USA > Connecticut > Connecticut yesterday and today : 1635-1935 : celebrating three hundred years of progress in the Constitution state > Part 31
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When the first census was taken in Danbury in 1756, there were about fifteen hundred people living here, and since that time the population grew about one thousand every ten years. However, in about 1870, the population began to grow by leaps and bounds, and since that day has grown more than in all its nearly two hun- dred years of previous history. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this growth is due directly or in- directly to the growth of the hatting industry in Danbury.
*[2535+
THE
MALLORY HAT COMPANY - Founded 1823
N Danbury the MALLORY HAT COM- PANY was founded in 1823 by Ezra Mallory, then in his thirty- eighth year. On the Great Plain Road, some two miles from Danbury he built his shop close by to his farm- house; from his venture in manufacturing has grown a great business which has prospered through one hun- dred and twelve years and four generations of his family.
In his primitive shop at Great Plain, Mr. Mallory began with one hatter and an apprentice. Indeed, he was an apprentice himself, and learned the composite trade. There was no skilled specialists, as now. Today the fur is bought detached from the pelt and partly prepared, but in that dark industrial era, Ezra Mallory began with the raw pelts themselves. One fertile source of skins lay in the sand dunes of Coney Island. This famous resort owes its name to the coney rab- bits which lived there.
Ezra Mallory bought many of 'his pelts from the Indians, and sometimes went up to Canada to buy beaver, muskrat and otter skins. He and his two workers cut the fur from the pelts with long handled shears, and with their fingers separated the fur from the hair. And then they did the form- ing with a device resembling a violin bow, though five or six times as big. One old bow is now a treasured relic at the Mallory plant. By snapping the catgut string upon a pile of fur on a bench, the particles separated, scat- tered, and gradually deposited in a smaller and finer sheet, free from other substances. Each sheet repre- sented one hat only. With further manipulation, the fibres hooked them- selves together into what became ulti- mately the fur fabric of the hat.
In a safe at the Mallory plant is carefully preserved the original ledger of Ezra Mallory, in the bold hand-
EDWARD BANFIELD
EZRA MALLORY
writing of the founder himself. Some of the entries are quaintly humorous, and give graphic pictures of life a hundred years ago. Thus in 1823 Jedediah Jones was credited, "By your old hat, $1." Apparently Jedediah bought a new hat and turned in his old one. Ezra Mallory sold hats at retail or wholesale, or in any possible way.
In 1823 the Astors received various credits for packets of furs. At that time beaver sold at $4.75 a pound, though today it brings around $45. Ezra Mallory bought twelve sealskins at $2 apiece which today would bring $100 cach. In Danbury a hundred years ago beaver "plug" hats sold for $8; plain hats for $1.50 and up.
Ezra Mallory's son, Ezra A., left school at sixteen and went to work in the little hat shop at Great Plain. Long before this he had really mas- tered the hatter's trade. As far back as he could remember, the lore of the little fur animals had been part of his life, and he had worked nights, morn- ings and Saturdays in the shop. Seven years later, in 1845, Ezra Mallory, Senior, finished his work and departed
this life, while the hat shop was still in that first building at Great Plain. The contin- uance of the business fell to Ezra A. Mallory, and the enterprise took on bigger as- pects though the plant itself was not enlarged.
Even previous to this, re- ports had been current that a railroad was to come that way, and one day in the later forties the actual loca- tion of the line was made; and not far from that date Mr. Mallory decided to abandon the Great Plain shop for the larger town. But the railroad did not go into operation until 1852, and it was two years later before the Mallory plant was moved to the "Mont- gomery" shop on West Street in Danbury. In 1861 a second move was made from the "Montgomery" shop to the present location.
It was Ezra A. Mallory who brought to the Danbury region the first sewing machine used in the hatting industry. In so doing he aroused antagonism which marked a wholly new epoch in this business. 'The women workers refused to use the machine, but his sister-in-law came to the rescue and went to work with it vigorously, patiently bearing the jibes that were heaped upon her. The modern era had now finally begun, and the sewing machine was followed by mixing, blowing and forming ma- chines, and later by stretching, block- ing and pouncing machines - all of which brought stormy but short-lived protests.
The Civil War - and about the same time the disappearance of a col- lector and his funds - brought Ezra A. MaHory great disaster. His southern accounts were confiscated and he lost everything he possessed, and more. For a time early in the war he sought employment in New York, but soon returned, and though nearing sixty started again to build up the business. Eventually he paid all his debts in full. The building in which he made this new start is still a part of the present
<254]>
MANUFACTURERS OF
FUR, FELT AND
STRAW
HATS
great Mallory plant in Danbury.
Charles A. Mallory, the elder son, became actively associated with his father in the management of the busi- ness in 1872, and the firm name was changed to E. A. Mallory & Son. From this time the growth was rapid.
