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The Kluttz FamilyFamily History Project

-Meagan Kluttz

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Kinship-a cultural value, connecting the individual to

other people, to land, to community, to history, and to

identity..

My family’s story represents how traditions are passed on within

entrepreneurships; and relates to how the American Dream can be achieved

through hard work and dedication over time.

+Immigration from Germany..

Johann Jacob Klotz left Germany & came to America in 1743.

Settled in Piedmont North Carolina (Rowan County)

The Klotz descendants served within the continental Army, in the Revolutionary War, with the South in the Civil War, & with the US Army in WWI.

During the time of the Great Depression (early 1930’s) Johann’s great-great-great grandson: Elbert Welker Kluttz decided to start a piano business.

+Map

Rowan County Where we settled, stayed, and all still live today.

+Family Tree:

Miles Welker Kluttz

John Burley Kluttz Elbert Welker Kluttz

Harry Lee Kluttz.

Harry Lee Kluttz Jr.

Darren Kluttz

Meagan Kluttz

Paul Lee Kluttz

Paul Lee Kluttz Jr.

Ray Kluttz

Jonathan Kluttz

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“Music was always a big part of the family, so now we share our love with friends & neighbors.”-Jonathan Kluttz

Kluttz Piano Company ownners..

Lee Kluttzfirst generation

+It’s a family tradition..

Kluttz Piano then.. Founded in 1931 by Elbert Kluttz-

two old warehouses combined

Started the business to supplement his job with the Southern Railroad during the Great Depression to support his family

Restore/repair heirloom pianos to new-like condition.

Paul Lee & Ray Kluttz took over the business in 1950 after their father passed away in a train accident

“Inside the walls of Kluttz Piano Company in Granite Quarry, old can become new, and forgotten can become remembered, as one family keeps alive a piano restoration business that opened more than 75 years ago.”

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Kluttz Piano now..

Owners: Elbert’s grandsons- Paul Lee Kluttz & Jonathan Kluttz

Services: tuning, moving, restoration, storage, and fire & water repair.

Location: 7645 Highway 52 Salisbury, NC 28146

Hours: M-F (9-5) & Sat. (10-2)

www.kluttzpiano.com

+A well-known entrepreneur of

the family..

(Elbert’s brother) worked in the granite quarries as a young man, was a founder Kluttz Piano, opened a motel in Harkers Island (owned it for years), & worked at the railroad.

When WWII began, he was considered too old for military service & ordered to work for the Southern Railway

Started with the railroad on August 18, 1942 as a fireman, he began repairing locomotives, & eventually worked his way up to engineer

“Uncle Lee”

+“The American Dream”

The American Dream is not the same for everyone, for some people it may be to travel some place across the world or to just be successful.

Back then these ideas were mainly focused on land ownership and establishing successful business which would normally generate happiness.

Each “dream” suggests that all people can succeed through hard work, and have the potential to live happy, successful lives.

Kluttz Piano Company has achieved the American Dream by establishing a business & surviving the Great Depression, developing with time, and passing family traditions from generation to generation.

Still up and running today back home, is the old warehouse where it all began and will continue, as long as it is possible.

+Primary Sources:

Graff, Michael. "Keys to the Past." Our State North Carolina. www.ourstate.com/keys-to-the-past/http:// (accessed April 20, 2012).

Huffman, Steve. "A Homecoming of Sorts." Salisbury Post, September 2, 2007.

Kluttz, Jonathan. " Kluttz Piano." Kluttz Piano. http://kluttzpiano.com/ (accessed April 6, 2012).

Kluttz, Ralph. The Descendants of Johann Jacob Klotz in America 1960-1990. Charlotte: Ralph Dean Kluttz, 1990.

+Secondary Sources:

“Family, Land, and Community,” exerpt from Beaver, Patricia D. Rural Community in the Appalachian South. Prospects Heights, IL: Waveland Press, Inc., 1992.

Kemp, David. "Rethinking the American Dream." Vanity Fair, April 2009.

Petrucelli, Kathy Sanford. 1991. The Heritage of Rowan County, North Carolina. Salisbury, N.C.: Genealogical Society of Rowan County.

Raynor, George. 1991. People and places in old Rowan. Salisbury, NC: Salisbury Post.

Rumple, Jethro. 1974. A history of Rowan County, North Carolina; containing sketches of prominent families and distinguished men. Baltimore: Regional Pub. Co.

Salisbury & Rowan County, North Carolina, 1973-1974. 1973. Woodland Hills, Calif: Windsor Publications.