In 1881, Rudolph A. Weber came to the United States from Germany. Weber was a silk dyer and he founded the R.A. Weber Silk Dyeing Company in College Point. In 1914, R.A. Weber Silk Dyeing Company was sold, then transformed into the Independent Silk Dyeing Company and moved to Farmingdale. Farmingdale was the best location on Long Island, due to it having the purest water supply on Long Island, which is one of the most important factors when dyeing materials. It was located off Conklin Street (near Cedar Ave and Birch Ave).
Throughout the transition, Rudolph A. Weber was still the general manager until his death in 1920. Following his death, his son—Rudolph H. Weber, became general manager, treasurer and eventually, president in 1953.
Over the course of the next few decades, materials, equipment and procedures changed allowing them to better suit the needs of their patrons. In 1949, the number of employees at the Independent Silk Dyeing Company was 250 people. Eventually the name changed again and became the Independent Textile Dyeing Company.
In 1956, Rudolph R. Weber (who was the grandson of the original founder) became president when his father retired.
The company had changed names many times. These names included Jayne Textile, Kenmark Textile, and Susquehanna Textile. The company was always evolving with Jayne Textile Printing Corporation beginning to conduct screen and textile printing in 1972.
Sources:
Junior Historical Society of Farmingdale. Farmingdale’s Story: Farms to Flights.
Weldon E. Howitt High School, 1956
Shakalis, Connie. Historical Vignettes from the Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society
