(Photo by Richard F. Hope)

Garis Building (524 Northampton Street, now Easton Yoga)

2-story grey building, with black & red trim and roof cornice. The somewhat contemporary façade is clearly applied over an older commercial building. The property has a frontage of 22.67’ on Northampton Street, and extends the full 220’ deep back to Pine Street in the rear.1

This property contains portions of original town Lot Nos.245 and 249, as surveyed by William Parsons when Easton was first established in 1752.2 It was part of three Lots formally sold by the Penn Family (who had been the Proprietors of Pennsylvania) to Michael Opp (a weaver3) in 1800.4 Opp subdivided his property, selling Lot 249 and an eastern strip of Lot No.245 to Jacob C. Welper in 1809 for $1600. Welper was identified as a “Laborer” by occupation.5 Welper subdivided his property, selling a 30’ eastern strip of Lot No.249 to Abraham Horn Jr. in 1812,6 and purchasing it back again two years later.7

Colonel Christian Jacob H ü tter

In 1828, Welper sold his combined property for $2,200 to Christian Jacob Hütter.8

Hütter, born into a German Moravian family,9 received a “liberal education in the dead and modern languages and a few years training in the Counting house of his father, in Amsterdam” before immigrated to America “in his 19th year” (i.e. at age 18).10 He had disagreements with the Moravian authorities in Bethlehem, and left for Philadelphia with

1 Northampton County Tax Records map, www.ncpub.org.

a wife whom the Moravians considered unruly. In Philadelphia, he became a bookseller, ultimately moving to Lancaster. Hütter became probably the largest German language bookseller in Pennsylvania at the beginning of the 19th Century.11 However, the “vocation to which he was most attached was that of a Newspaper editor”.12 He was also, for nearly 40 years, an editor of newspapers in Pennsylvania, starting with the Correspondent in Lancaster (in 1799-1803).13 In connection with a move to Easton (probably caused by his marriage to an Easton woman as his second wife),14 Hütter started the Northampton Correspondent newspaper in 1806. The two “Correspondent” newspapers later caused confusion as to the Easton newspaper’s establishment date, resulting in a mistaken “100th anniversary” celebration at that paper in 1900.15 He also began the Easton Centinel in 1817 as the English language edition of the Northampton Correspondent. It “consequently promulgated the principles of Jeffersonian Democracy.”16

Hütter continued his bookselling business while in Easton. In addition, he sold pharmaceuticals in conjunction with his book-selling business, which was a common practice at that time.17 In Easton, he became a politician as well as a publisher and businessman. In 1814 (during the War of 1812), Hütter helped raise the 97th Regiment and expected to receive command.18 Although he held the nominal rank of Colonel in that Regiment,19 when the troops were sent to join the army, Abraham Horn (who had been elected Captain of the company raised in Easton20) became the Colonel.21 The war ended before that company was ever required to fight.22 Although disappointed, Hütter nevertheless volunteered for the army as a private, and was then appointed a Colonel from the ranks.23 He was known as Col. Hütter thereafter.24

In 1821, Hütter faced “financial embarrassments”, said to have resulted from a failure to collect receivables. He transferred control of the Easton Centinel and Northampton Correspondent newspapers to his twin sons, Henry August Hütter and Frederich William Hütter.25 He was elected to the Pennsylvania legislature in 1823-24, “where he earnestly opposed the prosecution of our system of public improvements, unless the means were provided by taxation, as the work progressed. Time has shewn the prophetic wisdom of himself and the few who stood with him.”26

Unfortunately, both of Hütter’s twin sons died in 1824,27 and Col. Hütter apparently returned from the legislature to resume control of the newspapers, with the aid of his son-in-law, Frederick William Muller.28 Hütter also directed his “energy and aid” towards building St. John’s Lutheran Church on Ferry Street, where his help was considered “instrumental”.29 That church was consecrated on 1 January 1832.30

As of 23 August 1833, Hütter made his son-in-law, Frederich William Muller, publisher of the Easton Centinel. On 21 February 1834, Muller changed the spelling of the newspaper’s name to the Sentinel.31 In 1839, Hütter sold both his Easton newspapers to Abraham Henry Senseman, and retired.32 He died at age 78 in 1849.33

31 Frank Reeder (compiler), Record of the Family and Descendants of Colonel Christian Jacob Hutter of Easton, Penn’a 1771-1907 3 (Easton Sentinel 1907).

