WEST CHESTER FACTS: the Keystone Tag Company
1901-1956
This file contains assorted facts from West Chester history
collected for the HIS480 "Computer methods of historical
research" class at West Chester University. Each fact
consists of specific information, a reference note to its source,
and a date. The "facts" are organized in chronological order.
Collected by Jim Jones and Kelly McVeigh (Spring 1997). Last
edited by Jim Jones (January 15, 1998).
1892/08/31
"West Chester Pays Her Working Girls Low Wages, but Has Many
Out Positions," in Daily Local News (August 8, 1892), in
CCHS clippings file "West Chester History"
"Hundreds of young girls in West Chester to-day to who the
establishment of a factory which would give them a respectable
and light employment would indeed be a godsend, and the
projectors of such and enterprise here would find more applicants
than they had positions to fill, and that, too, without much
trouble."
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1892/08/31
"West Positions," in Daily Local News (August 8,
1892), in CCHS clippings file "West Chester History"
Job opportunities for women in 1890's in West Chester were
limited. Educated women could become teachers, although there
were only a few positions available and scores of applicants.
Some women found jobs working as "lady clerks and cashiers" and
were paid small wages. Women without education had few
opportunities to earn a living in West Chester, in fact "There
are perhaps hundreds of them [women] who would gladly enter a
factory if such an establishment were erected here."
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1894/06/11
Morning Republican (June 11, 1894), in CCHS clippings
files, "West Chester Streets, Walnut Street."
Samuel O. Barber, the plant superintendent at Denney Tag
Company, has bought one of the new houses on S. Walnut Street
constructed by Reese Palmer near Barnard Street for $3500.
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1896-1897
W. Andrew Boyd, Directory of Chester County, 1896-
1897 (Washington DC: W. Andrew Boyd, 1896), in Chester County
Historical Society.
Samuel O. Barber lived at 610 S. Walnut Street with his
family, including S. Leroy Barber and C. Harry Barber.
Sarah C. Beatty and Marguerite lived at 313 S. High Street.
Sarah was the widow of William T. Beatty.
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1898-1899
Boyd's Chester County Directory, 1898-1899
(Philadelphia: C. E. Howe & Co., 1898), in Chester County
Historical Society.
Samuel O. Barber lived at 610 S. Walnut Street with his
family, including S. Leroy Barber and C. Harry Barber.
Sarah C. and Marguerite Beatty lived at 313 S. High Street.
Sarah was the widow of William T. Beatty.
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1899/04/26
"Fetters-Entriken" in Daily Local News (n/a), in CCHS
clippings file: "H. Fetters." See also Daily Local News
(April 26, 1899), in CCHS clippings file: "H. Fetters."
On Wednesday, Horace A. Fetters of Upper Uwchlan married Ida
Entriken at her parents' Belhurst Farm in East Bradford Township,
south of West Chester. Ida was the daughter of J. Llewellyn
Entriken. The article described Fetters as "a promising young
farmer of Upper Uwchlan township." Samuel Entriken, brother of
the bride, was the best man, and Miss Clara Strode played the
wedding march. "Among the numerous and costly gifts was an
upright piano, oil paintings, cut glass, linen, silver, furniture
and a large sum in gold."
[NOTE: Horace Fetters was the father of Henrietta Fetters,
general secretary of the Keystone Tag Company 1923-1955.]
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1900-1901
Boyd's Chester County Directory, 1900-1901
(Philadelphia: C. E. Howe & Co., 1900), in Chester County
Historical Society.
Samuel O. Barber lived at 610 S. Walnut Street with his
family, including S. Leroy Barber and C. Harry Barber. However,
unsigned handwritten notes indicate that they had already moved
to 35 S. High Street.
Sarah C. and Marguerite Beatty lived at 313 S. High Street.
Sarah was the widow of William T. Beatty.
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1901/06/19
Daily Local News (June 19, 1901), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
Dr. Herr of Lancaster offered to dispose of a business he had
been operating successfully in that city in manufacturing pin
tickets and strong business tags. The Denny Tag Company of West
Chester declined Dr. Herr's proposition to sell his Lancaster tag
manufacturing business, as the directors were satisfied with the
present scope and profits of their industry in West Chester.
