Professor Alton Henry Heller

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/84579939
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-30955
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Music
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; ?
• Residence: 1911, 79 Queen St. N., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Music Teacher
• Residence: 1921, 121 Frederick St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Notes:

One of the leading musicians of the province and a strikingly successful teacher of music is Mr. Alton H. Heller of Berlin. He is a native of the city. As a citizen he possesses three strong qualities: Intelligence, Courage and Progressiveness. He is still in his prime and may confidently be expected to blaze new paths in local musical circles. As a boy, he early commenced his musical studies. His first teacher was Prof. H. C. Shaw, under whom he studied the piano and organ for several years. Afterwards he proceeded to Detroit and there received tuition from Mr. W. E. Snyder, who was the pupil of the late Wm. H. Sherwood, one of America's greatest teachers of music. Mr. Heller studied Piano, Organ and Theory. He had two years and a half tuition from Dr. Edw. Fisher at Toronto. in Piano and under Dr. A. S. Vogt on the same instrument. He rounded off with a course in Choral Instruction under Dr. Ham of St. James Cathedral, Toronto. Being of a thorough-going, painstaking nature, those years of conscientious study fitted him well for his life-work as a teacher of this Art. One of his pupils is now a teacher in the Hamilton Conservatory of Music, after graduating under him with first class honors. Six more of his graduates are teaching in the Twin City. Sixteen years ago he gave his first public piano recital. Ten years ago. and annually since, he has given highly creditable organ recitals and was the first home musician to make the attempt. Previously, organ recitals were held but talent from other centres was imported to give them. Mr. Heller's were of such a high order, that lovers of music responded freely and encouraged him to continue. He is and for some years has been organist of Zion Evangelical Church and maintains a high standard of efficiency in his work. In addition to his professional proficiency, Mr. Heller possesses good business ability. On other pages are given a good view of his fine studio and residence on Queen Street North.


Official souvenir of the celebration of cityhood, July 17th 1912, German Printing and Publishing, 1912

Alton — Juliane "Julia" Knapp. Juliane (daughter of Charles Knapp and Barbara Pfanner) was born 26 Apr 1885, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown; was buried , Saint Peter's Lutheran Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Albina Sherholtzia (?) was born 1898, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
2. Richard S. Heller was born 1910, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.

Alton married Mary Catherine Otto 24 Jul 1907, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Mary (daughter of Jacob Otto and Anna Catharine "Catherine" Ludwig) was born 2 Aug 1869, South Easthope Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada; died 16 Jul 1917, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Richard S. Heller was born Mar 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.

Other Events:

• Business: Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Royal Exchange Hotel
• Name: Casper Heller
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-30951
• Occupation: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Tavern Keeper
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Hotel Keeper (hotel keeper, inn keeper, tavern keeper) "Royal Exchange Hotel" and "Market Hotel"
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Hotel Keeper
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Notes:

Caspar Heller

Quite unexpectedly on Friday morning, came the news of the sudden death of Mr. Caspar Heller. He had certainly been somewhat unwell for a few days, but not confined to bed. He died sitting on the edge of his bed, without saying a word or uttering one complaint, as a result of exhaustion from abdominal complaints.

The deceased was born in Udenhausen, Hesse-Darmstadt, and came here with his parents in 1843 from Germany, aged 13 years, and helped with clearing the woods and other jobs of the settlers. Somewhat later, he was occupied in Connecticut, and on his return, bought the Royal Hotel in the eastern end of the city, which he managed with great success for many years. Twenty-two years ago, he built the Market Hotel and ran it till approximately five years ago, when he retired to the house on Queen St. where he died. He was a friendly, pleasant and helpful man, and consequently well-known and highly respected far and wide.

In 1855, he married Salome Schnoeringer, and eight children were born from this marriage, of whom six are still living; namely: Herman, Edward. Albert, Emil, Alton, and the widow, Lisette Vetter. Mr. John H. Heller is a brother, and the wife of Mr. John B. Hett is a sister of the deceased. He was 69 years, 6 months and 8 days old.