32 Editorial, EASTON SENTINEL, Friday, 24 May 1839, p.2, col.1; William J. Heller, I History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 291, 292 (Boston [Etc.]: The American Historial Society 1920); see also Article, “The Argus”, EASTON ARGUS, Wednesday,

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In 1835 – four years before his retirement – Hütter sold the portion of Lot No.245 that became the Seibert Building property next door to John Ely Jr.34 That left him the remainder of Lot No.245 and all of the adjoining Lot No.249, which he apparently used as his residence.35 After his retirement, in 1842, Col. Hütter apparently encountered financial troubles again, and voluntarily assigned real estate to two prominent Easton citizens as trustees for the benefit of creditors.36 These trustees sold off the property in pieces. A parcel with 22’ 6” of frontage on Northampton Street (which appears to be the front of what became the Garis Building property) was sold to Samuel K. Hoagland in 1843.37

17 March 1875, p.3, col.1 (distinguishing Christian J. Hutter from Col. William B. Hutter, publisher of The Argus).

33 Obituary, “[Christian Jacob Hütter]”, DEMOCRAT & ARGUS, 18 Jan. 1849, p.2, col.6. 2 Compare A.D. Chidsey, Jr., The Penn Patents in the Forks of the Delaware Plan of

Easton, Map 2 (Vol. II of Publications of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1937) with Northampton County Tax Records map, www.ncpub.org.

The conclusion can be obtained either from the West, or from the East.

From the West: The adjacent Seibert Building lies on the western portion of original town Lot No.245 sold to Jacob Welper in 1809. The original Lot had a 67’ frontage on Northampton Street, which was reduced to 37’ after a western 30’ strip of it was sold off to Christopher Koehler in 1803. See below regarding Welper sale, and separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Seibert Building at 526-28 Northampton Street.

Of the remaining 37’ frontage in Lot No.245, the modern Seibert Building property accounts for 20.5’. That leaves 16.5’ to be incorporated in the adjacent Garis Building. Subtracting this from the total modern Garis Building frontage of 22.67’, that leaves an additional 6.17’ of frontage unaccounted for, which must have been taken from the adjacent Lot No.249. Since both Lot Nos.245 and 249 were owned by Michael Opp, he was not limited to the original Lot lines in subdividing and reselling his property. Accordingly, the Garis Building property was able to straddle the original town Lot lines with impunity.

From the East: Chidsey’s Penn Patents map (cited above) shows Lot No.247 at the SW corner of Northampton and 5th (Juliana) Streets, with a 60’ frontage on Northampton Street. Today, the parcel at that corner (the Boyer Building at 502-06 Northampton Street) has a frontage of 35.5’, which combines with the property next door at 506 Northampton Street to make a combined frontage of 60’ – the same as the original town Lot. Accordingly, the next two properties of 508-10 and 512-14 Northampton Street (each with a 30’ frontage on Northampton Street) combine to make up the 60’ of the next original town Lot No.248. That means that the next modern property (the I.O.O.F. Building at 516-22 Northampton Street) occupies the eastern portion of original town Lot No.249. Since the modern I.O.O.F. Building property occupies a frontage of 54’ – out of the 60’ frontage that Chidsey shows for the original town Lot No.249 – that leaves 6’ of Lot 249 to the Garis Building to occupy.

This is substantially consistent with the 6.17’ of Lot No.249 obtained in the above calculation from the West.

3 See Deed of Trust, Robert (Elizabeth) Traill to Michael Opp in trust for Elizabeth Traill, F3 105 (9 Aug. 1806)(recitals; regarding large tract of land located just West of modern day 7th Street).

4 Deed, John and Richard Penn to Michael Opp, F2 328 (2 Apr. 1800). Michael Opp was apparently the father of Jacob Opp, Jr., the “landlord” of the Golden Swan Tavern (forerunner of the Hotel Stirling now located at 460 Northampton Street). See Floyd S. Bixler, The History with

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Seibert and Garis

In 1856, the executor of Hoagland’s will sold his property to Peter Seibert.38 Seibert was a successful coverlet weaver who lived in the Seibert Buidling next door. This parcel contained the front 130’ of the present Garis Building property.39 In 1860, Seibert purchased the rear portion of the property, back to Pine Street.40 When Seibert retired and moved to Allentown in 1867,41 he disposed of the two adjoining Northampton Street properties separately. The western portion of Peter Seibert’s property (including the Seibert Building), together with Peter Seibert’s business, was turned over to Seibert’s

Reminiscences of the Early Taverns and Inns of Easton, Paper read before the Northampton County Historical Society on 25 Oct. 1930, at 27 (Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1931).

