Category:J M Grimley Company, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Jeremiah M. Grimley was a native of Allentown, born in November 1854. He began his professional career working for the C A Dorney Furniture Company in 1882. Grimley opened his own company on February 9th, 1884, buying the stock and equipment of the Carpet and Willow-Ware store at 804 Hamilton Street. The store stocked a large number of carpets, oil cloth and Willow-Ware. By 1890 he began to offer window shades, made to order.

On January 1, 1910, the business was expanded by taking in his daughter and son-in-law. In 1912 Grimley began expanding his store, selling home furniture along with his other stock. He needed more space, and comissioned the construction of a new building designed to accommodate the additional products at 730 Hamilton. Unfortunatley, Grimley never saw his new store open as he died on February 18, 1914 after a series of strokes, just after the completion of his new building at 730 Hamilton Street. He never was able to move his buisness into the new building he comissioned.

After his passing, the business was purchased in 1915 by Norton L Lichtenwalner. He proceeded to move Grimley's former buisness into the 730 Hamilton Building and initially kept the same name for the business (J. M. Grimley Co.), He later changed it to the N L Lichtenwalner company in March 1919.

The store has been used for many years by many merchants on Hamilton Street since J M Grimley's passing.