| Notes |
- Veteran Tailor 70—
If This Were Feb. 29
J. A. Haerle, last of Boonville’s old time tailors is 70 years old today – or was 70 years old yesterday – or sometime in between! For he was born Feb. 29, in the leap year of 1884.
Mrs. Haerle surprised her husband yesterday evening with a party marking his anniversary. There were 37 relatives and friends present.
Because of this accident of birth he has had only 16 birthday anniversaries during the 70 years. Not only has he had to wait during periods of four years for an anniversary but at one time he was cheated even of the fourth year event. That was when the calendar moved through 1900. For though 1900 was 16 years after his birth year it was not a leap year, the rule being that the year that is divisible for 100 is not a leap year unless it is also divisible by 400. So Haerle had no anniversary between 1896 and 1904.
He was born in Boonville at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Haerle, Sr., who lived in a house at the foot of Main Street hill where the Standard Service Station now stands.
His father was a tailor here before the Civil War, and his brother Louis, also became a tailor. When Jacob Haerle, Sr., died, Jacob Jr., apprenticed of his brother Louis. The shop was upstairs in the building whose ground floor is now occupied by Lammers Barber Shop on Morgan Street.
It was in 1905 that Haerle began his apprenticeship. At different times he worked there with the late John Stammerjohn and the late Clarence Diringer. A tailor-made suit which would cost about $75 or $80 now was made in those days for $30, Haerle says.
After working at this trade for ten years, Haerle tried other lines going back to tailoring in 1921 when he took over the tailor shop at the Missouri Training School for Boys. Except for a short absence during a change of administration he has been at the school since. During that period that he was not at the Training school he worked three years at Kemper Military School as tailor.
He has been continuously in charge of the tailor shop at the Training School since 1941 – thirteen years in October. Before that he served 12 years at the school, making 25 years of tailoring at the school.
The tailor shop today is far removed from the shop of his early days. There is no handwork, even buttons are sewed on by machinery, and buttonholes worked by machinery. The shop force usually consists of 12 boys aged 14 to 17. Under the supervision of Haerle and Mrs. Haerle who assists in the shop half of each day, the boys turn out many supplies for the school.
The workclothes, shirts, jackets, and coveralls for all the boys are made here. The shop also turns out drapes, curtains, window shades, sheets, pillow cases, table cloths, raincoats, gymnasium pads, gymnasium shorts, divan covers, and other such articles needed n equipping the school.
All clothing and personal supplies needed by new boys are requisitioned through the shop, and when the boy leaves, he is dressed out in clothing stocked at the shop.
The shop is well lighted. The floor is covered with linoleium. There is an electric water cooler, and a big exhaust fan. Stock is stored up stairs, and also downstairs.
Mr. and Mrs. Haerle were married Dec. 5, 1905, and will observe their golden wedding anniversary nest year. She was Miss Martha Deuel before their marriage. They have three children, all of Boonville, Fred D. Haerle, W. R. Haerle, and Mrs. W. L. Willers
Newspapers: Boonville Weekly Advertiser, Boonville, Cooper County, MO, Obituary, Of Andrew Quint - 12 Sep 1902.
|
1836 - 1905 (69 years)
[2] 
