 50 years with Karn, and his daughter Grace, who worked there from 1929 until 1971. Kam had a millwork shop in the rear area behind Litten Chevrolet in the 600 block of West Potomac Street. About 65 years ago William Shafer ran the sawmill shop and his son, Clarence, worked there also. They produced door and window frames,

120