Kletti Blacksmith Shop and Livery Service
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Fred "Fritz" Kletti's parents emigrated to Washington
County from Baden in 1853. Fritz was born in December 1855.
He came to Schleisingerville in October of 1874 and worked for
2-1/2 years in John Thiel's Blacksmith Shop. In 1877 he started
his own Blacksmith shop. With the help of his sons, Fred born
1880 and Ed born 1883, the business expanded into wagon
making and livery and in 1901 Fritz built a horse drawn hearse
that is still in the family. Fritz was the Slinger Fire Department
chief from 1894-1897. Fritz retired in 1921 and Fred and Ed formed a partnership
called the Kletti Bros. Garage. In 1928 they purchased the
Rosche Foundry that was next to their garage and tore it down
to expand the business. In 1934 they added a service building
that was torn down around 1990 to expand St. Peter's parking
lot. Fritz died in 1939.
10.2 NK Fred. Ed and Norman Klettl inside Kletti's Garage in the late 1930's.
Fred built the house at 109 W. Washington St. He passed
away in 1954. Ed continued to live in the house at 108 E.
Washington St. next to the garage. He married Elsa Wadewitz
in 1920. Ed sold the business to Fred's son Norman in 1955.
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