Hess and Hopkins, 1909 Catalog – Harness Varieties

Source: Hess and Hopkins Leather Co., 1909 Catalog, page 35

The Hess and Hopkins Leather Co., 1909 Catalog, 240 pages,  has 86 pages of harness varieties, 2 per page.  The products were known and sold worldwide. Established 1862. They were out of business in 1960 sold in 1961 to Hess and Hopkins Center, a newly formed storage company.  1101 Acorn St.

Fairground Housing Project was located on the property from 1969.

 

Hess and Hopkins Leather Co. – 1909, Catalog No. 11

240 pages.  Sold worldwide.  Company established 1862. Honest Leather Harness and Accessories. Harness, Saddles, Collars, Flynets, Chaps, Cheeks, Bridles, Cuffs, Halters, Hat Bands, Martingales, Coach Pads, Saddle Pockets, Stirrups, Spurs, Traces.

Hess and Hopkins Leather Co.,  Luther Hess, president; W T Anderson, v-pres and supt; F L Morgan, sec and genl mgr; G F Ehman, treas; 1101 Acorn St., Rockford, IL      Source:  1926 McCoy’s Rockford City Directory

Title Page, Catalogue Bo. 11

Texr under illustration Reads: “Birds Eye View of the Tannery, Harness, Collar, Fly Net, and Riding Saddle Factory of the Hess & Hopkins Leather Co., Rockford, ILL. Illustration made in 1907.”

Source: Catalogue donated by Dennis Reece, great-grandson of executive, who remembers the distinct odor of tanning process wafting over Fairgrounds Park when he was a child.

 

 

 

Hess and Hopkins Leather Co. – 1924

Hess and Hopkins Leather Co.

Source: Rockford Morning Star July 27 1924

Hess and Hopkins Leather Co., Luther M Hess, president;  William T Anderson, vice-president nnd Supt.; F L Morgan, sec and Gen. Manager; G F Ehman, treasurer. 1101 Acorn St. Source: 1925 McCoy’s Rockford City Directory

Rockford Industrial Athletic Association – R. I. A. A.

Rockford Industrial Athletic Association – R. I. A. A.

In the 1913 Factory League: Andrews Wire, Kurtz Action, Free Sewing Machine Company, Hess and Hopkins, Barber-Colman, and Trahern Pump Company

In the 1913 Commercial League: Rockford Malleable, Clark Manufacturing Company, Rockford Watch Company, Central Union Telephone, Printers, and Burson Knitting Company

Source: Rockford Morning Star, 08/13/1913, also in Rockford Public Library’s “Rockfordiana” files, “R. I. A. A.”

Church St., No., 704

Hopkins  704 N Church

Architect : David S. Schureman (by 1904), 704 No. Church St., original owner Theodore F. Hopkins and wife, Alice H., sec and treas Hess and Hopkins Leather Co., resides 704 N Church St.

Address currently (2014) the Rockford Municipal Employees’ Credit Union; formerly Social Security office.  In the 1969 city directory, no resident is shown at this address. In 1971, there was a building permit to Acme Home Improvement Co. for $4,000 for siding on this building.   In 1972,  Schirmer, Schirger, Graff and Berger, Ltd., law practice offices, are at this address. In 1974 and 1975 there were burglaries at the law offices.

 

 

Hess and Hopkins Leather Co.

Hess and Hopkins ad

“We use only Bark Tanned Leather in our Harness, Collars and Saddles”   ad, p 367, 1917 McCoy’s Rockford City Directory

Hess and Hopkins Leather Co., L M Hess pres A F Hopkins vpres F L Morgan sec and gen mgr G F Ehman treas 1101 Acorn st  Source: 1917 McCoy’s Rockford City Directory p 366