Our Roots in the Akron Community

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The Charles and Salome Reymann Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization established in 1967 to continue the good works of its namesakes.

The Charles and Salome Reymann Foundation, believes that all individuals with disabilities should develop their talents to their full potential and enjoy a life that is as independent as possible.

The Charles and Salome Foundation: Family Roots in Greater Akron

The Foundation was established by descendants of Charles and Salome Reymann. Charles and Salome were immigrants from Alsace-Lorraine who individually arrived in the United States.

Charles was skilled in the foundry trade. He first worked in his homeland, then spent a few years in Austria and Switzerland. Sponsored by an American couple, he emigrated to the U.S., taking a foundry job in St. Louis.

Old Black and White Portrait of Founders Charles and Salome Reymann

He learned that Akron, Ohio was home to both a strong foundry industry as well as a close-knit Alsatian community. There, Charles and his first wife Mary began to raise their three children. Shortly after the birth of their fourth child, Mary died of pneumonia.

Members of the Alsatian communities in Akron and Cleveland helped Charles with his children, including Salome Zaber, who grew to love Charles’ children. Salome admired this good hearted, hard working man.

Charles and Salome were married on May 3, 1906, at St. Bernard’s Church near downtown Akron. Their family grew, adding more children during their long marriage.

Charles Reymann and the other fellow Alsatian immigrants started the Atlantic Foundry – named for the great ocean they crossed to follow their dreams in America. This business thrived until the 1980s. They also established the Akron Mattress Company, which was later renamed the San Hygene Furniture Company, manufacturers of bedding as well as the originators of Bourbon Barrel furniture.

In business and civic life as business owners and influential members of the growing Akron community, the Reymanns partnered with others to make their community a better place by putting into practice the teachings they took seriously in their Roman Catholic faith. In fact, they considered buying a farm outside of town to live and raise their big family, but Salome rejected the idea because it would be too far away from Catholic schools.

Along the way, Charles and Salome Reymann raised a large family of 16 children. They taught their children and grandchildren the meaning of “love your neighbor as yourself.”