Mr. Kalbfleisch, the manager, looks after the undertaking department personally, in which he has one of the finest equipment in Western Ontario, including a very fine and expensive hearse, casket wagon, and one of the most modern casket lowering devices ...

On April I, 1903, the Tavistock Building and Furniture Company was formed by H.W. Kalbfleisch, cabinetmaker, Andrew Appel, cabinetmaker, William A. Appel, flax dealer, and Otto G. Niemeier, physician. They purchased the property of Adam Schaefer manufacturer, at Lot 8 and 9 of the Kirk Survey, from the executors, John Schaefer and August Schaefer, feed merchant for $3,000."

This partnership was dissolved on May I, 1906, In favour of one, Kalbfleisch and Appel, with H.W. Kalbfleisch and Andrew Appel, which carried on the house-building, furniture and undertaking business until March 27, 1915. Then it was taken over by Kalbfleisch & Son. On April 28, 1923, John Heinbuch, Henry Hitzeroth and Christian L. Erb formed the Tavistock Building & Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Between this date and 1942, Mr. Erb obtained sole control and sold it to his son Curtis, who carried on under the name of C.L. Erb & Sons. From 1956 to 1959, Mr. Lloyd Erb carried on a specialty work of cabinets but sold the business to Mr. James H. Alexander on July 1, 1965. Mr. Alexander, a native of Pennsylvania had been employed with Foster Wheeler for 37 years having lived in Thorold, St. Catharines and Port Rowan, before coming to Tavistock.

ERB'S MILLWORK LIMITED 1885
Factory with the bell-tower and next to it the display rooms.Mr. H. B. Wilker, second from the left in the front row.