311 Lafayette Street in New Bethlehem, PA, stands as a living landmark of the region’s industrial heritage and its evolution over more than a century. This three-story building has served many purposes – from an office for a groundbreaking tile manufacturing company at the turn of the 20th century, to the headquarters of a major mid-century construction firm, to its modern rebirth as a technology hub. Below is a comprehensive historical narrative of the building and its occupants, followed by a chronological timeline of key events.

History – TechReady Professionals – New Bethlehem PA

Origins: The New Bethlehem Tile Company (1898–1973)

In the late 1890s, the Lower family established the New Bethlehem Tile Company, ushering in an era of industrial growth for the town. Brothers Charles M. Lower and George W. Lower, together with George’s enterprising son Ira Ellsworth Lower, moved to New Bethlehem from Ohio upon discovering rich clay deposits and natural gas in the area. Around 1898–1899 they built a modern hollow-tile manufacturing plant on the outskirts of town, near the Redbank Creek and the Pennsylvania Railroad line (the rail corridor now serves as the Redbank Valley Trail). The site was ideal: clay was dug from the hillside above the factory, and a network of 28 natural gas wells provided ample fuel for the kilns, allowing continuous high-temperature firing of their ceramic building blocks.

The Lower’s operation, originally known as the Canton Hollow Tile Works (a nod to their previous venture in Canton, Ohio), quickly gained renown for its innovative products. Their signature output was an 8×8×16-inch salt-glazed, rock-faced hollow tile, a sturdy structural block with a stone-like textured face that was used in foundations and walls. This product became a construction staple in the region – many local buildings were erected using these distinctive tiles, which gave the appearance of rusticated stone but were lighter and hollow inside for insulation and ease of handling. The New Bethlehem Tile Company pioneered manufacturing techniques that would be emulated nationwide. Notably, it was reportedly the first plant to reuse waste heat from its hot kilns to dry freshly molded “green” tiles, an efficient process soon adopted by brick and tile makers across the country. The Lower family’s tile works was also the only company in the world to manufacture the original 8×8×16″ salt-glazed, rock-faced building tile continuously for over 50 years, a testament to the company’s enduring success and regional significance.

History – TechReady Professionals – New Bethlehem PA

The New Bethlehem Tile Company’s plant along Redbank Creek, as seen in 1933. The sprawling yard and kilns were capable of large-scale output – a period photograph is captioned “Feby 16 – 1933: 11,500 Tons!”, marking a production milestone during the Great Depression. The facility’s longevity and innovations made it a leader in the clay products industry, serving builders across western Pennsylvania for decades.

History – New Bethlehem Tile Co. – TechReady Professionals – New Bethlehem PA (courtesy of Holly Jo Look)

At its height, the New Bethlehem Tile Company was a major employer and a point of pride for the community. The Lower family not only managed the tile plant but also engaged in other enterprises (they had interests in a local gas supply, an auto “super service” garage, and even helped build the Bostonia Country Club around 1922). Their tile business, however, remained the cornerstone. By 1900, the Lowers had constructed a dedicated office building in town at 311 Lafayette Street to oversee operations. Fittingly, this office was built using their own hollow tiles – a handsome three-story structure showcasing the very product they manufactured. For many years, this building (located at the corner of Lafayette and Spruce Street) served as the Tile Plant Office, the administrative and sales headquarters of the company. Inside, architects, builders, and clients could see examples of the rock-faced tiles in action, and the sturdy edifice advertised the material’s durability. A Pennsylvania state historical survey notes that the building at 311 Lafayette was likely built in the first decade of the 1900s, coinciding with the tile works’ early growth.

History – New Bethlehem Tile Co. – TechReady Professionals – New Bethlehem PA (courtesy of Ronald Carlson)

Throughout the first half of the 20th century, the New Bethlehem Tile Company’s hollow blocks were used in countless projects, from homes to industrial facilities, leaving a lasting architectural legacy in the region. An historical marker along today’s Redbank Valley Trail (near mile 19.1, by the old plant site) displays photos and tells the story of the tile works and the many structures built from its blocks. By the mid-1900s, Ira E. Lower’s sons – Clarence, Harold, and Lloyd Lower – had taken up leadership, keeping the business in the family. The tile plant weathered the ups and downs of the economy, including the post-war shift toward new building materials. However, demand for traditional clay tile eventually waned as cheaper concrete masonry units became popular. After approximately 75 years of operation, the Lower family era came to a close. In 1973, the Lowers sold the New Bethlehem Tile Company to Mt. Savage Refractories Co. of Pittsburgh, a fire-brick manufacturing firm. The venerable tile plant was subsequently shut down, ending production and leaving behind the quiet clay pits and kilns by Redbank Creek. The office at 311 Lafayette Street, having outlasted its original purpose, was about to transition into a new chapter.

