The Gerberich-Payne Shoe Company was organized in October 1919 by Enos S. Gerberich and Frank Payne as the owners. In the fall of 1919, the construction of a four-story and basement building containing 36,000 square feet was begun at 240 West Main Street. It was competed in the fall of 1920. In 1925 a separate office building was erected and three years later an addition was added onto the factory.
From the company’s very beginning Mr. Gerberich felt that there was a place in the industry for a company that would limit its production to fine quality boy’s shoes. When they started manufacturing shoes the volume was 72 pairs per day. By 1924 the company was producing 2,000 pairs per day. One of the company’s specialties was the making of Boy Scout shoes. The opportunity happened in the early 1930’s when the company was asked to manufacture the Official Boy Scout Shoes. This one style brought worldwide acclaim to the company and it continued to manufacture them until after World War II. Then in 1971 the company was asked to make them again.
Enos Gerberich was president and manager and Frank Payne, treasurer. Mr. Gerberich’s two sons, Clyde and Grant entered the business in the 1920’s and they built eight homes on West Donegal Street for their workers. There had been a railroad bridge on Lumber Street, so the workers only had to walk east to Lumber Street- cross the bridge and turn west to the factory.
A typical day in the life of Mount Joy and its shoe factory workers included walking to work after hearing a morning whistle at 6:45 a.m. A second whistle was sounded at 7 a.m. to announce that it was time to work. Then a whistle blew at 12 noon and most of the employees walked home for lunch. After an hour’s lunch period a fourth whistle sounded at 1 p.m. and the employees walked back to work and stayed until 4 p.m.
The company’s direct selling policy had them selling shoes to New York stores such as Lord and Taylor and Macy’s; to a Philadelphia store such as Wanamakers; and to Bullocks in the state of California.
In 1954 Enos Gerberich died but the business was continued by his sons, Clyde and Grant. His grandsons Clyde Jr., and J. Richard also joined the operation.
In 1964 the company was sold to George Ecclesine and Harold Kilduff who were sales agents for the company in New York. The next transfer took place six years later when the Canon Shoe Company of Baltimore became the new owner. Finally, the once busy factory was idled in August, 1974. For the next 30 years the building was used to store airplane parts. Then it was vacant until the Mount Joy Senior Housing LP took on the big job of renovating the building and turning it into Senior Housing. It was a long process, but the revitalization of this Historic Property has really enhanced the ascetics of the downtown neighborhood.