Blocher Jewelers was founded in Ellwood City in July 1907, by the late
Paul W. Blocher. Mr. Blocher was born in
1875 in Gettysburg and was
educated at Juniata College, Bowman School of Watch-making in Lancaster
and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
His original employment was with the family jewelry store of David
Blocher in Gettysburg. He was employed in the Millard F. Davis Jewelry
Store in Wilmington, Del., had charge of the George B. Evans Drug Store
in Philadelphia, moved to New Castle in 1903 and then came to Ellwood
City in 1907 to go into business for himself. The store’s first location was in
the 600 block of Lawrence Avenue, and then for a brief time was located at
314 6th Street, P.W. Blocher was joined by his daughter Ruth Blocher
Rearic in 1937. Her father, P.W. Blocher died Jan. 19, 1938.
On the heels of the depression, at the age of 30, Ruth developed the
finest lines of merchandise and continued to build the business. She
bought the property at 507 Lawrence Avenue, once Mazer’s clothing store,
on January 29, 1947. Blocher’s opened for business at its current location
on May 23, 1947. Ruth was also the first female to become a registered
jeweler. She was incredibly active and involved in the American Gem
Society and in her community. She went back to college in her 50’s to
obtain her Master’s of Education from the University of Pitt. She had an
unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and was always trying to better the
Ellwood City Business Community and Blocher’s.
In the late 50’s, Ruth was joined by her daughter, third generation, Norma
“Rikki” Blocher Rearic Blank, who also received her Registered Jeweler
Title and was very involved with the American Gem Society. Having
Graduated from Pennsylvania Women’s College (now Chatham) as a concert
pianist, Rikki broadened her horizons, moving to New York, working for
Hensley Wedgewood. She received a wonderful on hands education in
tabletop. She returned to Ellwood City to carry on in this family
tradition. They worked as a mother daughter team until June 1992 when Ruth
passed away, at the age of 85, a month after being crowned Ellwood City’s
Centennial Queen, Rikki continued to further build and expand with the
help of her daughter, Mary Blank DiCaprio, who joined her in July of
1992. Mary, who had just graduated from Washington & Jefferson College
with a BA in English and a minor in Mathematics, began learning the
business, growing and expanding with the world and the industry changes.
In 1999, at the age of 67, Rikki
passed away leaving the business in the hands of her daughter, Mary.
Today, Mary runs the family business with the help of some wonderful
employees. The business employs a total of 7 people, two full time, and
four part time. Mary has completed all necessary courses and currently
holds her registered jeweler title from the Gemological Institute of
America, has earned her Graduate Diamonds Degree, and
hopes to continue along with her loyal staff in the Ellwood City community
for years to come.
Tradition has always been a large part of Blocher Jewelers. As the world
changes, the industry changes, and so does Blocher’s, moving forward with
the times, developing new lines, working with some of the newer trends,
and continuing in the same family traditions of quality and customer
service that were established in 1907. Customer service is primary at
Blocher’s. We feel and have always felt that the customers and service we
offer them is the most important factor in our longevity. Selling quality
can only help to assure that the products we sell, are backed by the
manufacturer and hence, by Blochers. Customer service is something that we
look for in our vendors, because if they don’t service us, we can’t
service you.
Blocher’s strives to uphold the highest ethics of the jewelry industry
through our affiliation with the American Gem Society, the Jewelers of
America, and the Jeweler’s Vigilance Committee while also bringing the
customer fabulous and exciting new products in jewelry and giftware. “We
are jewelers and so much more.”
So stop in and help us celebrate 100 years and four generations that we owe
to you, our customers!
283 State Route 288 Ellwood City,
PA 16117 (Franklin Plaza)
(724) 758-3248 FAX (724) 758-2247
