USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 31
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United States Finishing Co., Nor- wich
Vaughan Foundry Co., Norwich
Winchester Woolen Co., Norwich
John. T. Young Briler Co., Norwich Admore Woolen Mills Co., Norwich Glen Wcolen Mills, Norwich
Massassoit Mfg. Co., Oakdale
Totokett Mfg. Co., Versailles (Lis- bon)
American Chemical Co., (Old Mys- tic) Groton
Mystic Woolen Co., Groton Old Mystic Grist Mill, Groton Hallville Mills (Woolen), Preston American Thread Co., Stonington H. F. & A. J. Dawley (Lumber), Preston
Airlee Mills, (Hanover) Sprague American Velvet Co., Stonington Laper Fire Alarm Co., Stonington Morrison Granite Co., Stonington Ship Construction & Trading Co., Stonington
Venture Rock Bottlery Works, Ston- ington
William Clark Mills, Stonington
Ponemah Mills, (Taftville) Nor- wich
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Norwich Woolen Mills, Norwich
Federal Paper Board Co., (Ver- sailles) Lisbon Hygienic Paper Co., Lisbon
Brigg's Mfg. Co. (Cotton), Volun- town
Voluntown Grist Mill, Voluntown Booth Bros. & Hunicane Isle Gran- ite Co., Waterford Jordan Mill, Waterford
Millstone Granite Quarries, Water- ford
Norwich & Westerly Traction Co., Westerly
Holmes Motor Co., (New Mystic) Groton
Yantic Mills (Cotton), Norwich
Baltic Mills (Cotton), Sprague
Shetucket Worsted Mills, (Baltic) Sprague
Federal Felling Co., (Clarke Falls) North Stonington
Columbia Kid Hair Curler Mfg. Co., Colchester
Hills Turning & Saw Mill, East Lyme
Menhaden Oil & Guano Co., East Lyme
Monumental Works, East Lyme
American Thread Co., (Glasgo) Griswold
Mutual Hair Goods Co., Groton Electric Boat Co., Groton
General Ordnance Co., Groton
Groton Iron Works, Groton
Groton Marine Railways, Groton
Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Groton New London Ship Engine Co., Groton Shay Fertilizer Co., Groton
Vanadium Metal Co., Groton
Glengarry Mills, (Hanover) Sprague Smith's Mills, Sprague
Ashland Cotton Co., (Jewett City) Griswold
Aspinook Co., (Jewett City) Gris- wold
Blissville Mills, Griswold
Jewett City Textile Novelty Co., (Jewett City) Griswold Slater Mills, (Jewett City) Griswold Ingalls Co. (Lumber), Norwich Royal Silver Co., Lyme
Chagnon Huggard Co., Montville Johnson & Co., Montville
Palmer Bros. (Quilts), Montville
Pequot Mills, Montville
Eastern Conn. Power Co., Montville Robertson Co., Montville
Standard Package Co., Montville
Thames River Specialties Co., Mont- ville
Uncasville Mfg. Co., Montville
Allen Spool & Wood Turning Co., Stonington
Climax Tube Co., Stonington
Mystic Gas & Electric Co., Ston- ington
Mystic Lace Mills Co., Stonington
Mystic Marine Railway Co., Ston- ington
Mystic Woolen Co., Groton
Packer Mfg. Co. (Tar Soap), Ston- ington
Robinson Silk Co., Stonington Rossie Velvet Co., Stonington
Standard Machine Co., Stonington Sutton's Spar Yard, Stonington
Anchor Knitting Mills, New London Babcock Printing Press Mfg. Co., New London
Auto Radiator & Lamp Co., New London
Bingham Paper Box Co., New Lon- don
Brainerd & Armstrong (Silks), New London
Casey Granite Works, New London Cedar Grove Monumental Works, New London
Conn. Iron & Metal Co., New Lon- don
Conn. Power Co., New London
Conn. Turbine Mfg. Co., New Lon- don
Hawthorne Sash & Door Co., New London
Holland Skirts Mfg. Co., New Lon- don
Lenox Shirt Factory, New London Long Island & Fisher's Island Brick Co., New London
Mohegan Cotton Mills, New London New England Carpet Lining Co., New London
New England Collapsible Tube Co., New London
N. E. Dress Mfg. Co., New London N. E. Pants Co., New London
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New London Boiler Works, New London
New London Granite & Marble
Works, New London
New London Marine Iron Works Co., New London
New London Vise Works, New London
Automatic Feeder Co., New London Putnam Furniture Mfg. Co., New London
Reliable Skirt Mfg. Co., New Lon- don
Sheffield Dentifrice Co., New Lon- don
Standard Brass & Copper Tube Co., New London
Standard Ice Cream Cone Co., New London
Submarine Boat Co., New London Thames River Lumber Co., New London
Thames Sheet Metal Works, New London
Thames Tow Boat Co., New London DeWhiton Machine Co., New Lon- don
Wilson Planing & Molding Mill, New London
General Machine & Electric Co., (Noank) Groton
Groton Iron Works (Noank Branch)
The reader may learn from the preceding list, incomplete as it is, that a citizen of New London county has little need to go elsewhere for food, cloth- ing. or weapons. From cutlery to tombstones, the county is well-nigh self- sufficient. And the manufacturing establishments, as a rule, are placed so as to interfere very little with the beauty of residential sections. Even in mill villages, the prospect pleases. Many a worker is renting for two or three dollars a week a home that could cost four times as much in the city. Home gardens are allotted to all who seek them. Free hospital service, a complete system of health inspection by competent nurses, good schools, ample play grounds, all tend to protect young and old. Most of these improvements have come in the last three decades.
