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Casper Braun

Casper Braun

Male 1864 - 1937  (72 years)

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  • Name Casper Braun 
    Immigration 1863  , Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Born 22 Jun 1864  Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] 
    Immigration 1865  , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Christened 8 Jan 1865  Church Of New Jerusalem, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Gender Male 
    Business Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Berlin Granite and Works 
    • Known as the Berlin Granite & Marble Works Casper's building was located at the corner of King St. W. and Water Street, later in Kitchener time to become the TNT store.
    Berlin Granit and Marble Works    		 Berlin Granit and Marble Works
    Known as the Berlin Granite & Marble Works Casper's building was located at the corner of King St. W. and Water Street, later in Kitchener time to become the TNT store.
    Kitchener-CasperBraun-0001-Letterhead1925.jpg    		 Kitchener-CasperBraun-0001-Letterhead1925.jpg
    Kitchener Granite Works    		 Kitchener Granite Works
    image KPL
    Business Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Ott Brick & Tile Co. 
    • The company was taken over by Casper Braun, a Kitchener building contractor and business owner in the early 1920's. His company operated the firm until the 1940's
    Ott Brick and Tile Company    		 Ott Brick and Tile Company
    These beehive brick kilns were on Heiman Street, Kitchener between Mill and Highland.
    Naturalization 1866  , Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Residence 1871  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    [Member of New Jersulem Religion] 
    Occupation 1881  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Mason 
    Residence 1881  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Swedenborgian 
    Occupation 1887  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 9] 
    mason 
    Immigration 1889  , USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Elected Office 1891  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    councillor - Kitchener 
    • Years Served: 1891-92, 1897-1903
    Residence 1897  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Residence of Casper Braun 1897 Kitchener    		 Residence of Casper Braun 1897 Kitchener
    From: Busy Berlin Jubilee Souvenir 1897, published by Berlin News-Record
    Occupation 1901  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    contractor 
    Occupation 1911  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Contractor, Building 
    Residence 1911  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Evangelical 
    Occupation 1921  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Mason, Contractor 
    Caspar Braun mass producing homes on Peter St., Kitchener, Ontario    		 Caspar Braun mass producing homes on Peter St., Kitchener, Ontario
    The stamped concrete houses at the west end of Peter Street being built (photo looking east). The giant tower in the middle of the street is an early concrete pump which allowed them to be built 4 at a time. These houses were an experimental mass production by builder Casper Braun before (or around the time of) the Great War. They only took 8 hours to cast.

    ( Photo from the National Builder, February 1916. Thanks to Rych Mills for providing sources ).
    Residence 1921  726 King St. W., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Residence 1921  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Evangelical 
    Died 13 Mar 1937  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region Bef 2012  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
    Name Casper Brown 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-29146P 
    Buried Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Person ID I29146  Generations
    Last Modified 6 Apr 2024 

    Father Heinrich "Henry" Braun,   b. 24 Sep 1833, Cleba, District of Hersfeld, , Hessen, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Jul 1898, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 64 years) 
    Mother Henriette Wilhelmine Bertha Hardel,   b. CALC 15 Jun 1839, Stettin, , Prussia, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 3 May 1914, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 74 years) 
    Married 16 Jul 1863  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [11, 12] 
    Family ID F12411  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Elizabeth Schmidt,   b. 8 Mar 1859, North Easthope Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1946  (Age 86 years) 
    Married 31 May 1887  North Easthope Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 9] 
    Children 
     1. Arthur Casper Braun,   b. 7 Sep 1892, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Mar 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 18 years)
     2. Wesley Edward Braun,   b. 27 Jan 1894, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1982  (Age 87 years)
     3. Isabella Melinda Braun,   b. 9 Jul 1896, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1983  (Age 86 years)
     4. Gordon Balthaser Braun,   b. 22 Aug 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1987  (Age 85 years)
    Last Modified 7 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F7654  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Casper Braun    		Casper Braun
    Casper Braun - image from Kitchener Public Library    		Casper Braun - image from Kitchener Public Library

  • Notes 
    • Casper Braun, when an infant, came to Berlin with his parents. His father Henry Braun, was a mason and built homes in this community. Casper also became a contractor and, as well as homes, built portions of the Uniroyal building, the original Ames, Holden, McCready Rubber plant (later B.F. Goodrich Canada Limited), the Cluett Peabody, Lang Tanning and Krug Furniture plants and many other industrial buildings.

      He also built King Edward School and additions to Victoria School and Suddaby School, as well as St. Mary's, Calvary Memorial and the Sunday school addition of Zion Evangelical (United) churches and the first large apartment building in Kitchener, the York apartments. He also had a large monument business and owned and operated the Ott Brick and Tile Manufacturing Company.

      Braun was a member of Kitchener Council for nine years and the Water Commission for twenty-nine years. He was also a trustee of Zion Evangelical Church for many years.


