The term "mail order brides" is nothing new in America's annals of history and dates back to 1617 in the Jamestown settlement. However, Pensacola is a long way from that remote settlement in Virginia and from that date and time. But in 1905, this Gulf Coast city was still predominantly rural and small in comparison to other cities close by. Mobile, Alabama had a thriving population of 38,000 with Jacksonville, Florida right at 28,000. And between the two was a growing Pensacola at 17,747. The city's leaders felt that Escambia County needed an economic boost to compete with the other metropolitan areas surrounding them. With plenty of land available they turned to the Pensacola Investment Company for a solution.
This company was run by William Hyer Knowles (president), John E. Sullivan (Vice president & general manager), Richard B. Simpson (secretary), Knowles Hyer (treasurer), and Arthur Herbert D'Alemberte (city manager, real estate, and mortgage loans). Their office was located at 215 South Palafox Street, telephone #386. In addition to a hometown company handling the importation, there was also an already established German infrastructure here. There was the Immanuel German Lutheran Church at 26 West Garden Street under the direction of Pastor J. F. W. Reinhardt. Also, the Pensacola German Club who met on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month at the Hotel Escambia at Palafox & Wright Street. The German Scandinavian Benevolent Association met on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall at #8 West Intendencia Street. And Pensacola had its very own German Vice Consul with Herman H. Boyer with an office at #409 Theisen Building on South Palafox Street. He was also the manager of the German American Lumber Company. There was also a German Alliance Fire Insurance Company and a German American Insurance Company as well. So, you can see there was already a well-established German presence in Escambia County!
The company set up several "importations" of German immigrants, especially those interested in farming. Historically, most German immigrants settled in northern regions of the country with over eight million coming over between 1820 and 1870. This rate of German immigration continued to grow faster than any other immigrant group until the beginning of World War I. Many of them were forced out of their own country due to lack of land, religious and political freedom, and better economic opportunities in America. They were also known as some of the most successful farmers in the world, exactly what Pensacola was looking for in the Perdido area of the county. Plus, they had a tendency to settle together thereby forming pockets of "Germania" where they felt comfortable within their own customs and dialect. They even established the first kindergartens in America in addition to our Christmas tree and hot dog traditions. Some of the pockets even formed across the state line in Elberta, Alabama as well. Wherever they went, they were successful in their endeavors!
Then somewhere along the line came the idea to not only import farming families but to specifically bring in German women as well. The "Florida Help Supply Company" of Jacksonville, Florida was contracted to begin bringing these women into the southern states. I assume they may have been brought over for matrimony for the growing German settlements, although the article says "all manner and classes of help, skilled and unskilled. But one can only imagine what the reception of such a company and its purpose would be received in today's American society!
Pensacola News Journal 9-8-1905
Pensacola News Journal 9-8-1905
Pensacola News Journal 4-2-1905
William Hyer Knowles President of the Pensacola Investment Company
William Hyer Knowles 1928
Entrance to William Hyer Knowles Palatial Residence at Bayshore
Arthur Herbert D'Alemberte, Pensacola Investment Company
Home of Arthur Herbert D'Alemberte, 1129 East Gadsden Street, built 1897
D'Alemberte Pharmacy, 519 North Devilliers Street
Hotel Escambia at Palafox & Wright Street and residence of Knowles Hyer in 1905 and where the Pensacola German Club met on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month
Comments