Paul Skalla
Jan. 15, 1854-March 10, 1929
Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 11, 1929, page 1, submitted by Candace Skalla
Paul Skalla, Niles Oldest Undertaker Stricken By Death
Paul Skalla, 75, veteran Niles undertaker, and well known resident of Niles for many years, died at 1:35 Sunday morning at his home, 527 East Main street, of heart disease.
Mr. Skalla was stricken with a severe illness from heart complications last Wednesday and grew setadily weaker until his death.
Mr. Skalla was born in Manitowoc Wis., on January 15, 1854, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Skalla, who when was a small boy came to Niles to make their home and where he
had since resided. His father was the founder of the Skalla Furniture Co., a company comprised of himself, and his sons, Joseph, Albert, Frank, John and Paul, manufacturing chairs
and other articles of furniture in a building which stood for many years at N. Lincoln and State streets and which was in later years destroyed by fire. They engaged in the
undertaking business. The factory was one of the flourishing industries of the early days in Niles. Mr. Skalla was married to Miss Lurie Elizabeth Dutton in Chicago and after their marriage he launched into business for himself by taking over the undertaking business which he continued until recently. Mrs. Skalla died nine years ago.
Mr. Skalla served as city treasurer for two terms or from 1888 to 1890. He was deeply interested in the growth of Niles and had erected two prominent buildings on Main street, that occupied by the Niles Gas Company at Third and Main streets and one occupied by the J.C. Penney and Economy Fruit company's business on Main street between Third and Fourth streets. To erect the latter building Mr. Skalla moved from the site the house which had been the family home for many years, to 527 Main street, with his son, Lawrence and his wife, and their children, Alice, Betty and Paul, and another daughter-in-law, Mrs. Bessie Skalla, widow of Eugene Skalla, who comprise the immediate family. Mr. and Mrs. Skalla were the parents of two sons, Lawrence, of Niles, and Eugene, who died three years ago in Albuquerque, N.M., where he had spent several years for the benefit of his health. Besides the son, one brother, Frank Skalla, of Niles and one sister, Mrs. Alice Koontz of South Bend, surive.
Mr. Skalla was a member of Niles Tent, Knights of the Maccabees, in which order he had been finance keeper for many years, of Niles Camp, Modern Woodmen of America, and of Niles Council Knights of Columbus.
The funeral services will be held tomorrow at 9 o'clock in St. Mary's Catholic church. The Rev. V. Ducat will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.
Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 12, 1929, submitted by Candace Skalla
Funeral Paul Skalla
Funeral service for Paul Skalla were held in St. Mary's Catholic Church this morning with the Rev. V. Ducat officiating. The following were pallbearers: E. J. Donahue, A. G. Stone,
Marshall Grathwohl, Jerome Pease, J. R. Kennedy and C. E. Dick. Burial was made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.
Niles Daily Star, March 26, 1928, submitted by Candace Skalla
Begin To Move House
The former home of Paula Skalla, 312 E. Main street, was being raised this morning by workman preparatory to moving it to the Second Baptist church property on Ferry and N.
Sixth streets. A one story mercantile building will be erected on the location on Main street, as soon as the present building is removed. Plans have been completed for the new
structure, however. One of the large maple trees in front of the Skalla home was cut down and removed today to get ready for operations.