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1901/06/19
Daily Local News (June 19, 1901), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
Mr. Samuel O. Barber, "intimately acquainted with Dr. Herr",
owner of a business he had been operating successfully in
Lancaster manufacturing pin tickets and strong business tags,
entered into negotiations to purchase Herr's business.
Negotiations ended in the sale of this business to S. O. Barber,
George K. McFarland and others on 1901/06/19. The manufacturing
plant was to be transferred to West Chester. This transaction
added another business "to the list of industrial enterprises
which are quietly dropping in [West Chester's] lap."
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1901/06/19
Daily Local News (June 19, 1901), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
The Keystone Tag Company firm leased the R.R. Hoopes
warehouse building as the site for the new factory and machines
and equipment were to be transferred from Lancaster to West
Chester.
The firm operating the new manufacturing company is S. O.
Barber and George K. McFarland, and will be managed by Harry
Barber, the son of S. O. Barber. S. O. Barber was currently the
Superintendent of the Denney Tag Company, one of the largest home
stock holders, and had no plans to leave the Denney Tag Company,
as the new factory was to assist the Denney Tag Company.
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1901/10/12
Daily Local News (October 12, 1901), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
The Keystone Merchandise Tag Company is busy and received an
order for « million merchandise tags from London, England.
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1901/10/12
Daily Local News (October 12, 1901), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
George McFarland, Samuel O. Barber, Dr. B. F. Herr, S. LeRoy
Barber, and Benjamin W. Haines announced the incorporation
"Keystone Tag Company" to manufacture tags, tag hooks, pin
tickets, baggage checks, gum labels, adhesive labels.
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1901/late
"Keystone Tag Company" Sesqui-Centennial 1799-1949 West
Chester, Pennsylvania (West Chester, PA, 1949), 77.
Mr. Barber and George R. McFarland bought out Dr. Herr's
interest in the company and placed the ownership of the company
within the Barber family, forming the Keystone Tag Company of
West Chester. [KM: Geo. McFarland was Sam Barber's son-in-law,
married to his oldest daughter Linda.]
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1902/01/11
Daily Local News (January 11, 1902), in CCHS clippings
file: "S. Barber."
Dr. S. Leroy Barber, son of the founder of Keystone Tag
company, finished his studies at the Hahneman Hospital in
Philadelphia.
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1902/01/18
Daily Local News (January 18, 1902), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
A machine was delivered to the Keystone Tag Company on
1902/01/17 which is "expected to revolutionize the work of
stringing tags and eventually take the place of dozens of persons
about town [West Chester] who have been doing work by hand ever
since the tag factories located in West Chester [1888]." The new
machine, built from plans designed by a West Chester firm, places
strings in tags, cuts and shapes them. The patentee is a member
of the Keystone Tag Company [S. O. Barber?].
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1902/02/24
Daily Local News (February 24, 1902), in CCHS
clippings file "Keystone Tag Company."
The Keystone Tag Company are intending to erect a good-sized
factory building suited for their uses during the present year
(1902).
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1902/03/01
Daily Local News (March 1, 1902), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
According to a West Chester businessman: "It is not likely
that the Borough Council will ever need this ground. It was a
mistake to ever have erected the crusher there anyhow... A
nominal price would fully compensate the borough for this lot, as
the factory will more than pay for the difference in short time.
We need factories, as it increases our population and helps
business. Besides more houses are needed for the employees to
live in... I understand that the Sun Company pays in taxes and
water rent nearly $200.00 per annum, not to speak of the
additional receipts caused by increased population. We can
afford to be liberal with all new manufacturing companies."
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1902/03/01
Daily Local News (March 1, 1902), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
The Keystone Tag Company requested that a portion of the lot
at the stone crusher on South Matlack Street be transferred to it
for free in order for the manufacturing company to erect a "good
sized factory" on the lot. The matter was referred to President
of Council, John F. McBride. The lot adjoins the lot recently
sold to Sun Electric Supply Company's plant on the north side of
Lacey Street, and is about 90x175 ft., it lies west of Goose
Creek and east of the stone crusher.
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1902/03/10
Daily Local News (March 10, 1902), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
According to the newspaper, several councilmen are favorable
to assisting the manufacturing interests of West Chester and it
is probable that the lot [adjoining the borough stone crusher]
will be sold for a nominal fee to the Keystone Tag Company. A
similar plan was adopted with the Sun Company.
