PIRSCH

1830's Luxembourg - Frank Pirsch is a wagon and carriage builder.

1838 - Nicholas Pirsch is born in Luxembourg, he was the son of Frank Pirsch.

1853 - Celia Spielman came to America from Belgium, settling in Kenosha County, WI. Celia was the daughter of Peter Spielman of Belgium and Miss Dumarsh of Herstoff, Germany, she was a grand-daughter of one of Napoleon Bonaparte's bodyguards. Celia would marry Nicholas Pirsch and give birth to Peter Pirsh, along with 12 other children.

1854 - Nicholas Pirsch traveled to Paris, France

1855-56 - Nicholas Pirsch arrives in Philadelphia, PA and made his way through Chicago, IL, Milwaukee, WI, and Kenosha, WI seeking opportunities.

1856 - Nicholas Pirsch settles in Kenosha, WI

1856-1864 - Nicholas worked first on "The Kelly Farm" in Kenosha, then at "Mitchell Wagon Works" in Racine. He also worked for "Head and Sutherland" of Kenosha.

1864 - Nicholas Pirsch opened his own business in Kenosha, building wagons and carriages. This business eventually employed 28 skilled laborers and his wagons were shipped all over the United States.

1866, March 2 - Peter Pirsch is born the son of Nicholas Pirsch (of Luxembourg) and Celia Spielman Pirsch (of Belgium). He was reportedly born in "the old Catholic Church on the corner of Wisconsin and Chicago Streets" in Kenosha.

1871, October - It is reported that Peter stood on the Kenosha lake shore with his parents and sister and watched the progression of the Great Chicago Fire. It was widely suggested that this incident spurred his interest in the fire service.

1874 - At the age of 8, Peter Pirsch began helping his father Nicholas paint wagons at his business

1880 - At 14 years old, Peter stopped attending school (having attended St. George's Parochial School, The Durhee Public School, and for one year Kenosha School). Peter went to work with his father Nicholas as a blacksmith earning $3 per week.

1885 - Peter Pirsch married Elizabeth Ritter

1896 - Celia Spielman Pirsch died, leaving her husband Nicholas and 13 children.

1899 - Peter became a member of the Kenosha Volunteer Fire Department. During a fire, Peter witnessed a ladder failure and reportedly commented "I can build a better ladder than that".

1899 - The Pirsch Compound Trussed Ladder was patented on March 31, 1899, built by Peter Pirsch and Weier, Builders

1900 - Peter is no longer working with Nicholas Pirsch in his wagon-making business

1900 - Peter invented the "Pirsch Patent Trussed Fire Ladder" with a total monetary investment of $13.00), and opened a factory in Kenosha to build it

1901 - Peter designed the "Pirsch Patent Double Acting Electric Wire Cutter"

1906, Sept 21 - Nicholas Pirsch died in Kenosha, WI.

1908 - Peter invented the "Pirsch Patent Hose Shut-Off and Door Opener"

1910 - Pirsch introduced the first Motor-Driven firetruck to the Kenosha Fire

Department

1910 -William Pirsch joined the family business

1912 - Dominic Even (husband of Celia Pirsch, Peter's Sister) joined the family business

1916 - Pirsch patented the "Pirsch Folding Tongue-Rest for Village Chemical Engines"

1919 - The family business was officially established as a co-partnership and renamed "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co"

1931 - Peter Pirsch was cited by the United States Congress for saving the lives of 16 Chicago firemen with his recently-built Smoke Ejector. Peter reportedly personally drove the just-completed rig to Chicago.

1946 - "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co." was incorporated.

1954 - Peter Pirsch died in Kenosha, WI, at the time of his death, "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co." had delivered fire apparatus to every state in the union and to 11 foreign countries.



1974, October 18 - William Pirsch, son of Peter Pirsch dies, leaving 12,487 shares of stock. William was the 3rd child of Peter and Elizabeth Pirsch, and he never married.

1970's (mid-decade) - "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co." ceased manufacturing ground ladders, instead deciding to concentrate on aerial ladders.

1984, August - "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co." announced the purchase of 11.4 acres in the "Hampton Roads Industrial Park" in Hampton, VA. The purchase was conducted through "Peninsula Leasing Company", later determined to be a subsidiary of "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co.". The purchase price was $22,500 per acre.

1985, December - A Boston jury awards $5,000,000 a Town of Brookline, MA firefighter. Firefighter, (name redacted), suffered a severe brain injury when he fell from a Pirsch-built vehicle.

