Category:C A Dorney Furniture Company

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The manufacturing of furniture was started by Henry Berkemeyer in 1870 at the southwest corner of Race & Hamilton Streets on the site of the Allentown Terminal (CRRNJ) Railroad Station. In 1874 Mr. C.A. Dorney joined Berkemeyer and the name was changed to Dorney, Berkemyer & Company. In 1883, E H Stein purchased the Berkemeyer interest and the business was conducted by these partners until October 1885 when Charles Ziegenfuss purchased an interest in the company. In 1886 the factory was destroyed by fire and immediately rebuilt at a new location across the street at 333/335 Hamilton. In 1893 the firm was incorporated under the name C A Dorney Furniture Company, and Stein sold all of his stock to Dorney and Charles Ziegenfuss, Sr. Charles Dorney retired in 1898 sold all of his stock to Ziegenfuss however the name of the firm was unchanged with Ziegenfuss Sr. becoming president of the firm. In 1908 Ziegenfuss & Sons purchased the Troxell home at 612 Hamilton and built a six-story structure which they moved into during 1910.

Ziegenfuss remodeled the store in 1937, adding a limestone front, with bronze trim and classic lines, and also transformed the store's appearance inside. The display windows were extended 40 feet into the store, compared to the previous 15 feet. Ziegenfuss retired in 1946 and the store management was transferred to David A Gottlieb. In 1959, Gottlieb purchased the business from the heirs of Zigenfuss.

In May, 1968, the Zollinger-Harned Department Store acquired the Dorney business from Gottlieb, and the store was integrated into the Zollinger enterprise, with its furniture lines being sold by Zollinger in its main store on Hamilton Street as well as its mall locations in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Zollingers moved appliances and other departments into the Dorney store as part of the merger. In 1973, Zollinger sold off the Dorney Store to Schoen's Furniture which moved from its location on South Sixth street into the Dorney building.

Shoens operated until 1990 when it went out of business and the Dorney Building was shuttered. It remained closed for many years until taken over in 2014 by the Allentown Redevelopment Authority, which renovated the building. Today it is the home of several small businesses, operating from the various floors of the building.

1870-1910 Location:

Object location40° 36′ 17″ N, 75° 27′ 44″ W Kartographer map based on OpenStreetMap.View all coordinates using: OpenStreetMapinfo

1910-1990 Location:

Object location40° 36′ 08″ N, 75° 28′ 12″ W Kartographer map based on OpenStreetMap.View all coordinates using: OpenStreetMapinfo

Media in category "C A Dorney Furniture Company"

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