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1902/06/26
Daily Local News (June 26, 1902), in CCHS clippings
file "West Chester Business Houses--Denney Tag."
The wages for tag-stringing, once 10-15 cents per thousand,
were reduced to 7-10 cents. School children and their mothers,
friends, and aunties worked half days stringing tags in order to
earn money for the childrens' summer holidays.
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1902/07/17
Daily Local News (July 17, 1902), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
The Keystone Tag Company is completing an order of 1 «
million tags for Australia and received a large order of shipping
tags for John Wanamaker Department stores.
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1902/07/17
Daily Local News (July 17, 1902), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
The Keystone Tag Company is using three machines: one machine
cuts tags from cardboard, perforates the tags and supplies each
with a little round patch at the eyelet and "puts up in gangs of
four tags; another machine makes pin tags; and a third machine
strings tags and ties the strings, "making neat little knots
tidily as the work could be done by deft-fingered girls."
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1902-1903
Boyd's Chester County Directory, 1902-1903
(Philadelphia: C. E. Howe & Co., 1902), in Chester County
Historical Society.
p55Samuel O. Barber lived at 35 S. High Street with S. Leroy
Barber, and C. Harry Barber
p57?Sarah C. and Marguerite Beatty lived at 313 S. High
Street. Sarah was the widow of William T. Beatty.
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1905/10/17
Barber-Beatty wedding announcement (October 17, 1905), in
CCHS clippings file: "S. Barber."
Dr. S. Leroy Barber married Marguerite MacLeod Beatty on
October 17, 1905 (Tuesday evening) at the First Presbyterian
Church of West Chester. He was the son of Samuel Barber, who
founded the Keystone Tag Company.
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1906/01/09
Daily Local News (January 9, 1906), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
S. O. Barber, manager of the Keystone Tag Company, stated
that 1905 was the busiest year in the history of the West Chester
company, as more tags were sent out from West Chester this year
than ever before. Early January is not usually the busiest time
of year for the factory, but it is still busy.
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1906/05/12
Daily Local News (May 12, 1906), in CCHS clippings
files, "West Chester Streets, Walnut Street."
Samuel O. Barber of S. High Street recently purchased the
former E. E. Pierce house at the corner of Walnut and Lacey
Streets for $4100. It was less than a year old, and it was
attached to a similar house also built by Mr. Pierce.
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1906/09/01
Daily Local News (September 1, 1906), in CCHS
clippings file "Keystone Tag Company."
Keystone Tag Company made an offer for the Sun Plant
building, but failed to get it, and is instead considering plans
for a new building. The factory was busy (1906/9/1) with an
export order of 2.5 million tags. A new stringing machine
performs work that formerly would have required a great number of
children to complete.
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1906-1907
Boyd's Chester County Directory, 1906-1907
(Philadelphia: C. E. Howe & Co., 1906), in Chester County
Historical Society.
Samuel O. Barber lived at 35 S. High street with his wife and
son S. Leroy Barber. C. Harry Barber lived at 114 W. Gay Street
with May V.. Leah F. and Ezekiel Barber.
Sarah Beatty lived at 313 S. High Street. Sarah was the
widow of William T. Beatty.
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1907/04/13
Daily Local News (April 4, 1907), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
The Keystone Tag Company was never busier. The Keystone Tag
Company was having trouble getting materials for the
manufacturing of tags, as the paper mills all over the country
are full of orders. S. A. {sic} Barber said, "I never knew all
lines of business to be so prosperous as they are at present."
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1907/08/01
Daily Local News (August 1, 1907), , in CCHS clippings
file "West Chester Business Houses -- Hoopes Brothers &
Darlington, 1900-1909"
The former Hoopes Brothers & Darlington office on the north
side of E. Market Street, west of the railroad tracks, is empty.
It is now owned by Major L. G. McCauley, but Samuel O. Barber of
Keystone Tag is interested in it.
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1907/08/09
Daily Local News (August 9, 1907), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
Superintendent Samuel O. Barber was unable to take a vacation
this year as the Keystone Tag Company was busier than ever
sending tags weekly to all quarters of the globe. [This same
statement was cited at least 3 different times in the clippings
file, more significant than Barber's missed vacation is the
extent of the Keystone Tag Company's national and international
growth]
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1907/12/11
Daily Local News (December 12, 1907), in CCHS
clippings file "Keystone Tag Company."