1986, June 18 - Lawrence "Larry" Adams resigned as Vice President of "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co."

1986, June 19 - Lawrence "Larry" Adams files a $1,400,000 lawsuit against "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co.". Adams alleged that 4 pieces of apparatus were delivered to buyers without appropriate MSO's (Manufacturer's Statement of Origin). Further information reveals that he alleged these MSO's existed, but had been forged. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed "without prejudice".

1986, August 28 - 79 members of NFIU (National Federation of Independent Unions) Local 88 walked-out of Pirsch after the morning layoffs of 10 employees in the Paint and Frame Set-Up departments. Union representatives stated these layoffs did not follow seniority lines.

1986, August 29 - "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co." closed the Kenosha plant reportedly due to the labor walkout.

1986, September 10 -Ownership of the long-time Pirsch home on 7th Ave in Kenosha (built in 1842) was transferred from W. Andrew Sale to Elizabeth Even Sale in exchange for some company stock. The house had been listed for sale at $125,000.

 1986, September 11 - "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co." begins official paperwork to close down the Pirsch plant on September 12, 1986

1986, September 22 - Lawrence "Larry" Adams, who filed the lawsuit earlier in the year alleging forgery of MSO's dies of cancer.

1986, September - The City of Racine, WI files a lawsuit for $1,300,000 in damages due to non-delivery of 3 pieces of fire apparatus.

1986, September 30 - "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co." President W. Andrew Sale and Corporate Secretary Elizabeth Sale file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, seeking to reorganize

1986, October 2 - Bankruptcy testimony reveals the following information about the status of "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co."

     * The company was said to be losing about $200,000 each month over the prior

          6-8 months. W. Andrew Sale states that this figure was "close to correct"

     * There are 22,368 shares of Pirsch common stock outstanding, divided as follows;

          W. Andrew Sale - 52%

          Betty Even (of Virginia) - 22%

          Robert Macauley (ex Pirsch VP of Operations) - 25 shares

          Several other shareholders with 100 shares or less.

     * W. Andrew Sale stated that gross revenues in 1985 were $8-$9 million

     * Annual Corporate Salaries were;

          W. Andrew Sale - $70,000

          E. C. Sale (Elizabeth?) - $45,000 (approx.)

          Robert Macauley - $40,000

1986, October - Marquette University Law Professor Ralph Anzivino was named Trustee for the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy proceedings.

1986, October - W. Andrew Sale agrees to repay the Federal Bankruptcy Court $60,000 over 2 months to avoid prosecution for allegedly transferring company assets to himself.

1986, December 14 - John Blondek, 43, a Racine businessman states publicly that he has been looking into the possibility of purchasing the bankrupt "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co.". Blondek had formerly worked with "Ford Motor Co." and "White Motor Co." and currently owned a restaurant named Sunny's Cafe and Beer Garden, located at 3458 Rapids Dr, in Racine

1987, January 9 - A Racine investors group headed by Blondek offers $1.6 million for "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co." and its assets. Pending Federal Bankruptcy Court Judge's approval, the business plan is to start limited operations by mid-February 1987. Former Pirsch employees had expressed an interest in purchasing the company and its assets as well, and were given until January 30, 1987 to submit a bid. Court orders were that the bid must be at least $50,000 higher.

1987, February 5 -A bid of $1.65 million was received by the Court from the former employees of "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co.". Judge Charles N. Clevert accepted the earlier $1.6 million bid from Blondek's group.

1987, February 9 - At 2pm on this date, closing began for the sale of "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co." to John Blondek of Racine, WI and a yet-unidentified business partner. This silent partner was later determined to be Edward P. Haas, of Racine, WI. Haas was a longtime Kenosha businessman, having owned "Haas Coal & Dock" on the Kenosha lakefront until the late 1950's

1987, February - "The Haas-Blondek Group" consisted of the following partnership;

     Edward P. Haas - 75%

     John Haas, John Blondek, Merle Fleetwood (Racine, WI)

     Joseph Wallitsch (Fargo, ND) - a combined 25%

1987, August 24 - it was reported that Edward P. Haas bought out Blondek, Fleetwood and Wallitsch

1987, August 26 - A father and son team again own "Peter Pirsch & Sons, Co.";

     Edward P. Haas, 86 - President

     John Haas, 44 - Executive Vice President

     Paul "AJ" Vnuk (of Raymond, WI) was named Vice President of Sales

It was reported that to company planned to manufacture ladders and market Pirsch brand high performance motor oil from the Kenosha plant by January 1988.