By Beth Scherer
of the Lower Pottsgrove Historical Society,
for The Sanatoga Post
It's still atop the hill in Sanatoga, although the exterior has changed
SANATOGA PA – One of Sanatoga’s best known home-grown businesses was busy again during the just-ended holiday season, helping would-be Santas fulfill the gift hopes of loved ones and family members. For those who wished for a new oven in which to bake cookies, or hungered for a high-definition flat-screen television, many opted to buy from the family-operated Sanatoga Corporation, 2783 E. High St.
Sanatoga Corporation has served Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township residents and the greater Pottstown community for more 80 years.
Door-to-door radio sales launched the Sanatoga Radio Company
Oliver Wittenmyer, born as Oliver Doner, was the company’s founder. Oliver grew up in Sanatoga and started the Sanatoga Radio Company in 1925, by traveling to New York City to purchase radio parts. He then assembled the radios and sold them door to door.
Radio sales were eventually discontinued, but by then Oliver had expanded his product line to include home appliances. Sanatoga Radio Company soon became a full-service appliance store, and in the early 1960s the name of the store was changed to Sanatoga Corporation.
Charles Wittenmyer bought the business from his father in 1970, and remains its owner. The store and showroom remain in the original location, and Charles’ children – Bryan, Karen, and Connie – all are involved in the business, along with a long-time staff.
Charles Wittenmyer was a recent guest speaker at the Lower Pottsgrove Historical Society. He is a distant relative of Annie Wittenmyer, civil war heroine and Sanatoga native, and he spoke of Annie’s many contributions to the community. In addition, Sanatoga Corporation recently donated a new television and outdoor lighting to the society headquarters at the former Sanatoga Chapel on East High Street. The TV will be used for Lower Pottsgrove history presentations; the lighting will be a great addition to improvements at the chapel.
Editor’s note: The Lower Pottsgrove Historical Society was formed in 1985 to share the heritage of Lower Pottsgrove Township with its residents. It meets on the second Wednesday of every month from April through December at its museum and offices in the former Sanatoga Chapel, 2341 E. High St., Sanatoga PA. Author and society President Beth Scherer writes about Lower Pottsgrove history monthly for The Post.
Articles in this series:
- Family Appliance Business Has Long History In Santa-toga
- Love NASCAR Now? You Would Have Adored Sanatoga
- Timeless Treasures Fill Historical Society Chapel Offices
- Hilltop’s Still Making History, 59 Years After Opening
- Historic Answer To Heat: Township Swimmin’ Holes
- Need A Local Hotel? There Once Were Four, Right Here
- What’s Changed Most In ‘Grove Grads? Their Schools
- Shantz’s Mound Presence Made Sanatoga ‘Pheverous’
- Stars Danced In Lower Pottsgrove Long Before TV Show
- Never Heard Of Sanatoga’s Longview Hotel? Here’s Why
Photo from the Lower Pottsgrove Historical Society
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[...] Family Appliance Business Has Long History In Santa-toga The family-operated Sanatoga Corporation got its start here when its founder began assembling radios and selling them door-to-door. They made great holiday gifts in the 1920s, just like larger appliances sold there during the just-ended holidays. [...]
[...] Family Appliance Business Has Long History In Santa-toga The family-operated Sanatoga Corporation got its start here when its founder began assembling radios and selling them door-to-door. They made great holiday gifts in the 1920s, just like larger appliances sold there during the just-ended holidays. [...]