Fowkes Construction Era (1960s–1990s)

As the tile industry chapter closed, a new use for 311 Lafayette Street emerged in the mid-20th century. The building became home to Fowkes Construction Company, a general contracting firm owned and operated by brothers Corbin R. Fowkes and Burton “Burt” Fowkes. Corbin, a Navy veteran and skilled bricklayer, and his brother Burt, an Army veteran and owner of Fowkes Masonry & Concrete Contractors, turned their family name into a local brand synonymous with quality construction. By the early 1960s, the Fowkes brothers had established their company and were taking on building projects across the “Tri-County” region (the greater Clarion, Armstrong, and Jefferson County area). They eventually acquired 311 Lafayette St. as their office and base of operations, recognizing the solid old tile building as an ideal headquarters. A newspaper advertisement from 1977 lists Fowkes Construction Co. at 311 Lafayette Street, New Bethlehem, confirming that the building was firmly in use as the Fowkes company offices by that time.

History – New Bethlehem Tile Co. – Fowkes Construction – TechReady Professionals – New Bethlehem PA

Under Fowkes Construction, the building at 311 Lafayette buzzed with activity for roughly three decades. The firm grew to employ over 40 workers, including masons, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and laborers, making it one of the larger contractors in the county during that era. Fowkes Construction offered full-service general contracting, tackling everything from residential masonry jobs to commercial building projects. They were known for their craftsmanship in brick and block (no doubt aided by Corbin and Burt’s masonry background) and their ability to handle plumbing and electrical work in-house – a one-stop solution for construction needs. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Fowkes Construction built and renovated schools, churches, businesses, and homes throughout the Tri-County area, earning a strong reputation in the community. Local residents still recall seeing the company’s fleet of trucks and crews headed to job sites, and Fowkes Construction’s projects dotted the region – they even assembled pre-engineered metal buildings as authorized dealers for Star Building Systems, reflecting the firm’s versatility.

The Fowkes brothers not only ran their business out of 311 Lafayette but also made it their home. Corbin Fowkes and his wife Eileen resided in a spacious apartment encompassing the building’s second and third floors, while the first floor functioned as offices and a workshop/storage area for the company. This living-and-working arrangement made the building a true family enterprise hub. Neighbors and employees remember that the smell of sawdust, fresh lumber, and coffee often wafted from the first-floor door in the mornings, while lights glowed in the upstairs windows at night – the Fowkes were likely poring over blueprints at the dining room table or doing paperwork by lamplight. The presence of the owners on-site gave the company a friendly, approachable image, and many young tradesmen in the New Bethlehem area got their start under the Fowkes’ mentorship. By the early 1990s, however, the Fowkes Construction era drew to a close. Corbin and Burt grew older and eventually retired from the building business (Corbin Fowkes passed away in 2019 at age 88 | Burton Fowkes passed away in 2019 at 84). The closure of Fowkes Construction marked the end of another chapter for 311 Lafayette Street, leaving the building once again in search of a new purpose.

Dormancy and Transition (1990s–2010s)

After the Fowkes Construction Company ceased operations, the grand old building at 311 Lafayette entered a period of relative quiet. Through the 1990s and into the early 2000s, the first-floor storefront – once busy with contractors and clients – went dark. The workbenches, drafting tables, and supply rooms of the former construction office stood largely untouched, gathering dust. While the ground level sat dormant, the upper floors continued to serve as a residence. For a time, the second-and-third-floor apartment where the Fowkes family had lived was rented out to tenants, maintaining some life in the building. Long-term residents of New Bethlehem recall a few different families and individuals occupying the upstairs apartment over the years, enjoying the central location in town and the solid comfort of the structure.

