Do You Recognize This Building?
Built in 1905 by Frank and Warren Fenstermacher, Sr. this is the Fenstermacher Building better known by its current name, The Towne Restaurant. Over the years the first floor housed a butcher shop in the rear operated by Jacob Kratz. The front of the building contained at various times: a post office with Ernst Wolf and Harold Hedrick, Sr. as post masters, a barber shop run by both Warren and Frank Fenstermacher for a short time, and beginning in the 1970s, a restaurant.
While Frank Fenstermacher was a partner in the Shelly and Fenstermacher business, Warren had an ice business at 23- 25 East Broad Street, Telford from which he also sold ice cream. It is thought that Warren cut the ice from the Richmond Pond on Fourth Street, Telford.
In 1871 the first Telford post office was located in the Telford Hotel with Alexander Sellers as post master. After that, the post office rotated between the Telford Hotel and the Fenstermacher Building.
The Stag Club, a young men’s club met on second floor the Fenstermacher Building where there was a pool table and piano among the entertainments for the members. The Club disbanded due to lack of participation during and immediately following World War II.
What stories or memories can you add to those above about the Fenstermacher Building or the businesses that were located there? Did you get your hair cut in the barber shop? Do you remember how much it cost? What cuts of meat did you usually buy from the butcher? Who were the people working in the post office when you visited there?
We want to hear from YOU! Contact information is listed on the back of this page.
