Mount Union borough

Defrehn Chair Factory

In 1889, William DeFrehn and his sons arrived in Mount Union from Williamsport in Maryland to start a chair factory. A flood had damaged their establishment back home. They bought the old tannery that R. J. Faust had dismantled and converted it to their factory. Seven sons worked in the business: Robert, William Jr., Edward, Charles, Frank, Augustus, and George.

Thousands of fine quality chairs of various styles were sent from this place to various parts of the country, the 1909 history records. The factory occupied the western edge of town along the old line of the Pennsylvania Railroad. In February 1892, fire destroyed the building, but they rebuilt. The DeFrehn brothers left for Johnstown in 1898, though others operated the plant afterward.

Did your family sit in one of those chairs? Did they work at the factory? We would like to hear what you remember.

What the fact check confirmed and changed. Published without a source list. Every claim has now been read against Welch's 1909 history and holds, including the seven sons by name and the fire, which Welch dates precisely to 20 February 1892. Welch also names the flood: the June 1889 flood at Williamsport, Maryland, which is why they came. One correction: the post placed the factory on "the Pennsylvania Railroad siding" and Welch says "along the old line of the P. R. R." Checked 1 September 2026. The post placed the factory on "the Pennsylvania Railroad siding". Welch's 1909 history says it stood "along the old line of the P. R. R.", which is a different thing. Corrected to the source. 1 September 2026.

Sources

Charles Howard Welch, History of Mount Union, Shirleysburg and Shirley Township (1909), "The Chair Factory": William DeFrehn and sons came from Williamsport, Md. in the fall of 1889 after the June flood damaged their works there; bought R. J. Faust's dismantled tannery; the building burned 20 February 1892 and was rebuilt; the DeFrehns went to Johnstown in 1898 and W. H. Moudy ran the plant after them; the seven sons are named.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Historic Mount Union collection

← All stories from Mount Union borough