Shoe Companies

Miller-Hess and Affiliated Shoe Companies (1901 – 1985)

Miller Hess & Co. founded 1901 by Albert N[etzley] Wolf[1] (1868-1939), Samuel N[etzley] Wolf (1862-1942), W. E. Brubaker (1873-1961), Simon P. Hess[2] (18506-1932), P. B. Miller (1861-1925)[3]

A. N. Wolf     Denver             women’s dress shoes                 Milo Zimmerman, manager

Miller-Hess     Akron              women’s work shoes                 sons-in-law of Clarence Hess[4] managers, Harry Mason (operations) & Kenneth Blough (sales)

Hubler            Auburn            teen school shoes                      acquired after 1944?

Badorf            Middletown     preschool children’s shoes;       acquired, restructured by R.S and

Ura Gingerich (Holmes Co., Ohio), sold to Gingerich in 1967

Highland        Akron              marketing, wholesale distrib’r   ____Miller manager, wholly-owned subsidiary

                                                     large building, offices, warehouse, shipping; bought from variety of plants, marketed, and shipped, located across 7^th Street from M-Hess

Companies, products, managers above ca. 1950 as recalled by Ray Schlichting. Separate companies with common owners: Clarence Hess, pres; OOM, sec-treas; Brubaker (retired); others? Stockholders and managers on salary were paid monthly in cash in envelops handed by Ms. _____ Mohn, long-time employee. Salaried workers included room supervisors (cutting, stitching, etc.) Dwight Yoder sold ANW and M-H shoes. Abe Hallman key to Miller-Hess operations and sales. Papa Hess, large Lancaster Conf. bishop was effective salesman, could sell where no one else could, apparently a character (RS interview, 03.15.11).

 “In 1940, at age 48, Orie was ready to devote even more time to the church. He turned over the sales work to others he had trained and continued as director and secretary-treasurer of Miller Hess and Company, president of Highland Shoe Company, also in Akron, and treasurer of A. N. Wolf Shoe Company, Denver, PA” (Bender, John M. "Miller, Orie O. (1892-1977)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1987. Web. 15 March 2011. http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/M5483.html)

The companies paid nice dividend, had prosperous decade (1970s?) then made some mistakes:

1) Miller-Hess didn’t change from manufacturing to marketing soon enough. In later years started Highland, wholly owned subsidiary marketing division, imported and promoted finished goods (foreign producers earned better return by finishing product rather than exporting leather, etc., for manufacture in US).
2) After Hurricane Agnes 1972 destroyed Middletown plant (lost more than a million dollars of finished goods, the beginning of the end), the president (hired from outside) wanted to buy Spalding Sport Shoes division. Norman Shenk voted against it; were undercapitalized; thought it not wise to borrow money for the acquisition. Purchase made, but the deal “pulled us under.” Didn’t have the financial strength to get best rates, had to pay 18% interest, 2% above prime. First sold off children’s shoe division (Badorf) to Ura Gingerich, who also purchased the Wolf Denver division and the (Hubler) company at Auburn. In 1969 or 70, OOM created trust through EMM, funded by Miller-Hess stock for Elta with EMM as ultimate beneficiary. OOM made NS trustee of trust. OOM major stock holder, but leaving board, elected NS in his place, so NS went to stock holder meetings and learned the operation. NS not on board during final years. When Miller-Hess closed stocks were worthless, but NS had managed to accumulate sufficient surpluses and dividends held in trust at EMM to support Elta until her death—with only 3 months left! EMM received about $350 per month in dividends. At end NS had accumulated about $1,000 for EMM. Note of interest: The board voted down (5-4) a government contract to make military shoes.  Anabaptists values prevailed. (Norman Shenk interview, 03.12.11) Went belly-up 1983 or 84 (Paul Letherman)

Misc. obituaries with references to companies:

“All three (two?) sons (of George, who died young, and Susanna (Netzley Wolf) engaged in business in Akron. Albert, with his brother Samuel and brother-in-law Simon P. Hess (11/30/1856-7/19/1932), helped to found the shoe manufacturing industry in Akron” (Obituary, GH 32, no. 4 (April 27, 1939): 96; MennObits, http://www.mcusa-archives.org/MennObits/39/apr39.html)