5 Deed, Michael Opp Jr. to Jacob C. Welper, E3 326 (27 Dec. 1809). The property sold measured 97’ (on Northampton Street) X 220’ deep, and specified that the other part of Lot No.245 lay to the West, while Lot No.248 lay to the East. While some lot numbers were consecutive, a glitch in the numbering scheme at this point made Lot Nos.245 and 248 contiguous. In this case, Lot No.249 had a 67’ frontage on Northampton Street, and the remaining 30’ frontage of Lot No.245 (after deducting the 30’ that Opp previously sold to Köhler) leaves a total of 97’ along Northampton Street, which is consistent with the property description in the deed to Jacob Welper. See A.D. Chidsey, Jr., The Penn Patents in the Forks of the Delaware Plan of Easton, Map 2 (Vol. II of Publications of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1937).

6 Deed, Jacob C. (Elizabeth) Welper to Abraham Horn Jr., H3 34 (6 Apr. 1812). 7 Deed, Abraham (Elizabeth) Horn Jr. to Jacob C. Welper, A4 163 (2 Sept. 1814)(sale

price $1,000) for 30’ X 220’, part of original town Lot No.249 with the rest of that Lot lying to the West).

8 Deed, Jacob C. (Elizabeth) Welper to Christian Jacob Hutter, D5 381 (9 Feb. 1828)(sale price $2,200, includes Lot No.249 and part of Lot No.245, with the other part of Lot No.245 to the West). Lot No.249 was contiguous to the East of Lot No.245. A.D. Chidsey, Jr., The Penn Patents in the Forks of the Delaware Plan of Easton, Map 2 (Vol. II of Publications of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1937).

9 Dr. Hermann Wellenreuther (University of Göttingen), Lecture on Christian J. Hütter (Bachmann House (Easton): sponsored by Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 7 May 2010).

10 Obituary, “[Christian Jacob Hütter]”, DEMOCRAT & ARGUS, 18 Jan. 1849, p.2, col.6. 11 Dr. Hermann Wellenreuther (University of Göttingen), Lecture on Christian J. Hütter

(Bachmann House (Easton): sponsored by Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 7 May 2010).

12 Obituary, “[Christian Jacob Hütter]”, DEMOCRAT & ARGUS, 18 Jan. 1849, p.2, col.6. 13 Editorial, EASTON SENTINEL, Friday, 24 May 1839, p.2, col.1; Alfred Lewis Shoemaker,

A Check List of Imprints of the German Press of Northampton County Pennsylvania, 1766 – 1905, with Biographies of the Printers 23 (Vol. IV in the publications of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1943).

14 Dr. Hermann Wellenreuther (University of Göttingen), Lecture on Christian J. Hütter (Bachmann House (Easton): sponsored by Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 7 May 2010).

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younger brother, Owen Seibert.42 Meanwhile Samuel Garis purchased the eastern portion, then holding two “contiguous” buildings.43 This was probably the basis for the modern Garis Building on the property today. In 1870, Samuel Garis and Owen Seibert entered into an agreement to maintain a common alley between their two properties.44

Samuel Garis was the senior partner of the Samuel Garis & Son furniture firm, then listed at 194 Northampton St. under the street numbering scheme then in effect.45 The building was initially assigned the address of 522 Northampton Street with the inauguration of the modern street numbering scheme in approximately 1874.46 The Garis business had originally been started by Samuel Garis’s father, Valentine Garis (of Williams Twp.) in the 1780s. It had been continued by David Garis47 and then Samuel

15 Editorial, EASTON SENTINEL, Friday, 24 May 1839, p.2, col.1; Alfred Lewis Shoemaker, A Check List of Imprints of the German Press of Northampton County Pennsylvania, 1766 – 1905, with Biographies of the Printers 23 (Vol. IV in the publications of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1943); see also Article, “The Argus”, EASTON ARGUS, Wednesday, 17 March 1875, p.3, col.1 (distinguishing Christian J. Hutter from Col. William B. Hutter, publisher of The Argus).

16 Frank Reeder (compiler), Record of the Family and Descendants of Colonel Christian Jacob Hutter of Easton, Penn’a 1771-1907 3 (Easton Sentinel 1907); see Editorial, EASTON SENTINEL, Friday, 24 May 1839, p.2, col.1; Alfred Lewis Shoemaker, A Check List of Imprints of the German Press of Northampton County Pennsylvania, 1766 – 1905, with Biographies of the Printers 23 (Vol. IV in the publications of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1943); see also Article, “The Argus”, EASTON ARGUS, Wednesday, 17 March 1875, p.3, col.1 (distinguishing Christian J. Hutter from Col. William B. Hutter, publisher of The Argus).

