1838-1933
| Michael Knecht immigrated from Germany to Keysers
Ridge, Maryland. He eventually settled in the West Salisbury area and
set up a blacksmith shop (1880). He established the M. Knecht &
Sons Foundry and produced iron and machine products. Michael Knecht
was a prominent area business man as well as a staunch Roman Catholic.
Mr. Knecht often held church services in his home until St. Michael's Catholic
Church was built in 1887. In 1892 Michael Knecht purchased what was
then known as the Salisbury Foundry from J.M. Hay, Howard H. Keim, Samuel
Gipe and Elias Hershberger. His business prospered to the extent that
he had to acquire more property. In June 1901 he bought an additional
plat of ground from Peter S. Hay. Mr. Knecht had five sons:
John, William, Joseph, Frank and Harry all of whom worked in the shop, under
their father, and became expert mechanics. In 1905 Mr. Knecht and two
of his sons, John and William, formed a partnership under the trade name
of M. Knecht & Sons. On March 18, 1912 the father and son team
mutually agreed to dissolve the partnership. William Knecht purchased
the entire business, land, machinery, stock and equipment. William trained his sons, Francis and Carl, to be highly skill mechanics and together they continued the operation of the plant until the death of William on May 1, 1956. In 1936 he suffered a heavy loss when the building burned to the ground -- valuable machinery, tools and equipment were ruined by fire and water. After assessing the needs of the community William rebuilt the plant on a larger scale, installed more and larger machinery and equipment and continued to prosper. After William's death the ownership of the plant went to William's three sons and one daughter. In addition to serving the local community, the firm had customers over a large part of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Ohio. |
Henry Livengood (left) John Knecht (right)
Approximate date of photo 1900
Photograph donated by Michael McKenzie from the collection of Rita Knecht
Photograph Titled
"Grandpa Knecht"
Donated by Meyersdale Historical Association
Donated by Meyersdale Historical Association
Photograph titled
"Knechts Foundry"
Donated by Meyersdale Historical Association
