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Quick History The earliest Hostetter store, a grocery, established in 1860 by Jacob Hostetter, was located in the northeast corner of Center Square. In 1883 Jacob's son, Samuel, became a partner in the enterprise and in 1894, at the death of his father, he became the sole owner of the business. During the late years of the century the business was moved to the northwest corner of Center Square where, in a two storied brick building, it continued, not only as a grocery store, but as an outlet for chinaware. At this time Samuel's son, Jacob, became a partner in the enterprise.
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In circa 1908, a third story and an extension were built to enlarge the operation. By 1923 Samuel devoted his time to the chinaware business while Jacob operated the grocery. Eventually this was discontinued and the entire operation became Hostetter's China Store - a business that became known throughout the East for its imported china and crystal ware. The owner of this noted enterprise died in 1948 and the business continued under the direction of his son-in-law, J. Harold Kauffman. At Kauffman's death, in 1955, Hostetter's China Store gradually ended as his widow, Betty Hostetter Kauffman, sold the remaining stock, closing the business forever. In time the building was purchased by Carl K. Carbaugh and the store room was used as the Western Auto outlet. Upon the discontinuance of the Western Auto business the store and the former Conn building were vacated. It remained unused until purchased by the First National Bank. |
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S. P. Hostetter Dies;
Noted As Merchant Samuel P. Hostetter, dean of Greencastle's merchants, died at 2 o'clock last Saturday afternoon at his home on North Carlisle street after an illness of eleven weeks. He was aged 86 years. Mr. Hostetter was born in Greencastle on March 26, 1861, the son of the late Jacob and Georgianna (Washabaugh) Hostetter. In 1883 he became the partner of his father in the grocery business which the elderly Hostetter had established in 1860. In those days the firm maintained its own railroad car, in which Mr. Hostetter and his son traveled purchase Baltimore and other cities to purchase and transport their stock of merchandise. In 1894 Mr. Hosteeter became sole owner of the business, which he continued to conduct under the name of J. Hostetter & Son. Always deeply interested in chinaware, he began to emphasize this department of the business and in the course of time built up one of the largest stocks of fine china in the country, shipping merchandise to all parts of the United States and to foreign countries. At the height of his merchandising career he traveled regularly to New York, where he was known, as a discriminating buyer of imported china. Indulging in printing as a hobby, he maintained a print shop in connection with his store, printing his own stationery and labels and setting up. his own advertisements. The original two-story building on the west side of Center Square was enlarged in the early nineteen hundreds into the present three-story structure, most of which was devoted to china and household furnishings. |
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In 1923 Mr. Hostetter sold the grocery department of the firm to his son, Jacob F. Hostetter, and thenceforth devoted his entire time to the china department. The grocery department was discontinued some years later, and the entire building used for china and house furnishings. On April 1, 1946, Mr. Hostetter sold the Hostetter China Store to his son-in-law, J. Harold Kauffman, retaining the house furnishings department located in the rear of the building. Mr. Hostetter was the last of his immediate family. He is survived by two sons and one daughter: Jacob F. Hostetter and Mrs. Elizabeth H. Kauffman, of Greencastle, and S. K. Hostetter, treasurer of Pennsylvania State College. Five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren also survive. Mr. Hostetter's wife was the former Miss Alice E. Funk, a daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth Frick Funk, of Washington township, Franklin county. He was a member' of the Trinity Lutheran church of Greencastle. Funeral services were held at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the A. E. Minnich funeral home, conducted by the Dr. B Clinton Ritz, of Waynesboro, and burial was made in Cedar Hill cemetery. All Greencastle business places were closed during the hour of the funeral service. |
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