City Directories and History: C. D. FRANKE BUILDING
Constructed 1908; rehabilitated 1974; John D. Newcomer, architect
Delivering transportation supplies to rural stores all across S.C.
“The C. D. Franke Company, carriage makers and formerly suppliers of gun carriages, bought this block extending to Church Street in 1905. Then controlled by Emil Jahnz, the company built its large factory at 171 Church Street and this three-story, pressed brick building as its showroom and office by 1908. The window surrounds, flat on the second story and segmentally arched on the third, harmonize with the pressed-metal pedimented entablature giving the Franke name and dates. The entablature and parapet were heavily damaged in Hurricane Hugo in 1989 but fully restored by the present owner afterward.”
Information from: The Buildings of Charleston – J.H. Poston for the Historic Charleston Foundation, 1997
The Jahnz Company was conducting business throughout S.C. and its officers in 1928 included: Julius H. Jahnz, E.J. Cappermann, J. H. Jahnz, Jr., and George W. Bowers.
Other sources of interest: Charleston Tax Payers of Charleston, SC in 1860-61 and the Dwelling Houses of Charleston by Alice R.H. Smith – 1917 The HCF may also have additional data at: Past Perfect and further research can be uncovered at: Charleston 1861 Census Schedule or The Charleston City Guide of 1872
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