History – New Bethlehem Tile Co. – Fowkes Construction – TechReady Professionals – New Bethlehem PA

Despite these tenants upstairs, the historic first floor remained vacant for nearly two decades. Its large display windows on Lafayette Street looked out onto the sidewalk with drawn curtains or shades, and the only regular visitors were maintenance workers or landlords checking on the property. The building’s exterior – constructed of durable salt-glazed tiles and brick – held up well, though by the 2000s it showed signs of age: an occasional cracked window pane, weathered paint on trim, and a fading memory of its past signage. In the community’s memory, 311 Lafayette was still fondly known as the “old tile company office” or the “Fowkes building,” but it appeared to be another of the town’s sleeping historic structures, awaiting renewal. Fortunately, that renewal came in the next decade, when a young local entrepreneur saw potential in the venerable building and decided to bring it back to life.

TechReady Professionals and Restoration (2010s–Present)

The revival of 311 Lafayette Street began in the early 2010s when Gordon V. Barrows, a New Bethlehem native and tech entrepreneur, purchased the property. Barrows – known for his deep community involvement (eventually serving as Mayor of New Bethlehem) and passion for technology – envisioned the old building as the perfect headquarters for his growing IT and web services company, TechReady Professionals, Inc. Founded in 2010, TechReady Professionals had quickly become a leading technology firm in the region, offering computer sales and repair, networking solutions, and web development services to businesses and individuals across Clarion, Armstrong, and Jefferson counties. The opportunity to restore 311 Lafayette Street not only gave TechReady a permanent home but also allowed Barrows to preserve a piece of local history, bridging the town’s industrial past with its digital future.

History – TechReady Professionals – New Bethlehem PA

Restoration work on the building was extensive and thoughtful. The long-neglected first floor was cleaned out and renovated into a modern office space while retaining historical touches. Original elements – were preserved or refinished whenever possible, blending early 20th-century architecture with 21st-century functionality. The second and third floors, which had been a single large apartment, were reconfigured to serve the business’s needs. What was once a family living space is now an integral part of TechReady’s operations: a full kitchenette and breakroom (where employees gather for coffee amid glimpses of the building’s old framing and brick), a conference room occupying what may have been the former living room, and several private offices and workstations in the former bedrooms. Each room was adapted to office use while honoring the structure’s character – for instance, the conference room retains original decorative shelving/drawers as a nod to the past, and the staircase linking the second and third floors, once used by the Fowkes family, now connects TechReady’s departments.

History – TechReady Professionals – Outside Exterior – New Bethlehem PA

The historic building at 311 Lafayette Street, photographed in recent years as the home of TechReady Professionals. The structure’s exterior is built from the very product it once promoted – New Bethlehem’s distinctive rock-faced hollow tiles – giving it the appearance of a stone block building. In its modern restored state, the building continues to serve the community, now as a technology business office, while retaining its early 1900s architectural charm.

Since TechReady Professionals opened its doors at 311 Lafayette, the building has regained its status as a hub of daily activity in New Bethlehem and the greater Redbank Valley community. The front office, once again lit up and staffed, now greets clients seeking IT assistance or web design consultations rather than tile orders or construction plans. Under Barrows’ stewardship, TechReady has embraced its role not only as a business but as a community partner. The company actively participates in local initiatives – from supporting the Redbank Valley Historical Society to collaborating with the Redbank Valley Chamber of Commerce – often hosting meetings in its conference room and sharing the building’s story with visitors. By highlighting the building’s history on walking tours and in local media, TechReady ensures that newer generations appreciate the legacy of the site. The transformation of the old tile office into a modern tech firm headquarters is a point of pride in the town: it symbolizes adaptive reuse and preservation, demonstrating how even as New Bethlehem’s economy transitions from clay tiles to computer code, its heritage is not forgotten. Through TechReady Professionals, the Lower family’s and Fowkes’ legacy at 311 Lafayette Street continues, albeit in a thoroughly modern incarnation, proving that this storied building can keep pace with the times.

History – TechReady Professionals – Board/Conference Room – New Bethlehem PA

Chronological Timeline of 311 Lafayette Street

• 1898–1899: Brothers Charles M. Lower and George W. Lower (along with George’s son Ira E. Lower) establish the New Bethlehem Tile Company. They construct a tile manufacturing plant just east of New Bethlehem by Redbank Creek, taking advantage of abundant high-quality clay and natural gas in the area. Around this time, an office building made of the company’s own hollow tiles is built at 311 Lafayette Street to serve as the Tile Plant Office (circa 1900).