17 Dr. Hermann Wellenreuther (University of Göttingen), Lecture on Christian J. Hütter (Bachmann House (Easton): sponsored by Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 7 May 2010); see also Tax Records for Borough of Easton, Lehigh Ward, 1837 and 1838 (located in the Northampton County Archives), listing the occupation of “J. Christian Hutter” as “Bookstore”. For 1839 and 1840, “Christian J. Hutter” is listed as a “Printer”, and in 1841 and 1842 he is listed as a “Gentleman”.

18 Obituary, “[Christian Jacob Hütter]”, DEMOCRAT & ARGUS, 18 Jan. 1849, p.2, col.6. 19 Obituary, “[Christian Jacob Hütter]”, DEMOCRAT & ARGUS, 18 Jan. 1849, p.2, col.6. 20 Rev. Uzal W. Condit, History of Easton, Penn’a 201-02 (George W. West 1885 / 1889).21 See Easton Area Public Library, “Easton Flag”, www.eastonpl.org/EastonFlag.htm

(accessed 8 Nov. 2010). See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for St. John’s Lutheran Church at 330 Ferry Street.

22 Rev. Uzal W. Condit, History of Easton, Penn’a 202 (George W. West 1885 / 1889). 23 Obituary, “[Christian Jacob Hütter]”, DEMOCRAT & ARGUS, 18 Jan. 1849, p.2, col.6; see

Frank Reeder (compiler), Record of the Family and Descendants of Colonel Christian Jacob Hutter of Easton, Penn’a 1771-1907 5 (Easton Sentinel 1907)(Lt. Colonel of militia in War of 1812).

24 Obituary, “[Christian Jacob Hütter]”, DEMOCRAT & ARGUS, 18 Jan. 1849, p.2, col.6. 25 Frank Reeder (compiler), Record of the Family and Descendants of Colonel Christian

Jacob Hutter of Easton, Penn’a 1771-1907 3 (Easton Sentinel 1907); William J. Heller, I History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 291, 292 (Boston [Etc.]: The American Historial Society 1920).

26 Obituary, “[Christian Jacob Hütter]”, DEMOCRAT & ARGUS, 18 Jan. 1849, p.2, col.6.

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Garis, an “expert wood carver, cabinetmaker, and furniture dealer”.48 Samuel Garris’s son, William Garis (b.1849 in South Easton), went to work for his father as a furniture salesman, and ultimately became the owner and manager of the store.49 Perhaps as a result in part of the financial panic of 1873 and following depression,50 by 1876 the Garis firm had run into financial difficulty, and assigned the Garis Building to trustees for the benefit of creditors. The property was sold the following year for $4,600 to The Merchants Bank of Easton.51

William Garis took over the business in 1881,52 reopening his firm initially as a furniture agent at 467 Northampton Street.53 The business became

27 Henry August Hütter died on 1 March 1824, and Frederich William Hütter died on 21 December 1824. Reeder, Record of the Family and Descendants, supra at 3. The twins were Hütter’s third and fourth sons by age. Id. at 16.

28 Contra, William J. Heller, I History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 292 (Boston [Etc.]: The American Historial Society 1920), which states that his son-in-law, Frederick William Muller, became the publisher upon the death of Hütter’s sons, and the spelling of the name was changed at that time. This appears to be incorrect, in light of Frank Reeder’s more exact dating of these developments (see below). However, historian Heller (at 291) does indicate that the Northampton Correspondent was “continued” by Col. Hütter and Muller. It would appear that this pattern probably was in effect for both newspapers.

29 Obituary, “[Christian Jacob Hütter]”, DEMOCRAT & ARGUS, 18 Jan. 1849, p.2, col.6. 30 Barbara Fretz Kempton, A History of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of

Easton, Pennsylvania 1740-1940 57 (The John S. Correll Co., Inc. 1940). 34 Deed, Christian Jacob (Elizabeth) Hutter to John Ely Jr., H5 718 (1 July 1835)(sale price

$2,000 for a “Messuage tenement” and part of Lot No.245, with recital that another part of that Lot to the South now separately owned by Elizabeth Dithmar). Reference to a “Messuage tenement” indicates that a building was already in existence on the property, which was almost certainly at least the oldest (stone) stories of the Seibert Building.