The younger son, William E. Mal- lory, was admitted to membership in the firm in 1886 and the name was changed a second time, becoming E. A. Mallory & Sons at this time. Charles A Mallory continued actively in directing the operations of the factory, while William E. Mallory became the point of contact in the maintenence of relations between cus- tomers and the Company. It was his function to hold the Company to its original principle of fair dealing and happy associations under all conditions -- to project continually the spirit of fine ideals which had distinguished the first Ezra Mallory. William E. Mal- lory continues to serve in this capacity today, along with his duties as Treas- urer, and the fact that the business has many times doubled and redoubled shows how well he has done his part.
Ezra A. Mallory continued to su- pervise the business in general until his retirement in 1897. Five years later in 1902 he went on his Long Journey, but his contribution to the achievements of industry live on.
In 1887 Frederick T. Joy had come to the Mallory establishment in a minor capacity, from which he was
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RENOWNED SINCE 1823
Presidents of The Mallory Hat Company
EZRA MALLORY 1823-1845
EZRA A. MALLORY 1845-1897
CHARLES A. MALLORY
1897-1933
FREDERICK T. JOY
1933-
Present Officers of The Mallory Hat Company
FREDERICK T. JOY President
HARRY B. MALLORY
Vice-President
WILLIAM E. MALLORY Treasurer
THOMAS J. BOWEN
Secretary
promoted from time to time to posi- tions of greater responsibility. In the meantime he took every opportunity to familiarize himself with the prac- tical end of hat-making, going into vach department and working there. He soon displayed his ability, and in
1904, when the partnership was incor- porated as The Mallory Hat Company, he became a stockholder and director. Upon the retirement of Charles A. Mallory from the presidency in 1,933 he was elected to that office.
In 1895 Harry B. Mallory, great- grandson of Ezra and son of Charles A., after returning from an engineer- ing college, began his apprenticeship of four years in the Mallory plant. In 1900 he was admitted to partnership. His mechanical ability and his untiring and persistent effort have been large factors in the advanced and economi- cal methods in the manufacture of the Mallory product; and since 1904 he has been one of the directors and vice-president.
Mr. Thomas J. Bowen, a graduate of Yale Scientific School and of Yale Law School, entered the business in 1911 to become credit manager and . secretary of the Company. He has made himself a valuable member of the firm in carrying out the policies laid down by the founders.
The Mallory plant at the present time is one of the largest, most modern and up to date factories for the man- ufacture of fine hats in the United States, producing over one million and a quarter hats per year, distributed through over 5,000 retail outlets in the United States and foreign coun- tries. Its position in the Industry is high, as its motto has always been "Standard of Quality."
THE STAYDRY HAT COMPANY
The Mallory Hat Company
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1
THE TWENTY-ONE TOWNS OF NEW LONDON COUNTY
IN THE ORDER OF THEIR ESTABLISHMENT TOGETHER WITH THEIR PRESENT ACREAGE AND POPULATION.
ESTABLISHED
TOWN
MILES FROM HARTFORD
ACRES
POPULATION
16495
Stonington
60
25,222
II,O25
1660s
Norwich
41
18,708
32,438
1 66711
Lyme
40
23,564
546
16872
Preston
45
20,325
3,928
16995
Colchester
25
34,131
2,134
1700
Lebanon
31
33,800
1,436
I 704
Groton
48
22,331
10,770
1721
Voluntown
57
25,640
651
1784
New London
46
3,452
29,640
I786
Lisbon
48
10,996
1,097
1786
Montville
40
27,791
3,970
1786
Bozrah
35
12,812
859
1786
Franklin
38
12,569
611
1801
Waterford
41
25,242
4,742
1807
North Stonington
55
36,316
1,135
1815
Griswold
50
26,659
6,010
1819
Salem
31
18,597
403
1836
Ledyard
49
25,952
1,144
1839
East Lyme
43
23,515
2,575
1855
Old Lyme
44
16,893
1,313
1861
Sprague
42
8,620
2,539
THE
FIFTEEN
TOWNS
OF
WINDHAM
COUNTY
1692
Windham
30
16,268
13,773
1699
Plainfield
47
27,119
8,027
1703
Canterbury
44
27,882
942
1708
Killingly
51
33,065
8,852
1713
Pomfret
43
27,206
1,617
1714
Ashford
34
21,610
726
1749
Woodstock
49
39,91[
1,709
Annexed
1785
Thompson
53
31,129
4,999
1786
Brooklyn
49
18,379
2,250
1786
Hampton
40
15,157
511
1794
Sterling
57
17,504
1,233
1822
Chaplin
37
13,689
414
1847
Fastford
37
18,269
529
1855
Putnam
18
12,662
8,009
1857
Scotland
37
12,002
402
*[256]:
NEW LONDON
HE credit for the fond- ing of New London must be given to John Winthrop, the younger. After his marriage in England in 1631, Winthrop had mi- grated with his wife to Massachusetts. His marriage was terminated in 1634 by the death of his wife, but Will- throp married a second time in Eng- land and we find him in 1636 taking charge of the settlement at Saybrook. In 1644 he obtained a grant of a plantation "at or near Pequod", and this plantation was occupied in 1646. There was for some time a dispute as to whether the plantation should fall under the jurisdiction of Massachu- setts or Connecticut; but the decision finally fell to the latter. In addition there were boundary disputes.
