P. Nicklas Sons ran business in Chambersburg
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M.L. “Mike” Marotte III
The story that I bring to you today is about an outstanding business that was started in Chambersburg during the year of 1860. Throughout its existence, you could always expect to get the very best in quality furniture, carpets, and of course the noted sales, service, and the professional installation of carpets and tile flooring.
It all began in 1836 when George Nicklas started his business in the 300 block of South Main Street as a manufacturer and retailer of rag carpets, coverlets, and linens. In the weaving shop George made numerous red and white coverlets in which he had woven his name into the border of the finished masterpiece. Today they are valued heirlooms for families and prized collectors’ items.
The business of Peter Nicklas was started on January 31st, 1860. He bought the weaving shop from his uncle George Nicklas and for many years continued to manufacture carpets woven in the shop’s looms. He then began offering to his many customers a selection of quality furniture. He then expanded, establishing his woodworking and paint shop.
A change came in 1865 when Peter’s brother Adam Nicklas became a partner and the name changed to P. Nicklas and Brother. Business was good, as in 1883 expansion came with a branch store being opened at Martinsburg, West Virginia. W.O. Nicklas was made a partner as well as a manager of the new store, with the company’s name changing to P. Nicklas Brother and Company.
A great improvement was realized by the business in October 1891, as the Chambersburg store located at 37-39 South Main Street had electric lights and an elevator installed, quite the additions for the time. As the business continued to grow the Nicklas family rented a building at Cumberland , Maryland, where they offered a grand selection of carpets and furniture for their customers.
George P. Nicklas and his cousin Adam Nicklas were the managers of the newly opened branch store. The passing of Peter Nicklas in 1906 brought changes. W.O Nicklas purchased the Martinsburg store and the sons of the late Peter Nicklas bought the three-story building in Chambersburg, which covered a total of 21,000 square feet for conducting their extensive business.
The sons were George P. Nicklas, J Russell Nicklas, J. Bishop Nicklas, Christian Nicklas, and Bennett B. Nicklas. It was at this time the business became incorporated and the name changed to P. Nicklas Sons.
A very unfortunate and devastating loss occurred on the afternoon of November 1st, 1920, in Chambersburg. As people shouted “fire, fire,” a citizen could be seen running toward Memorial Square to pull the fire alarm box number 25 to alert Chambersburg Fire Department to the towering three-story building that was home to P. Nicklas Sons at 37-39 South Main Street.
The fire was discovered near the center of the building in the wallpaper storage room. When the fire department arrived the flames were shooting from the storage room and were spreading westward within the structure. The firefighters’ attempts to drive the fire to the rear area of the building failed, as a draft from the long hallway caused the fire to work towards the front of the store into the display rooms.
The firefighters in directing their many streams of water noticed that the heavy iron piece attached to the front of the store had contained the stubborn blaze for a time. It was approximately one-half hour later after the fire was discovered that the iron framework could no longer withstand the intense heat and cracked, causing a portion of the building to fall to the ground.
There were other issues at this time, as two dwellings on Burkhart Avenue were destroyed by the advancing flames and a garage located near the fire scene had its roof badly burned. The residents , travelers, and businesses in the area of Memorial Square were witnesses to the thick smoke that was coming from the burning buildings and experienced the choking fumes that caused respiratory distress.
As the firefighters were attacking the spreading flames, Chambersburg Fire Marshal Pensinger sent a call for mutual aid to the Waynesboro and Hagerstown, Maryland, fire departments. The Pennsylvania Railroad was dispatched with a special train with a flat car from Waynesboro to transport the Mechanics Fire Company’s horse-drawn steam fire engine and personnel to Chambersburg. Upon their arrival the steam fire engine was quickly taken to Spring Street where it was used to draft water from the Falling Spring Creek near the Chambersburg Woolen Mill Company.
The Hagerstown Fire Department sent the Western Enterprise Fire Company No. 4 with its motorized piece of apparatus. The firefighters at the height of the big fire were playing nine streams of water upon the blaze in hopes of rapid suppression. The firefighters who were engaged in battling the blaze at the rear and front of the store suddenly noticed the fire had advanced through the thick firewall of the Nicklas building into the Brunner building.
With the quick advancement of the fire into the Brunner building you could see the dense clouds of smoke coming from under the eaves, causing the tenants to flee with only the clothes on their back. The loss of the contents and the exterior damage to the P. Nicklas Sons’ building was estimated at $80,000.
Now, you ask, what was the cause of such destruction? Well when Chambersburg’s Police Chief Byers was summoned to the fire scene, he was directed to the rear of the structure where he noticed an area saturated with coal oil that showed signs of being burned.
Upon further investigation, it was found that another fire had started in the stockroom of the business. The authorities in quick time determined that a young man who was employed with the P. Nicklas Sons store had had a disagreement with management. He admitted to starting the fire.
The owners of the store moved quickly to locate a temporary location where they could reestablish their business while their fire-gutted building was rebuilt. By November 6th, P. Nicklas Sons had leased the first floor of the Stager Building located at the corner of Spring Street and Lincoln Way West.
After the new and larger building was built at the same location on South Main Street, the Nicklas family could offer customers a larger selection of the nationally famous name brands of quality furniture for their homes and businesses. The business over the years endured some real challenges, such as surviving several economic distresses in our economy , the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, the disastrous building fire with heavy losses in 1920, and of course the crippling depression of 1929.
One can see that this business weathered many storms, but each time they survived and continued to be a leader in our community. As times change so can the direction and operations of a business, as was the case for P. Nicklas Sons. It was announced in January 1961 by President and General Manager Reginald B. Nicklas that effective February 1st, the inventory and building at 37-39 South Main Street would be purchased by the Waltersdorf Furniture Company of York, Pennsylvania, but the store would still retain the name of P. Nicklas Sons.
Reginald Nicklas continued as the store manager until he retired in October 1979. The assistant manager assumed the role.
For so many customers over the years the name P. Nicklas Sons stood out. You could always count on quality service and find a great selection of carpets and furniture. The name P. Nicklas Sons was changed to Roth’s Furniture in September 1984.
You know, at the end of the day, P. Nicklas Sons was “Solid As A Rock” and always considered a great business in our community.
M.L “Mike” Marotte III is an Author and Historian who writes about the history of Franklin County. Read more of him at www.vintagefranklincountypa.com.
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