Burial took place on Sunday afternoon, with an exceptionally large number attending. The town musical band, to which three of his sons belong, played funeral marches on the way to St. Peter's Church, where Pastor R. von Pirch held the funeral service, and thence, to the cemetery. Pall-bearers were the church elders H. Stuebing, P. Gies, J. Baetz, J. Koch, R. Pinke, and L. Sattler.


Berliner Journal - 24 Aug 1889 pg 4 col 2 translated by Patricia J. Kauk

____________________

King Street , North Side

Frederick Street.

Bishop Benjamin Eby's farm came to the corner of King and Frederick Streets. Next to Frederick Street, Frederick and William Miller erected a frame building and used it as a general store. After the grading operations spoken of this building had to undergo the same process as the St. Nicholas Hotel. It was considered a fine building in its day with large windows on each side of the centre door. Henry Stroh finally bought the building and tore it down in 1868. Jacob Stroh has some of the window sash, shutters, stairway, etc., still in his possession. Later the building was occupied by Jacob Eckstein cigar maker and tobacco dealer. Mrs. Warren with a family lived on the second story for a number of years.

Vacant lot. Next a large brick building with double deck porch along the front, the Queen's Arms Hotel, built about 1840 and continued as a hotel until about 1860. A Mr. Butchard was the first landlord and later Levi Weber. From this hotel the first omnibus met the trains at the G.T.R. station in Berlin in 1856. Before that day it was a stopping place of stage coaches operating from Hamilton and Galt to Berlin and beyond. The old Queen's Arms long vacant and practically ruined as a building was sold finally and made room for the Market Building and Town Hall in 1869.*

Next we come to the John Roos house. This also had a double-deck veranda with heavy posts as was the style 1840-50. The building was later turned into a hotel known as the Market Hotel and kept by Casper Heller.

A lot with a log cabin in the rear, occupied by Jacob Sauer, who had come from Pennsylvania, father of Mrs. John Roat.

* See 1922 Annual Report W. H. S., p. 210.

A harness shop occupied by John Roat, then by his son John and later by John Haugh, a son-in-law of John Roat.

A garden. A dwelling, 4 or 5 feet lower than the street which had been filled up, where lived the Susand family. Mrs. Susand had a reputation with juveniles for tarts and molasses taffy sold in lc. bars. Her children were in the habit of selling these wares to passengers at the G.T.R. station. After her husband's death about 1860, widow Susand moved her shop to Foundry Street North, and there continued until she died. Susand was an ex-slave. In 1857 at a nomination meeting for Council, he was nominated and stood a good chance of being elected, as a joke. However, the more thoughtful element among the voters prevailed.

A two story, frame building, lengthwise with King Street, built in the '30's. After street grading this had to be raised so that what had before been the ground floor became the cellar or basement.

A house occupied by Wm. Hawke,-known as Bill Hawke- a mason. A stout, easy-going man. His wife was in the habit of standing in the door way, with white lace cap, smoking a clay pipe. The east end of this building was occupied by Winters, a hatter, the first hat maker in Berlin. He made the old style, broad brim, Mennonite hats in fashion up to about 1845. At the corner of Scott stood a brick building of good size with gable toward King Street, used to stable the first fire teams for a number of years. Later John Wagner had a waggon shop above and George Ward a blacksmith shop underneath. Scott Street was, however, not opened until many years later.

A one and one-half story building rough cast, gable facing King St., occupied by H. W. Peterson, who began publishing the "Canada Museum", in 1835 and so continued until 1840 when he went to Guelph as first Registrar of the County of Wellington. This was the first newspaper published in Waterloo County.

Jacob Hailer's house, a one and one-half story, frame building with porch along the front partly enclosed by lattice work. In this house was born in 1834, Catherine Hailer, who married Louis Breithaupt. She is said to have been the first child born in Berlin of parents who came from Germany. Hailer's barn was some distance back from the street and next along on the street front was his shop where he manufactured spinning wheels, etc., and chairs which had a large distribution. Hailer was an expert wood turner. He had two foot-power lathes and a number of German assistants from time to time, continuing his shop for about 40 years.
A two story frame building lengthwise with King Street, erected by Dr. John Scott. He had a drug store with two good-sized windows at the front. On the east gable of the building was a sign, "Med. Hall" in large letters. The sign was legible long after Dr. Scott's death. The doctor pursued his practice on horseback for which he used three horses. He was the first medical practitioner in Berlin, coming in 1834, at the time of the cholera epidemic. For a few years before he was married he boarded at the Gaukel Hotel. His later house, after the one described, is still standing on Weber Street at the rear of the Kitchener Public Library.

