122 years in Tiffin

In its 122nd year, Ewald Furniture remains a family-owned staple business in the Tiffin community. Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership recognized the business with its Lifetime Achievement Award during this year's annual meeting earlier this year. For nearly a half century, brothers Dan and Joe Ewald have been involved in the business — almost 50 years for Joe and about 48 for Dan. Dan said there was no formal mark in time when he and Joe took over operations, but there was a gradual taking over of duties. "We started mowing grass out here when we were in grade school," Dan said. "And it went from there." The brothers carry on a tradition started by their great-grandfather, Joseph, and his brother-in-law, Charlie Pahl, who opened Ewald & Pahl, a furniture and funeral home company on Jan. 1, 1900, at 127 S. Washington St. in downtown Tiffin. In 1896, Joseph had gone to work as a salesman for A.J. Henzy Co., and the pair bought the business a few years later. "That business continued until 1913 when they separated, and Charlie Pahl went to the funeral home business and Joseph Ewald, our great-grandfather, remained in the furniture business," Dan said in a video made for the TSEP awards ceremony. "Young people of today might wonder at this strange association of seemingly unrelated endeavors," the Ewalds said on their website history. "However, in those days, furniture and funeral directing were commonly combined to the mutual benefit of both, as the same horses could be used to pull the ambulance and hearse as well as the wagons and sleds used to deliver furniture." Family stories talk about Pete, "the biggest and blackest horse in town, racing out with the Ewald and Pahl ambulance or sedately pulling the black hearse to the tolling of church bells." The Ewald and Pahl families also drove Pete on alternate Sundays for their outings in the country, the history said. Horses Duke and Maud most often pulled the furniture van. "When the automobile arrived on the American scene, Ewald's purchased one of the first trucks in Tiffin," the history noted. "This was in 1913. The original truck was chain driven and had hard rubber tires. The purchase marked the end of one era and the beginning of another." In 1953, Dan said the business was moved to its current location at US 224 and SR 100 by Herman Ewald, grandfather to Dan and Joe, his wife, Jane, and brother, Johnny. The next generation of Ewalds, Jim and Dick, ran the business for many years, and Dan and Joe are the fourth generation. "So here we are today, 122 years later, still going," Dan said. Joe said remaining in business for more than a century has had its challenges. "The store's been through two world wars, a Depression and now a pandemic, all of which present challenges," he said. "As you go through, you just try to adapt to what's thrown at you on a daily basis." During World War II, Joe said his grandfather had trouble getting products into the store. "Everything was going to the war effort," he said. Supply has been good in more recent times, until the last few years. "We've always had product up until the pandemic," Joe said. "Supply chains were interrupted all down the line, so we're getting through that." The brothers said working with family can be a challenge, but also a blessing. "My grandfather got along with his brother," Joe said. "My father got along well with his brother. And we get along well together. "If at any point those things wouldn't work, that would probably be the end," he said. "I've been blessed to work with my brother," Joe said. Dan agreed. Dan also said Tiffin is a great community and a thriving town with great leadership, and he thanked the community for its support. "We're also fortunate that great people have worked here," Dan said. In addition to the employees, Dan said several family members have been among the four generations who have worked at the store. In the past, those have included Jane Ewald, Jim's wife, and Chris Ewald, Richard's wife. Family members continue to work at the store, including Joe's wife, Robbin, and Richard's daughter, Melinda Ewald. Today, the showroom at Ewald Furniture features selections for bedrooms, dining rooms and living rooms as well as a variety of home décor. Anyone can see samples at ewaldfurniture.com. Dan said the store's future hasn't been decided yet, but neither Dan or Joe are planning to retire. "Who knows what might happen down the road," he said. "As of now there aren't any other generations here." In the meantime, the brothers plan to continue providing the furniture needs of Seneca County and surrounding communities for years to come.