Henry Bloecher
Wilhelm Schaaf

 

Their shop was located at 250 Hollins Street.  Both principals served as Master Masons of Sincerity Lodge, Henry in 1910 and Wilhelm in 1915.  

Conrad Bodenbender (3-9-1855 to)

Mr. C. Bodenbender was born March 9, 1855 in Kurhessen and learned in his native country the Meat Business. In 1872, he came to Baltimore and worked his trade for 22 years ago. His butcher shop was located on Harford Road and Mr. Bodenbender also had a stall in the Belair market. He was president of the Butchers Singing Group (Metzger Gesangerein), a member of the Butchers Association, No. 1 of Unkel Brassig Verein and Kurhessen Association. He was married to Mary Louise Marquardt.  Together they had two children Wilhelm George and Mary Katherine.

Esskay Meats

 

William Schluderberg (9-29-1839 to 4-5-1921)

Thomas J. Kurdle (1856 to )

 

The company was founded in 1858 by German immigrant William Schluderberg. William and his brothers Conrad and George all purchased land in Highlandtown to open butcher shops.  William's company name was the Schluderberg Meatpacking Co.  Esskay was a result of a merger in 1919 between his meatpacking company and that of Thomas J. Kurdle.  It was incorporated as Schluderberg-Kurdle Co., but soon became known as Esskay…which was a result of the combination of the first part of the principals last names (S and K). 

 

William Schluderberg was born in 1839 in Hessen, Germany.  He immigrated with his mother and step-father in 1851.  Also immigrating were his brothers Conrad (worked with his brother in the meat business), Henry (butcher died in 1893) and George.  He married Sophia (Falk) and together they had nine children, three of which survived to adulthood.  He was a large property owner in the Highlandtown area at one time having over 40 rental properties in the area.  He was a Republican, a member of the Butcher’s Association and a member of the Canton German Lutheran Church.   He was a director of the American Bank.  The 1930 Federal census has the family living at 1029 Third Street in Highlandtown (ED12; District 52).  His obituary states that the services were conducted by REv. John Fleck of  St. John's Lutheran Church, assisted by Rev. Paul A. Schinatz, Pastor of the Fifth Reformed German Church.  He and his wife Sophia are buried at Oak Lawn Cemetery.  

 

The 1930 census has Thomas Kurdle living at 2818 Ailsa.  He was 74 years old and living with his wife, Margaretha who was 68 years old.  The census states he was born in Bohemia, as were his parents.  Margaretha was born in Maryland, but both parents were born in Bavaria.  The 1920 census has them on what appears Aliceanne Street and has his time of arrival as 1854.  In 1910 they were at 3809 Eastern Avenue.  It also states his year of immigration as 1878.

 

Their slogan, which became quite famous was “Taste the difference quality makes”.  They also served as the primary sponsor for ‘Sam and Friends’, which was a base and start for Jim Hensen and his puppets.  They were also one of the few companies involved in Sports Marketing and for many years were a sponsor of the Baltimore Orioles, the Naval Academy and the Ironbirds.

 

They built their main plant in 1919 and throughout the years made many additions.  They were one of the first meatpacking companies to provide training to their employees as well as a library, insurance, a credit union, etc.  The plant kept many people in the area employed.

 

The company was acquired by Smithfied Foods in 1985 and operate as an independent operating division of Gwaltney and Smithfield Packing.  They ceased production at their East Baltimore Company in 1992.

 

Esskay website:  http://www.esskaymeat.com/history.html

According to the 1922 Packers Enclyclopedia:  Wm. Schluderberg-T. J. Kurdle Co.—Baltimore and 6th Sts.  President, W. F. Schluderberg; Vice-President, Joseph Kurdle; Secretary, Theo. Schluderberg; Treasurer, Albert Kurdle; General Manager, W. F. Schluderberg; General Superintendent, A. M. Eastman. Employes, 400.  "Esskay." Products- Sausage—Fresh and smoked.  Pork products, "Esskay"; lard, "Esskay," "Oriole"; compounds, "Southern Rose," "Pearl." Branches—1727 Eastern Ave., Baltimore, Md., and Roanoke, Va. Also exports.