The old Scott house on King Street was later occupied by Franz Martin who kept a saloon. Martin had a musical family, with the zither as their principal instrument, which all the children could play.

A one and one-half story, frame building, painted, occupied by Anslm Wagner, a potter.

A brick building 1 ½ story lengthwise with King Street, the west end of which was John Eby's drug store, the rest of the building being his dwelling. This was the first regular drug store in Berlin.

A brick building with a frame extension in the rear used by David Eby as a pump shop. Part of the brick building is still standing, the rest having been cut olT for the opening of Eby Street North.

A one story hip roof brick cottage occupied by Geo. Eby, a Notary, who came to Canada in 1804. He died in this house. A considerable fish story is told of how he followed a sturgeon in the Conestoga River, part of Grand River, and finally speared it.

A one and one-half story building, probably rough cast, occupied by Hy. Wurm, a carpenter employed at the Simpson factory.

A two story brick building painted red occupied by Henry S. Huber.'

A handsome frame building, two story, with veranda along the front and ground floor considerably above the street level, with broad steps, the width of the building, leading to it, was built in 1850. Some time later it was occupied by Casper Heller and known as the Royal Exchange hotel. Following the old custom its swinging sign had "Last Chance" on the side toward the village and "First Chance" outward, referring to liquid refreshments. Heller kept a good hotel and had also a large shed and ham next east of the hotel.

On the corner a steam grist mill was erected, about 1860. Louis Seyler, a German, was the miller. The custom was for farmers to bring in their wheat to have it ground, getting in return flour, bran and middlings, the miller retaining his toll. Later Lehnen & Shelly operated this mill.

REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER) By JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder.

Part I. Settlement - Early Villagers and Buildings, Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 1930

Johann married Salome Schnoerringer 1855. Salome was born 20 Jan 1834, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 3 May 1917, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Salome Heller
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-30950
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Other Events:

• Name: John Heller
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-79308
• Occupation: 1851, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; watchmaker
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; clock maker
• Occupation: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Watch Maker
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Watch Maker
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Notes:

King Street, Kitchener

Eby to Cedar Street

On the corner a one and one-half story frame building, lengthwise with King Street, occupied by Adam Jaeckel as a bakery. Jaeckel had a high reputation as a baker and guarded the secret of his process. The story is that he had his bake-oven in the basement of the building, where in the evening he would set dough for about forty loaves of bread. He would then put the cover on the baking trough and sleep on it. When the dough would rise sufficiently, about three or four o'clock in the morning, it would wake him. He would then proceed with his baking and later go fishing, of which he was very fond. Later on this building, painted drab, was used by Town Constable Joachim.

A garden.

A one and one-half story building lengthwise with King Street occupied by John Heller in 1843 as a jewelry and watchmaking shop.

Residence occupied by Philip Moogk, as cabinetmaker and carpenter.

A two story frame building with gable facing King Street, occupied by Gottlieb Ratliman, a tailor. The same building was used 1850-55 as a tavern by a Mr. Jahn, Bandmaster Kayser occupied one end of the building after 1864. Kayser also had a saloon and beer garden, the latter a place of general entertainment during the summer months, with concerts, dances, etc.

REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER) By JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder.

Part I. Settlement - Early Villagers and Buildings, Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 1930

____________________________

Among the citizens who arrived in the village in the forties and fifties were: Johann Heller, watchmaker..

History of Kitchener pg 89

Occupation:
A one and one-half story building lengthwise with King Street occupied by John Heller in 1843 as a jewelry and watchmaking shop.<sup>1a

1a</sup>Remenences of Yost Stroh

Johann — Margaretha Krug. Margaretha was born 3 Mar 1797, , Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany; died 22 Mar 1880, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Margaretha Heller
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-79309
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran