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Over 155 Years of History
Anton Will
President from 1855 to 1866
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Rosina Will-Eckermann
President from 1855 to 1866
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Louis Will
President from 1895 to 1915
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Anthony Will, 1864-1922
President from 1916 to 1922
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Albert J Will
President from 1922-1926
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Theodore C Eckermann
President from 1926 to 1939
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Howard C Will
President from 1939 to 1962
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Eric Will
President from 1962 to 1968
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Howard Nybo
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Marshall Ciccone
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Jeffrey Fields
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One chapter of the American dream began 155 years ago in the Syracuse backyard of Bavarian immigrant Anton Will. Will and his wife Rosina capitalized on
their knowledge of beeswax and candle making to meet a growing need for high
quality, liturgical candles used in the Catholic mass. Their ingenuity and hard
work spawned an industry of candle making that exists today.
Obtaining beeswax from local farmers, Anton set out to make clean burning
beeswax candles with dedication to quality. The work was hard. Wax was
melted, washed, bleached, then molded and shaped into pure beeswax candles
in a hand made process. With an eye to innovation, Anton quickly developed new
processes to enhance candle manufacturing.
Incorporated in 1855, "The Will Company" prospered until Anton's untimely death
by suicide in 1866. Despite this personal tragedy, Rosina Will quickly stepped in
with courage and an appetite for work, continuing to run the business and even
expand it while raising three young sons. In 1875, Rosina married Christian Eckerman, resulting in the first of many business mergers that was to mark Will &
Baumer's long history.
By 1900, the company had offices throughout the US with production facilities in
several Syracuse locations. In addition, the growing market for high quality liturgical candles resulted in the birth of Syracuse based candle companies that spun
off Will & Baumer's success. Muench-Kruezer, Cathedral Candle, Mack Miller,
and Will & Baumer-Mexico are among those companies still operating today.
In 1903, Will & Baumer offices were moved to a new location on the corner end
of Onondaga Parkway, that later became the permanent site of the factory and
shipping complex. A 100 foot candle was painted on the boiler house smokestack
to remind all Syracuse of the importance of this industry. Repainted in 1982, the
hallmark candle continues to serve as a beacon for travelers heading north on Interstate 81.
Always a visionary company, Will & Baumer focused interest in continual development of materials, methods and machinery. Research for new and better
waxes, automation and upgrading of methods became company policy. Candles
patented by Will & Baumer to meet the specialized needs of the church included
the Vigil Light (1910), Sanctolite lamps (1925) and the Lux Domini Sanctolite
(1945).
Successful advertising campaigns like the quarterly publication of "Altar Boy"
magazine, added to the brand recognition of Will & Baumer candles. "Altar Boy"
magazines and calendars were brought to churches by Will & Baumer's large
force of candle salesmen for many decades. Will & Baumer also pioneered the
well-received practice of presenting priests with commemorative 25th and 50th
anniversary candles. Later MYM Incentive trips introduced a new marketing strategy, creating indelible images of the world on the hearts and minds of Will &
Baumers's best customers.
From its founding until 1972, ownership of Will & Baumer remained within the
Will, Baumer and Eckerman families. Anton and Rosina's sons, Louis, Anthony
and Albert, built a strong, successful company that succeeding generations were
able to navigate throughout most of the 20th century. The Will's were model citizens of Syracuse, helping the city in many civic and government capacities. Louis
Will even served a term as mayor of Syracuse. A third generation led the company until Eric Will's untimely death at his office desk in 1968.
Upon Eric's passing. Leonard Markert was named president, the first non-family
member to hold that position. Markert guided the company till 1972, when Will &
Baumer's strong market leadership attracted the interests of outside companies.
At that time, The Syracuse China company purchased Will & Baumer, whose
only remaining family employee was great grandson Dick Will.
As changing business conditions and corporate competition influenced decision
making, Will & Baumer's ownership changed hands five times in the next 20
years. Throughout that time period, leadership of the company was entrusted to
Howard Nybo, recruited as general manager in 1978, then promoted to president
shortly thereafter.
Nybo,, along with partners Marshall Ciccone and Jeff Fields, spearheaded a final ownership change in 1994
when they brought the company back under owner management. Nybo has led the company into the new millennium while overseeing a staff that encounters increasing challenges in the marketplace.
Despite those challenges, loyal employees and retirees gather annually at Christmas to celebrate the company's successes and honor workers for their years of service. Loyalty among employees, dealers and suppliers are the backbone of Will & Baumer's long history of success. New president Marshall Ciccone is charged
with the responsibility for maintaining that defining characteristic after the recent retirement of Howard Nybo.
In 2008 a group of investors with strong industry ties purchased the business along with Marshall Ciccone
and Jeffrey Fields and with a promise to strengthen the brand and grow the business have moved the company to Tennessee, licensed gift product, sourced product worldwide and nurtured our strong dealer network
throughout the country
Since 1855, Will & Baumer has never wavered in its dedication to quality. As the company continues through its second century of candle making, Will & Baumer's mission remains-excellence in the creation and distribution of candles of distinction for the clergy market and beyond.
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