Robert Benner, 92, ran shoe company—“Robert W. Benner, 92, formerly of Akron, died Saturday at Landis Homes, Lititz, after a long illness. Benner began his career in shoe production at Miller Hess & Co., Akron, in 1928 and retired as manager of The Highland Shoe Co. in 1982 after 54 years with the company” (Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster, PA. July 24, 2002, Accessed March 15,2011,  http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9143955.html

“Blanche L. Seiler, 86, of Auburn, died Sunday at her residence. Born in Auburn, Dec. 31, 1923, she was a daughter of the late Harry and Freeda Hummel Auman. Blanche was last employed for the former Hubler Shoe Co. of Auburn until retiring” (Republican Herald, Pottsville, Pa., October 31, 2010, http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/schuylkill/obituary.aspx?n=blanche-l-seiler&pid=146375450)

From the Badorf Shoe Co. website:

“Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. was started in Lititz, PA in 1928 by brothers Norman and Paul Badorf. The company was owned and operated by the Badorf family for nearly 40 years until its purchase by Ura Gingerich in 1967. 40 years later, the family tradition has continued and the company is now being operated by Ura’s son Duane Gingerich and grandsons, Justin and Brandon Gingerich.

“Over its 79-year history, Badorf Shoe Company Inc. has evolved many times to keep with market demands. Below are just a few of the many notable points in the company’s history. From 1928-1968, Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. worked as a private label production house manufacturing products for existing brands and large chain stores.

“From 1969-2001, Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. expanded into its own branded line, FootMates®, specializing in infant and toddler footwear. In 2000, Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. took on its first distribution line, RICOSTA®, Germany’s largest children’s brand. RICOSTA’s high-quality footwear and family owned background were a natural fit with Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. In 2003, Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. shut down its US manufacturing operations, closing one of the last children’s shoe manufacturing facilities in the United States. It began to import its FootMates line and soon began developing its expanding import / distribution business. In 2006, Badorf Shoe added its second distribution line, Tsukihoshi® of Japan. Tsukihoshi is the largest children’s shoe supplier to Japan and its ‘hyper-functional shoes for kids’. . . .” (http://www.badorfshoe.com/Pages/homeframe2.html)

Misc. notes:

“Early in the 20th century, the Miller Hess Shoe Company became the dominant factor in the Borough's economy, a role it maintained until it closed its doors in 1985.” http://www.akron-pa.com/history.html

AKRON- MILLER, HESS & CO., INC. 7th & Main. Phone EP 3-4920. Capital $600000. Output 6600. 1958. http://www.prlog.org/10385922-brief-history-of-shoe-manufacturing-in-the-us-part-one.html

“AUBURN COUPLE SHOWERED WITH CARDS—Mr. and Mrs.  Geo. W. HUBLER, Auburn, 
who celebrated their golden wedding anniversary March 25, have been showered with greeting
cards in honor of the event.  As more and more of their friends learn of the anniversary the 
greetings continue to pour in. Not only these cards were received with deep appreciation but 
also the lovely flowers, gifts of their family and of the employees of the Hubler Shoe Co. at Auburn” 
( March 29, 1944, "The War Years", Pottsville Republican 1939-1945: Schulykill Co, PA., 
Accessed March 15, 2011, http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/schuylkill/newspapers/republican/1944-45.txt)

[1] Married Anna Hess, sister of Simon P. Hess. He helped to organize the Oreville Mennonite Home near Lancaster, and served as secretary of its board for some thirty years. During the last few years he was much concerned in the building of the new Ephrata Mennonite Church, on which Building Committee he served, and to which he gave much time and energy (MennObits)

[2] Married Sarah Wolf (1857-1912), the oldest daughter of George and Susanna Wolf, of Akron, Pa. (MennObits). Simon was brother of Anna Hess Wolf, wife of A.N. He served the Ephrata congregation as Sunday school superintendent for many years, also as trustee of the church since the church was built, which offer he held at his death (MennObits).

[3] As per framed photo, OOM Family Gathering, Akron MC, 6.28.2008. Shoemaker from Phila. (Ed Miller)

[4] Clarence W. was son of founder Simon P. Hess (MennObits).