Henderson history: Federal regulations yanked reins on Delker Bros. in 1973
One of Henderson’s oldest industrial concerns – one with roots in Civil War times – announced 50 years ago it was quitting business.
Delker Bros. Manufacturing Co. was the most successful and longest lasting of the Delker family businesses. The Gleaner of June 19, 1973, announced it would close within six to eight weeks when it used up its stock of parts.
More about that in due time.
But let’s start at the beginning. John Lambert had a carriage shop on Second Street, probably in the 1850s, according to the Henderson Journal of April 12, 1909. (The 1850 census says Henderson had eight local wagon makers.) Lambert’s sons, James L. and William T., sold the operation to George Delker in 1863. Delker had been one of John Lambert’s employees and continued with a half-dozen workers.
George Delker was a man of considerable vision. He received a patent Nov. 9, 1880, to build a new type of carriage, which had higher front wheels, a lower body, and better suspension than regular phaetons. In November of 1881 Delker and several others incorporated a company to manufacture the phaeton.
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Delker “brought to Henderson many skilled mechanics from other cities. Among them were Mr. Blondin, now long deceased, who afterwards became a partner,” according to the 1909 Journal article. On Oct. 5, 1875, the city of Henderson contracted with Delker & Blondin to build its first horse-drawn wagon, according to E.L. Starling’s History of Henderson County. The price was $375.
Delker first began supplying buggies and wagons to the immediate Henderson area but by the end of the century the company was concentrating on the wholesale trade. An 1898 story in The Gleaner said the company was producing about 25 vehicles a day and was shipping them to every state in the country.
George Delker died in 1891 and in October 1901 a new company was formed called the Delker Buggy Co., according to Francele Armstrong’s column in The Gleaner of Oct. 14, 1951. Delker’s three sons – John, Frank and Alfred -- and five daughters – Kate, Mary, Agnes, Anna and Laura – each had an interest, although the sons owned twice as much stock as the daughters.
John Delker withdrew from the new company in 1903 and set up shop next door as the Park Carriage Co. although the main Delker company later expanded into that space.
As the 20th Century continued the family quickly saw there was little future in buggies. They began experimenting with making furniture as early as 1921 and about that time toyed with the idea of making gas-powered buggies, which never went into production, according to Armstrong’s 1951 column.
The Gleaner of Aug. 19, 1923, announced the company was starting to manufacture furniture and was changing the name to reflect that: Delker Bros. Manufacturing Co.
The bulk of the plant’s manufacturing capacity was given over to furniture: “100,000 square feet of floor space will probably be used in the manufacture of fine upholstered and overstuffed furniture, and also the cane living room sets. Already some of the company’s product has been made up and is very attractive and durable.”
“We will also employ about 100 additional men and add new machinery when we get to going good,” said Frank H. Delker, manager of the company.
The company stopped making buggies in 1926; some sources say 1928 but that’s obviously an error because The Gleaner of July 24, 1927, says buggy production “has now been abandoned entirely.” That story also notes the firm was producing 65 living room suites every day.”
Changes were coming quickly, though. The company continued to maintain a buggy repair shop on Second Street until 1930; a 1933 warehouse fire destroyed the company’s stock of buggy parts, putting a definite end to the buggy business. The main manufacturing facility remained at 110 N. Green St.
The Great Depression of the 1930s also mostly put an end to the production of overstuffed and upholstered furniture, Armstrong wrote.
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“Since upholstered furniture was more difficult and more expensive to make the company switched during the Depression to the manufacture of non-upholstered pieces. In 1930 they put out knee-hole desks, bookcases, and novelty furniture. Seven years later they brought out their first solid maple and solid walnut bedroom suites” – lines that brought the company much attention and business.
Those lines were so successful the company later added suites made of solid cherry and solid oak. As of 1951, Delker Bros.’s only upholstered products were a platform rocker and a Duncan Phyfe davenport.
The workforce in 1951 was about 225, although peak employment grew to 330. The only family members still active in the company were Frank and Mary. Also noteworthy was Blanche Manion, who had been with the company for 42 years.