John A. Gebelein

 

John A. Gebelein (1869-)

 

John Gebelein lived on Castle Street in 1920.  He was 51 at the time and owned and operated a pork packing business.  He was born in Maryland to German parents.  He and his family lived on Sulgrave Avenue in 1930.  The name of his company according to the German Citizens of Baltimore (1929) was the J.A. Gebelein Company and was located at 725 N. Castle Street.  His son Andrew took over the business and is listed at 731 Castle Street in the 1930 federal census. 

 

According to the 1922 Packers Encyclopedia- 725-743 N. Castle St.  Individual ownership.  Sausage—Fresh and smoked.  Trade Mark—"Castle Brand." Retail

Market—One at Bel Air Market.

Goetze Meats

Albert Goetze, Sr. (8-31-1891 to )
Albert Goetze, Jr. (1923 to 9-2007)
Robert Goetze (1925 to 2008)

Goetze Meats was founded by Albert F. Goetze and was called the Albert F. Goetze Meat Packing Company.  The plant, which at one time employed about 1000 persons, was closed in the mid-1970s.  According to the 1890 Baltimore Directory, Albert’s father, Albert G. Goetze was also a butcher and owned his own shop, which was located at Chew near Chester.  The 1910 census lists the family residence at 1729 Chester Street.  Albert F. Goetze established the meat packing plant, which was located 8422 Bellona Lane in Baltimore.  Albert Frederick Goetze was the son of Albert G. Goetze (1863 to) born in Anholt, Germany and Dora Goetze (1862 to ), born in Bremen, Germany (both according to the 1920 Federal Census).  Albert F. Goetze was born August 31, 1891 in Baltimore, Maryland and married Nellie Pauline.  The family lived at 1515 Lakeside Avenue.  As a child, Alfred F. lived with his parents on Chester Street and later on Rutland Avenue. 

The company’s slogan was ‘Don’t Guess, Get Goetze’s’. 

Albert’s sons were also involved in the business.  His son Alfred Jr.(1923 to 2007) became the firm’s president.  In 1968, he became the President of the Eastern Meat Packers Association.  He was born in Baltimore and educated at McDonogh School and later Cornell University with a degree in mechanical engineering.  His full profile is in the ‘Military’ section of this site.  His son Robert Goetze (1925 to 2008) was a graduate of McDonogh School and attended the University of Pennsylvania, when his studies were interrupted by WWII, where Robert served as an ensign in the Navy in the South Pacific from 1944 to 1946.  He earned a degree at the Wharton School of business and became general manager and vice president of sales at the plant.  He later became president of Sinclair Auto & Truck Fleet Leasing Co., which initially used commercial vehicles from the meat-packing business.  He sat on the boards of the American Meat Institute, Susquehanna University and was a founding member of the Maryland Presbyterian Church on Providence Road.  He served on committees for the Salvation Army and the Baltimore Junior Chamber of Commerce).

The company ceased operations in 1975.

Andrew Heinold Meat Packing

 

Located at 808 N. Chester near Madison Avenue.  They also operated a stall at Northeast Market (located at Monument and Chester). 

 

The family, according to the 1910 census, lived at 832 Chester Street.  His occupation was listed as butcher of pork.  He lived with his wife Elizabeth () and his son Edwin (1903 to) and George (1905 to).   Both of Andrew’s parents were born in Germany.

 

In reviewing census records (1920), I also came upon a Kate Heinold (1854 to) living at 808 Chester Street.  She is listed as the Head of Household living with her daughters Mary and Kate.  Mary’s husband Edward Hall also lived at the house and his occupation is listed as an Engineer at a slaughterhouse; daughter Kate worked at the slaughterhouse as a clerk. 

 

C. Hohman & Sons

 

Conrad P. Hohman (1865 to)

Frank Hohman (1890 to)

 

Located at 2138 E. Monument Street.  It was a partnership and they employed, according to the 1922 Meat Packers Encyclopedia, 65 employees.  2138 E. Monument St. General Manager, Geo. A. Hohman. Hogs, 1,200. Sausage Fresh and smoked.  Trade Marks—"Blue Band Brand" and "Triangle Brand."  Retail Markets—North East Market and Belair Market, Baltimore.

