Akron, Ohio's Fishing Tackle History: Volume I: Early Companies

By Kevin Virden

In 1825, Akron, Ohio was formed from the backs of workers who labored intensely to dig the Ohio Erie Canal system. After completion, the Ohio Erie Canal formed the basis of transporting goods and cargo within the state until the arrival of the railroad industry. As Akron grew, the town experienced slow growth for many years, but by the late 1800s, it was a thriving metropolitan community. During this rise from obscurity, new members brought their business ideas. One such family was the Pfluegers. Led by Ernest F. Pflueger, the family moved to Akron and soon thereafter went into the grocery industry providing quality products for citizens in the late 1860s. Their enterprise, establish in 1869 quickly expanded. As they were not held back by competition, they stepped into the fishing tackle industry which at that time in the 1880s, was very small, but growing. Ernest and his family expanded upon offerings and quickly became one of the country's foremost fishing tackle manufacturers and suppliers in the United States. Their story is included in this first of three volumes on Akron fishing tackle history. It includes the backstory of the founding father of the company, E.F. Pflueger, how he got started, the products he developed, and the trials he faced while managing the Enterprise Manufacturing Company, better known as Pflueger's. After his passing shortly after the turn of the century, his family led the business with new developments such as tooling for the manufacture of fishing reels. This book describes in detail the family's story, the Enterprise Manufacturing Company's product line as it changed throughout their entire history. It also uncovers family connections with the Seiberlings, who founded the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and built Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens which are both in operation today. This book also discusses other tackle businesses such as the Akron Reel Company, the W.B. Haynes Company, and side products that were made by Daniel Webster Brown. I hope you enjoy this first volume on Akron, Ohio's fishing tackle history!

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1792197497
• ISBN13: 9781792197499
• Release Date: January 2019
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 254 Pages
• Weight: 1.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.0" x 0.6" x 8.5"