Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/147

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

the plant until 1898. It was then leased to Robert Hawley and William H. Slate, they conducting it until 1906. when the present company w as formed and incorporated. The officers a r e : W. R. Monroe, president, treas­ urer and general m anager; II. A. H all, secre­ tary. T his company has built up a magnifi­ cent trade, extending throughout the United States, as a result o f its up-to-the-minute busi­ ness methods. "T h e P en is M ightier Than the S w o rd " Among the products o f Bloomsbuig which have gained world-wide fame there is none more favorably known than the Paul E. W irt Fountain Pen, one of the first of these famous writing instruments which have become a ne­ cessity to Americans and by them have been carried to the ends of the earth. T he factory in Bloomsburg was started in 1885 by Paul E. W irt, one of the leading attorneys of the town, and has been carried on ever since with continued and increasing success. Millions of these pens have been sold, the sales in the United States exceeding five hundred thou­ sand in a single year. ^ widely known has this pen become that there is scarcely a coun­ try on earth which is not supplied with it through retail merchants. T h e pen is a "loopfeeder” and has stood the test o f time, having many imitators, but none equal to it. Although there are many other firms marketing fountain pens, the sales of the VS’irt pen have never fallen off, but have increased yearly. T he factory where the pens are made is a two-story building, 2 3 by 75 feet in dimen­ sions. with an addition 40 by 75, recently erected. Forty employees are engaged in the manufacture, divided between the gold pen, rubber case, assembling and shipping depart­ ments. Most of the employees have been with the firm fo r years and have become unusually skillful. E very part is made in the factory, the gold for the pens being received from tne mint, the rubber from South America, and the iridium from which the pen points are made from Russia. T his metal has a value o f $ 1 2 5 an ounce. Mr. W irt and his son, K arl, have become substantially identified with (he life of the town and are connected with many of the other important industries, as well as holding posi­ tions in the local government and the b«»rd of trustees of the State Normal School. C. W. Funston has been associated with this industn,’ almost from its inception.

Paragon Plaster & Su pp ly Company The Bloomsburg plant o f (his company w as established in 1895, but the company has been incorporated fo r 24 years. T he business is housed in a brick and concrete building 70 by 200 feet in size, which is supplied with the best facilities for the manufacture o f "P arago n ” plaster. The company also manufactures "P arago n ” high-grade lime in (he new plant, built five years ago at the lime works o f Low Bros. & Co.. at Lim e Ridge, and also deals wholesale and retail in lime, plaster, cement, hair, marble dust, flue linings, etc. T h e head offices of the company are located at Scranton, the local branch iKine under the efficient man­ agement o f W. L. White. The A rtificial Ice & Cold Storage Company w as established in by the Bloomsburg Cold Storage and Artificial Ice Company, and later w as operated b y T. J. Pugslcy. Finan­ cial difficulties closed it down in August, 19 14. when it was purchased by C. R. Dickerman, o f Milton, at sheriff's sale. The Bloom sburg B rick Company has an extensive shale brick plant at Blooms­ burg. T he officers a r e : George L. Ixjw, presi­ dent; Dr. J. E. Shuman, vice president; W. R. Kocher, treasurer; H. R. Mears, secretary: W. W. Swengel, general manager. T he com ­ pany has an authorized capital o f $ 3 0 ,0 0 0. and has acquired control o f a valuable deposit o f particularly fine red shale suitable for the man­ ufacture o f high-grade pressed brick, paving brick and other products. T he plant has a capacity o f 6.000.OOO brkks per annum, and is electrically cuippcd and fitted with the latest and most approved brick making machinery. The product is among the best, and large quan­ tities are lieing shippcil to distant points; a big home trade Is also supplied. Most of the plant was destroyed by fire in September, 19 14 . but has l>cen rebuilt. Planing M ill The planing mill o f A. Bruce Hartman is a handy shop conducted by a handy man, where all kinds o f woogrcat convenience to the community and receives lil>cral and well m er­ ited patronage.