Herrmann Aukam & Co A Legacy of Handkerchief Manufacturing

Founded in 1906, Herrmann-Aukam & Co. emerged as a key player in the world of handkerchief manufacturing, setting up its base in New York with factories in places like Lebanon, PA, Belfast, Ireland, and South River, NJ. Their property in South River was a sizable, industrious hub: a sprawling 128,000 square feet across five interconnected brick buildings, with two and a half acres of open land. There was even a railroad shed served by the Raritan River Railroad, linking it to the Central Railroad of New Jersey and creating a critical route for distribution.

Originally, Herrmann-Aukam had acquired their first mill in 1882, and soon after, they began producing handkerchiefs in full force. Their products ranged from plain and hemstitched white handkerchiefs to the distinctive blue and red bandannas that became favorites among workers and mechanics. The company invested heavily in state-of-the-art upgrades, including a new power plant and Swiss embroidery machines. These machines allowed them to add intricate touches like scalloped edges and elegant corner designs, embellishments that became hallmarks of their brand.

Over the years, they expanded their facilities to keep up with the growing demand. In 1890, two additional three-story wings were added to the South River plant. The Water Street wing housed embroidery machines and a department for making shipping boxes, while the Whitehead Avenue wing provided extra space for sewing and hemstitching. The top floor was devoted to the handkerchief folding department—a simple but essential part of the production. Later, they added more floors to create room for pressing and additional embroidery machines to meet increasing orders.

Herrmann-Aukam’s handkerchiefs were shipped daily to major cities like New York and Philadelphia. Their reputation for quality and fine craftsmanship meant their products were constantly in demand. The initials "H.A." became a respected symbol of high-quality, well-made handkerchiefs, embodying the company’s dedication to excellence that kept them busy year-round.

For years, Herrmann-Aukam & Co. wasn’t just a factory in South River—it was a lifeline for the community. The handkerchief maker provided steady work to residents, from stitching and embroidering to more home-based tasks like clipping loose threads and scalloping edges. Many families earned extra income by picking up bundles of handkerchiefs to work on at home. For a time, this home-based work created a thriving cottage industry in the area, allowing residents of South River and nearby Sayreville to support themselves through the factory’s high demand.

But behind the scenes, life at Herrmann-Aukam wasn’t always smooth. In 1918, after years of steady growth, the factory faced a turbulent period. That year, the Stitchers Union went on strike, demanding higher wages for the hundreds of workers who relied on the plant for their livelihoods. The strike escalated into a riot, leaving two workers dead and pushing tensions to a breaking point. When the strike ended, Herrmann-Aukam’s leadership made the drastic decision to close the plant rather than negotiate further with the union. The shutdown left around 800 workers without jobs and brought an end to an era for the South River facility.

The history of Herrmann-Aukam’s South River plant also reveals the harsh realities of early factory life. Reports indicate that the company employed young children, some as young as ten, for long hours at minimal pay—practices that were illegal even then. When inspectors from New York City visited, children were reportedly hidden in large crates until the coast was clear.

Following the factory’s closure, Herrmann-Aukam attempted a fresh start by launching Herrmann Embroidery Works in other locations around town. Initially, they set up in the Benzinger Building and later moved to Gordon Street, and eventually to Tanners Corners. This new venture kept part of the handkerchief-making tradition alive, albeit on a smaller scale, as the company tried to adapt to changing times.

Herrmann-Aukam’s story in South River is a reminder of how factories shaped entire communities. For many, it was a place of opportunity and hard work, but also one of struggle and sacrifice, reflecting both the pride and the challenges of early American industry.

In the 1890s, Herrmann-Aukam & Co. didn’t just establish a factory; they built a community. On what was then Herrmann Avenue (now Herman Street), the company constructed a row of modest houses for their employees, offering affordable housing to workers within walking distance of their jobs. Additional houses were built on Whitehead Avenue, and for decades, these homes symbolized the close-knit nature of factory life in South River. In 1938, the company decided to auction off the employee homes, marking an end to this unique arrangement. A sales brochure noted that the South River Spinning Company, which took over some of Herrmann-Aukam’s properties, no longer needed these houses.

Fast forward to 2012, and some of these historic homes faced severe damage during Hurricane Sandy, leaving a mark on this part of South River. Today, as of November 2024, the houses still stand but are slated for demolition under the Blue Acres program, which aims to clear flood-prone areas to prevent future devastation. Though their days are numbered, these houses remain a link to a time when Herrmann-Aukam’s factory and the community around it thrived together.

