George Johann Schlee

Other Events:

• Contractor Projects: 1 King St. W., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Walper Hotel
• Contractor Projects: 32 Weber Street West, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Zion Evangelical Church
• Residence: 10 Sims Estate Place, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00048-3621.1
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mason
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mason
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical
• Possessions: 26 Sep 1891, 46 Ahrens St. W., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Grantee
• Residence: 1896, 96 Queen St. N., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1897, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Rubber manufacturer
• Residence: 1906, 87 Lancaster St. W., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1907, 70 Victoria St. N., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; button manufacturer
• Residence: 1907, 96 Queen St. N., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Manufacturer, Buttons
• Residence: 1911, 121 Queen St. N., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Elected Office: 1913, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; councillor - Kitchener
• Occupation: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Manager, Button Factory
• Residence: 1921, 121 Queen St. N., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Notes:

George Schlee was born June 4, 1858 on a farm near Centreville, a few miles east of Kitchener. In 1876 he apprenticed as a stone mason in Listowel, Ontario, returning to Berlin following his marriage to Eva Hallman of Hanover in 1882.

In 1890 he purchased the construction firm of Jacob Baetz and became prime contractor of the community for imposing residences and civic buildings such as the Walper House, Zion Evangelical Church and a major portion of the K-W Hospital.

Following a visit to the United States, he returned home filled with enthusiasm for the potential in manufacturing of rubber footwear. With his initiative and drive, he organized the Berlin Rubber Company in 1899 and supervised the construction of the first rubber factory in Waterloo County on the corner of Margaret Avenue and Breithaupt Street. Through his vision, and the support of men like Jacob Kaufman and A.L. Breithaupt, the rubber industry was established in this community. In 1906 he sold his interests in the Berlin Rubber and founded the Berlin Button Works (Kitchener Buttons Ltd.), remaining active in this business until his death October 31, 1944

Waterloo Hall of Fame 2008 website

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PROMINENT KITCHENER COUPLE OBSERVE 50th ANNIVERSARY

Mr. and Mrs. George Schlee Were Married at Hanover-Receive Purse of Gold.

Mr. and Mrs. George Schlee of Kitchener received the congratulations and best wishes of friends on Tuesday on the occasion of their golden wedding aniversary. They were married 50 years ago in Hanover, since which time they have resided in Kitchener where Mr. Schlee owns the Kitchener Button factory

Mr. Schlee was born on June 4. 1858, about 1 miles east of Centreville [10 Sims Estate Place], where Mr. Harvey Sims now resides. He received his schooling at Centreville. He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Carl Schlee. At the age of 18 he went to Listowel to learn the building trade with his brother, the late Mr. John Schlee. In 1882 he was married to Miss Eva Hallman at Hanover.

Mr. Schlee worked for eight year as a contractor for Mr. Jacob Baetz. He then purchased Mr. Baetz' business, conducting a contracting business for eight years which he later sold to Casper Braun. He started the Berlin Rubber Company in 1898, making it a joint stock company. This was the beginning of the big rubber industry.

In 1906 Mr. Schlee sold his rubber stock to Mr. A. L. Breithaupt and started the Berlin Button Works, Later he changed the name to the Kitchener Buttons, Ltd.

Mr. Schlee was one of the first directors of the Ames Holden Rubber Company. He is 74 years of age.

Before her marriage Mrs. Schlee was Miss Eva Hallman. She was born in Wilmot Township, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Hallman, but spent most of her girlhood in Hanover, She was married to Mr. Schlee by Rev. J. Mager, pastor of the Hanover United Brethren church.

The bride and bridegroom of 50 years ago were attended by the bride's brother, Mr. Jesse Hallman and his fiancee, now his wife, now residents of Port Huron, Mich. They and the officiating clergyman, Mr. Mager, were present at the golden wedding celebration which took the form of a family dinner at their home on Frederick St. The members of their family include G. Ervin, Eldon H., and Wilfred H. and Miss Lillie M. Schlee and their four grandchildren were present. Mr. and Mrs. Schlee were presented with a purse of gold. Out of town guests included Mrs. Schlee's brother, Mr. Noah Hallman, of Stratford.

Waterloo Chronicle, 1 Dec 1932, p. 1

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Mr. George Schlee secured the contract for the mason work of Oberholtzer's Shoe Factory to be erected near the Berlin Station.

