William H. Schmalz
Inducted In
1972
A man who played an important part in persuading several industries to locate in Berlin was William H. Schmalz. An excellent penman, in 1878 he entered the employ of the Economical Mutual Fire Insurance Company as a policy writer. He became secretary in 1891 and managing director in 1908. He served the Company until 1933.
Schmalz was an alderman in 1892 and mayor in 1911 and 1912. His son, W.H.E. Schmalz, designed Kitchener’s 1924 city hall. He was secretary of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church for forty-two years, a member of the choir for twenty years, and treasurer of the Ontario district of the Missouri Synod for twenty-two years. He served the hospital board for eighteen years, nine years as secretary and three as president.
One of Canada’s leading philatelists, Schmalz had a collection of 45,000 postage stamps. He also did some fine painting and etching.