In public affairs the county has continued to do its part for State and country. Out of twelve United States Senators who have served since 1860, New London county has furnished three. Its list of Representatives has been an honorable one. It has furnished but one Governor since 1880, Hon. Thomas B. Waller, of New London. One Lieutenant-Governor, two Secre- taries of State, two State Treasurers, three Speakers of the House, have come in the last fifty years from this county. In the General Assembly New London county has three Senators and thirty Representatives.
In this county are four boroughs-Stonington, 1801; Colchester, 1846; Jewett City, 1895; and Groton, 1903. Its population has increased over twenty per cent. in the last twenty years. Of the total population, approximately sixty per cent. is either foreign born or of foreign parentage. The process of Americanization is going on apace, largely through the influence of the public schools. In many cases these new-comers have a lively sense of the blessings of liberty. They are thrifty and industrious. They are acquiring property and therefore feel that they have a stake in the welfare of the community. Bolshevism does not thrive in New London county. In every Liberty Loan drive the county went far over its quota. For the Red Cross, as for distinctly local improvements, its people are generous contributors.
The two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of New London was celebrated
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on May 6th, 1896, when the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument was dedicated. Miss Charlotte Molyneux Holloway prepared the Historical Sketch of New London, which, with many splendid illustrations, was published by Messrs. G. C. Morgan, R. I. Waller and H. H. Morgan. In it may be found a detailed account of many of the gifts of generous citizens to the community. The programme of the celebration reads as follows:
May 5th, 1896, evening meeting at the Armory, of 3rd Regiment, Connecticut National Guard.
Concert, 7.30 to 8 p. m., 3rd Regiment Band.
Meeting called to order by His Honor James P. Johnston, Mayor of New London.
Prayer, by Rev. John R. Stubbert, pastor of Huntington Street Baptist Church.
Music, "Star Spangled Banner," by a choir of four hundred school girls.
Address, "The Founding of the Town," by Walter Learned.
Hymn, "Speed Our Republic," chorus.
Poem, "New London," George Parsons Lathrop, LL.D.
Speeches by Hon. Charles A. Russell, Member of Congress; Hon. Orville H. Platt, Senator; Hon. Thomas Weller, ex-Governor.
Music, "America."
May 6th, 10 a. m .- Laying of corner stone of a monument to John Winthrop the Younger, in Bulkeley Square.
Introduction by Mr. Alfred H. Chappell, president Board of Trade.
Prayer, Rev. James Bexler, Second Congregational Church.
Address, "The Founder of the Town," Rev. S. Leroy Blake, D.D., First Church of Christ.
Music, "Our Flag is There."
Laying of corner store, Grand Master James H. Welsh, Grand Lodge of Connecticut Free and Accepted Masons.
Music, "America."
Benediction, Rev. Alfred P. Grint, St. James Episcopal Church.
II a. m .- Dedication of Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, on the Parade, pre- sented by Sebastian D. Lawrence, Esq.
Introduction, Mr. Alfred H. Chappell.
Presentation of Monument by the Donor.
Acceptance by the Mayor, Hon. James P. Johnston.
Music, "Battle Hymn of the Republic."
Address for the Army, Hon. Joseph R. Hawley, Senator.
Address for the Navy, Rev. George W. Smith, president of Trinity College, Hartford.
