a.k.a.
Enterprise Architectural and Ornamental Iron Works & Foundry;
Scherpe & Koken Architectural Iron Company; Koken Iron Works
Location: St. Louis, MO
- South 8th St. and Park Ave.
- Manchester Road, Chouteau Ave. & Missouri Pacific Railway
Timeline:
- 1870 · Scherpe, Koken & Graden
- 1880 · Koken, Graydon & Co.
- 1888 · Scherpe-Koken Architectural Iron Co.
- 1892-1912 · Koken Iron Works
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Common Seal of the
City of St. Louis |
1890 ad (eBay) |
Illuminated Cover |
History:
- John F. Scherpe and William T. Koken
- "SCHERPE & KOKEN ARCHITECTURAL IRON COMPANY.—Iron
Works and Foundry, Park avenue, South Eighth and Barry streets. (John
F. Scherpe, President and Treasurer; William T. Koken, Vice-President
and General Manager.) Manufacturers of every description of iron
work required in buildings and structures (from the stately modern
office block, fire-proof, and towering twelve or fourteen stories
in height to the unpretentious village store front). The management
of this Company early recognized the important place of iron work
in all modern architecture and from the start adapted their plant,
with its many subsequent additions and improvements to the exclusive
manufacture of that class of work on a large and economical scale;
and now their works are one of the largest and best equipped in
that line west of the Alleghenies, and fully capable of meeting all
demands that may be made, in the way of prompt execution of orders
and most satisfactory fulfillment of every requirement in contracts
for beauty in ornamental and artistic finish as well as for strength
and reliability of materials used.
The business of this Company has steadily grown, till now its
products may be seen in every State and Territory west to California
and south to Old Mexico, each and every one of them standing as a
lasting tribute to the excellence of their work and showing also that
their methods of doing business are being recognized and appreciated.
Their manufactures include store fronts, girders, lintels, caps,
sills, balconies, verandas, fence railings, roof crestings, shutters
and doors, jail and vault work, stable fittings, gates, stairs,
fire escapes, etc., etc., in an endless variety of styles. They also
make a specialty of patent illuminating tiles (Hyatt's & Concrete)
for sidewalk areas, skylights and floor lights, in short everything
in the way of cast or wrought iron work, structural and ornamental,
that is used for building of any description.
Their valuable illustrated catalogue should be in the hands of every
one interested in building, it is a very handsome cloth bound book
containing much valuable imformation for the building trade, and is
mailed free on application."
—Commercial and Architectural St. Louis, 1888
- "The Scherpe & Koken Architectural Iron Company, whose great
factory and works are conveniently situated on the Missouri Pacific
railroad and old Manchester road, and whose offices and warerooms are
located in the Granite Building at the corner of Fourth and Market
streets, is one of the strongest and most thoroughly representative
firms in this interesting and delicate line in St. Louis. Possessed of
ample resources, the capital being 100,000, and perfected facilities,
they have secured the patronage of our leading architects, etc.,
and enjoy a high reputation for the style and elegance of their
work. Their premises at Chouteau avenue cover an area of six
acres, and are equipped with a 150 horse power steam engine, and
all the necessary appliances for the successful prosecution of
the industry. 250 hands are constantly employed, among whom the
most perfect organization is observable, and over every detail the
energetic officers exercise a close personal supervision. Mr. John
F. Scherpe is the president and treasurer; Mr. F. C. Schventhaler,
assistant manager, and
Mr. A. G. Fish, secretary, all gentlemen of
great prominence in business and financial circles, and experienced in
all the processes of the iron working manufacture. Among the contracts
executed by this establishment, may be mentioned the Jefferson avenue
bridge, the Connecticut Mutual Life building, the American Central
building, Cotton Exchange building, Globe Democrat Printing Company's
building, U. S. Custom House building, Houser building, Boatmen's Bank
building and the well-known Laclede building, erected at a cost of
500,000. This line embraces all kinds of ornamental and structural
wrought and cast iron work, such as columns, store fronts, beams,
girders, roof trusses, doors, shutters, cornices, arches, railings,
area and sky lights, balconies, straps and bolts. In fact, any and
all kinds of iron work used in buildings, bridges, etc., many of the
articles being distinguished by extreme beauty of design and finish,
exhibiting the highest degree of artistic merit as well as reliability
as to strength and durability. The trade from this center extends to
all parts of the United States, and has, during recent years, assumed
such proportions and been characterized by such annual increases,
as to excite the most hopeful anticipations for a prosperous and
brilliant future. They solicit correspondence and mail a beautiful
catalogue free upon application, and those who have anything in their
line we would advise calling for estimates before placing orders."
—Pen and sunlight sketches of Saint Louis: The Commercial
Gateway to the South (1892) via
Albert Gieseler
- "W. T. Koken, who recently sold out his interest in the Scherpe
& Koken Architectural Iron Company to John F. Scherpe, has now
purchased the entire plant and Mr. Scherpe retires. Mr. Koken has
been elected president of the concern, which will continue under the
old name. This concern is well known throughout the entire country,
and the friends and patrons of the company will be glad to hear that
Mr. Koken has returned."
