Former building Fraefel & Co.
For decades, the company Fraefel & Co. successfully filled a gap in the market in the embroidery world: embroidery for ecclesiastical use («paraments»).
History:
Arnold Fraefel (1852-1919) was trained as an embroidery designer at the Industrie- und Gewerbemuseum (Industry and Commerce Museum) St.Gallen. In 1883, he founded the embroidery and parament factory A. Fraefel-Eberle St.Gallen (Schweiz), together with his wife, Emma Eber-le. In 1884, the young company bought the «Felsenburg» as a residence and office, as well as production site. In 1888, Fraefel’s products were awarded a gold medal at the Esposizione Mondiale Vaticana, and Pope Leo XIII gave Fraefel the order of merit «Pro ecclesia et pontifice». This lead to international fame. The company reached its peak around 1910 doing business in the US, run-ning branches in Chicago, New York and Toledo (Ohio).In its prime, the company had 150 employees, mainly embroiderers and seamstresses, who gave the products the final touch. Countless home producers throughout eastern Switzerland worked at embroidery machines for Fraefel & Co. A second pillar, next to textiles for the church, was the production of association flags. The company experienced set-backs through the global economic crisis, which caused the American branch to collapse, as well as the Second Vatican Council of 1965, which rejected liturgical pomp, leading to an existential crisis for parament producers. The company tried to save itself with association and military insignia, but was forced to close in 1983 – 100 years after it was founded.
Present-day use:
After interim use as a special school, the «Felsenburg» is now used residentially.
Arnold Fraefel (1852-1919) was trained as an embroidery designer at the Industrie- und Gewerbemuseum (Industry and Commerce Museum) St.Gallen. In 1883, he founded the embroidery and parament factory A. Fraefel-Eberle St.Gallen (Schweiz), together with his wife, Emma Eber-le. In 1884, the young company bought the «Felsenburg» as a residence and office, as well as production site. In 1888, Fraefel’s products were awarded a gold medal at the Esposizione Mondiale Vaticana, and Pope Leo XIII gave Fraefel the order of merit «Pro ecclesia et pontifice». This lead to international fame. The company reached its peak around 1910 doing business in the US, run-ning branches in Chicago, New York and Toledo (Ohio).In its prime, the company had 150 employees, mainly embroiderers and seamstresses, who gave the products the final touch. Countless home producers throughout eastern Switzerland worked at embroidery machines for Fraefel & Co. A second pillar, next to textiles for the church, was the production of association flags. The company experienced set-backs through the global economic crisis, which caused the American branch to collapse, as well as the Second Vatican Council of 1965, which rejected liturgical pomp, leading to an existential crisis for parament producers. The company tried to save itself with association and military insignia, but was forced to close in 1983 – 100 years after it was founded.
Present-day use:
After interim use as a special school, the «Felsenburg» is now used residentially.