Aprii. 1, 1913. 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



359 



Conrad Poppcnhusen, Manufacturer and Philanthropist. 



Tllli ruhljcT industry of this coinnry ciiiring its seventy-five 

 years of existence has produced a number of men who have 

 not only been conspicuous for their commercial success, 

 but who have been equally marked for their broad philanthropy — 

 men who not only acquired wealtli, but used it generously and 

 wisely for the good of those about them. One of the earliest 

 of the rubber manufacturers to attain marked financial success, 

 and to turn that success to the lasting benefit of the community 

 was Conrad I'opiicnhusen. 



Standing on a plot of ground, given to the former village of 

 College Point, L. I., as a park by Conrad Poppcnhusen. and 

 directly opposite the grounds on which his residence was built. 



The Monument Erfxted to Conrad Poppenhusen, at 

 College Point. 



is a granite shaft with a l)ronze bust in heroic size, bearing the 

 inscription : "To the .Memory of the Benefactor of College Point. 

 Erected November 1, 1884." 



In the year following Conrad Poppcnhuscn's death, citizens of 

 College Point, many of whom had been associated with him in 

 his various interests, bore testimony to their afifeclion and respect 

 for the man by uniting in erecting this permanent monument to 

 his memory. 



Mr. Poppenhusen was born at Hamburg. Germany, .April 1. 1818. 

 and came to America about 1843. He became a member of the 

 firm of Meyer & Poppenhusen, manufacturers of whalebone at 

 Williamsburg, Long Island. In 1852 this firm secured the license 



for the manufacture of artificial whalebone, using the newly 

 discovered compound, hard rubber. 



In the following year the license to manufacture hard rubber 

 combs was obtained, and in 1854 a plant called "Enterprise 



i HE I'oPPE.NHUSEX Bk.AXCH OF OuEENS BoROUGH PuBLIC LIBRARY. 



Works," was built at College Point for the manufacture of arti- 

 licial whalelione, cornbs and other articles of hard rubber. The 

 lirm name became Poppenhusen & Koenig, which was used until 

 1867, when the India Rubber Comb Co. was formed. This name 

 uas continued until 1898 when the American Hard Rubber Co. 

 was incorporated to include the College Point plant with other 

 hard rubber factories. 



In his connection with industrial matters Mr. Poiipenhusen 

 showed great foresight, as evidenced by the adoption of the Cor- 

 liss engines shortly after the invention of the Corliss valve and 

 "titer devices whereby economy of manufacture was obtained, 

 and in his securing ample land and valuable water grants about 

 Ills plant, also in providing homes for his employes, and in organ- 



Church and Chapel Donated by Mr. Poppenhusen. 



izing a mutual benefit association in his works, through which 

 employes were assured aid during absence from work when ill, 

 together with provision for burial in the event of death. 



His desire to help those among whom he lived is shown by his 

 gift to the people of College Point in 1868 of $100,000 for the 

 erection and maintenance of the Poppcnhusen Institute, in cele- 



