Claassen Brothers Cigar Factory
Cornelis (Kees) Claassen built a small cigar factory at C 2987 on Kerkeind (now Oude Provincialeweg).
When exactly?
According to Bas Bierkens in his book ‘The Cigar from de Kempen’, in 1885; according to the land registry, in 1889. Or was it 1887? A newspaper report
dated 28 April 1937 stated that Eduard Claassen had co-founded the Aurora cigar factory of the Claassen brothers 50 years earlier.
That would suggest 1887 as the year of foundation, but a letterhead again mentions 1885.
It was built on a plot diagonally opposite the tram stop; a garage now stands on that site.
The plot on which it was built belonged to Grandfather Cornelis Claassen.
There were many small factories at that time; there is a photograph of the Claassen brothers’ cigar factory showing around 25 people.
The start date of…
Cornelis (Kees) Claassen built a small cigar factory at C 2987 on Kerkeind (now Oude Provincialeweg).
When exactly?
According to Bas Bierkens in his book ‘The Cigar from de Kempen’, in 1885; according to the land registry, in 1889. Or was it 1887? A newspaper report
dated 28 April 1937 stated that Eduard Claassen had co-founded the Aurora cigar factory of the Claassen brothers 50 years earlier.
That would suggest 1887 as the year of foundation, but a letterhead again mentions 1885.
It was built on a plot diagonally opposite the tram stop; a garage now stands on that site.
The plot on which it was built belonged to Grandfather Cornelis Claassen.
There were many small factories at that time; there is a photograph of the Claassen brothers’ cigar factory showing around 25 people.
The exact date the cigar factory was founded is not entirely clear, but what is clear is that on 3 November 1900, the brothers Cornelis, Josephus and Eduard set up a general partnership in Hapert under the name ‘Gebr. Claassen’.
It seems they got off to a flying start:
they purchased premises in Reusel , and in 1902 they registered the ‘Orelio’ logo, featuring an image.
This image bears a striking resemblance to the baritone Orelio from ‘De Bossche’.
Later, in 1909, they also registered the ‘Olga’ and ‘Nero’ trademarks.
In 1904, Josephus left the partnership, only to rejoin it in 1907.
In July 1912, the cigar factory burnt down. A few years earlier,
Kees (Jr) had purchased a plot of agricultural land situated next to their home, opposite the burnt-down building. A new factory was immediately built
on this site.
The business grew and a number of extensions were carried out.
The photograph was taken in 1937 to mark the 50th anniversary of Gebr. Claassen. It features nearly 350 people, all employees of the factory. Until 1981,
this building dominated the streetscape at the entrance to Hapert when approaching from Bladel .
In 1981, a major fire destroyed the cigar factory.
The building was demolished and production was moved to Reusel.