Demuth Tobacco Shop 

The most unique type of family succession in the tobacco business is the cigar and tobacco establishment of H. C. Demuth, 114 East King Street, Lancaster, which is said to be the oldest tobacco shop in the United States. The Demuth business was established in 1770 by Christopher Demuth. According to the records, he was a manufacturer and vendor of both snuff and cigars. After forty-four years of business, starting under the rule of King George III and enduring through the Revolution, Christopher sold the tobacco shop to his son, Jacob Demuth.

Jacob Demuth continued running the shop until his death in 1842. Emanuel E. Demuth, oldest son of Jacob, succeeded to the business on the death of his father. But after operating it for about one year, he sold it to his brother Lawrence I. Demuth. In 1853, Lawrence resold the property and business to Emanuel until 1864, when a younger brother, Henry C. Demuth, who continued in possession until his death in 1906, purchased the business. Upon the death of Henry, the business passed to his sons Ferdinand A. (father of Charles Demuth) and Harry. Ferdinand ran the Tobacco Shop while Harry managed the snuff and cigar factory on E. Mifflin Street. The Demuth brand of cigars were the "Golden Lion", and the door to 116 East King Street, the residence of Charles' grandparents, and later his aunt and uncle and cousins, located next door to the Tobacco Shop, is painted gold with a lion door knocker. Ferdinand and Harry formed a partnership, which lasted until Ferdinand’s death just five years after the joint ownership began. Charles Demuth, Ferdinand’s son, and Augusta Demuth, his wife, inherited Ferdinand’s share in the business, which they sold to his Uncle Harry for $6,000. This money was added to a $10,000.00 trust fund Ferdinand had established from which they received a monthly income. 

When Ferdinand passed away, his brother Harry took over the business. Harry passed the business to his son Christopher, and when Christopher passed away, his wife Dorothea ran the shop until health issues forced her to sell the business. The shop continued to run under the name Demuth’s Tobacco until 2010, the oldest tobacco shop in the United States. Demuth’s was more than just a place to buy tobacco. Like restaurants, bars, and barber shops, it was a meeting place where people gathered to gossip and share the latest news. Its close proximity to the courthouse meant a steady stream of influential judges and lawyers visited. This contributed to the shopkeeper’s role in civic engagement and led several generations of Demuths to serve on the Chamber of Commerce.

The Demuth Tobacco shop is no longer an active store, and tobacco products are not available to purchase. Occasionally, the space is opened for special events at the Demuth Foundation. A display in the storefront window at 114 East King Street, Lancaster, offers viewers information about the shop and historic artifacts.

Take a virtual tour featuring the history of the Demuth Tobacco Shop & Snuff Mill! Learn more about the Demuth's family history, Lancaster's tobacco manufacturing, the shop & snuff mill, and how the family business influenced the art of Charles Demuth.