—The Iron Age,
Volume 49, 1892
- "OBITUARY. WILLIAM T. KOKEN. William T. Koken, president of the
Koken Realty Company, and formerly president of the Koken Iron Works,
St. Louis, died suddenly January 3. Mr. Koken was 50 years old. All
of his life was passed in St. Louis. In 1870 the firm of Scherpe,
Koken & Graden were formed. They were succeeded by the Scherpe
& Koken Iron Works. He made a fortune in the business and about
a year ago disposed of his interest in the Koken Iron Works."
—Iron Age,
Volume 67, 1901
- "William T. Koken's Death. On Thursday evening, the 4th inst.,
while engaged in bowling in the alleys at Ninth and Allen Avenue,
Mr. William T. Koken, one of the founders of the Koken Iron Works, on
Old Manchester Road and the Missouri Pacific Railroad, died suddenly
while in the heat of the game. His old comrades and fellow players
for years were astounded at the suddenness with which the summons
came. A physician was called at once when Mr. Koken complained of
being seriously ill, but it was too late—the vital spark had
fled. The friends of the dead man broke the news at once to his
wife and children, who were almost prostrated by the heart-breaking
information. It is but a few weeks since Mr. Koken and his wife
returned from a trip to Europe, and in a few days he intended to
go to Arizona to look after some important business interests in
that section. The iron works which he in connection with others
founded twenty-seven years ago is one of the best known in this
section and has constantly grown with each succeeding year. Several
years ago Mr. Koken disposed of a portion of his interest, since
Albert G. Fish
VP, Koken Iron Works
Herman Stoffregen.
Sec., Koken Iron Works
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which time Mr. Hermann Stoffregen, the secretary, has been the active
manager, but Mr. Koken was the president of the company. He was also
president of the Koken Realty Company, and was a member of the Union
Club and other well known organizations."
—Iron and Machinery World,
Volume 89, 1901
- "KOKEN IRON WORKS. Bell Linden 681, 1460. Kinloch C318, B1400.
The origin of the Koken Iron Works dates back to 1880, in which year
(on the first of January) the firm of Koken, Graydon & Co., opened
workshops on the southeast corner of Eighth street and Park avenue,
for the manufacture of architectural iron. Here they remained till
1888, when they removed to the present location bounded by the
Old Manchester road, Chouteau avenue and Missouri Pacific Railroad
tracks. The name of the firm was changed at the same time to the
Scherpe-Koken Architectural Iron Co., which was incorporated
in 1888 by John S. Scherpe, Wm. T. Koken and Chas. W. Koppen. The
incorporation of the present firm took place in 1893, and the officers
of the company at that time were Wm. T. Koken, President; A. G. Fish,
Vice-President, Herman Stoffregan, Secretary and Treasurer, who also
constituted the Board of Directors. Besides these there were five
other stockholders interested in the company and all actively engaged
in one or the other department. The product of the establishment
consists in structural and ornamental iron and steel work for buildings
and bridges; the various shops, and especially those of the bridge
department recently added, are equipped with the newest and most
approved tools and machinery all driven by electricity. This and all
other modern facilities which can be made useful, enable the company
to execute even the biggest contract with great promptness. Every
department is superintended over by gentlemen possessing a thorough
scientific and practical knowledge of all the details involved; this
fact, combined with the use of only the best material, superior
workmanship and a close scrutiny of all the work performed by from
300 to 400 skilled mechanics, gives the output of this vast concern
the enviable reputation, which it enjoys. The territory of sales
extends West to the Rocky Mountains, North to Montana, North Dakota
and the Lakes, East to Ohio, West Virginia and Georgia, and South to
the Gulf of Mexico. The plant is the most extensive of its kind this
side of Pennsylvania covering an area of six acres of land on the
Missouri Pacific Railroad line with switching connections to every
railroad coming to St. Louis. The general offices of the company are
housed in one of the factory buildings, but the contracting office is
located in the Koken Building, 715 Locust street, close to the General
Post-Office and Custom House, right in the center of the business
district of the city. After the death of Mr. Koken and the retirement
of Mr. Stoffregen from active business, the proprietorship was changed
and the officers of the company are now as follows: Mr. F. J. Llewellyn,
President; Mr. F. T. Llewellyn, Vice-President, and Mr. G. H. Frederick,
Secretary." —Mercantile, industrial and professional Saint Louis,
1902
- "American Bridge Company. American Bridge has fabricated and
erected the steel for a major portion of the world's greatest bridges
and tallest buildings. The American Bridge Company was incorporated
in 1900 by J. P. Morgan as a consolidation of twenty-eight bridge
companies, representing eighty-percent of the structural steel
fabricating capacity of the United States. The following year Morgan
folded ownership of the American Bridge Company into his newly formed
United States Steel Company in the form of a subsidiary. Four other
bridge companies were purchased and added to the firm over the years
and included the Toledo Bridge Company in 1901, the Detroit Bridge
and Iron Company in 1902, the Koken Iron Works of St. Louis in 1912
and the Virginia Bridge and Iron Company of Roanoke in 1936."
—New Hampshire Historic Property Documentation
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