The 1835 deed also recited that the property to the East was Lot “246 now the property of Christian J. Hutter”. In fact, because of a numbering “glitch” at this point, the next-door lot owned by Hütter was Lot No.249: the 246 number appears to have been a draftsman’s error.

35 See discussion included in separate wwwWalkingEaston.com entry for 516-22 Northampton Street, based upon Northampton County tax records and a deed for a later sale of property next door by Col. Hütter’s trustees describing it as containing a “Brick-Cottage”.

36 Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors, Christian J. H u tter to Andrew H. Reeder and Charles Kitchen, Assignees and Trustees, MISC 6 73 (1 Aug. 1842).

Charles Kitchen was the Chief Burgess of Easton in 1854-55. Article, “Chief Executives of Easton Since 1789”, EASTON EXPRESS, Sunday, 12 June 1937, Jubilee Section A, p.5, cols.1-2; see C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA 6 (Cole & Eichman 1855).

Andrew H. Reeder (1807-1864) was a prominent Easton attorney and politician who achieved fame (or notoriety) when he was appointed the first Territorial Governor of Kansas in 1854, as a Democrat and follower of Stephen Douglas’s “popular sovereignty” solution to the issue of slavery. A year later, he barely escaped the territory with his life as a result of disputes between the pro- and anti-slavery factions. Territorial Kansas Online, “Andrew H. Reeder, 1807-1864”, www.territorialkansasonline.org/cgiwrap/imlskto/index.php?SCREEN=bio_sketches/reeder_andrew (accessed 24 July 2007); E.J. Fox, “Andrew H. Reeder”, in William E. Connelley (Secretary, Kansas State Historical Society, compiler), A STANDARD HISTORY OF KANSAS AND

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established in Military Hall (353-55 Northampton Street) by 1892,54 and in a factory at the “foot” of North Green Street by the turn of the Century.55 Garis himself had a nervous breakdown that compelled his retirement from the furniture business to his farm in Forks Township, later becoming a member of a real estate firm in Bethlehem.56 He died in 1936 at age 87.57

Later History

After owning the Garis Building for two years, Merchants Bank sold the property in 1879 to Amos Davis,58 who then transferred it to his three daughters in 1883.59 The

KANSANS (Lewis Publishing Company 1918), transcribed to the Internet at skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1918ks/bior/reederah.html (accessed 9 Sept. 2006); Portrait and Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania 175-78 (Chapman Publishing Co. 1894, reprint by Higginson Book Co.); Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 6-11 (Hillburn & West 1879); William J. Heller, Historic Easton From the Window of a Trolley-Car 64-65 (The Express Printing Co., Inc., 1912, reprinted by Genealogical Researchers, 1984); William J. Heller, II History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh Biographical Section 32-33 (The American Historical Society 1920); Marie and Frank Summa & Leonard Buscemi Sr., Images of America: Historic Easton 125 (Arcadia Publishing 2000)(picture); II The Twentieth Century Bench and Bar of Pennsylvania 325-26 (H.C. Cooper, Jr., Bro. & Co. 1903).

37 Deed, Andrew H. Reeder and Charles Kitchen, Assignees and Trustees of Christian J. Hutter, to Samuel K. Hoagland, A7 359 (1 Apr. 1843)(property measuring 22’ 6” on Northampton Street X 130’, sharing a private alley with John Ely, the property owner to the West). The deed recites that the property to the South was owned by Elizabeth Ditmar, and to the East was other Hutter property.

Accord, J.C. Sidney (survey), Plan of the Town of Easton (R. Clrk 1850)(framed map on the Wall of the Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library)(S.K. Hoagland next to P. Seibert along Northampton Street at this location).

38 Deed, William H. Lawall, Executor of Estate of Samuel K. Hoagland, to Peter Seibert, D9 61 (1 Apr. 1856).

39 See separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Seibert Building at 526-28 Northampton Street.

40 Deed, Henry Dittman, et al., to Peter Seibert, B10 358 (9 Dec. 1860). 41 See Obituary, “Peter Seibert”, SEMI-WEEKLY ARGUS, Tues., 24 Mar. 1914, p.5, col.4;

see generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Seibert Building at 526-28 Northampton Street.