Waterloo County Chronicle, 20 Apr 1893, p. 5

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The First Rubber Factory

The change of the town into a city was mostly owed' to the manufacturers. As a rule, they began on a modest scale. The secret of their success was given out by the late George C. H. Lang: "Our men are trained for their business and aim to make better commodities than anyone else." Up till then, on what was the town chiefly nourished ? Boxes, buttons, chemical preparations, confectionery, furniture, leather, pianos, pork products, racycles, shirts and collars, felt and leather shoes, suspenders, trunks and bags, and woodworking machinery.

Then in came Miss Rubber Latex.

In the winter of 1898 George Schlee and Nelson Good visited the chief rubber centres of the United States. Mr. Schlee, on his return, set about the forming of a company to manufacture rubber footwear. He had earlier been a building contractor and experienced in tackling big things. He succeeded in interesting Jacob Kaufman, A. L. Breithaupt and Louis Weber in a venture to make rubber footwear. The company was named: The Berlin Rubber Company, Mr. Schlee was appointed manager, and they erected a factory in Margaret Avenue, near the railway. In January, 1900, Mr. Schlee came down town wearing the first pair of rubbers turned out by the plant. Soon, they were making between 800 and 1000 pairs a day.

Three years later, Mr. Kaufman organized the Merchants Rubber Company to make rubber footwear, and erected a giant factory in Breithaupt Street. One of his executives was T. H. Rieder. Mr. Kaufman sold that industry in 1906 to the Dominion Rubber Company. A year later his son, Alvin R. Kaufman, induced him to form the Kaufman Rubber Company to make rubber footwear. Situated at the corner of King and Francis Streets, it is one of the city's largest industries, and is headed by Mr. A. R. Kaufman. With regard to Mr. Jacob Kaufman's life work, he never asked for nor received any bonus or concession from the city.

Mr. Schlee stayed with the Berlin Rubber Company until 1906, when he sold his shares to Mr. A. L. Breithaupt. Mr. Schlee then organized the company now known as Kitchener Buttons Limited, to manufacture vegetable ivory buttons. His associates were his three sons: Ervin, Eden and Wilfrid. A large factory was built on the corner of Edward and Victoria Streets. Eden and Ervin have since identified themselves with other businesses. In recent years the company began the manufacture of furniture knobs and radio control knobs. In 1932, Mr. Wilfrid Schlee opened a market for those specialties and the Yo-Yo Stop in Great Britain. Mr. George Schlee, now in his 80th year, has done his full share for the advancement of the city.

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

Residence:
Mr. Geo. Schlee has sold his beautiful residence on Queen street, north, to. Mr. Jos. Zuber, of the Grand Central Hotel. The sum of about $11 000 was paid for it.

The Chronicle Telegraph 26 Sep 1907, p. 3

Elected Office:
Years Served: 1913-14

George married Eva Hallman 29 Nov 1882. Eva (daughter of Christian Hallman, II and Leah S. Bechtel) was born 18 Aug 1863, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 11 Dec 1944; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Ervine Schlee
• Eby ID Number: 00048-3621.2
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical
• Occupation: 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Factory
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Head Bookkeeper, Button Factory
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Production, Button Factory
• Residence: 1921, 121 Queen St. N., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00048-3621.3
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1921, 121 Queen St. N., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• Name: Carl Christian Schlee
• Eby ID Number: 00048-3621.4

Notes:

DEATHS.

SCHLEE.\emdash On Nov, 29th, at Berlin, Charles, Christian, Walter, the beloved son of Geo. and Eve Schlee aged 1 year, 3 months
and 13 days

Waterloo County Chronicle, 14 Dec 1893, p. 8

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-34091
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Student, High School
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• Invention: Wil-Tel Automatic Oil Signal
• Eby ID Number: 00048-3621.5
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Student, Public School
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Accountant, Button Factory
• Residence: 1921, 26 Hohner St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1945, 133 Claremont Ave., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Invention:
Wilfrid H. Schlee invented the signal light on a car's instrument panel that warns of low oil pressure. It is now standard on all cars.1a

1aWaterloo Region Museum Display 2011

Wilfred married Cora Marie Huehnergard 23 Jun 1920, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Cora (daughter of John William Huehnergard and Caroline Catherine Hahn) was born 21 Nov 1898, Heidelberg, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1994; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-220073

Other Events:

• Name: Carol Eva Schwindt
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-220086

Carol — George Wilbert Schwindt. George was born 13 Jun 1928; died 1981, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]