The handkerchief company itself went by several names over the years, sometimes called Herrmann-Aukman & Co. Handkerchief Manufacturers, and its story has become an integral part of South River’s heritage. For anyone looking to explore the company’s history and see photographs of the factory and its workers, the resource Shot Down Like Dogs offers a deeper dive into the life and legacy of Herrmann-Aukam & Co., capturing the struggles, resilience, and lasting impact of this once-bustling enterprise.

After Herrmann-Aukam & Co. shut its doors in 1918, the factory found a new purpose under the ownership of Sidney Blumenthal & Co., which transformed it into a silk mill. Operating as the South River Spinning Company, Blumenthal bought the property for nearly $350,000, a considerable sum for the time. From 1919 through the early 1930s, this plant continued to hum with activity as it contributed to the thriving silk industry. But in 1934, Blumenthal’s South River Spinning Company moved its operations to Buffalo, NY, leaving the complex once again in search of purpose.

Over the decades, the former Herrmann-Aukam buildings became home to a mix of companies, adapting to the changing needs of the area. The building’s third floor briefly housed the Continental Briar Pipe Company in 1934. Later tenants included companies like Alleda Sportswear Inc., Ideal Garment Co., and Liberty Cork Co., among others, as the factory evolved into a multi-tenant space. The diverse tenants ranged from garment makers to an inflatable boat company, showcasing the adaptability of the old mill.

However, the factory’s long history took a devastating turn in 1969. Drums of chemicals, illegally stored in a nearby abandoned railroad depot, ignited and caused a massive explosion. The flames quickly spread to the former Herrmann-Aukam buildings, reducing much of the complex to rubble in what was recorded as South River’s worst fire. The fire displaced the last remaining tenants, including Liberty Cork Co. and three garment manufacturers, forcing them to relocate. By 1970, the factory had become vacant, and it would remain largely abandoned for years.

In a tragic twist, nearly 54 years later, the remnants of the Herrmann-Aukam complex were once again consumed by fire. On June 14, 2023, the site was hit by a six-alarm blaze, which engulfed multiple structures, including a J.M. Ahle Co. warehouse, an office building, and two vacant homes nearby. This final blaze marked the end of a building that had seen over a century of history, from its days as a bustling handkerchief factory to its years as a vacant, haunting relic of South River’s industrial past.

By the time I arrived at the old Herrmann-Aukam site, the damage was already done. The massive fire had ravaged the historic buildings—a blaze that tore through the former embroidery department and part of the handkerchief building. It was unsettling to know I’d missed the chance to see these remnants of South River’s past before fire swept away more of the factory’s legacy. But as I explored what was left—the handkerchief building and boiler room—I finally got a sense of the scale and story of the place.

Studying the Sanborn maps afterward filled in some gaps, revealing that several structures had been cleared over the years. Gone were the pump house, the auto garage, the trestle, and the once-active freight depot with its annex. Yet, the tracks that once delivered materials to the mill were still in place, a quiet reminder of the site’s busy industrial days.

One detail on the maps especially caught my eye: a pond or reservoir once mapped in detail alongside an unnamed brook. However, on my visit, I found no sign of any water feature. Perhaps it was filled in over time, a hidden layer of history now buried beneath the ground. And then there were the surrounding tracts of land, once filled with homes built for factory workers. Many of those homes still stand today, likely without their current occupants knowing their link to the factory’s history.

Even though the fire had taken much, what was left of the Herrmann-Aukam property allowed me to piece together a vivid picture of the past—a past woven into the fabric of South River and still faintly visible for those who look closely.

Sources:

1. n.a. (n.d.). (Selover's Herrmann, Aukam & Co History). Herrmann-Aukam and Company.

2. n.a. (1919, October 23). (Shifts in New Jersey Industries Indicated By Sales of Manufacturing Space). NYTimes.

3. Bartz, S., Armstrong, B., Whitehead, N. (2015). South River. United States: Arcadia Publishing. pp.69-73.

4. Loyer, S. (2023, June 14). (Massive South River fire under investigation). Yahoo News.

5. Herrmann Aukam Company Photo Album. South River Historical & Preservation Society.

6. Sanborn Map Company. Insurance maps of South River, Middlesex County, New Jersey (Sheet 8). [TIFF]. New York : Sa: Sanborn Map Company, 1910. Retrieved from https://maps.princeton.edu/catalog/princeton-zw12z7417