Cigar Factories

Growing up at 1405 College Avenue, I had heard about a cigar factory that used to be over on Park Avenue, but I never got to see it, if it even existed anymore in the 1970s. 

John Stoffel Cigar Factory, 422 Main Street Celebrating 60th Anniversary [The Racine Journal-Times, New Year Edition, December 31, 1935] Gustav H. Baumgardt, successor to John and Albert Stoffel, together with the employes of the John Stoffel Cigar Factory are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the concern. John Stoffel founded the cigar business in 1876. Cigar brands such as "Rosebud," "Snowflake," and "Little Caledonia," manufactured by John Stoffel, were exceedingly popular in those days. John Stoffel's son, Albert, started working in the factory as a boy, and upon the death of the founder in 1917, took over the active management of the factory. Albert J. Stoffel passed away on August 14, 1932. It was then that Gustav H. Baumgardt, who had worked continuously for the firm since 1893, absorbed the interest of the Stoffel heirs, and became sole owner. The Belle City cigar and the Wisconsin Club House manufactured by him (and made in Racine by Racine labor), are two of the most popular cigars sold in Racine. It is interesting to note Mr. Baumgardt has just completed his 42nd year of continuous association with the John Stoffel Cigar factory.
John Stoffel Cigar Factory, 422 Main Street Celebrating 60th Anniversary
[The Racine Journal-Times, New Year Edition, December 31, 1935]
Gustav H. Baumgardt, successor to John and Albert Stoffel, together with the employes of the John Stoffel Cigar Factory are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the concern. John Stoffel founded the cigar business in 1876. Cigar brands such as “Rosebud,” “Snowflake,” and “Little Caledonia,” manufactured by John Stoffel, were exceedingly popular in those days. John Stoffel’s son, Albert, started working in the factory as a boy, and upon the death of the founder in 1917, took over the active management of the factory. Albert J. Stoffel passed away on August 14, 1932. It was then that Gustav H. Baumgardt, who had worked continuously for the firm since 1893, absorbed the interest of the Stoffel heirs, and became sole owner. The Belle City cigar and the Wisconsin Club House manufactured by him (and made in Racine by Racine labor), are two of the most popular cigars sold in Racine. It is interesting to note Mr. Baumgardt has just completed his 42nd year of continuous association with the John Stoffel Cigar factory.
This is the John Stoffel cigar factory on the second floor at 422 Main St. in April 1935. The photo was submitted by Lynn Mueller of 1521 Harrington Drive, whose grandfather, Gustav Baumgardt, is the man at left. Baumgardt, who died in 1964, was Racine's last cigar maker. He began working for Stoffel at age 13.
Looking back at the John Stoffel Cigar Factory from March 30, 1991, Racine Journal Times.
Death Summons Albert J. Stoffel, 56, Well Known as Manufacturer of Cigars. Racine Journal Time, August 15, 1932.
Death Summons Albert J. Stoffel, 56, Well Known as Manufacturer of Cigars. Racine Journal Time, August 15, 1932.
