A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT US!
George and Anna (Kupple) Schnur lived in Prussia, Germany. They raised three children: Catherine, John and Peter.
Peter Schnur was born in Prussia January 20, 1824. Peter came with his family to the United States in 1836, settling in Louisville, KY.
Peter's mother died soon after the arrival, his father then moved the family to Pittsburgh, PA, where for a time (George) was employed in the trade of a Stonesman. For 20 years he worked at the Schonenberger rolling mills in Pittsburgh and later worked on a farm for four years. He was subsequently engaged in gardening near Pittsburgh which he turned into a business for 17 years.
Peter married Elizabeth Fry of Pittsburgh and in 1870 he purchased a farm in Summit Township, Butler County. He moved his wife and 15 children to the farm in 1876. Peter devoted his attention to Agriculture. He died January 12, 1915 and Elizabeth died December 12, 1921.
Peter's son, George W. Schnur, was born in Pittsburgh on May 9, 1858. He also had an interest in gardening. He worked as a stone mason and as soon as he acquired sufficient capitol, he made many improvements on the farm, building his own house, a barn as well as 6 hot-houses, all 112 ft. by 115 ft. and covered with glass.
In 1889, he named the farm "Schnur's Greenhouse", and began a large wholesale trade in Butler, specializing in lettuce and other vegetable plants.
George married Maggie Etzel and they had 12 children. He later died in 1934.
William F. Schnur, born in Butler County on August 11, 1886, was one of the 12 children born to George and Maggie Schnur. He married Anna Spohn on June 20, 1911 and continued to work the farm and the greenhouses.
William and Anna also had 12 children. Five (5) daughters: Leola Sarver, Betty Green, Rita Scheibel, Mary Schnur and Ethel Miller. Seven (7) Sons: Gerald, Ronald, Willis, Kenneth, Vernon, Claire (Hunky) and Jerome.
William F. Schnur died on September 4, 1945 and his wife and children continued the business. Anna Schnur took pride in the flowers and vegetables grown in the greenhouse and since she still lived in the original homestead, she frequently walked through the greenhouses until her death on December 1, 1974.
Willis R. Schnur, born in Butler County on September 12, 1930, was one of the 12 children born to William and Anna Schnur. Willis helped his mother keep the family farm and greenhouse business going. On June 21, 1952, Willis married Kathryn L. Kuciak. They bought the greenhouse business from his mother in 1952 and since they no longer farmed the land, Willis built their home on the site where the old barn once stood.
Willis and Kathryn have five children: James, Barbara, Anna, Jerome and Marlene. As time went by, Willis made many renovations and improvements to the greenhouse. From 1964 to 1969, he built two new larger glass greenhouses to replace the old ones. In the 1970's, he also added 2 plastic houses.
Willis and Kathryn's son, James A., worked at the greenhouse all of his life. In 1990, he quit his job at the Municipality of Summit Township to work for his father full-time. He married Cindy Hesidenz on September 1, 1979. They have 2 children. Gregory and Scott, who also work at the greenhouse.
In 1994, Willis decided it was time to retire and turned the business over to James.
James A. and Cindy Schnur presently own and operate the greenhouse.
His oldest son, Gregory J. Schnur, married Linsey A. Westerman of Freeport on October 8, 2015. They have a son, William J. Schnur. He has two step children, Dylan and Olivia.
James' youngest son Scott W. Schnur has two sons, Caleb J. Schnur and Jordan J. Schnur, and one daughter Maura J. Schnur.
Many additions and changes have taken place over the last 125+ years as we continue to grow.
Peter Schnur was born in Prussia January 20, 1824. Peter came with his family to the United States in 1836, settling in Louisville, KY.
Peter's mother died soon after the arrival, his father then moved the family to Pittsburgh, PA, where for a time (George) was employed in the trade of a Stonesman. For 20 years he worked at the Schonenberger rolling mills in Pittsburgh and later worked on a farm for four years. He was subsequently engaged in gardening near Pittsburgh which he turned into a business for 17 years.
Peter married Elizabeth Fry of Pittsburgh and in 1870 he purchased a farm in Summit Township, Butler County. He moved his wife and 15 children to the farm in 1876. Peter devoted his attention to Agriculture. He died January 12, 1915 and Elizabeth died December 12, 1921.
Peter's son, George W. Schnur, was born in Pittsburgh on May 9, 1858. He also had an interest in gardening. He worked as a stone mason and as soon as he acquired sufficient capitol, he made many improvements on the farm, building his own house, a barn as well as 6 hot-houses, all 112 ft. by 115 ft. and covered with glass.
In 1889, he named the farm "Schnur's Greenhouse", and began a large wholesale trade in Butler, specializing in lettuce and other vegetable plants.
George married Maggie Etzel and they had 12 children. He later died in 1934.
William F. Schnur, born in Butler County on August 11, 1886, was one of the 12 children born to George and Maggie Schnur. He married Anna Spohn on June 20, 1911 and continued to work the farm and the greenhouses.
William and Anna also had 12 children. Five (5) daughters: Leola Sarver, Betty Green, Rita Scheibel, Mary Schnur and Ethel Miller. Seven (7) Sons: Gerald, Ronald, Willis, Kenneth, Vernon, Claire (Hunky) and Jerome.
William F. Schnur died on September 4, 1945 and his wife and children continued the business. Anna Schnur took pride in the flowers and vegetables grown in the greenhouse and since she still lived in the original homestead, she frequently walked through the greenhouses until her death on December 1, 1974.
Willis R. Schnur, born in Butler County on September 12, 1930, was one of the 12 children born to William and Anna Schnur. Willis helped his mother keep the family farm and greenhouse business going. On June 21, 1952, Willis married Kathryn L. Kuciak. They bought the greenhouse business from his mother in 1952 and since they no longer farmed the land, Willis built their home on the site where the old barn once stood.
Willis and Kathryn have five children: James, Barbara, Anna, Jerome and Marlene. As time went by, Willis made many renovations and improvements to the greenhouse. From 1964 to 1969, he built two new larger glass greenhouses to replace the old ones. In the 1970's, he also added 2 plastic houses.
Willis and Kathryn's son, James A., worked at the greenhouse all of his life. In 1990, he quit his job at the Municipality of Summit Township to work for his father full-time. He married Cindy Hesidenz on September 1, 1979. They have 2 children. Gregory and Scott, who also work at the greenhouse.
In 1994, Willis decided it was time to retire and turned the business over to James.
James A. and Cindy Schnur presently own and operate the greenhouse.
His oldest son, Gregory J. Schnur, married Linsey A. Westerman of Freeport on October 8, 2015. They have a son, William J. Schnur. He has two step children, Dylan and Olivia.
James' youngest son Scott W. Schnur has two sons, Caleb J. Schnur and Jordan J. Schnur, and one daughter Maura J. Schnur.
Many additions and changes have taken place over the last 125+ years as we continue to grow.