Contractor Lewis W. Hickman started a large force of men with
horses and carts on the excavations for the new Keystone Tag
Company factory building which will be located on an alley in the
rear of S. Matlack Street between Nield and Lacey Streets. The
new factory was to be a large brick building, two stories in
height.
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1908
"Keystone Tag Company" Sesqui-Centennial 1799-1949 West
Chester, Pennsylvania (West Chester, PA, 1949), 77.
In 1908 the Keystone Tag company purchased a plot of land
from David J. Scott on Mechanic Street in order to expand.
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1908/02/24
Daily Local News (February 24, 1908), in CCHS
clippings file "Keystone Tag Company."
Superintendent S. O. Barber, of Keystone Tag Company,
complained about a number of boys who have been making a
"rendezvous" at the company's nearly completed building on
Waverly Place, in the rear of S. Matlack.
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1908/02/29
Daily Local News (February 29, 1908), in CCHS
clippings file "Keystone Tag Company."
The new Keystone Tag Company factory building is two stories
in height and 100x45 ft, and "very substantially build, and
especially adapted to the companies purpose." The machinery and
fixtures of the Keystone Tag Company will be transferred from the
present building, the R. R. Hoopes warehouse, on Barnard &
Matlack Streets to the new building where operations are
scheduled to begin 1908/04/01.
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1909/01/09
Daily Local News (January 9, 1909), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
"One of the signs which would seem to indicate that the
business men of the country look for a revival of trade this year
is the fact that both the Keystone Tag Company and the Denney Tag
Company are unusually busy. Orders are coming in briskly from
every section of the country. The inference is that other
manufacturing firms, merchants and shippers expect to use a large
number [of tags] this year."
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1909/12/28
Daily Local News (December 28, 1909), in CCHS
clippings file "Keystone Tag Company."
Samuel O. Barber, president of the Keystone Tag Company,
presented Christmas gifts to his factory employees on Christmas
eve. Some of the men received a ton of coal, and each a large,
fat turkey. The young women were presented with "handsome
kidgloves."
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1909/12/30
Daily Local News (December 30, 1909), in CCHS
clippings file "Keystone Tag Company."
"On Christmas day, the employees of the Keystone Tag Company
were well remembered by the officials of the company in the way
of substantial gifts, and in turn the employees gave to S. O.
Barber a silver smoking set with his initials engraved. C. H.
Barber, superintendent, was given a silver match safe."
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1910/03/09
Nathan Broder, Samuel Barber (New York: C. Schirmer,
Inc., 1954), 10.
Marguerite MacLeod Beatty's father was Dr. William Trimble
Beatty, a pastor of a church in Pittsburgh. His widow, a
descendant of the inventor Robert Fulton, moved to West Chester.
Marguerite was the youngest of William's children. In West
Chester, she met and married Samuel Leroy Barber. Samuel O.
Barber was born on March 9, 1910.
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1910-1911
W. Andrew Boyd, compiler and publisher, Boyd's West
Chester Directory for 1910-1911 (West Chester PA &
Washington DC: W. Andrew Boyd, August 1910), in Chester County
Historical Society.
Samuel O. Barber lived at 500 S. Walnut Street with his wife
and son C. Harry Barber. S. Leroy Barber lived at 35 S. high
Street with his wife Marguerite.
Sarah Beatty lived at 313 S. High Street. Sarah was the
widow of William T. Beatty.
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1912/04/26
Daily Local News (April 27, 1912), in CCHS clippings
file: "H. Fetters."
Horace and Ida Fetters celebrated their 11th wedding
anniversary at their home. Guests included Samuel P. Bicking,
John W. Dennis, J. Havard Downing, Dr. Huggins, Arte Hess, Joseph
Bicking, Penrose Moore, Frank Parke, Levi Moore, T. Vance Miller
and Frank P. Miller, whom the newspaper reporter desribed as Mr.
Fetter's "old chums."
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1912-1913
W. Andrew Boyd, compiler and publisher, Boyd's West
Chester Directory for 1912-1913 (West Chester PA &
Washington DC: W. Andrew Boyd, 1912), in Chester County
Historical Society.
S. Leroy Barber lived at 35 S. High Street. Samuel O. Barber
and C. Harry Barber lived at 500 S. Walnut Street.