## WELL KNOWN CIGAR MANUFACTURER DIES **JOHN STOFFEL PASSES AWAY SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER LONG ILLNESS; WAS FORMER MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL.** --- John Stoffel, former city official, prominent cigar manufacturer and one of the oldest and most prominent men in the north part of the city, passed away between 10 and 11 o'clock Saturday night at his home, **1436 North Erie street**. For more than two years Mr. Stoffel had been ill and owing to an attack of diabetes was obliged to undergo an operation. From that time he gradually became worse until death ended his sufferings. John Stoffel was born in Racine, **April 10, 1855**, and was a son of Nicholas J. and Juliana Marie (Schmidt) Stoffel, who were pioneer German settlers of the city. ### Educated in Parochial School. Deceased was educated in the German Lutheran school and at an early age he was employed in one of the local sash, door and blind factories. Seven years later he was engaged with the J. I. Case Threshing Machine company. With the money he saved in the employ of this concern he embarked in the business of cigar manufacturing and organized the **John Stoffel Cigar factory**, and for more than forty-two years he conducted the concern which grew to be the largest in Racine. He built his own plant on North Erie street and employed from eighteen to twenty-five men. It is equipped with the very latest machinery. Besides being a manufacturer, Mr. Stoffel engaged more or less in the real estate business. ### Married Over Forty Years. Forty-three years ago, in 1874, Mr. Stoffel was married to Miss Anna Christianson. Nine children were born to this couple, five of whom are living. Albert, who was associated in business with his father; Ida, Elma, who died at the age of sixteen; Mattie, deceased wife of Archie Langlois; Louise, wife of Alexander H. Anderson; John, a resident of Detroit, Mich.; and Lena, wife of Herbert Warner. Besides the widow and five children, there also survives to mourn his death, one sister, Mrs. August Leicht and two brothers, Alderman Peter Stoffel and Jacob Stoffel, Jr., member of the Park board. ### Prominent in Politics. Mr. Stoffel was always a Republican and always interested in the public welfare of the municipality and for two terms he was a member of the city council from the Fourth ward. He was one of the first officials to agitate the question of securing of a police patrol and after the measure was passed he and other supporters thereof purchased a team of horses, which were used on the patrol wagon for fourteen years. There never was a worthy project for the uplift of the city that he did not support and his influence was always on the side of improvement and progress. He was one of the charter members of the Traveling Men's Protective association and no one was better known in commercial circles, enjoying the confidence and good will of his colleagues and contemporaries. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock from the house. Interment will be in Mound cemetery.
John Stoffel, Well Known Cigar Manufacturer Dies. November 26, 1917.
April 18, 1954 Racine Sunday Bulletin looks back: BEWHISKERED BOWLERS — Muttonchops and handle bar mustaches on seven of its 14 members didn't keep the Villa Bowling Club from leading the pack in 1903-04 at the alleys on Eleventh and Villa Sts. Present day informants say the club was known as the Derby Bowling Club. All except one of the members have been identified. Left to right, top row, are Anthony Eckert, operator of a cigar factory on Villa St.; Nick Korzilius, an employe of the Jeffery Automobile works at Kenosha and uncle of Phil Korzilius, who aided in identifying the picture; Jake Seidel, bartender at the tavern and bowling alley at Eleventh and Villa Sts.; William Smith, an employe of the Racine Sattley Works and the P. J. Kohlman Co.; unidentified; Gust Cook, express wagon driver and a Mr. Poulson of the Klinkert Brewery. Bottom row, same order: John Peil, a moulder; William Weed, butcher shop operator at Eleventh and Villa Sts.; Claude Ketchman, Racine Sattley employe; James Peil, a moulder; Herman Krock, a mail carrier; a Mr. Mitchler, occupation unknown, and Peter J. Kohlman, operator of the P. J. Kohlman Co., soft drink firm.
April 18, 1954 Racine Sunday Bulletin looks back: BEWHISKERED BOWLERS — Muttonchops and handle bar mustaches on seven of its 14 members didn’t keep the Villa Bowling Club from leading the pack in 1903-04 at the alleys on Eleventh and Villa Sts. Present day informants say the club was known as the Derby Bowling Club. All except one of the members have been identified. Left to right, top row, are Anthony Eckert, operator of a cigar factory on Villa St.; Nick Korzilius, an employe of the Jeffery Automobile works at Kenosha and uncle of Phil Korzilius, who aided in identifying the picture; Jake Seidel, bartender at the tavern and bowling alley at Eleventh and Villa Sts.; William Smith, an employe of the Racine Sattley Works and the P. J. Kohlman Co.; unidentified; Gust Cook, express wagon driver and a Mr. Poulson of the Klinkert Brewery. Bottom row, same order: John Peil, a moulder; William Weed, butcher shop operator at Eleventh and Villa Sts.; Claude Ketchman, Racine Sattley employe; James Peil, a moulder; Herman Krock, a mail carrier; a Mr. Mitchler, occupation unknown, and Peter J. Kohlman, operator of the P. J. Kohlman Co., soft drink firm.
1427 Villa Street in June, 2019. This was the cigar factory of Anthony Eckert in 1918.