Votruba Leather Co.

Traverse City was just beginning to show promise in 1874 when Frank Votruba started a tiny harness shop in a wooden building on the edge of the Boardman river behind the Traverse City State Bank. One has to wonder if he ever envisioned that his shop would still be thriving 140+ years later. Frank immigrated to East Jordan from Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, in 1870, according to Gretchen Votruba, who married Frank’s son, William. In 1874 he moved to Traverse City and opened the Votruba Harness Company downtown, making and repairing all sorts of horse gear. He had been trained in leather work in Czechoslovakia and was a certified leather man. In 1878 Frank married Amelia Bartack who was born here in 1856. Amelia’s brother, Tony Bartack, formed a partnership with Charlie Wilhelm and Frank Votruba to build the City Opera House building, a feat which was accomplished in 1891. When the City Opera House was completed, Frank moved the Votruba Harness Company into the east third of the ground floor. While the retail end of the business was located there, he also had a harness repair shop in an attached building out back, which is still there today. Frank and Amelia’s son, William took over the store during the 1920’s after he returned from World War I.