James Naugle - New Berlin Tinsmith
by Mrs. Mary Sassamann
Orignially published in the
New Berlin Heritage Association Annual Volume IV
Saturday, August 23, 1975 (edited for content)
Town's Tinshop - Until 1924 New Berlin had a local tinshop, owned and operated by Mr. James Naugle from 1868 to 1923. The picture above was taken some time in the 1880's and shows Mr. Naugle and his son Harry. The building was torn down in the 1930's and the land is now part of the lawn of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Hicks who bought the house which is pictured to the right. The picture was loaned to the Journal by Mrs. Carl Sassaman, of New Berlin.
A young man from Snyder Country came to town in the year 1868 for a venture all his own. James Naugle was his name, and he learned the tinsmith trade from his Uncle Frederick Reichter in Selinsgrove with whom he made his home after the death of his Father.
After he came to town Mr. Naugle purchased a small brick building located on Market Street. As business grew he built an addition to it which measured approximately thirty by forty-five feet and consisted of three rooms, a display room, a storage room, and a work shop.
In 1871 he married Emma Manbeck of Beaver Springs. Shortly thereafter he purchased a log house located on the corner of Market and Union Streets and moved it to the East side of his shop. This house was later remodeled and is now the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Hicks, 423 Market Street, New Berlin, Pa.
In the early years of his career Mr. Naugle purchased his stoves from a Danville foundry. The stoves were shipped in pieces and assembled by him. All newly married couples purchasing a stove from Mr. Naugle were presented with a complete set of hand made cooking utensils. Mr. Naugle was regarded as a very good tinsmith and made spoons, ladles, pots, pans, teakettles, cookie cutters, measuring cups, spouting, stove pipe, milk pails and cans, and strainers, in fact anything that could be made of tin.
Originally the shop was illuminated by coal oil (kerosene) lamps. Later gasoline (what is now known as Coleman lanterns) were used, in the last few years of his life the shop was illuminated by electricity. Pot bellied stoves were used to heat the place and the old timers liked to congregate and tell jokes and stories as well as reminisce of bye-gone days. He followed his trade until his death in 1924 after having served his community faithfully for 56 years. |