42 See Agreement, Samuel Garis, et al. and Owen Seibert, et al., Misc 14 110 (20 Apr. 1870)(recitals).

43 Deed, Peter (Sarah) Seibert to Samuel Garis, H11 237 (1 Apr. 1867)(sale price $2,800 for land with two “contiguous Messuage Tenement[s]”).

44 Agreement, Samuel Garis, et al. and Owen Seibert, et al., Misc 14 110 (20 Apr. 1870). 45 Compare Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 74 (1873)

(alphabetical listing) with D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(map shows S. Garis next to O. Seibert); see listing for 528 Northampton St. (O. Seibert).

46 Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Sat., 22 Nov. 1873, p.2, col.6.

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building was used as a rental: in 1893, it housed the Z. Taylor & Son furniture firm.60 That business’s owner, Zachariah Taylor, did well enough to allow him to purchase land on College Hill for his residence in 1909.61

The property remained in the Davis Family until 1929, when the (now numerous) Davis heirs and legatees collectively sold it Eugen Barnako. The deed specified at that time that the property contained a “two story brick building”,62 which is consistent with the structure on the property today. Barnako was a tailor, who lived in Lehn’s Court, and in the 1930s ran a tailor shop in the Charles Coburn Homestead building that still stands at 42 North 3rd Street.63 Several months after Barnako purchased the Garis Building on

47 Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition 22, col.3 (Jan. 1893, reprinted by W-Graphics).

48 William J. Heller, II History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh Biographical Section 206 (The American Historical Society 1920)(established 1785); see also Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition 22, col.3 (Jan. 1893, reprinted by W-Graphics)(business established “104 years ago by Valentine Garis, grandfather of the present proprietor.”). Previously, in 1855, Samuel Garis had been listed as a “carver in wood” living at 218 Ferry Street (under the pre-1874 street numbering scheme). C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA 28 (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855).

49 Heller, II History of Northampton County, supra; see American Journal of Progress, “Greater Easton of To-day” 15 (written c.1902 during Mayor B. Rush Field’s second 3-year term, reprinted courtesy of W-Graphics); 1870 Census, Series M593, Roll 1382, p.118 (William Garis, bookkeeper, age 21, oldest son of Samuel Garis); see also 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.465D (William E. Garis, age 30, salesman).

In 1855, William Garis was listed as a cabinet maker at 9 Washington Street, in the rear of his father’s building at 218 Ferry Street. C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA 28 (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855).

50 See, e.g., United States History website, “Panic of 1873”, www.u-s-history.com/pages/h213.html (accessed 8 Nov. 2010); see “The Financial Panic of 1873”, in Hubert H. Bancroft (ed.), III The Great Republic by the Master Historians (1902), excerpted online at www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/The_Great_Republic_By_the_Master_Historians_Vol_III/panicof1_hd.html (accessed 8 Nov. 2010).

51 Deed, W.W. Reich and S.V.B. Kachline, Assignees of Samuel Garis and William E. Garis (individually and as partners trading as S. Garis & Son) for the benefit of creditors, to The Merchants Bank of Easton, G15 322 (17 Aug. 1877)(sale price $4,600 for “messuage or tenement” formerly on two contiguous lots, together measuring 22’ 6” on Northampton Street X 220’ deep); see Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors, Samuel (Susan Maria) Garis and William E. (“Ell” / E.L.) Garis, d/b/a S. Garis & Son, to Owen Reich and S.V.B.Kachline, 16 Misc. 190 (1 Aug. 1876)(Property No. One).

52 Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition 22, col.3 (Jan. 1893, reprinted by W-Graphics).

53 See J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1883-4 52 (1883); J.H. Lant, Easton, [Etc.] Directory for 1884-5 162 (J.H. Lant 1884); see

54 George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Easton [Etc.] 85 (George W. West 1892); Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition 22, col.3 (Jan. 1893, reprinted by W-Graphics); George W. West (compiler), Directory of Easton [Etc.] 102 (George W. West 1894). See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for Military Hall at 353 Northampton Street.

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Northampton Street, he sold it to the International Order of Odd Fellows,64 who owned Odd Fellows Hall next door (at 516-24 Northampton Street).65 Because of the quick sale, it seems likely that Barnako actually purchased the Garis Building as a proxy for the Odd Fellows, and took out a mortgage on the property that continued on the property under Odd Fellows ownership (see below).

