About Us:
A
good craftsman could shape a ring, repair a clock
or watch, or fix a pair of spectacles.
P.L.
Casebeer and J. P. Statler established the first local
jewelry store in 1889 in conjunction with an optometry
department. The store occupied the center storeroom
of the Frease Building along Main Street in uptown
Somerset, until recently, the location of the J. J.
Newberry's Store.
In
1914, the partnership of Casebeer and Statler dissolved
and Statler began his business at another location. Prior
to 1914, Mr. Casebeer hired a young man named Harvey
E. Stahl, who later trained at the Bowman Technical
School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He mastered
the watch making, jewelry, and engraving trades. Just
a few years later Harvey Stahl became Casebeer's partner
in the business. This partnership continued
until the late 1920's.
In
1929, the partners journeyed to Lancaster to recruit
a student at the Bowman Technical School.
They were both impressed by a young man named Harris G.
Decima.
Casebeer hired Harris who was only 18 at the time. Then,
in 1937, Harold E. Lafferty also joined the firm upon his
graduation from Somerset High School.
In
1941 the Stahl's Jewelry was relocated to its present
address of 121 North Center Avenue.
Harvey
Stahl "retired" in 1948 and sold the business
to Harris Decima, a short time later Harvey decided
to come out of retirement and repurchased the store
from Harris. Then in 1958 Harvey retired for
good and Stahl's Jewelry was sold to Harris Decima
and Harold Lafferty.
During
these years, and into the late 1970's, Stahl's Jewelry
was the official Baltimore and Ohio watch inspection
station where Baltimore and Ohio employees were compelled
to have their timepieces inspected bi-monthly and
then monthly. Their timepieces were checked
with the fine master clock which to this day still
stands as a traditional piece of the Stahl's Jewelry
firm.
In
1964, after graduation from Bowman Technical School,
Carl H. Keiser joined the firm, and later in 1966,
purchased part of the business from Harris Decima. Harris,
later in 1968, retired and the owners became Harold
Lafferty and Carl Keiser.
In
1971, Gary G. Thomas started working for Stahl's Jewelry
and then in 1978 James R.
"Bob" Suter began working for Stahl's, having
also come from Bowman Technical School.
Then,
in 1982, Harold Lafferty retired and sold the business
to Carl Keiser, Gary Thomas and Bob Suter, and it
remained that partnership until the end of 2001.
In
1990, C. Jeffrey (Jeff) Keiser started at Stahl's
after graduation from Bowman Technical School, one
of the last graduating classes at Bowman's before
its doors closed for good.
Starting
in 2002, after Carl retired, the business became the
ownership of Gary Thomas, Bob Suter, and Jeff Keiser.
In
2009, Gary Thomas retired leaving the business with Bob
Suter, Jeff Keiser, and Penny Schrock.
Stahl's
Jewelry is owned and operated by community involved
people and also employs five people along with the
three partners.
Stahl's
Jewelry strives to ensure a very special customer
experience and always puts customer service first. |
