Soon after the turn of the century a group of local businessmen banded together to bring a new industry to the borough of Lititz. They secured a large lot just to the west of the first block of North Cedar Street, bounded by the railroad on the north, Eby's Mill on the east, and Lititz Springs Creek on the south. They drew plans and blueprints for a one-story brick and stone factory building, with a two story office annex. They advertised their plans to the people of Lititz and the surrounding communities, who willingly responded by subscribing to a bond issue to finance the construction of the buildings. Within a few months the initial goal of S 100,000 had been reached, and the Consumers Box Board and Paper Company was chartered as a Pennsylvania corporation on 8 April 1905.
The original shareholders included P. J. Roebuck, E. E. Bruner, E. E. Weaver, G. A. Hoffman, A. L. Lane, C. B. Risser, and H. C. Seldomridge, all of whom comprised the Board of Directors, with Roebuck as president and Bruner as secretary, plus H. H. Gingrich, J. F. Stoner, and S. F. Glatfelter. All but Bruner and Glatfelter were Lititz residents.
Henry J. Pierson Plays an Important Role
While the announced intention of the Consumers Company was to manufacture both paper and boxboard from recycled paper boxes, newspapers, rags, and other waste materials, the expense of the machinery and processing required for the latter proved to be prohibitive. In 1909, four years after its chartering, Consumers was running a struggling paper mill which employed just a few dozen persons. That year saw the beginning of real growth and prosperity for the company, however, as Henry J. Pierson was brought in from Lambertville, New Jersey, to manage the operation. Already a successful manager of mills in Lambertville, Raubsville, Pennsylvania; and Penn Van, New York, Pierson gave to Consumers Company the benefit of his many years of experience. Under his guidance the business grew to become one of the leading industries in Lititz, running round-the-clock shifts in order to meet the demand for its products.
