Albert D GOMERY

Evening Chronicle Allentown, Pa., Tuesday, November 28th, 1961

Albert Gomery, Americus Hotel Builder, Dies

Albert D. (Bert) Gomery, builder of the Americus Hotel and one of Allentown’s business leaders, died today the age of 86 in Allentown Hospital Death came at 1:15 a.m. to the man who, in a career extending for more than half a century, left many landmarks to the city. He was founder and for many years the owner of Gomery Bros., widely known Allentown wholesale produce firm, and founder and formerly operated the College Hotel. In addition to a number of other business activities, Gomery was one of the early leaders of the Allentown Chamber of Commerce and took part in many civic enterprises. He had been a patient at the hospital for five months.

Lehighton Native

Born in Lehighton, on Feb 1, 1875, he was a son of the late John and Anna (Horn) Gomery. His Allentown career began in 1894, when he came here at the age of 19 with his brother, J. Edgar, and founded the wholesale produce firm. The first location of the business was at 22N. 10th St. After seven years it was moved to 917-921 Linden St., where it remained until this year. J. Edgar continued as a partner in the firm until 1917 when he sold his interest to his brother. Albert continued to operate the firm until 1957, when it was bought by a corporation known as Gomery Bros., Inc. This corporation maintained the business at the Linden Street address until April of this year, when it was moved to 940 N. 4th St. and the old building torn down for a parking lot. Gomery was active in the Allentown Chamber of Commerce as a director for many years, and was elected president in 1925.

Founding Americus Realizing Allentown’s need for a large modern hotel, he originated the idea to build the Americus, and formed a corporation for this purpose with his brother and John Schwartz, then a partner with his brother in the Gomery and Schwartz Motor Car Co. of Philadelphia. Construction of the hotel began in 1926 and it was opened Sept. 12, 1927. Gomery was president of the hotel corporation until the hotel was sold to its present owner, Andrew J. Sordoni, in April 1944. Gomery continued as one of the hotel directors.

College Hotel Founder

Gomery was also responsible for founding another hostelry, the well-known College Hotel at 4th and Turner Sts., Allentown. This had been the site of the Allentown College for Women, now Cedar Crest College, until it moved to the present location in June, 1913. Gomery bought the building in 1917 and converted it into a hotel, operating it until 1938, when he sold it. In addition to these enterprises, Gomery at one time was the president of the Allen Motor Co. and the Lehigh Valley Ice Cream Company, of Catasauqua. Gomery’s most recent residence was at the Americus Hotel. For many years he lived at 1727 Hamilton St., Allentown, a property which was sold in 1958 to the Osteopathic Hospital.

Headed Community Chest

Active civically, he was president in 1930 and 1931 of the Lehigh County Community Chest, forerunner of the Lehigh County United Fund. He was chairman of the meetings bureau for the Community Chest in 1947. During World War I, he was Lehigh County fuel administrator. He also served on the Lehigh County Public Assistance Board. He had been on the board of trustees of Cedar Crest College, and on the Muhlenberg Athletic Committee. Gomery also served for many years on the board of trustees of the Allentown YMCA. He belonged to the St. John’s United Church of Christ, Allentown. He was a member of the Allentown Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Elks Lodge 130, Jordan Lodge 673, F&AM, Lehigh Shrine Club, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Honorary First Defenders, the Rajah Temple of Reading, and the Lehigh County Historical Society. His wife, the former Kathryn Emma Bittner, died in 1958. His brother died in 1948. Surviving are a daughter, Ann, wife of Melville F. Stark of Zionsville R.1, director of the Baum School of Allentown Art Museum and two grandchildren, Kathryn and David. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the J. S. Burkholder Funeral Home, 1601 Hamilton St. Allentown, There will be no viewing.

Interment Grandview Cemetery.