#27 Peter C. Fulweiler & Brothers Cigar Factory in York; from the Top 50 York County Factories in 1899
In my post Late 1800s Factory Inspection Reports Assist in Identification of an East Prospect Photo I wrote about finding these reports in the State Library of Pennsylvania. For this series on the Top 50 York County Factories at the end of 19th Century, I’m using data from the 10th Report of the Pennsylvania Department of Factory Inspection.
The 10th Factory Inspection Report is for the Department’s year ending October 31st 1899. I ranked the 479 York County factories by numbers of employees; #50 has 47 employees, on up to #1 with 510 employees. In the coming weeks, on Monday and/or Tuesday, I’m counting down to the top employer in York County at the end of 19th Century.
At #27 in the countdown of the Top 50 York County Factories at the end of 19th Century is the Peter C. Fulweiler & Brothers Cigar Factory in York. Peter C. Fulweiler obtained a design patent in 1895 for the particular type of cigar wrapper shown in the drawing at the beginning of this post. This design patent granted Peter Fulweiler exclusive use of this type of cigar wrapper design for 7-years.
In Polk’s York City Directory during 1899, the P. C. Fulweiler & Brothers Cigar Company is located on the south side of East Boundary Avenue near South Queen Street. The owners of this company are Peter C. Fulweiler and Samuel T. Fulweiler; they both have residences in Philadelphia.
The 10th Factory Inspection Report notes that on April 24th 1899 the Peter C. Fulweiler & Brothers Cigar Factory in York has 89 employees; 59 male and 30 female. Of these 89 employees, 21 employees were under 21-years-old, of which 3 male employees and 3 female employees were between 13 and 16-years-old.
From the little information that I’ve been able to locate on this company, their main cigar factory was located in Philadelphia at 927 Sansom Street. The cigar factory in York appears to be their only satellite operation. One of their most popular cigar brands was called “Prince of India.”
In my count down of the 50 top factories in York County at the end of 19th Century, there are 12 cigar related factories represented. Only one cigar factory shows up in the top 15; do any of my readers care to guess where this factory, that made cigars and also cigar boxes, was located in York County—I’ve already had readers guess, Dover, Red Lion & Dallastown; which are not the correct answer in 1899.
#27 Peter C. Fulweiler & Brothers Cigar Factory in York, with 89 employees, is the tenth cigar related factory in my count down of the top 50 York County Factories at end of 19th Century. Previous cigar factories that have made the list include:
- #34 George A. Kohler & Company Cigar Factory in York; 74 employees
- #38 LaButa Cigar Factory in York; 65 employees
- #39 A. F. Hostetter Cigar Factory in Hanover; 64 employees
- #41 William H. Raab Cigar Factory in Dallastown; 59 employees
- #42 Edwin Myers & Co. Cigar Box & Lithographic Works in York; 56 employees
- #43 Paragon Cigar Factory in York; 54 employees
- #46 George W. Gable Cigar Factory in Windsor; 50 employees
- #48 National Cigar Manufacturing Company in West Manchester; 50 employees
- #50 David S. Detwiler Cigar Factory in Wrightsville; 47 employees