      Waterloo Region Hall of Fame

      _________________________

      Henry Braun, mason, began his career as a contractor in 1864. He continued till 1889, when he was succeeded by his son Casper. The son built some of the principal churches and factories of his time. Later on, he engaged in the monument business on the corner of King and Water Streets. Of late years the works have been situated at 16 Andrew Street. Since Mr. Braun's death in 1937, his son, G. B. Braun, is manager of the estate. Casper Braun gained the lasting esteem of the public.

      A History of Kitchener, W. V. (Ben) Uttley, Kitchener, Ontario 1937, pg 160

      _______________________________

      THE NATIONAL BUILDER
      A Genius Builder [Casper Braun]
      February 1916
      H.C. Chadwick

      Berlin, Ontario is a hustling-city of about twenty thousand and from its extensive furniture manufacturing is called the Grand Rapids of Canada. The subject of this sketch, Mr. Casper Braun, came to Berlin a mere boy and learned from his father the trade of which he is now a master. He has to his credit many of Berlin's finest buildings, including the Williams, Green & R6me Co.'s reinforced concrete factory building, which was built at a cost of $150,000 and is one of the finest in Canada and the St. Jerome's College. He has under construction at the present time a new YMCA building with other factory and business blocks. Mr. Braun has under his employ some 255 men and a payroll of $3000 weekly. He also has as a sideline, the largest and the most modern granite, marble and stone works in Ontario, and this enables him to produce all the cut stone and marble work required in his construction. Mr. Braun is a reader and firm believer in the National Builder and states that he gets many valuable ideas from its pages.

      THE CASPER BRAUN EIGHT HOUR CASTING SYSTEM OF MODERN HOMES

      With the idea of simplifying the construction and reducing the cost of building, Mr. Braun devised a somewhat novel method of erection, and gave the following details of construction of his system. A concrete foundation two feet wide and eighteen inches in depth is first laid and upon this a frame work or mold the exact size of the house as high as the second story is erected, with an allowance of ten inches for the cellar and first story wall and eight inches for the second thickness. The mold is bolted and keyed in place so that it cannot give, while in the inside of the house, iron rods are placed both ways to keep the framework in its proper position. The interior of a mold facing out is corrugated to resemble concrete blocks for the cellar portion and the balance of the mold to resemble brick. With this mold, steel rods are placed at intervals kept in place by wires, extending all around the building. These wires are about 3/8 of an inch in thickness and form a belt of steel to keep the frame of concrete rigid.

      INTERIOR FRAME WORK PUT UP

      As soon as the outside mold is placed in position, the carpenters begin work on the interior. The joints and studs are placed in their proper position, so that when the concrete is poured, they are firmly imbedded in their proper place in the wall, and as the concrete hardens are immoveable. A mold is also placed in the centre of the house for the chimney, which consists of two flues, one for the kitchen and one for the furnace. Within this mold are placed two nine inch galvanized pipes with the proper openings at the base of the flue for taking out the ashes and one near the floor for the furnace pipe and one on the first floor for the kitchen pipe. These pipes are then filled with sand to keep them from being crushed inward while the concrete is being poured, the sand being removed from the hole in the cellar as soon as the concrete is set.
      Provision is also made for the openings in the walls from the outside in the cellar, for the admission of the gas and water pipes, which, when the pipes are in place, are then closed up. The window and door frames are also placed in position for the entire within the large mold and when the concrete is poured, the nooks and the crevices that are possible in the brick are entirely avoided, as the concrete fills every space and makes the walls wind and moisture proof.

      READY FOR THE CONCRETE FRAMEWORK

      "We are now ready for the concrete" aid Mr. Braun. The immense mixing machine, which is portable is placed in the middle of the street that four houses can be reached by a spout about 70 feet in height. The mixing machine is built upon a miniature railway track, and a long sloping platform on which the material is wheeled up to the mixer, gives access to the machine. The materials are mixed of the proper consistency, when they are dumped into the hopper fitted with gates which control the flow of the mixture into the spout leading to the frame house. Men are stationed to change the course of the spout when necessary, until the forms are full. The forms are allowed to remain for about 24 hours, when they are removed and placed upon another foundation.

      LATHING

      A porous hair paper, absolutely damp proof, is placed on the inside wall before the lathe are nailed on. This paper completely fills the space between the outside wall and the plastering.

      SIZES OF THE HOUSE

      Each house is 24 feet 6 inches by 26 feet, two story, with an attic. At the rear a provision is made for a summer kitchen with facilities for cooking which will be added later. The cellar is divided by a partition wall, one side for the furnace and the other for a vegetable cellar. The first floor consists of a hall, to the rear of which is the kitchen, while on the right a double parlour with sliding doors between. A stairway leads to the cellar and one to the second story from the hall. The second floor is divided into a hall with three bedrooms and a bath with a stairway leading to the attic. Ample provision is made for the closets in every room.