 

According to the 1930 census, the family, Conrad and his wife Cora were living at 1345 Homestead Street in Baltimore.  He is listed as a Butcher in a wholesale meat packing business.  His father was born in Germany.  In 1920 they lived on Washington Street and their son Frank (1890 to ), who also worked in the meat business lived with them.

 

Kaufman

 

Henry Kaufman (1852 to )

 

The Kaufman family were meat packers and butchers.  Henry Kaufman (1852-) lived and worked at 323 Leeds Ave., also on Leeds Ave., was Elmer Kaufman and his family and Harry Kaufman and his family (All from the 1920 Federal Census).  Again, all were meat packers.  The Kaufmans (Henry, Harry and Elmer were all listed as born in Maryland to German parents.  The Kaufman Packing Company, Harry J. Kaufman, proprietor, was located at the Union Stock Yards (source:  German Citizens of Baltimore 1929).

 

According to the 1922 Packers Encyclopedia, President, Harry T. Kaufman; Vice-Presidents, Walter C. Kaufman, J. Louis Kaufman and Elmer R. Kaufman; Secretary,

Halver B. Kaufman; Treasurer, J. Louis Kaufman; General Manager, Walter C. Kaufman; General Superintendent. J. Louis Kaufman. Employees, 25.  Products — Sausage, Fresh and smoked.  "Blue Seal." Retail Markets—607-609 Lexington Market and 18-20 Hollins Market, Baltimore, Md.

Kreil, Charles

 

Located at 5221 W. Henrietta Street.

Raith’s

 

Located at 2806 Pennsylvania Avenue.  The corporation, according to the 1922 Meat Packers Encyclopedia, they employed 30 persons.

Ruppersberger Sons

 

Gustav Ruppersberger

John Ruppersberger

 

Founded in 1868 by Gustav Ruppersberger, who immigrated from Germany.  This firm name is found in the 1922 Meat Packers Encyclopedia. 

 

His was the last slaughterhouse in Baltimore and was ran continuously for over five generations.  The name was changed to George G. Ruppersberger & Sons, Inc. 

 

L. Sellmayer & Sons

 

Ludwig Sellmayer (8-1858 to)

 

Located at Third and Fleet Streets in Highlandtown.  They were pork and beef packers and sausage manufacturers.

 

The 1900 Federal census has the family living at 501 Eastern Avenue.  With Ludwig was his wife Dorothea (10-1872).  Ludwig was born in Germany.  Dorothea was born in Maryland to German parents.  Ludwig immigrated in 1868.   He is listed as a butcher.  Living with him were his sons John (9-1884); Ludwig (1-1889); George (10-1897) and Edward (1-1900).   On the 1920 census, John was working as a Clerk in the Slaughterhouse.  He was married to Katherine (1886) and living at 706  Third Street.

Treuth, Johann Ernest (5-3-1809 to 8-15-1893)

Treuth, Charles W. (1-7-1860 to 10-28-1916)

The Treuth family has been in the butcher and meat packing business in Oella, near Catonsville, for generations, although Ernest Treuth, [Johann Ernest Treuth, originally Treut] the "patriarch" was a cooper at the Avalon Nail & Iron Works in Avalon, Baltimore County along the Patapsco River. A massive flood in 1868 destroyed the village and factory, however, their house was spared. Johann Ernest was born in Eckartshausen, Hesse-Darmstadt and married Margaret [Margaretha] Hopp [6-18-1816 to 4-2-1882], born in Langendiebach, Hesse Kassell.  They emigrated to the United States with their daughter and the parents of Margaret [George Phillip and Anna Elizabeth Hopp].  Johann Ernest’s son Charles was the first butcher in the family.  Johann Ernest and Margaret also had 5 daughters.  Charles was born in 1860, married Marie and his son’s Charles and William also became butchers.

The business still exists in Baltimore and they have been serving the beef industry for over 100 years. 

Ernest and Margaret are buried at Melville Methodist Church cemetery in Elkridge, Howard County. 

Charles W. and Marie Treuth are buried at Loudon Park Cemetery.

Information provided by Dave Pardoe and the website of J.W. Treuth http://www.jwtreuth.com/. 

Wetzelberger Brothers Meat Packing

 

The company was founded in the early 19^th century.  Located at 239 S. Conkling Street.  They also operated a stall at Northwest Market.  They had a stall in the Southeast Market located on Broadway.