Music.
2 p. m., Grand Military and Civic Procession.
8 p. m., Grand display of fireworks.
At this time was also published "A Brief History of New London," by Carl J. Viets, publisher.
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In 1909 was celebrated the 250th anniversary of the founding of Norwich. A complete account of this celebration, edited by Mr. William C. Gilman, was published in 1912. Its illuminating introduction of over fifty pages gives a full and inspiring statement of the growth of the town from 1859 (date of the two hundredth anniversary) to 1909. Wit, charm of style, and wis- dom, are combined in this account of the "Rose of New England." The celebration lasted three days; the official programme covers four full pages. The table of contents of the volume gives a skeleton only of a remarkable three-day "feast of reason and flow of soul."
Foreword.
Officers and Executive Committee.
Introduction, Part I.
Introduction, Part II; Norwich, 1859-1909.
The Quarter-Millennial Celebration.
First Day Services at Up-Town.
Burying Ground.
Second Day-Reception of President Taft.
Historical Pageant.
The Procession.
President Taft's Address on Chelsea Parade.
Third Day-Presentation of Memorial Fountain.
Literary Exercises at Broadway Theater.
Financial Statement.
Official Programme.
Military and Civic Parade.
Loan Exhibit at Converse Art Gallery.
Sermons.
Letters from Absentees.
Notes on Persons and Places.
Statistics and outlines, buildings and streets, are the superficial evidences of the prosperity of the county. The real county beneath all these outward forms may be seen only in the lives of its people. The moral tone of the citizens, their customs, their activities in a thousand ways, have to be seen to be appreciated.
New London county needs a "Joe" Lincoln to set forth the real nature of its citizens. Only those who rise to fame are recorded in the pages of history, but the observant citizen of any of our towns sees going on every day before him a process of growth and struggle worthy to be described by a master hand.
Difficulties are being surmounted, characters are being formed, generous deeds are being performed today, as in times past. Undoubtedly our com- munities have their peculiar traits, as do individuals. The heritage of the past and the present environments combine to give a special tone to the life of each community. New England reticence, Connecticut individualism, and local needs, have given to our county a character of its own. It is this intangible part of our assets that constitute our best possession. Mr. William
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C. Gilman, editor of the "Norwich Quarter Millennium," quotes Judge Na- thaniel Shipman's words about Norwich, "It is inexpedient for us to do any- thing more than simply to say we loved the town when we were boys, we love it now when we are men, and we want to say so."
The same words and sentiments about every town in the county would show the charm that is felt by former residents. Our cities and towns have not been over-standardized. The same sort of individuality that makes people interesting, still imparts to many of our communities a local color easily perceived by the visitor. One hears in our towns but rarely the loud protestations of the western "booster," but finds a surprising number of men who, after great success in the competition of the large cities, are content to settle in the home of their boyhood days. They feel much like the Cape Cod captain who came back from voyaging the world over to settle near the tip of the Cape. Said he, "I've been 'round the world eight times. I've seen 'most every country. But, I'm satisfied right here, and I don't care if I never go west of Barnstable again in my life."
N.L .- 1-13
CHAPTER IX MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
The Various Cities and Towns - Financial Condition of County - Officiary of New London and Norwich-Important Events.
At various times local business organizations have issued pamphlets descriptive of the commercial opportunities afforded by the county. We quote freely from one such prospectus printed seven years ago:
On each side of the beautiful Thames river are twelve miles of available territory, suitable for factory sites. On the west side lie the tracks of the Central Vermont railway, on the east those of the N. Y., N. H. & H. railroad, and sufficient depth of water for wharfage purposes on any of its factory sites. There is not a sheet of inland water in the United States that gets the free advertising that comes to the Thames river every year when the great college regatta focuses the eyes of the whole civilized world and draws thousands of the youngest, fairest and best of humanity to this same fourteen miles of the Rose of New England. This of itself is an advertising asset of no small proportion.
