A representation of the Willits Shoe Company, Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, produced on a wood block by Hometowne Collectibles for the Halifax Area Historical Society.
On the back of the block is the following description of the shoe company:
WILLITS SHOE COMPANY
On July 11, 1898, A. H. Prenzel and Company started a shoe business. By 1915 the Prenzel firm sold their interests to L. W. Ryan and Still. The business only lasted until April 191. After the Ryan Shoe Company closed down, Mr. W. T. Willits became interested in the factory. The Willits Shoe Company received their charter under this name on December 12, 1917. The company first made only children’s shoes and were doing 250 pairs with about 30 employees a day. In March 7, 1898, the Halifax Shoe Company was started. By April 18, 1925, the business was liquidated and the building sold to Willits Shoe Company. In 1925, the Willits Shoe Company united the Prenzel building and Halifax Shoe building as one plant. The building was torn down June 1977 and a new building built in 1976-1977. Willits stopped manufacturing shoes in 1998.
This was the 11th in a series of these small block collectibles sponsored by the Halifax Area Historical Society. For information on the availability of this item and other items in the series, contact the society through its Facebook page.
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