Jacob Baetz

Jacob Baetz, born near Niederaulau, Germany, came to Canada in 1868 and had a family of nine children.

He worked for Casper Braun as a stonemason, bricklayer, and plasterer; trades he had learned from his father. Baetz became a building contractor and built the 1907 Berlin market building, Victoria Public School, Trinity, St. Andrew’s and St. Matthew’s churches, and many other buildings.

With R. Boehmer, Baetz founded and operated the Berlin Brick Company on King Street East and in 1907 became owner of the Pommer-Cowan Furniture Company, later Baetz Furniture Limited. This factory was destroyed by fire in 1910 and he then built the Baetz factory still in use in 1973.

Baetz was treasurer of St. Matthew’s Church for many years from the time the church was built. During the 1890s he was a town councillor and was chairman of the Board of Works when the first steam road roller was purchased.