09/07/2026
This photo of Geiger’s Bakery was taken when the bakery first opened in 1893. The man on the far left is unknown, next to him sits Prince (the Geiger’s dog), the face in the window is unknown, William Geiger (the bakery’s founder) is standing in front of the window, beside him is his eight year old son, Frank, and in the door is William’s wife Mary Ellen.
William Geiger passed away in 1919, leaving the business to his sons, Frank and W.C. Geiger. Frank eventually bought the business from his brother, then married Teresa in 1924. He ran the business until his death in 1965, then Teresa took over the business. When asked, she said, “I needed something to do and I like it.” She proudly ran the bakery until her death on September 18, 1979. She was 79 years old.
In 1941, Jessie Herron, a 13-year-old homeless orphan came to town looking for work. She started out by doing odd housework jobs for people around town, but soon found a job with the Geigers at the bakery and they moved her into their home. They treated her as a daughter and, before her death in 1979, Teresa legally adopted her. Jessie inherited the business after Teresa passed away and continued running the bakery until it closed in August of 1995.
This photo comes from the Robert Morefield Collection.