We quote right here the reason the president of one of our newest and largest industries gave for moving his plant from New York to Norwich-on- the-Thames: "We consider the property on both sides of the Thames river between Norwich and New London superior to any other property within the zone desired, and, for that matter, within the United States, for the fol- lowing reasons: First-You have more than thirty-eight million people within twelve hours' ride. Second-You have 144 cities of 10,000 people and over within the twelve hours' radius. Third-You have parts of sixteen states within twelve hours by rail and all of Eastern Canada and direct trunk line connections therewith. You have the cheapest hydro-electric power in all New England, which with your gas works and water plant (two large reservoirs) are owned and operated by your municipality. You have low cost of living, abundant labor, little, if any, labor troubles, favorable freight rates, both rail and water, splendid climate, and are surrounded by lands which, if properly cultivated, are rich in production. These are the advantages for manufacturing in Norwich that have convinced our board of directors that our removal from New York to your city is a move in the right direction and may be of interest to those who read these facts, as they are the reasons for inducing other manufacturing industries to locate here. Our company by its removal from Manhattan Island to your city has estimated that it will effect annual economies aggregating $44,000."
Norwich, agriculturally, is not unlike the towns that bound it on the north, east, south and west, hence a general description will satisfy the reader who may take a deep interest in rural life. Opportunity awaits the man who engages in agricultural pursuits in any of the towns surrounding Norwich. Close proximity to a ready market, easy access to trolley lines, best of State and macadam highways, rural telephone service, rural free delivery and par- cel post, all go to make farm life hereabouts that of a country gentleman. Dairying and market gardening constitute today the real business being developed and nurtured on most of the farms in Eastern Connecticut. Stock raising and the fattening of beef for market, we believe, is one of the natural
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outcomes of the high cost of living, and he who early gets the habit will reap the greatest benefit. Salem, Bozrah, Lebanon and Franklin, towns to the west and north of Norwich, are devoted wholly to agricultural pursuits, the town of Lebanon perhaps being the more noted of the four for its fertile farms and their prosperous owners and well-kept buildings. Lebanon Green, a street three miles long, is one of the historic points of interest of the town, and was the home of Jonathan Trumbull.
Preston, east and south of Norwich, has a small factory village known as Hallville. A good sized woolen mill is engaged in manufacturing high grade woolen cloth for men's suitings, etc. The property is known as the Hall Brothers' Woolen Mill. The land is fertile and many good farms are to be found in Preston.
Sprague, eight miles north of Norwich, because of its being intersected by the Shetucket and Little rivers, has three thriving mill villages within its borders. Baltic, the largest, is a busy village of some 3,500 inhabitants and is the seat of town government. Located here is the model plant of the Baltic Mills Company, employing about 1,500 hands, engaged in the manufacture of a fine grade of cotton goods. There are also mills manufacturing woolen goods. Abundant power is furnished by the damming of the Shetucket river. Hanover, in the town of Sprague, has as its chief industry the Airlie Mills, employing 100 hands engaged in making ladies' woolen dress goods. The factory is located on the Little river, a tributary of the Shetucket, joining the latter at Versailles, where the third village has a factory engaged in making hospital supplies, employing 100 hands. Located on the eastern border of the town is the paper mill known as the Eastern Straw Board Company, making a coarse roofing and building paper. Power is taken from the Little river.
Lisbon is a small town adjacent to Sprague, and lies northeast of Nor- wich. It has the distinction of not having a store, post office or factory within its limits. Agriculture is the principal occupation, and like many other towns in Eastern Connecticut, a large revenue is derived from summer boarders, who come here every year in goodly numbers.
Bozrah possesses many good farms, a charming recreation resort and some industries. Gardner's Lake, a pure body of crystal water three and one- half miles in length, one and one-quarter miles in width and sixty feet in depth, affords excellent fishing and boating, while its thickly wooded and grassy slopes offer many opportunities for summer homes. The largest indus- try in the town is the quilt mill of Palmer Bros. at Fitchville, a quaint and picturesque village, five miles from Norwich, on the Yantic river.
Griswold lies east of Lisbon and eight miles from Norwich. Jewett City, the only village of any size in the town, has a borough form of government. Located here are the original Slater Cotton Mills, in operation continuously since late in the eighteenth century. The Aspinook Bleachery, employing many hundred people; the Jewett City Textile Novelty Company, engaged in finishing cotton goods, furnish employment to a large number of operatives. The Ashland Cotton Company, manufacturers of plain cotton cloths. The American Thread Company, making all kinds of thread, have a modern fac-
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tory located at Glasgo, on the western border of the town. It is the only factory in the village and employs 150 hands.
Voluntown is one of the most easterly towns of Connecticut, on the Rhode Island line. The only village in the town bears the same name. Lo- cated here are the cotton mills of the Briggs Manufacturing Company, some three in number, furnishing the principal means of support of residents. Voluntown is twelve miles from Norwich and seven miles from the nearest railroad, all freight being delivered at Jewett City, on the Norwich & Worces- ter division of the N. Y., N. H. & H. railroad. Agriculturally, the town is not very progressive ; large farms can be purchased for a few hundred dollars.
