File:1875 - C A Dorney Furniture Company - Christmas Trade Card.jpg

The manufacturing of furnature was started by Henry Berkemeyer in 1870 at the southwest corner of Race & Hamilton Streets on the site of the Allentown Terminal Station. In 1874 Mr. C.A. Dorney joined Berkemeyer and the name was changed to Dorney, Berkemyer & Company. They manufactured a general line of furniture. This partnership was dissolved in 1877. Dorney sold his interest to T B Faust and Eli Hoffman, and the firm's name was changed to T B Faust & Company.

The firm continued the business until the death of T B Faust in 1880 and Dorney re-entered the firm. Dorney and B.M. Krause purchased both the Faust and Hoffman interest and the name was changed to C A Dorney & Company. In 1883, E H Stein purchased the Berkemeyer interest and the business was conducted by these partners until October 1885 when Charles Ziegenfuss purchased the E H Stein interest.

In 1886 the factory was destroyed by fire and immediately rebuilt at a new location across the street at 333/335 Hamilton. In 1893 the firm was incorporated under the name C A Dorney Furniture Company, and Stein sold all of his stock to Dorney and Charles Ziegenfuss, Sr.. Charles Dorney retired in 1898 sold all of his stock to Ziegenfuss however the name of the firm was unchanged with Ziegenfuss Sr. becoming president of the firm. Dorney died in 1903.