Sarah Beatty lived at 313 S. High Street. Sarah was the
widow of William T. Beatty.
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1913/03
Daily Local News (April 21, 1913), in CCHS clippings
file: "H. Barber."
C. Harry Barber became engaged to be married to Elizabeth
Cook of Princeton (NJ) in March 1913. Miss Fannie Roto gave a
luncheon in honor of the engagement on April 21, 1913. C. Harry
Barber was the son of Samuel O. Barber, the founder of Keystone
Tag Company, and took over control of the business in 1925.
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1913/08/18
Daily Local News (August 19, 1913), in CCHS clippings
file: "S. Barber."
Sara Fulton Barber was born on August 18, 1913, to S. Leroy
Barber and his wife.
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1913/08/26
Daily Local News (August 26, 1913), in CCHS clippings
file: "H. Fetters."
"Miss Henrietta Fetters, of Upper Uwchlan, celebrated her
sixth birthday anniversary on Saturday last, on the pretty lawn
of her hiome, in a manner long to be remembered by the many
little girls and boys who came to enjoy the good time. After
playing all the games which fill the child heart with glee,
Henrietta invited all her little friends in the dining room.
Those present were : Misses Edith, Alice and Henrietta Fetters,
Mabel, Helen and Florence Lewis, Phoebe Streamer; Sarah Powell;
Anna Moore, of Lionville; Mary Phipps, Dorothy Moore, Rebecca
Loomis, Dorothy Loomis, Masters Paul and John Hoffman, Alvin
Phipps, Clyde Powell, Paul and Charles Streamer, Mrs. Rebecca
Fetters, Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Fetters, Mrs. Streamer, Miss Hannah
Meredith, Mrs. Frank Powell, Miss Eleanor Loomis, Mrs. Thos.
Phipps."
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1914
W. Andrew Boyd, compiler and publisher, Boyd's West
Chester Directory for 1912-1913 (West Chester PA &
Washington DC: W. Andrew Boyd, 1914), in Chester County
Historical Society.
Samuel O. Barber lived at 410 W. Union Street. S. Leroy
Barber lived at 35 S. High Street. C. Harry Barber lived at 500
S. Walnut Street.
Sarah Beatty lived at 313 S. High Street. Sarah was the
widow of William T. Beatty.
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1914/02/12
Daily Local News (July 07, 1951), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company." See also "Keystone Tag Company"
Sesqui-Centennial 1799-1949 West Chester, Pennsylvania (West
Chester, PA, 1949), 77.
On February 12, 1914, a fire in the frigid temperature
destroyed portions of the Keystone Tag Company buildings and much
of their contents.
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1914/02/19
"Keystone Tag Plant Suffers" Daily Local News,
February 19, 1914, 1, located in CCHS.
The Keystone Tag Company suffered damage from a fire. Harry
Barber arrived at work early in morning and discovered the
building on fire. As a result of the fire 40 men and girls are
unemployed. While the girls were sent home, some of the men were
employed to clean up debris and help to renovate the factory.
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1914/02/19
"Adjusted Insurance at the Keystone Tag Company" Daily
Local News (February 19, 1914), 6. in CCHS.
Settlement was made regarding a fire early one morning the
previous week. The estimated total loss of property was between
$6,000 and $7,000. The building suffered $1,200 in damage and
several machines were damaged.
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1914/05/30
West Chester Star (May 30, 1914), in CCHS clippings file
"Keystone Tag Company."
The Keystone Tag Company is one of the largest and most
flourishing industries located in West Chester.
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1914/05/30
West Chester Star (May 30, 1914), in CCHS clippings file
"Keystone Tag Company."
In July 1901 the Keystone Tag Company occupied a small space
in the Ralston R. Hoopes building at Matlack and Barnard Streets.
Originally the factory had only a single machine and two or three
employees. By 1914 the factory occupies a modern manufacturing
plant (200x50 ft., two stories high brick building, floor space
of 20,000 sq. ft.)
It is equipped with the latest improved machinery which were
the original ideas of Sam O. Barber, President of the Keystone
Tag Company, and were manufactured in the company's own machine
shops, on the premises. "It was to the initiative and energy of
Mr. Barber that West Chester owes this industry which is
contributing its fall [fair, full] share toward the prosperity of
the community."