The 1930s brought the Great Depression, with economic hardship for many. In 1936, the Odd Fellows were apparently forced to retrench; they gave up the upstairs room in their Hall to WEST Radio as a broadcasting studio.66 In the same year, their interest in the Garis Building was seized and sold by the County Sheriff, for nonpayment

55 George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Greater Easton 77 (George W. West 1898)(William E. Garis, furniture manufacturer, N. Green Street, house at 115 South 7th Street); George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Easton [Etc.] 109 (George W. West 1900)(William E. Garis, furniture dealer, 355 N. Green Street, house 115 South 7th Street); American Journal of Progress, “Greater Easton of To-day” 15 (written c.1902 during Mayor B. Rush Field’s second 3-year term, reprinted courtesy of W-Graphics); see also 1900 Census, Series T623, Roll 1447, p.160B (William E. Garis age 50, furniture manufacturer, wife Ella age 48, house at 115 South 7th Street).

56 Cf. William J. Heller, II History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh Biographical Section 206 (The American Historical Society 1920)(nervous breakdown); Obituary, “William E. Garis Dies in Bethlehem – Native of Easton, Dealer in Furniture Here”, EASTON EXPRESS, 9 Dec. 1936 (ill health).

Both of these sources state that he retired in 1892, which is inconsistent with the advertisements and directory entries over the succeeding ten years. See Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition 22, col.3 (Jan. 1893, reprinted by W-Graphics); George W. West (compiler), Directory of Easton [Etc.] 102 (George W. West 1894)(with house at 117 S. 7th Street); George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Greater Easton 77 (George W. West 1898)(William E. Garis, furniture manufacturer, N. Green Street, house at 115 South 7th Street); George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Easton [Etc.] 109 (George W. West 1900)(William E. Garis, furniture dealer, 355 N. Green Street, house 115 South 7th Street); see also 1900 Census, Series T623, Roll 1447, p.160B (William E. Garis age 50, furniture manufacturer, wife Ella age 48, house at 115 South 7th Street); American Journal of Progress, “Greater Easton of To-day” 15 (written c.1902 during Mayor B. Rush Field’s second 3-year term, reprinted courtesy of W-Graphics). See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for Military Hall at 353 Northampton Street.

It seems more likely that the retirement occurred in 1902. The 1910 Census, Series T624, Roll 1380, p.258B does indeed show Gariss (then age 60) as a farmer in Forks Township. And the 1920 Census, Series T625, Roll 1589, p.l00A shows him as a resident of Bethlehem, in real estate.

57 Obituary, “William E. Garis Dies in Bethlehem – Native of Easton, Dealer in Furniture Here”, EASTON EXPRESS, 9 Dec. 1936.

58 Deed, The Merchants Bank of Easton, Pennsylvania to Amos Davis, D16 74 (17 Nov. 1879)(sale price $5,000).

59 Deed, Amos (Mary) Davis to Elizabeth, Joanna and Mary Davis, G17 534 (28 Nov. 1883)(recital that purchasers were daughters).

60 Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition 21 cols.3-4 (Jan. 1893, reprinted by W-Graphics).

61 Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, The 28 th Annual House Tour 36 (3 May 2008). Zachariah Taylor’s son, Herbert, predeceased him, and so the College Hill house at 733 Paxinosa Ave. was inherited by his daughter, Sarah, in 1930. In 1944, she sold the College

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of a mortgage that had originally been taken out by Eugen Barnako. The First National Bank and Trust Co. purchased the building from the Sheriff,67 and managed to sell it to M. Kowitz & Co. in 1942.68 In 1960, the property was sold to Philrose Supply Co.69 However, Philrose Supply apparently had financial difficulties of its own: space in the building was leased to the Kaplan Awning Co. in 1964,70 and then the former owner (M. Kowitz & Co.) was apparently forced to reacquire the property in 1965 through another Sheriff’s sale.71 The Kowitz firm resold the building in the same year to Morris Kaplan,72

head of the awning firm tenant. Morris Kaplan himself died in 1970, but his heirs continued to own the building73 and continued the firm, which remained in the building until 1983.74

Hill house to her illegitimate son, Albert, and his wife Mabel, for one cent. The house remained in the Taylor family until 1986. See Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, The 28 th Annual House Tour 36-37 (3 May 2008).

62 Deed, Alice Fenicle, Executrix of the Will of Joanna Davis, et al., to Eugen Barnako, A61 696 (9 May 1929).

63 See separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry and footnotes for the Charles Coburn Homestead at 42 North 3rd Street.

64 Deed, Eugen (Lavinia R.) Barnako to Odd Fellows Home Association of Easton Pennsylvania, G60 215 (27 Aug. 1929)(“two story brick building”).

