December 31, 1981 will close the door on a business that has been carried on for over 100 years. It has been in the Geis family since 1893, when John H. Geis, father of Robert Lee Geis, member of our Board of Directors, was able to purchase the business from the former owner.
This plant was originally located in Anne Arundel County, adjacent to South Baltimore before the city expanded and ultimately annexed the area.
The original small business was owned by Budesheim & Mewshaw, who apparently started a lumber & coal business about 1878. Franklin Mewshaw & Co., became the next successor and John H. Geis, was employed there about the year of 1887. He worked as a clerk and salesman.
About 5 years later, in 1893, John H. Geis was able to purchase the business from Franklin Mewshaw & Co. and he changed the name to Jno. H. Geis & Co. John H. Geis, expanded the original operation from a 1/4 acre lot and small shed, to approximately 4 acres located at the corner of Hanover Street and Chesapeake Avenue and he built the large frame lumber sheds, covering approximately 1 acre (now owned by Knipp & Co.). Later, in the 1920 decade, he built a 3 story brick mill to manufacture architectural custom woodwork. The business was then incorporated and known as Jno. H. Geis & Company, Inc.
John Henry Geis, was born on Dec. 12, 1863, in Brooklyn, A.A. Co., Md. He was the son of John Geis, immigrant from Germany (occupation-wheelwright) and Mary Katherine Stoll of Brooklyn, A.A. Co., Md.
John Henry Geis, married Sallie Shipley Hammond, who was the daughter of John Thomas Hammond and Camsadel Lucinda Shipley of A.A. Co. They were married in the Brooklyn Methodist Church, March 3, 1897 and to this union were born John Hammond Geis, Robert Lee Geis, Raymond Stoll Geis (died infant) and Margaret Katherine Geis. John Henry Geis bought a 107 acre farm from Dr. Hamilton in the Shipley area of Anne Arundel County and resided there in the summer. This was known as Andover Farm and the present Andover High School now occupies part of the farm. John Henry Geis died February 3, 1930.
John Hammond Geis, his eldest son, became President of Jno. H. Geis & Co., Inc. and carried on until his death in April of 1981. Since that time, Robert Lee Geis has been in the process of closing the business with the aid of Robert Hammond Geis, son of J. Hammond Geis. The lumber company had a fine reputation throughout the area it served. In later years it was one of the few mills equipped to mill the fine woodwork needed to match the old trimwork and doors and windows necessary in the restoration of many old homes both in this area and nearby states.
The company was very generous with both material and labor in the restoration of the Benson-Hammond house.
The building that housed the business is now on the market for sale. It is sad to see this fine old company come to close..
[... and immediately following in newsletter ...]Our heartfelt thanks go to all members and friends who so enthusiastically helped with the two flea markets. Both, at Severna Park and at the Benson- Hammond House, were great successes and the proceeds will give our treasury a big boost.
The Benson-Hammond House is still in need of a 30" electric stove (with oven) as well as other kitchen equipment. We also need carpets, especially for the library reading room.
Bob Geis, a faithful and devoted longtime member, has overwhelmed us with sufficient wooden book shelves to get our library off the ground, so to speak. His generousity knows no bounds and we will soon be shelving our holdings in fine style.
Many thanks to Mrs. Ann Stinchcomb for donating the wool for the laprobe that was so successfully raffled off at the flea market, and to Mrs. Leah Stroh for her time and trouble in making the laprobe.