BECKER-HAZLETON COMPANY

Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

BECKER-HAZELTON COMPANY. C.H. Becker and H.S. Hazleton formed a crockery and glassware business in 1888, incorporated in Dubuque as the Becker-Hazleton Company in 1903. The firm grew rapidly after incorporation, importing and wholesaling its products throughout the Midwest.

         "One of the largest commercial institutions in the city 
         is that of Becker-Hazleton Company. The firm imports and 
         wholesales crockery, glassware, lamps and china fancy 
         goods. A large amount of wares are brought from England, 
         France, Germany, Austria and Japan. This firm is one of 
         the largest importers in the west, bringing the foreign 
         goods, which come in bond, directly from the European 
         and oriental countries. (A local newspaper account)

In 1911 the company's offices, store and warehouse were located at 537-545 Main Street. Duties on goods were paid in Dubuque, which was the port of entry, and collected at the DUBUQUE CUSTOM HOUSE AND POST OFFICE. Among the brands handled by the company were dinner ware from Johnson Brothers in England; English China from Stoke-on-Trent, England; and luncheon sets and other special service dishes. Domestic dinner ware generally came from Liverpool, Ohio where the largest potteries in America were located.

By 1914 the company had outgrown its four-story, 30,000-square-foot sales and storage building on Main Street. The partners commissioned Dubuque architect John Spencer to design a large warehouse near the tracks of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad on Iowa Street - the former site of the Dubuque City Mills (1847; 1861) and the Key City Barrel Company (c.1880).

Once the plans had been completed, competitive proposals for the building's construction were solicited; low bidder among the eight respondents, prominent Dubuque contractor ANTON ZWACK was awarded the contract. Zwack, who had completed the similar Dubuque Paper Company Warehouse four doors north earlier that year, began excavating for the foundations in the fall of 1914, and he completed the building for the reported cost of $70,000 the following year.

The 1951 Dubuque City Directory listed 280 Iowa as the address.

In 1959 the Becker-Hazelton Company was purchased by G. J. Hohnecker who established HOHNECKER'S in Dubuque.

Letterhead. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Company name on the bottom of china.

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Source:

Historic American Buildings Survey. memory.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/ia/ia0200/ia0289/.../ia0289data.pdf