| Albert Worel, Frank Zeman and Jacob Stangel are standing in front of the brick and wood-frame buildings of their York St. hardware store. The company's delivery horse, "Turk," is hitched up to take on a load. Standing at the front of the platform sleigh is the driver, Lewis J. Schroeder. Next in order on the sleigh are Frank Zeman, Elmer Dryer and Louis Wicke. Behind the sleigh, on the right, are Jacob J. Stangel and Frank Giese. In the doorway, behind the horse, are Albert Worel, Frank L. Stangel and Olivia Geisler. Located at 718-722 York Street, the buildings were connected to a storefront entrance at 205 N. 8th Street and operated under the ownership of the three partners from 1905-1917. In 1905, Worel, Zeman and Stangel formed a partnership and purchased the hardware establishment of Rand & Roemer. The new firm carried on as ship chandlers supplying the marine trade, stocked blacksmith's, farmer's and hunter's supplies, shelfware, tinware, graniteware, as well as doing contracting and installation work. A Feb. 28, 1905 advertisement in the "Manitowoc Daily Herald" states: "Store Now open for Business, Worel, Zeman & Stangel Co., at the old Rand & Roemer Stand (Corner Eighth and York Streets.) Now established with complete, large and new stock of hardware, building material and everything necessary to a first class hardware store." In 1917, Jacob J. Stangel left to establish his own hardware business on S. 8th and Quay Streets, the J.J. Stangel Hardware Co. |
