The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-03
Firm of Henry Gilbert
& Son Begins Today
a Celebration of It's
18th Anniversary
HAD FAITH IN
RAILROADPLANS
Founder of the Business Sold the Axes
and Saws With Which Engineers
Blazed the Right of Way of the
Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh

The hardware firm of Henry Gilbert
& Son, 219 Market street, to-day be-
gan celebrating the completion of sew
enty-f years existence The firm was
established by Henry Gilbert, long a
familiar figure in Harrisburg affairs, in
1910, at No. Market street, and
though he has long been dead his name
still is retained by his son and grand
son who now own the business.
Mr.. Gilbert was one of Harrisburg s
original live wires, and it was not long
before his industry, enterprise and gen
eral grasp of possibilities in Harrisburg
led him to seek larger quarters, and he
moved the establishment to 219 Market
street, where the business is now To-
Gated The house was originally owned
by man named Graydon, one of Har-
risburg's original Abolitionists, and it
was there that the advocates of free
dom for the slaves met and laid their
plans for the future. Men of such prom
inence as Wendell Phillips came to
these conferences.
Mr.. Gilbert conducted the business
by himself until 1872, when he took
into the firm his son, Spencer G. Gilbert,
changing the name to Henry Gilbert &
Son, which it retains to this day. The
head of the firm, Henry Gilbert, died in
1887, and the business of the large and
growing establishment devolved upon
Spencer c. Gilbert, who about three
years ago took into active partnership
with him, his son, Henderson Gilbert,
who had for some time before that been
identified with its interests
Extended Credit to Pennsy
From time to time, as the demand
arose, the large store was increased in
size until now it occupies all the floors
of the large building, extending back
to Blackberry street. The firm has, be-
sides the Market street store rooms, its
own warehouse, siding and stables. An
interesting feature of the anniversary is
a display of the old books and docu-
ments pertaining to the history of the
firm which are on exhibition in the Mar
ket street show window.
One of the incidents in the history OF
the firm is that it sold the first bill of
MIA railroad from Harrisburg to Pitts
mia railroad from arrisburg to Pitts
burgh, the bill consisting of saws, axes,
ETC., to blaze the way for the engineers
engaged in running the line.
When Henry Gilbert sold this bill of
goods to the men engaged in pushing
the railroad project, he was told by one
of the pullbacks in the community that
he would never be paid for the goods, as
the Pennsylvania railroad would never
be built. Later on another man put his
head in the store door and called out:
Has the Pennsylvania railroad
credit here?"-
The elder Gilbert answered that it
had.
IN glad of it, said the man, "it
is the only place it has any credit"
Helped Pennsylvania Steel Co.
Henry Gilbert had faith in the rail
road project and was confident it would
win, and time showed his wisdom. He
also had faith in the establishment of
the Pennsylvania steel works in Steelton.
a telegram now displayed in the win
dow announces that the site had been
obtained and that certain people were
ready to take 100000 worth of stock.
1t is the original, signed by Mr.. Gilbert
and j. Donald Cameron. The firm has
been identified with many moves made
in the last three-quarters of a century
that looked for the progress of Har-
risburg.
Many kilograms and letters were re-
ceived by the firm members to-day from
friends in many parts of the State ten
dering congratulations During the day
many friends called in person to ex
tend good wishes.