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1914/05/30
West Chester Star (May 30, 1914), in CCHS clippings file
"Keystone Tag Company."
In 1906 the Keystone Tag Company was located in a modern
brick building 100x50 ft. In 1911, the firm built an addition
the same size as the original, and by 1914 it is one of the model
manufacturing plants in the country. It is described as bright,
well-lighted, ventilated and heated. . . everything done for the
comfort and convenience of the 50 men and girls. The Keystone
Tag Company's business extends to all states, Cuba, Mexico,
Australia, Bombay, India, Phillippines, Honolulu, S. Africa. The
officers of the Keystone Tag Company are messrs. S. O. Barber,
president, Geo. K. McFarland, secretary and treasurer, C. Harry
Barber, superintendent."
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1920s
Nathan Broder, Samuel Barber (New York: C. Schirmer,
Inc., 1954), 9.
S. Leroy Barber's wife was from a family that was interested
in music, and they were an influence on his son, Samuel O.
Barber. Her sister was Louise Homer, who became a famous singer.
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1923
"Keystone Tag Company" Sesqui-Centennial 1799-1949 West
Chester, Pennsylvania (West Chester, PA, 1949), 77.
In 1923, Samuel O. Barber retires from active management of
Keystone Tag.
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1925
"Keystone Tag Company" Sesqui-Centennial 1799-1949 West
Chester, Pennsylvania (West Chester, PA, 1949), 77.
Samuel O. Barber dies in 1925. [As a result of provisions in
Samuel O. Barber's will] Harry C. Barber suceeded his father as
president and major stockholder of the Keystone Tag Company.
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1926/03/09
Nathan Broder, Samuel Barber (New York: C. Schirmer,
Inc., 1954), 11.
On his 16th birthday in 1926, young Samuel O. Barber received
a roadster as a present from his parents.
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1927/06/10
"Dr. S. Leroy Barber" in Daily Local News (June 10,
1927), in CCHS clippings file: "S. Barber."
Dr. S. Leroy Barber was the president of the WC School Board.
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1928/04/28
Coatesville Record "20 Years Ago" (April 28, 1948), in CCHS
clippings file "Keystone Tag Company."
Harry Smiley (1928/04/28) a foreman of the Shipping
Department of the Keystone Tag Company, dropped dead shortly
after he reported to work.
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1935/06
Nathan Broder, Samuel Barber (New York: C. Schirmer,
Inc., 1954), 49.
In the summer of 1935, Samuel O. Barber went to live at "The
Hermit," a "small house owned by an aunt and used by his family
as a summer house, at Pocono Lake Preserve in Pennsylvania."
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1939
"Keystone Tag Company" Sesqui-Centennial 1799-1949 West
Chester, Pennsylvania (West Chester, PA, 1949), 77.
In 1939, Harry C. Barber dies and his brother Dr. S. Leroy
Barber is elected president of the company. George McFarland,
one of the company's founders, becomes active in directing
company policies. Mr. Brinton Strode is the supervisor of plant
operations.
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1939/07/07
Daily Local News (July 7, 1939), in CCHS clippings
file: "S. Barber."
There is a photo of Dr. S. Leroy Barber on his birthday. He
was the president of the WC School Board and a member of the
Homeopathic Hospital of Chester County. He was also a member of
the WC Rotary Club, the WC Lodge No.322 F. & A. M., and President
of the Board of Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church.
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1940/05/04
"Beatty-Barber" in Daily Local News (May 4, 1940), in
CCHS clippings file: "S. Barber."
S. Leroy Barber's daughter Sara Fulton Barber married Samuel
Fulton Beatty Jr. of Hinsdale, Illinois in the home of the
bride's brother, Samuel, at 166 E. 96th Street in New York City.
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1941/02
"Keystone Tag Company" Sesqui-Centennial 1799-1949 West
Chester, Pennsylvania (West Chester, PA, 1949), 77.
In February 1941, the Barber family sold its interest in the
Keystone Tag Company. Edward F. Beatty, a partner with W. H.
Newbold's Son & Company of Philadelphia, becomes the company
president.
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1944/05/20
Daily Local News (May 05, 1944), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
Vice President of the Keystone Tag Company, Harold Weinert
presented a gift War Bond to Thomas Keating, 126 N. Walnut
Street, and Mrs. Anna Carson, 131 E. Union Street, during a
company gathering, in appreciation of 25 years of loyal and
unbroken service.
