Chambersburg's J.A. Hollinger made 'top of the line' products

It's interesting to look at how someone pursues their livelihood and just when you least expect it they change to another line of work that may better suit them in life. You see, Jacob Augustus Hollinger was born in Gettysburg on March 13th, 1860. After the young man received his education and graduated from the Gettysburg Academy he went on to be a school teacher.

It appears that the young Jacob wasn't satisfied in being a school teacher and after only two years he decided to choose a different profession. It was in 1882 that Jacob moved to Chambersburg where he started his new job working for Craig and Nelson which was a leading lumber and planing mill.

A planing mill would take fresh cut and seasoned boards from a sawmill and produce a high grade finished specific piece of lumber for the customer. As an apprentice Jacob had to work in the various sections and learn each operation before he could advance to the next skilled area.

Jacob had worked very hard and had mastered his trade and was promoted accordingly. It was in 1887 that Thomas M. Nelson left the partnership of Craig and Nelson setting the stage for Jacob Hollinger to become partner with J. Watson Craig. Perhaps you may never have heard of T.M. Nelson, he was well known by many in the business community and was well established.

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Thomas was educated in schools at St. Thomas, Chambersburg, and graduated from the Chambersburg Academy and finally to Lafayette College where he graduated as a civil engineer and was employed by the firm of Walling and Gray of Boston.

Through this firm he did engineering work for the Mont Alto, Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania, and New York Central Railroads from July, 1870 to July, 1875. He was also engaged in business with A. Buchanan building bridges. Thomas then became President of the Pittsburgh Bridge Company from 1896- 1900.

Locally Thomas was President of the following: Chambersburg Trust Company, Chambersburg Shoe Manufacturing Company, and the Chambersburg Hosiery Company. The partnership of Craig and Hollinger continued until 1898 when J.A. Hollinger purchased J. Watson Craig's interest and changed the name of the business to J.A. Hollinger and Company. At this time Jacob had all the equipment needed to successfully manufacture all the orders for interior wood work and had an excess of material readily available. Some of the high quality finished wood products his employees produced were Sash, Blinds, Doors, Windows, and Door Frames. He also carried slate and building supplies of every description and produced the highest grade of mill work.

His business covered one and three quarters of an acre on Broad Street in Chambersburg. His lumber shed was considered to have been one of the largest in the state. Jacob enjoyed a successful business in the Cumberland Valley and Western Maryland.

His business was adjacent to the Cumberland Valley Railroad which was a necessity in the shipping and receiving for the business. Jacob had employed nearly forty skilled workers. Jacob served on Chambersburg's Town Council from 1900-1902 and he was always interested in Chambersburg's growth and success in all aspects.

The Hollinger Planing Mill was located at 520 Broad Street and was an easy access for all who were doing business at the lumber yard and planing mill. A horrific event took place on May 1st,1907 at 6 am when the Chambersburg Fire Department was alerted for a building fire at the Hollinger Planing Mill.

The Junior Hose & Truck Company No. 2 chemical engine pulled by the two famous black horses Doc & Derby arrived first on the fireground. The driver Walter Klipp noticed the fire in the new building and then the Cumberland Valley Hose Company No. 5 steam fire engine arrived and was hooked to the fire hydrant on Broad Street near the fire.

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The Good Will Steam Fire Engine & Hose Company No. 3 steam fire engine used the fire hydrant on Philadelphia Avenue near Vine Street and within a half hour the fire had advanced to the stage that the Chief  Officers decided to call for mutual aid from the Hagerstown Fire Department .

The Cumberland Valley Railroad quickly transported the mutual aid fire apparatus and the firemen to Chambersburg in twenty-two minutes. The fire department fought the destructive fire for approximately twelve hours and the loss was estimated at $135,000. After the fire Jacob rebuilt his business by building a two story brick mill 50 feet by 150 feet, a lumber shed 60 feet by 300 feet, and a two story brick office building. The new mill had the latest machinery for producing the finest wood work available and was used in many buildings in Chambersburg and vicinity. So you see, all the products made at the Hollinger Planing Mill were “Top of the Line.” Jacob A. Hollinger passed away on September 23rd, 1937.

M.L. “Mike” Marotte III is an author and historian who writes about Franklin County. read more from him at www.vintagefranklincountypa.com.