Early in the last century, when young men from Europe came to America to seek their fortune, John Fellin arrived in Hazleton.

Born and raised in the alpine Tyrolean region of what is now Northern Italy, he made his home in the Pocono plateau of northeastern Pennsylvania. Deep coal mining was the prominent industry and little villages and towns popped up everywhere.

John made his living by traveling from town to town with a case of wedding rings, pocket watches, rosaries, and precious jewels. His original traveling case is lovingly preserved in the store that bears his name. Its been said that behind every great man, there’s a great woman. Mary Fellin’s influence on her husband’s career bears that out. It was her suggestion that he leave the traveling behind and open a business in Hazleton. Together, they established Fellin’s Jewelers in 1922.

Recognizing that not all jewelry or jewelers are created equal, John enthusiastically joined the newly-formed American Gem Society in 1936. Long before the concept of consumer protection became popular, the American Gem Society and its members set out to educate the public and ensure a high degree of ethics in the conduct of business. From 1936 to the present, Fellin’s has maintained membership in this prestigious organization.

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