By the early 1970s, though, the workforce had deteriorated to about 150. And layoffs had reduced that to around 100, according to the June 19, 1973, Gleaner story announcing the plant’s upcoming closure.
“Air pollution control equipment would cost us more than $200,000 and we would still have no guarantee of being offered a certificate to continue operations,” said Frank H. Delker Jr., vice president and general manager. “The other reason is the Occupational Safety and Health Act. We just can’t meet the requirements.”
That story said the factory would cease operations in six to eight weeks, and a story that appeared Aug. 22 indicated that was right on the nose. The factory “is no longer in production and is currently liquidating its assets.”
Frank Delker Jr. estimated the items to be auctioned were valued at about $250,000. They included two late-model tractor-trailer rigs, furniture vans and a wide assortment of woodworking machinery and kiln equipment. An advertisement listing all major items appears in The Gleaner of Aug. 26.
When asked about the company’s biggest accomplishments, Frank Delker Jr. said it manufactured 47,000 bunk beds for the Women’s Army Corps during World War II.
The building was auctioned to James Stapp and Sam Lambert Aug. 20, 1974, for $125,000. Demolition was in two phases the following year. The roof and interiors were razed in a project that ended April 9, 1975. The exterior walls of the two three-story buildings came down in 15 days, according to The Gleaner of Oct. 4, 1975.
100 YEARS AGO
The Henderson Fire Department cleaned out the Central Park fountain basin and filled it with their fire hoses, according to The Gleaner of June 19, 1923.
Use was restricted to children under age 12; boys swam 9 to 10:30 a.m. and girls from 1 to 3 p.m.
Crowds gathered to watch the kids cavort and the popularity of the fountain pool caused the Henderson City Commission to discuss a general overhaul and a fresh coat of paint.
Also, The Gleaner of June 22 reported that a croquet court paid for by E.S. Clark for use by the fire department was drawing other participants – and crowds gathered to also watch that sport.
“This brings many to Central Park and it is fast becoming the most popular of Henderson’s three fine public parks.”
The other two were Atkinson and Sunset parks at that time.
75 YEARS AGO
Kentucky’s highest court ordered that the city of Henderson’s civil service system be reinstated, according to The Gleaner of June 19, 1948.
It also ruled that the city’s auditor, clerk, engineer, treasurer, and assessor are city employees – not city officers. That distinction made them eligible for civil service protection.
The civil service system had been enacted May 27, 1946, by the previous city commission and was made stronger Dec. 15, 1947. The new commissioners – Andrew P. Sights and T.C. “Crit” Hollowell -- seated in January 1948 immediately revoked it. More than 100 city employees filed suit to reinstate it.
Mayor Robert B. Posey abstained in that vote to rescind, although he shouted “hurray!” when he learned of the high court’s ruling.
“Civil service certainly creates better employees because they have something to look forward to – more than playing in politics every two years,” Posey said.
25 YEARS AGO
The walls of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, which had been painted an institutional greenish-blue, morphed over the weekend to a shade of pink called “Powder Petals,” according to The Gleaner of June 23, 1998.
And the trim was “Velvet Slippers,” which was closer to purple.
The transformation was the work of the department’s four female desk deputies, who handled such things as civil processes, warrants, taxes and vehicle registrations.
“We got to be brave,” said Rita Brooks, one of the deputies who had helped pick the new color scheme two weeks earlier. “Be brave and be pink.” A peace lily and a fig tree added to the atmosphere.
The change, which was aimed at boosting morale and enlivening the workplace, was a surprise to most members of the department.
The three rooms off the main office space did not change.
“If it suits them, it suits me,” said Sheriff Dennis Clary. “Because I am just going to sit back in my little blue room.”
Readers of The Gleaner can reach Frank Boyett at YesNews42@yahoo.com or on Twitter at @BoyettFrank.
This article originally appeared on Henderson Gleaner: Henderson history: Federal regulations yanked reins on Delker Bros. in 1973