      THE PAINTING OF THESE HOUSES

      The exterior of the houses are painted in different colours and the small framework above the second story will be painted in different colours so that each front will present a varied appearance. Three concrete pillars are cemented in front of the house around which the veranda is built.

      GETTING LUMBER READY

      A portable saw and planning mill driven by electricity is a labour and time-saving part of the outfit, as any material that is needed can be cut at a moments notice.

      Photos
      1) View showing the mixer platform and distribution system
      2) Following the Mixer, the Houses are Rapidly Completed
      3) Ready for the finishing touches. Porches, sidewalks and grading are done as soon as the interiors are plastered and trimmed.

      National Builder - February 1916 [typed by Alfred Rempel]

      ____________________________

      King Street , North Side

      Willow Street.

      A frame building parallel with King Street occupied by Bosenberger, a shoemaker, who lived there probably from 1855-60.

      A building on the ground level with a veranda extending its length occupied by Dr. James Whiting, during 1855-60.

      A garden.

      A stretch of forest, hardwood and pine, from Louisa to Wellington Street, with some pine trees at the corner of Shanley Street, where is now Casper Braun's house. From Wellington Street crossing somewhat diagonally over vacant land, was the way from Waterloo to the Grand Trunk Ry. station in Berlin. At the northwest corner of King and Wellington Streets, there was a hotel with a large barn, used by teams from the country. A Mr. Proudlove built the hotel. It was later occupied by Levi Weber and after him by Henry Glebe.

      A one and one-half story frame building, facing King Street, with a brick building in the rear and a large barn along King Street, the location later occupied by H. L. Janzen. Open space somewhat wooded, to the Grand Trunk track. East of the Grand Trunk there was a swampy section which, in wet weather, became almost impassable. It was not unusual for farmers' wagons to be stuck in the mud of the road.

      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

  • Sources 
    1. [S2264] Census - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - 1921, Sub Dist. 19 Page 23.

    2. [S137] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1901, A-1 pg 13.

    3. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration.
      Caspar Braun Born: Cin. Ohio Age: 22 Father: Henry Braun Mother: Wilhelmena Braun Born: abt 1865 Spouse: Elizabeth Schmidt Age: 28 born: North Easthope Father: Balthaser Schmidt Mother: Anna Barbara Schmidt married 31 May 1887 married: Perth

    4. [S158] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1881, Div. 2 Pg. 28.

    5. [S229] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 67.

    6. [S2] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian).
      Caspar b. 22 Jan 1864, bapt. 8 Jan 1865, s/o Henry & Wilh'a Braun

    7. [S340] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1911, Div. 29, Pg 4.

    8. [S166] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Mount Hope CC#4508 Internet Link .
      Braun
      (A) Gordon/ son of/ Casper & Elizabeth/ Braun/ 1901-1987/
      (B) Isabella/ daughter of/ Casper & Elizabeth/ Braun/ 1896-1983/
      (C) Mother/ Elizabeth Schmidt/ wife of/ Casper Braun/ 1859-1946/
      (D) Father/ Casper Braun/ 1864-1937/
      (E) Arthur/ son of/ Casper & Elizabeth/ Braun/ 1892-1911/
      (F) Wesley/ son of/ Casper & Elizabeth/ Braun/ 1894-1982/

    9. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 9 Jun 1887.
      31 May 1887 Caspar Braun of Berlin and Elisabeth Schmidt of North Easthope, were married by Rev. Preacher Wittig, North Easthope.

    10. [S220] Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.

    11. [S2] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian).
      Name: Henry Braun Age: 29 Res: Berlin Place of Birth: Kurhessen, Ger. Names of Parents: Anton & Cathar. Braun BRIDE Name: Wilhelmina Hartel Age: 24 Res: Berlin Place of Birth: Stettin, Prussia Names of Parents: William & Lilia Hartel WITNESS Name: Caspar Schafer Res: Berlin Name: Anna Schafer Res: Berlin Date of Marriage: July 16, 1863

    12. [S5] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - 1858-1869 Marriage Register.
      Henry Braun b. Germany res: Berlin Age: 29 born abt 1834 father: Anton mother: Catherine married Wilhelmine Hartel Age:: 24 born abt 1839 b. Prussia Spouse res: Berlin father: William mother: Lilia married 16 Jul 1863 county: Waterloo

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1863 - , Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 22 Jun 1864 - Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1865 - , Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChristened - 8 Jan 1865 - Church Of New Jerusalem, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBusiness - Berlin Granite and Works - - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBusiness - Ott Brick & Tile Co. - - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsNaturalization - 1866 - , Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - [Member of New Jersulem Religion] - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Mason - 1881 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Swedenborgian - 1881 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - mason - 1887 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 31 May 1887 - North Easthope Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1889 - , USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - councillor - Kitchener - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1897 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - contractor - 1901 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Contractor, Building - 1911 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Evangelical - 1911 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Mason, Contractor - 1921 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Evangelical - 1921 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 13 Mar 1937 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsHall of Fame - Waterloo Region - Bef 2012 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 


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