A Business Relationship that Stands the Test of Time
Lancaster City’s track record of cultivating many long-lasting organizations and businesses is evident by the list of names you see dotted throughout the city. The establishment and continued operation of these headquarters has been an engine for sustained growth, with some notable entries including F&M College, LNP, Cargas, Fulton Financial, Fulton Theatre, Central Market—the list goes on.
A surprising name added back to this list in 2023 was Hamilton Watch. With the opening of their first standalone store location in the US, they once again have a presence downtown after being absent for over 50 years. Hamilton is celebrating this continued history in the city where the brand was founded 132 years ago with a new boutique store and museum.
Warfel Construction completed the renovations to this boutique earlier this summer, providing the final touches to finish the space. As the project wrapped up, our team discovered an old photo that revealed an 83-year-long history between our two companies. Stroll through the past with us to learn about the founding of the Hamilton Watch Company, where they went in the 1970s, and the many surprising connections between this international watch brand, Warfel Construction, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The Founding of an Iconic Brand
The Hamilton Watch Company was established in 1892, being named after Andrew Hamilton, an attorney who was one of the original founders of Lancaster County in the 1720s and 1730s. In fact, he was the original owner of the site on which the watch factory was situated. During this period, Hamilton produced pocket watches to help America’s railroads run on time, and wristwatches for soldiers in World War I and World War II.
Early 1900s: Hamilton Expands and Warfel Founded
Hamilton’s continued growth during this period required expansions to their campus with various additions and renovations. Beginning as a much smaller factory, their headquarters grew into a complex of buildings which remains recognizable today. The second clock tower was added in 1916, creating the iconic and majestic structure viewed from Columbia Avenue downtown. Other extensions and landscaping projects were completed throughout the early 1900s and into the 1930s.
During this time, Warfel Construction was founded by David S. Warfel in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A Lancaster Business College graduate with a few years of experience under his belt, D.S. Warfel, then 28, decided that the growing Lancaster County could use a new general contracting firm. With his friend, Harry W. Peters, he established the D.S. Warfel, General Contractor firm in 1911.
The beginning of his legacy started when he took his first job constructing a small church downtown. A reputation for good work and fair prices quickly brought about many referrals. The Lancaster Train Station, completed in 1929, was one of the first major projects Warfel completed during the company’s early years.
Hamilton and Warfel’s business relationship started in 1941 when construction began on the 4-story administrative office addition to the front of complex. Between 1941 and the 1970s, Warfel also renovated various areas of their facility, along with adding a boiler room, toilets, garages, loading platforms, connecting corridors, a vault, engineering laboratory, among other small additions.
1960s, 70s, 80s: Hamilton Moves to Switzerland
Hamilton acquired the Buren Watch Company in 1966 and began to transition their operations to a new headquarters in Switzerland. Manufacturing was also incrementally moved to the Buren factory over the next few years, with most production ending at the Lancaster facility by 1969. In 1974, the Hamilton Watch brand was acquired by what would soon become The Swatch Group.
No longer producing watches, what was now Hamilton Technology remained at the Columbia Avenue complex until 1980, when they moved to N Queen Street in Lancaster, about a mile east. Their old factory complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and would eventually become the Clock Towers luxury condominiums that occupy the building today. The administrative building that Warfel built in 1941 now houses the New School Montessori.
Hamilton Technology’s new location was the old Hess’s Department Store at 101 N Queen. They hired Warfel to renovate this new facility to suit their needs, and Warfel completed renovations to the building in 1981 and 1983. These renovations were almost exclusively to the interior of the building, leaving minimal changes to the exterior. Hamilton Technology utilized this space until 1989, when they were acquired by BulovaTech.
Early 2000s: New Clients, Familiar Places
In 2008, Bulova closed their location at 101 N Queen when the company was acquired by another firm and operations were ceased. The building remained untouched until plans started forming to revitalize the space around 2015.
During this time, Warfel created a connection with a new Client for Life when we renovated the Brent L. Miller Jewelers & Goldsmiths location on Manheim Pike in 2014. This project transformed an old automotive repair shop into a beautiful display room, complete with a new glass storefront and reimagined interior. This connection would soon bring Hamilton Watch back to downtown Lancaster through Ryan Miller, son of founder Brent Miller.
In 2015, Warfel was introduced to Zamagias Properties, another new Client for Life. They were looking to reimagine 101 N Queen into a mixed-use property for commercial headquarters, retail space, and luxury condos. Construction began in mid-2017 with demolition to many existing features, leaving only the steel structure and floor decking.
With careful logistics and safety plans to work in the tight city space, the old façade was torn down, the building was renovated, and high-end finishes and design elements were installed. The project was completed in early 2020, and Cargas now occupies the large corporate office space, Starbucks shows visibly on the first-floor corner footprint, and various luxury condos overlook the city on the top floors.
2020s: Hamilton Returns to Lancaster
With connections formed and a value on recreating a strong historical presence in downtown Lancaster, the Hamilton Watch brand returned to the city with the opening of their N Duke Street location in July 2023.
With a passion for bringing Hamilton back to Lancaster, and a previous relationship formed through selling the brand at their jewelry store, Ryan Miller purchased the location, with Swatch Group as the tenant. The building had previously been the Ezra F. Bowman’s Sons retail watch shop and watchmaking school. Ryan’s father, Brent Miller, was a graduate of Bowman Technical School, which was located on the upper floors of the N Duke Street building.
Between Miller’s efforts and the Swatch Group’s desire to have a dedicated location for the Hamilton brand, they worked together to make this dream a reality. While the store was officially opened in 2023, it needed additional work to create a truly showstopping display room. The Swatch Group and Brent Miller Jewelers hired Warfel to enhance the new store, renovating cabinetry and interior finishes to complete the space.
The project started in February 2024 and was finished on time for the opening of the now complete Hamilton Watch boutique in July 2024.
The exterior of the N Duke Street location maintains the Bowman seal on the corner by the window. The new space is both a Hamilton Watch boutique and micro museum for the brand.
On Friday, October 11, Hamilton held a ribbon cutting for the store, followed by a reception. Team members from Hamilton Watch and Swatch Group took an historic horse and carriage ride around Lancaster before arriving at the event. Vivian Stauffer, CEO of Hamilton Watch, spoke about the history of watch making and Hamilton in Lancaster, reflecting much of the early history discussed above. Lancaster Mayor, Danene Sorace and Lancaster City Alliance President, Marshall Snively both spoke to commemorate the event. Many other community members attended to help Hamilton Watch celebrate their return to Lancaster.
Serving Clients Yesterday, Today, and into the Future
Our mission of Clients for Life® means doing such a good job on a project that our clients want to work with us again in the future. We’re proud of the almost century-long relationships we’ve formed with several clients, including Hamilton in all its many forms throughout the years.
While businesses change hands and move locations, the reputation created through fair business practices and quality service lives on. This is evident in Hamilton and Warfel’s business relationship, starting in 1941, continuing through the 20th century, and being reignited in 2024 through the relationships that were built along the way.
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