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Eli Keen's Sons
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| Name | Eli Keen's Sons |
| Ortssitz | Philadelphia (Penns.) |
| Straße | North 2nd Street 52 |
| Art des Unternehmens | Hutfabrik |
| Quellenangaben | [Philadelphia and popular Philadelphians (1891) 165] |
| Hinweise | [Philadelphia and popular Philadelphians (1891) 165]: Portraits von Edwin F. Keen und Frank A. Keen |
| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| Dez. 1824 |
Geburt von Eli Keen in Philadelphia |
| 1846 |
Eli Keen und Alfred W. Adolph beginnen als "Adolph & Keen" in der North Second Street, gegenüber Christ Church |
| 1861 |
Bau der neuen Hutfabrik |
| 1872 |
Alfred W. Adolph zieht sich aus dem aktiven Geschäft zurück |
| 1884 |
Eli Keen überläßt das Geschäft seinen beiden noch lebenden Söhnen Edwin F. und Frank A. Keen |
| Produkt |
ab |
Bem. |
bis |
Bem. |
Kommentar |
| Hüte |
1846 |
Beginn als "Adolph & Keen" |
1891 |
[Philadelphia] |
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| ZEIT | 1891 |
| THEMA | Beschreibung |
| TEXT | Philadelphia is celebrated for its hat factories and the excellent hats they turn out, and foremost in rank in this great industry stands the old and firmly established house of Eli Keen's Sons, No. 62 North Second street. The founder of this solid and profitable business was Mr. Eli Keen, who was born in Philadelphia in December, 1824, his parents also being natives of the Quaker City. Young Keen began his experience in the retail hat store of Robert Maull, and he afterwards served his full apprenticeship to the late James Nickerson, who was at the time one of the leading hat manufacturers in the country. Having served his time, Eli Keen entered the employ of the late Charles Oakford, in whose establishment he was initiated into the highest class of hat making, and he became an expert salesman as well as a most proficient manufacturer of the best class of goods. Mr. Keen was industrious and of frugal habits. and he managed in a few vears to accumulate a small amount of capital. In 1S46 he joined forces with Alfred W. Adolph, also an experienced hat manufacturer. The two young merchants began business on North Second street, opposite Christ Church, and underneath the old Madison Hotel. The new firm prospered from the start, and the nucleus of a fine business was soon arrived at. After a few years the demands of business required larger premises, and Adolph & Keen went across the road and took a larger store at No. 62 North Second street. Fortune continued to smile on the young business men and in 1861 they built the present large and handsome premises with factories in the rear extending over half a block. The new factory was considered the finest in the country, and it became a show place for business men visiting Philadelphia. In 1866 it was illustrated in Frank Leslie's New York illustrated paper as a model establishment and a fine specimen of a great industry. The business of the firm of Adolph & Keen now increased with marvelous rapidity and large contracts were taken. Nearly all the hats worn in the war of the Rebellion were supplied by the firm, as the majority of the contracts was awarded them by the government. The local trade grew very rapidly, and the business also extended to the South and West, in fact to all parts of the United States. The standard quality and reliability of their manufacture being the principal factor in causing their rapid and continued success. In 1872 Mr. Adolph retired from active business, but he continued to be one of Philadelphia's best known and most esteemed citizens. The large business was continued bv Mr. Eli Keen, who associated with him in the business his three sons, Alfred, who died in 1882, Edwin F. and Frank A. In [884 Mr. Eli Keen, having seen with pride the rapid growth of his great business, which he had himself founded upon such a modest and humble foundation, also retired from business and left the manufactory in the hands of his two surviving sons under the title of Eli Keen's Sons. The founder of the industry went into retirement with a handsome fortune, lint his active mind could not remain completely idle and he connected himself with several of the most solid financial establishments of the city, He was unobstrusive in manners, noted for his kindly temper and strictly honorable in all his transactions. At the time of his death he was a director of the Commonwealth National Bank and he was interested in many other public institutions both financial, literary and educational. In the meantime the two sons Edwin F. Keen and Frank A. Keen continued to conduct the great business which their father and Mr. Adolph had raised up by their petseverance, industry and integrity. By following in the footsteps of the founders, the young men have retained most of the old trade, and they arc continually extending their territory and increasing the output. They are worthy sons of a worthy father, and they are consolidate enlarging the great monument of trade which has been erected by Mr. Eli Keen. Are members of various public organizations and have shown an active interest in all that appertains to the general welfare of the city. |
| QUELLE | [Philadelphia and popular Philadelphians (1891) 165] |
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