Weaving Silk Ribbons

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       As recently as one hundred years ago, Switzerland enjoyed a leading position in the world in the weaving and trading of silk. Weaving silk began in the Middle Ages and developed into an actual industry in the 16th century.  Thanks to the silk industry and its trade, Basel grew from a small town into a city of significance. And thanks to the technical revolution and the invention of the weaving loom in the 19th century, the silk industry grew to cover the entire country. Within the textile industry, its significance was paramount. One third of all the 180,000 persons employed in the textile industry worked in the silk industry in around 1880. The rapid growth of Swiss silk manufacturers was only stopped by the 1929 stock market crash. World War II further diminished this once flourishing industry.                                                                                                         

     Our common ancestor, Johannes Scholer (1728-1812) was known as “Weaver John.”  Click on the name to read the notes about the silk-weaving industry.  Some of our immigrant ancestors became silk weavers in New York and New Jersey.

      After living eleven years in Jay County, Indiana, Henry Scholer returned to Zunzgen and courted Anna Wüthrich.  Henry brought his bride, Anna, back to America in 1867.  Anna was a weaver and brought at least two samples of her workmanship with her.  Dick Darling has one, and Charles Scholer has the other.

Scholer Villa built in 1835, located in Liestal (capitol of Baselland) is now a government building.  Previously this villa was occupied by a Scholer who was prominent in the silk-weaving industry. (Photo by Ruth Scholer)  Click Scholer Villa for more information.

 

 

 

 

     This is one of Anna Wuthrich’s ribbons.  She had given it to her daughter, Elizabeth.  At the time of her death, Elizabeth’s husband, Fred Schell, gave the ribbon to Alice (Caster) Scholer.  The ribbon measures 4 inches by 7 inches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This ribbon, also made by Anna Wuthrich, was given by Ida (Scholer) Darling to her son, Dick Darling.

 

   Among the immigrants who came to America and were weavers in the silk ribbon industry here were:

 Adolf Scholer came in 1880 and settled in Paterson, New Jersey.

 Henry Scholer  came In 1881 and settled in New York City.

 John Henry Scholer came in 1885 and settled first in Yonkers, Westchester County, New York and after 1920 settled in Sussex, New Jersey to work in a silk mill.

Carl Martin Scholer came in 1895 and settled in Paterson, New Jersey.

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