Hugo Sohmer

Background

Hugo Sohmer (1845-1913) was born in Dunningen, a village near Rottweil, on the foothills of the Black Forest, Germany.

Career

So he was educated in literary and scientific subjects as well as music and the piano, and emigrated to New York in 1863, where he apprenticed as a piano-builder in Schuetze & Ludolff"s factory. He spent two years travelling in Europe continuing to study piano making, and returned to New York in 1870.

Achievements

• The company building in Queens built by Architects Berger & Baylies and finished in 1886 achieved the status of landmark in 2007.