Sturgis, Julius Ferdinand - 1881

An Old Inhabitant
The Venerable Bretzel - Seventy Years Of Business Life
Last week we mentioned a prosperous but comparatively new industry in our village; now we take pleasure in noticing an establishment in our midst whose venerable age entitles it to be classed among “our oldest inhabitants”.  But, notwithstanding the frosts of many winters and the paralytic shocks of several panics, the blood of enterprise still courses and lusty vigor still lies in the business sinews of the institution.  Who has not heard of or bought the Lititz bretzel?  Yet how few know that but one manufactory of the kind ante-dates this one in the United States.

In the latter part of the last century, William Henry Rauch was born in the town of Lititz and grew to manhood here.  About the year 1810 a German vagrant, a precursor of the tramp, imparted to Mr. Rauch, in return for favors received, the secret of bretzel-making.  The entire process was explained, and Rauch at once began the manufacture, in the building located on Main street, adjoining Enck’s furniture store.  At that time the dough was kneaded by horse power, much the same as clay is ground for making brick.  The proved an unsatisfactory arrangement at certain seasons of the year, and the old German clamp was afterwards substituted.  Mr. Rauch made his business trips on horse-back for many years, but his sales eventually became so large that a wagon was found necessary.  The Rauch, or Lititz bretzel soon became widely known.

In the course of time Mr. Rauch went to Lancaster with Mr. Gruel, but subsequently returned to Lititz, where he died about fifteen years ago, much lamented.  He was a man of considerable education and was a poet of no mean order.

In the establishment of Mr. Rauch was an apprentice by the name of Julius F. Sturgis.  In the fullness of time he mastered his trade, and succeeded to the business when Mr. Rauch left, and removed it to the present location further down the street.  Mr. Sturgis has added many improvements, and has an establishment complete in all its details.  He employs a large force and can produce a number of bretzels unequalled by any other factory of its size in the United States.  His sales comprise almost every State in the union.

The incomparable quality of the “German Lititz Bretzel” is due to the discovery of a process by which the acidulous gases are entirely eliminated.  This process is known only to Mr. Sturgis, its discoverer.

It has been found that the bane of sea voyages - seasickness, is allayed by the use of these bretzels.  When nothing else can be eaten, the stomach retains this food.  Physicians frequently recommend them for stomach and bowel complaints, and find an efficacy in their use.

This is one of our oldest business enterprises, and certainly not our least.
~ The Lititz Record, 14-Oct-1881, Page 3, Column 3

You can visit the memorial page for Julius F. Sturgis.