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1944/09/18
Daily Local News (September 18, 1944), in CCHS
clippings file "Keystone Tag Company."
The Keystone Tag Company hosted the third annual outing for
its 80 employees and their wives and husbands at Parke's Grove on
the Brandywine. Prizes of a war bond and war stamps were awarded
to winners of games (softball, peanut scramble, nail driving
contests). On behalf of the employees, the 7 members of the
outing committee presented the company with a large American
flag. Committee (Employees) members were Mrs. Ruth Urich, Mary
Reed, Miss Edith Woodward, Marie Morley, Thomas Keating, Kaufman
Butler and Lew Malin.
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1945
"Keystone Tag Company" Sesqui-Centennial 1799-1949 West
Chester, Pennsylvania (West Chester, PA, 1949), 77.
After 1941, improvements were made and modern equipment was
added to the Keystone Tag factory. "The company and its
employees are proud of their accomplishments during the war, as
substantially all the company's production went indirectly into
aiding the manufacture and shipment of goods for the war effort."
[Patriotism, helped with WWII]
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1945/01/09
Daily Local News (January 09, 1945), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
William Townsend, 396 Nields Street, was presented with a war
bond by the Keystone Tag Company in recognition of 25 years of
continuous service. Townsend was a machinist who began working
1920/01/05.
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1945/01/09
Daily Local News (January 09, 1945), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
The Keystone Tag Company began the practice of presenting a
token of appreciation of 25 years of loyal service to its
employees in 1943. Three employees have been recognized in the
last 2 years.
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1945/07/28
Daily Local News (July 28, 1945), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
William Jamieson, Jr. becomes Sales Manager of the Keystone
Tag Company. He was formerly a member of the Delaware War
Finance Committee where he arranged "special bond sales, events"
he also assisted in the "organization of house-to-house teams and
the establishment of the Delaware War Bond Center."
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1945/09/10
Daily Local News (September 10, 1945), in CCHS
clippings file "Keystone Tag Company."
The Keystone Tag Company hosted its 4th annual picnic "A
Victory Outing" at Parke's Grove on the Brandywine. Members of
the employee outing committee included: Mrs. R. W. Urich,
chairman, Mrs. Roy Reed, Mrs. Louis Seeds, Miss Marie Morley,
Thomas Keating and Louis Malin.
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1946/01/18
Daily Local News (January 18, 1946), in CCHS clippings
file "Weinert, H."
Harold H. Weinert of 103 Dean Street resigned as the general
manager of the Keystone Tag Company. His replacement is William
Jamieson Jr., currently the general sales manager.
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1947/01/25
Daily Local News (January 25, 1947), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
William Jamieson, Jr. was elected vice-president of Keystone
Tag Company. Mr. Jamieson began as a sales manager for the
company and in 1946 he became general manager. Mr. Jamieson
lived in Wilmington and he was President of Delaware Congress of
Parents and Teachers, Superintendent of Westminster Presbyterian
Church School, and Deputy Manager of Delaware War Finance
Committee.
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1947/08/12
S. Leroy Barber obituary in Daily Local News (August
13, 1947), in CCHS clippings file: "S. Barber."
S. Leroy Barber died after a long illness in his home at 107
S. Church Street. He was born in Philadelphia and came to WC
with his parents, Samuel O. Barber and Mary Fielder Barber, in
1885. His father was the former superintendent of the Denney Tag
Company. Dr. Barber graduated from WCHS in 1897 and Hahneman
Medical School in 1901.
Dr. Barber was president of the WC School Board for more than
25 years.
Dr. Barber was survived by his wife, Marguerite Beatty
Barber, and two children: Samuel, the composer in New York City,
and Sara, wife of Samuel Fulton Beatty of Cleveland OH. The
Beatty's had two grandchildren. Dr. Barber was also survived by
his sister Ada, the wife of P. Brinton Strode, who lived on S.
Walnut Street.
Dr. Barber's sister Linda, the wife of George K. McFarland,
died in 1946, and Dr. Barber's brother C. Harry Barber died in
1939.
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1949
"Keystone Tag Company" Sesqui-Centennial 1799-1949 West
Chester, Pennsylvania (West Chester, PA, 1949), p. 77.