65 See separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the New Odd Fellows’ Hall (I.O.O.F. Bldg.) at 516-22 Northampton Street.

66 Easton Is Home, Summer 2006 Heritage Edition, supra at 24, 26, 28; Easton Area Community Center’s Easton History Club 2005-2006 (under direction of Leonard Buscemi, Sr.), A Chronological History of Easton, Pa. & Its Citizens 1700 – Present 27 (2006). See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the New Odd Fellows’ Hall at 516 Northampton Street.

67 Deed Poll, E. Albert Boyer, Sheriff, to First National Bank, Trustee, A67 65 (1 Apr. 1936)(regarding a debt action against Eugen Barnako and Odd Fellows Association of Easton, PA, with notice to the Easton Upholstering Furniture Mfg. Co., tenant). See generally West’s Easton, Pa and Phillipsburg, NJ Directory 672 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1932)(524 Northampton Street listed to Easton upholstery Furniture Manufacturing).

68 Deed, First National Bank and Trust Company to M. Kowitz & Co., Inc., C73 177 (9 Apr. 1942)(sale price $20,000).

69 Deed, M. Kowitz & Co., Inc. to Philrose Supply Co., Inc., D99 299 (11 Mar. 1960). 70 See Easton Is Home, Summer 2006 Heritage Edition, supra at 37. 71 Deed Poll, William J. Hontz, Sheriff, to M. Kowitz & Co., Inc., 235 87 (3 Jan. 1965).

The Kowitz firm had first acquired the building from the First National Bank and Trust Company in 1942 (after the Bank had purchased it in the 1936 Sheriff’s sale). In 1960, the Kowitz firm had sold the building to Philrose Supply Co., Inc., whose subsequent default on debt owed back to Kowitz apparently caused the 1964 Sheriff’s sale.

72 Deed, M. Kowitz & Co., Inc. to Morris Kaplan, 250 398 (12 Aug. 1965). 73 Morris Kaplan died on 22 Nov. 1970. His estate had transferred half interests to Sidney

and Joseph Kaplan, his heirs, but on the same day Joseph transferred his half interest to Sidney. Deed, Sidney Kaplan, Executor for the Estate of Morris Kaplan, to Sidney and Joseph Kaplan, 645 435 (13 Jan. 1983); Deed, Joseph Kaplan to Sidney Kaplan, 645 801 (13 Jan. 1983)(transferring 1/2 interest).

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In 1984, the Kaplan firm moved its present location next to the Free Bridge at 108 Northampton St.75 The Garis Building was then sold to Chansonnette Theatre.76 Chansonnette is the oldest existing amateur theatre group in Easton, having been formed after World War II. It used the building for office, storage and rehearsal space. However, Chansonnette was not able to “keep up with” the repairs,77 and sold the Garis Building in 1999 to the Easton Historical Development Foundation for $29,500.78 The Foundation was operated by local real estate developer Peter Kohler. He made repairs and did renovations to the building façade,79 apparently greatly increasing the value of the building when the Foundation sold it two years later for $169,332.80 Robert J. Wozniak became the owner in 2003.81

74 See Easton Is Home, Summer 2006 Heritage Edition, supra at 37. 75 Easton Is Home, Summer 2006 Heritage Edition, supra at 37; compare Polk’s Easton and

Phillipsburg City Directory 1983 278 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1983) with Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1984 291 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1984)(Kaplan’s at 100 Northampton Street) ); see also Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1985-86 293 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1985)(same). For more details on Morris Kaplan and his company, see generally separate entries for the Shearer Building at 108 Northampton Street, and the Northampton Apartments at 525 Northampton Street.

76 Deed, Sidney (Helene) Kaplan to Chansonnette Theatre, Inc., 675 262 (27 Dec. 1984). 77 Telephone Interview with Evelyn B. Gulick, long-time Chansonnette member (7 July

2008)(sale price $16,500).78 Chansonnette Theatre, Inc. to Easton Historical Development Foundation, 1991-1-

133951 (25 Aug. 1999)(sale price $29,500). 79 Telephone Interview with Evelyn B. Gulick, long-time Chansonnette member (7 July

2008). 80 Deed, Easton Historical Development Foundation to Earth Pledge Foundation, 2001-1-

052378 (24 Mar. 2001)(sale price $169,332). 81 Deed, Carriage House Center (formerly Earth Plege Foundation) to Robert J. Wozniak,

2003-1-098231 (24 Feb. 2003).

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