• 1900s–1920s: The tile works thrives. The Lower family introduces technical innovations – notably the use of waste kiln heat to dry green tile – and produces a unique 8×8×16″ salt-glazed, rock-faced hollow tile continuously for decades. New Bethlehem Tile Company becomes a regional leader in building materials; its hollow tiles are used in many local structures and beyond. The office at 311 Lafayette is a downtown fixture where orders are taken and plans drawn. Ira E. Lower’s sons join the business, keeping it family-run into the third generation.

• February 1933: A photograph of the tile plant yards dated February 16, 1933, notes “11,500 Tons” of output – highlighting a production record or cumulative milestone during the Great Depression. The company endures through economic hard times, testament to steady demand for its building tiles even as construction slowed nationally in the 1930s.

• Post-WWII 1940s–1960s: The construction industry evolves with new materials (like cinder block), gradually reducing the dominance of structural clay tile. The New Bethlehem Tile Co. continues operations but on a smaller scale. By the late 1960s, the founding family prepares to exit the business. The office building at 311 Lafayette may see reduced use as the aging Lower family winds down activities.

• 1973: After roughly 74 years in business, the Lower family sells the New Bethlehem Tile Company to Mt. Savage Refractories Co. of Pittsburgh (a fire-brick manufacturer). The plant is closed shortly thereafter, ending the tile production era in New Bethlehem. The historic office building at 311 Lafayette Street is no longer needed by the company, opening the door for new occupants.

• 1960s–1970s: (Overlap in era) Meanwhile, Fowkes Construction Company – founded in the early 1960s by brothers Corbin and Burt Fowkes – rises as a prominent local builder. By the mid-1970s, Fowkes Construction acquires 311 Lafayette Street for its headquarters. In a 1977 newspaper ad the firm is listed at that address. The building’s first floor becomes offices and workshops for the construction company, while the second and third floors serve as Corbin Fowkes’ family apartment.

• 1980s: Fowkes Construction Company is at its peak, employing 40+ workers and serving clients across Clarion, Armstrong, Jefferson, and surrounding counties. The company completes numerous projects (schools, churches, commercial buildings), and 311 Lafayette Street is well-known locally as “Fowkes Construction” – a place to inquire about building services. The Fowkes family’s presence in the upstairs apartment continues through this time, blending home and business under one roof.

• Early 1990s: The Fowkes brothers retire and Fowkes Construction winds down operations. By about 1991–1992, the company has effectively closed, and the building at 311 Lafayette is no longer an active business site. Corbin and his wife relocate to Washington Street home, leaving the apartment vacant or to be rented out.

• 1990s–2000s: The building enters a dormant period. The second and third-floor apartment is rented to various tenants over the years, but the ground-floor commercial space remains empty and largely untouched. The structure, still owned by the Fowkes family, stands solid but underutilized in downtown New Bethlehem. Its past life as a tile company office and construction HQ lives on in local memory, even as the building awaits revival.

• 2010 (TechReady Founded): TechReady Professionals, Inc. is founded by Gordon Barrows Jr. (a New Bethlehem native) as a technology services company. Initially operating on a small scale, the business grows quickly, serving the Tri-County area with IT support and web design.

• Early 2010s: Gordon V. Barrows Jr. purchases 311 Lafayette Street and undertakes a major renovation to house TechReady Professionals. The building’s first floor is renovated into modern offices, and the former upstairs apartment is converted into TechReady’s conference room, breakroom, and additional offices. Care is taken to preserve the building’s historic character – original architectural features and even some of the old tile construction are retained as design elements.

• Mid-2010s to Present: 311 Lafayette Street comes back to life as the home of TechReady Professionals. The company becomes one of western Pennsylvania’s leading tech firms, providing computer sales/repairs, network solutions, and web development. The building once again bustles with daily activity – now with servers and laptops instead of kiln records and toolkits. As of today, the structure continues to serve the community, symbolizing over 120 years of adaptive reuse. From the Lower family’s tile office to the Fowkes’ construction base to Barrows’ tech company, 311 Lafayette Street remains a proud link between New Bethlehem’s past and present, its sturdy walls housing stories of industry, innovation, and hometown enterprise.

Our office is located one hour north of Pittsburgh, southern Clarion County in New Bethlehem PA.

Call or Text: 814.275.6714  ♦  311 Lafayette Street New Bethlehem, PA. 16242