The great dairy prospects of this section of New England are most notable. Milk is being shipped to the ready markets of Boston and Providence in large quantities from nearly every farm, as all are within easy access to the railroad. The advent of the suburban trolley system has already doubled the amount of shipments. Milk cars are attached to all early trains and it is a most interesting sight to see from twenty-five to one hundred farmers, repre- senting as many farms, with their teams in the early morning delivering their cans of milk to the many receiving stations along the lines, leaving full cans and taking back empty ones for the next day. And don't think for a moment that the farmer is not posted on the news of the day. That theory has long since been exploded. With the four bright newspapers published in Norwich, two daily and two weekly, the farmer knows every day all that has happened throughout the world during the past twenty-four hours.
Every town has its Grange, giving ample opportunity for social inter- course for the whole family, and a rare chance to gather knowledge. Nor- wich Grange is one of the most progressive of the State, having a member- ship of 125 active men and women, and during the winter lectures are given by professors from the State Agricultural College that prove not only enter- taining but highly instructive as well. We cannot paint the picture of the future farm life and its prospects, both in the town of Norwich and its environment, in too vivid colors. There is no better market garden outlet in any rural section of the United States than right here in any of the towns briefly referred to, while orchards consisting of apple, peach and pear trees are beginning to interest the thrifty husbandman of the soil.
The greater the industrial development of a State, correspondingly greater and more valuable must become its agricultural output and land values, inseparable and useless each without the other.
Come to Norwich, Connecticut, the Rose of New England, an Eastern city with Western progressiveness, "The Coming City of the East."
New London's greatest asset is her harbor. Here is the natural entrance to the great coming of the North and West, but not only this: The increasing congestion of shipping trade at New York and the correspondingly increasing difficulty and expense of securing dockage at that port for new lines of steam- ers are as constantly attracting attention to the opportunities afforded at New London; when the docks are completed (they have since been com- pleted), a vessel destined for New York can discharge her passengers and
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freight at New London and deliver them in New York at greater economy of time and money than by proceeding along the slower channel to New York. The development of this million-dollar enterprise will inevitably greatly stimu- late local business and opportunity, not alone for a day but for years to come. History and observation abundantly illustrate the natural industrial and com- mercial development of great cities, with their development as great ports.
Second to her harbor as an asset is New London's seashore. By this is meant not only her Ocean Beach and the Pequot estates and properties bor- dering the harbor, including the unsurpassed hotel site formerly occupied by the old Pequot House which was burned some years ago, but the entire ter- ritory between the Connecticut river and the Rhode Island State line and extending up the Thames river toward Norwich.
Thousands are added to the summer population of this section during "the season," which, unfortunately, for visitors often must end when the schools for their children reopen at home. The proximity of river, harbor and sound makes it a favorite resort for yachtsmen and the owners of motor craft without lessening in any degree the usual attractions of the open country. Detailed notices of Crescent Beach, Niantic, Groton, Mystic and Stonington are included later in this sketch.
First-To the large manufacturer: In these days of keen competition, every avoidable expense possible must be eliminated by the manufacturer ; among these expenses are avoidable charges for transporting both raw material and finished product. Hence, accessibility to supplies and to mar- kets are of vital importance in selecting a location. Being a junction point of the New Haven railway system, and also that of the Grand Trunk of Canada, it is evident that New London's railway facilities cannot be sur- passed, and in addition it has opportunities for securing the waterway com- petition of the whole world; not only this, but in some cases raw material may be unloaded directly from the vessel to the factory on one side and the finished product reshipped by water, or it may be loaded onto cars on the other side of the factory.
Second-To the employee and the smaller manufacturer: It should be remembered that the natural attractions of this region appeal with as much force to the intelligent, desirable employee as to the more exclusive, so-called, residential classes; as freely as their children, may his little ones enjoy the delights of the sea and the sands at Ocean Beach.
Another thing to remember is that self-respecting, contented, cooperating employees are essential to the manufacturer and the city's welfare. Satisfy- ing suroundings secure satisfied citizens. New London's policy is to provide adequately for them; not how great alone, but how well shall New London grow, is the principle of many citizens; to make it a good city for all of us to live in. At the present time it is doubtful if any city in New England has a greater percentage of good streets and sidewalks or of thrifty public shade trees.
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