The officers of the Keystone Tag Company are Edward Beatty,
President, William Jamieson, Jr. Vice President, Donald Thompson,
Vice President, and Henrietta K. Fetters, Secretary Treasurer.
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1951/07/18
Daily Local News (July 7, 1951), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
In 1950, Keystone Tag company had its best business year in
the company's 50-year history, a half million dollars. However,
expansion plans were hampered by a shortage of paper "tab board."
The success of the company in this modern era was due to
contracts for production of tags for large firms like Ford and
DuPont.
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1955/07/28
Daily Local News (July 28, 1955), in CCHS clippings
file "West Chester Business Houses--Denney Tag."
Edward F. Beatty, president of the Keystone Tag Company,
approached Gibbons G. Cornwall, president of the Denney Tag
Company, with an offer to sell the Keystone. At this point, they
had reached no agreement.
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1955/08/09
Daily Local News (August 9, 1955), in CCHS clippings
file "West Chester Business Houses--Denney Tag."
The Denney Tag Company completed the purchase of the Keystone
Tag Company, effective August 8. Keystone will continue to
operate for the time being, and some of its 50 employees would be
incorporated into the Denney work force of about 250.
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1955/08/09
Daily Local News (August 10, 1955), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
The Keystone Tag Company is sold to Denney Tag Company.
Keystone Tag Company had 50 employees at time of sale while
Denney Tag Company employed 250 people.
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1956/01/20
Daily Local News (January 20, 1956), in CCHS clippings
file "Keystone Tag Company."
Keystone Tag Company formally becomes non-existent as a
single corporation when Denny Tag Company absorbs the entire
Keystone Tag Company. 54 Keystone Tag Company employees were
assured jobs at Denney Tag Company, located at 30 West Barnard
Street.
Miss Henrietta Fetters, who has held an office position with
Keystone Tag Company for 33 years, was made Sales Promotional
Manager at Denney Tag Company. Ms. Fetters was previously the
Secretary-Treasurer at Keystone Tag Company, where she was a
(trusted and respected) executive, "held in high regard by
Keystone Tag Company] employees who served under her guidance."
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1958/04/28
"Beatty-Nelson" in Daily Local News (April 28, 1958),
in CCHS clippings file: "E. Beatty."
Edward Fell Beatty Jr. married Margery Jane Nelson on
Saturday afternoon. He was the son of Edward Fell Beatty of
Birmingham Meeting Road. He was a graduate of Deerfield Academy,
Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania Law
School. She was a graduate of Mount Holyoke College.
[NOTE: Probably Ed's second marriage, since informants say he
was already married while he owned the Keystone Tag Company. --
KM]
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1961/01/04
Daily Local News (January 5, 1961), in CCHS clipping
file: "West Chester Business Houses, Denney-Reyburn Co."
The stockholders of the Denney Tag company voted to change
the firm's name to the Denney-Reyburn Company, following the
December 22, 1960 purchase of the Reyburn Manufacturing Company
by Denney. Denney President Gibbons G. Cornwall said that heavy
machinery from the Reyburn plant in Philadelphia would be moved
to the Denney factory on Barnard Street or to the old Keystone
Tag company building in Mechanics Alley.
Reyburn manufactured tag-making equipment. It operated since
before the turn of the century.
Denney was founded in 1887 by Samuel L. Denney, "the inventor
of the first fully automatic tag=making machine."
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1971/08/06
Daily Local News (August 6, 1971), in CCHS clippings
file "Weinert, H."
Harold H. Weinert died on August 5, 1971. His funeral was
held at St. Agnes Church. His widow was Marie Morley Weinert,
1295 N. Providence Road, Media. He was the former general
manager of the Keystone Tag Company.
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1981/01/24
"Samuel Barber, Composer, Dead; Twice Winner of Pulitzer
Prize" in New York Times (January 24, 1981), in CCHS clippings
file: "Samuel O. Barber."
Samuel O. Barber was one of America's most successful
composers. He was born on March 9, 1910. He served in the air
force in WWII and wrote his Second Symphony as a commission from
the Air Force. Barber shared a country house called "Capricorn"
with Italian composer Gian Carlo Menotti in Mt. Kisco, NY, for
thirty years.
Barber was survived by his brother-in-law, S. F. Beatty of
Santa Barbara CA, and several nieces and nephews named Beatty.