[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 142 (Thursday, September 22, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5894]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING HEIMERDINGER CUTLERY

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to one of 
Louisville, KY's oldest and most renowned locally owned businesses, a 
true treasure of my hometown that adds to the River City's charm. I am 
speaking of Heimerdinger Cutlery, a family-owned business that 
celebrates 150 years as a Louisville institution this month. 
Heimerdinger was first listed in the Louisville city directory in 1861 
as ``A. Heimerdinger: Cutler and Sewing Machine Repair.''
  In the 150 years since, Heimerdinger Cutlery has become one of 
Louisville's premier shops for kitchen and pocket knives, scissors, 
shaving needs, sharpening stones, magnifiers and many other items as 
well as a first stop for learning about blade quality. It is one of the 
oldest family-owned cutlery stores in the Nation.
  Heimerdinger Cutlery celebrated its 150th anniversary with a special 
ceremony and ribbon cutting earlier this month in Louisville, kicking 
off a week-long celebration event for its customers. This celebration 
included a special promotion honoring America's servicemen and women.
  Residents of the Louisville area were also able to meet and learn 
from one of the editors of Knife World Newspaper, who came to 
Heimerdinger Cutlery to assess the value of older, collectible knives 
and sign books. Heimerdinger Cutlery also celebrated its anniversary 
with products from another Louisville institution, Louisville 
Stoneware.
  Heimerdinger Cutlery is currently owned and operated by two proud 
Louisvillians, Carl and Glenna Heimerdinger, who carry on the family 
business started in 1861 by Carl's great-great grandfather August 
Heimerdinger, originally born in Germany. When August started the 
company, he focused on scissors, butcher knives and sewing machine 
repair.
  Over the years, Heimerdinger Cutlery expanded into barber and beauty 
supplies and secured the original patent on grass shears. In 1996, to 
celebrate their 135th anniversary, Heimerdinger Cutlery had a ``Hanging 
of the Shears Day,'' and placed a 6-foot-long, 70-pound, working pair 
of shears on display in their store.
  I congratulate Carl and Glenna Heimerdinger for the success of their 
Louisville institution. Businesses like theirs are the reason the city 
of Louisville and the Commonwealth of Kentucky will continue to thrive 
and grow. Here's hoping for many more years of success to Heimerdinger 
Cutlery of Louisville.

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