Details
Title Haehnlen, Jacob
Alternate title Haehlen, Jacob
Date May 17,1824-April 23, 1892
Description Jacob Haehnlen, born in Harrisburg May 17, 1824, operated one of the "most extensive" lithographic establishments in Philadelphia during the mid 19th century. Son of Christian F. Haehnlen (1795-1898), a German immigrant grocer, Haehnlen worked in the family business before relocating to Philadelphia in 1841. At his new city of residence, Haehnlen continued in the grocery business as a partner in Haehnlen & Brown before entering the lithography trade ca. 1854 as a partner with Eugene Ketterlinus in the respected firm E. Ketterlinus & Co. In 1857, the partnership was dissolved, and Haehnlen and Ketterlinus served as early officers of the Citizen's Mutual Building and Saving Fund Association before he established his own "lithographic & fancy printing establishment" ca. 1859 at 125 and 127 South Third Street.
During the first years of his firm, Haehnlen promoted his former association with Ketterlinus; advertised his printing of labels, visiting cards, forms, and show cards; and employed Frederick C. Smith. The firm proved successful as documented by IRS tax assessments for 1864 and 1865. Within a few years, Haehnlen's studio would garner a reputation as ranking "amongst the first in the country" when in 1866 he relocated to Goldsmith's Hall at 418 Library Street where he operated one of the largest print shops in the city. The hall, so named as it was originally used for goldsmith work, contained six floors from which Haehnlen occupied the five upper floors. The establishment contained salesrooms and offices, a machine shop and drying room, lithographic presses, and floors dedicated to card printing and the printing of "pamphlets, hand bills and other similar work." From 1867 to 1868, the father and son lithographers George and Charles Spohni worked for the respected lithographer who also published maps and issued "transfer work for coach and car manufacturers."
Within a few years, Haehnlen's work, as well as a small fire at his establishment, appeared to be taking a toll on his person, and on April 12, 1872 he filed for a passport "in pursuit of pleasure and restoration of health, accompanied by [his] son Edward Gustavus Haehnlen..." Soon thereafter, around 1873, Haehnlen sold his lithography business to Lehman & Bolton, and partnered in an artist's supply business with his brother Louis. Despite the change in career, Haehnlen continued to own Goldsmith's Hall as well as the rear five-story building. In 1882, a major fire destroyed the hall (valued at $100, 000 and containing the chamois business of he and his son Edward [E.G. Haehnlen & Co.] in the basement) and the rear building occupied by A.C. Farley, lithographer and stationer. By 1884, he and his son's business, now listed as a druggist's sundries store, would return to 418 Library Street and Haehnlen would be associated with it until the end of his life.
Despite his long residency in Philadelphia, Haehnlen kept his connection to Harrisburg, including the overseeing of and summering at his family property Belle Vue bought by his father. In 1867 he entered into partnership with his brother, Louis, and Harry and Louis Brown, to form the Pennsylvania Brown Free Stone Company, a Harrisburg quarrying company for the building materials trade. In 1876 he built a multi-thousand dollar residence at the family homestead, which in 1910 became Bellevue Park, the first fully planned residential community.
Haehnlen was married to Margaret (1828-1900) with whom he had five children including W. Frank (d. 1910), professor of obstetrics at the Medico-Chirurgical College, Philadelphia, Louis F., proprietor of the Belle Vue fruit farm, and youngest son Edward. During much of his lithography career he lived at 228 Vine Street (1850s-1861) or 431 North Sixth street (1862-1876). He was a member of the German Society and the Mercantile Beneficial Association; stockholder in the West Harrisburg Market Company, the City Passenger Railway Company, National Bank and the Harrisburg Bridge Company, and was the founder of the Prospect Hill Cemetery Company.
Haehnlen died at 1421 North Broad Street (his residence since 1877) in April 1892 and was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery. Following his death, the Jacob Haehnlen estate remained profitable and in 1904, the "rear building" at 418 Sansom Street known as the Haehnlen building was sold at a value of $115, 000 by his son W. Frank.
Is part of Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
Portrait from Joseph Jackson, "Some Notes Towards a History of Lithography in Philadelphia." (Philadelphia, 1900)
References See Ketterlinus, Eugene; Spohni, Charles and George; and Smith, Frederick C.
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Call number Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
Bibliographic citation Census 1850
Freedley, Philadelphia and its Manufactures (1867), 547
Groce and Wallace, 282
Kelker, History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1907), vol. III, 714-716
Last, 90
Library Company of Philadelphia research file
Philadelphia City and Business Directories, 1850-1892
Public Ledger, December 7, 1857
WWWAA, 1415
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