Category:G C Aschbach & Company

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G. C. Aschbach & Co. was a music store in Allentown, PA. The store sold imported pianos and organs, sheet music, and also band instruments. Aschbach and his sons supplied most of the homes in the area with music, equipped early silent theaters with organs, and had much of the theatrical circut under his control.

The founder, Gerhard Charles Aschbach was born on January 15th 1855 in Allentown to German immigrant parents. He was educated in Allentown. In 1876, he opened his first music store at 810 Hamilton but about a year later, the store was moved to the basement of the Second National Bank building at 532 Hamilton. In 1886, Aschbach took over ownership of the Hagenbuch Opera House, Allentown's first theater and renamed it the Academy of Music. The building was remodeled and used as a ballroom. It also became known as Military Hall because the local militia used the space to perform drills. However Aschbach did not stay in the theater business long, as he sold it in 1888 to John Bowen who turned it into a grocery store.

Also in 1888, the G.C. Aschbach store again moved to the north side at the former Osmun & School building at 533 Hamilton. This was common as the north side of Hamilton was considered a more "prestige" address than the south side of the street.

The buisness continued to prosper, and in 1891 Aschbach purchased a four-story store at 539 Hamilton, next to the American Hotel. Aschbach brought his sons Gerhard Jr. and Adolph into the business in 1905. Gerhard Sr died on August 15th, 1913 and his sons took over from their father, renaming the business "Ashback Music House". Adolph passed in 1914 and Gerhard Jr took over as sole proprietor. In 1929 Gerhard retired and the business closed after 53 years.

After the business closed, the building went though a series of owners and businesses. Today the first floor is a pizza restaurant, the upper floors appear to be vacant.

Media in category "G C Aschbach & Company"

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