Goebel, Ofen Fabrik

A faint inscription, ‘Goebel, Ofen Fabrik’—meaning Goebel Stove Factory—emerges on the building at ul. Piotra Skargi 1.

The building at ul. Piotra Skargi / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

According to the 1939 address book, one of the residents of the building at what was then called Girnthstrasse 1 was Franz Göbel, the owner of a stove factory.

Paul Göbel’s Stove Factory / Source: polska-org.pl

Franz August Paul Göbel was born on October 24th, 1869, in Jelenia Góra (formerly Hirschberg), as the son of master stove maker August Göbel and Augusta Weber. On December 22nd, 1894, he married Augusta Louisa Anna Weinrich, who was from Cunnersdorf, near what is now Mała Poczta in Jelenia Góra. She was the daughter of master carpenter Julius Weinreich and Augusta née Wendes.

Excerpt from Franz Göbel’s marriage certificate / Source: The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch

Two owners of the stove factory appear in pre-war newspapers: Paul Göbel and Franz Göbel. According to the blog Zduńskie Opowieści: ‘Paul Goebel’s factory was established in 1852(6). It operated at what is now ul. Grunwaldzka 5. In 1906, the plant employed 46 workers. By 1923, Franz Goebel was the owner. In 1925, the factory produced 8,000 stoves annually. There are mentions of the business in 1927 and 1937. The plant was located at Grinthstrasse 1. It’s likely that in 1941, the company had a branch in Zgorzelec. The last owner from 1937 to 1944 was Otto Brunsch. In 1947, the factory was nationalized and became part of the Building Ceramics Enterprise – Cerbud Kaflarnia. The factory was closed, and the buildings were demolished in 1992.’

On the right – a contemporary view of the building’s interior / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

In the center and on the left: photos of a tile from a stove made by Paul Göbel’s factory / Source: archiwum Allegro

Were Franz and Paul related?
At this point, it’s hard to say. If Paul’s factory was opened in 1856, Franz and Paul couldn’t have been the same person. On the other hand, Paul couldn’t have been Franz’s father, because according to available records, Franz was the son of August. So, we’re left with a genealogical and historical puzzle.

In the State Archive in Kamieniec Ząbkowicki, there are records of both gentlemen maintained by the W. Schimmelpfeng information office—perhaps they will provide new information.

Sources:

Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu oddział w Jeleniej Górze
Archiwum Allegro
polska-org.pl
Zduńskie Opowieści

Goebel, Ofen Fabrik

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