When Winthrop departed in 1657 to become governor of Connecticut, the settlement was firmly established. New London had been settled with the hope and prospect of making it a place of trade, and from the carly days of the town there was a brisk commerce carried on. As early as 1659 there was a custom master in New London, and at about this time we find a number of ships from this port engaged in the coast trade. Mer- chants from Hartford, Middletown and Wethersfield made shipments through New London to Barbadocs and other ports. This trade expanded even to Europe. The town prospered until at the outbreak of the Revolu- tionary War it numbered approxi- mately six thousand inhabitants.
New London was rendered con- spicuous for its sufferings during the Revolutionary War and as a theater of hostile operations. In 1781 a large portion of the town was laid in ashes by Benedict Arnold. Forts Trumbull and Griswold were seized and there was heavy loss of life on both sides, accompanied by pillage. In destroy- ing the ships in the harbor a supply of powder, of which the attackers were not informed, exploded, and ac- cording to Arnold's report, "the ex- plosion of the powder, and change of wind, soon after the stores were fired, communicated the flames to part of the town, which was, notwithstanding every effort to prevent it, unfortu- nately destroyed."
The war left the inhabitants poor and exhausted, but it was not long be- fore trade revived, and the town was soon in part revivified. It was at this time that New London developed its fisheries and commerce and became a famous whaling center. With its shipbuilding and coasting trade, the town became also a center of trade for merchants further inland. Trade with the West Indies arose and flour- ished, and one hundred and fifty sail of merchant vessels entered and cleared the port of New London.
The whaling industry, which rose to such great heights in New London in the nineteenth century, may be traced back to the year 1647, with the grant- ing of a monopoly to a Mr. Whiting of New London. However, it was not
ORIGINAL THIRTY-SIX GRANTEES OF NEW LONDON
John Winthrop
John Gager
Cary Latham Samnel Lothrop John Stebbins
Isaac Willey
Jacob Waterhouse
Thomas Miner
William Bordman
William Morton
William Nicholls
Robert Hempstead
Thomas Skidmore
John Lewis Richard Post
Robert Bedell
John Robinsor
Deane Winthrop
Willian Bartlett Nathaniel Watson
John Austin
William Forbes Edward Higbie Jarvis Mudge
Andrew Longdon William Hallett
Giles Smith
Peter Busbraw
Jamies Bemis
John Fossecar Consider Wood George Chappell Jonathan Brewster
Thomas Wells
Peter Blatchford
Nathaniel Masters
nutil after the Revolution, as we have said, that this industry assumed large proportions. In 1845 the whaling business reached its maximum; in that year seven vessels were added to the fleet, which then consisted of seventy- one ships and barks, one brig, and five schooners. Only New Bedford stood ahead in whaling. In 1847, 76,287 barrels of whale oil were imported at New London, but after this there was a decline from the peak. The Gold Rush to California called many, and New London never recovered her old whaling importance. Yet in the old churchyards of New London are me- morials and reminders of this dan- gerous traffic, for a whaling vessel rarely came home with an entire crew. Besides being dangerons, the voyages were long; one boat, the "William Nye," was absent for fifty-seven months and eleven days.
In connection with shipping, it is also well to remember that the first steamship voyage across the Atlantic was made under a New London cap- tain, Moses Rogers, who piloted the steamship "Savannah" to Liverpool in 1819. The voyage consumed twen- ty-two days, fourteen by steam and eight by sail. The regular steamboat line between New York and New London had been established in 1816.
The development of New London since the Civil War has been largely along the lines of manufacture. To- day the main industries are shipbuild- ing, silks and other textiles, the mak- ing of motors and machinery, birch and witch hazel oils, soap, lace, and many other articles too numerous to mention. We see that the inventive genius of the Yankee has here, too, been revealed as clearly as in the rest of the State.
The story of New London would be incomplete if it did not include some mention of such banks as the Union Bank and Trust Company. This ancient and honorable institu- tion was founded in 1792 and thus became the first bank to do business in Connecticut and the sixth in the United States. We must also nicu- tion the Savings Bank of New Lon- don, the fourth oldest in the State, and the Mariner's Savings Bank, whose name carries its tradition down from the old whaling days.
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Settled 1636 -
I792 - THE UNION BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
HE citizens of New London and Norwich who met in New Lon- don on February 10, I792, to make plans for the starting of a bank made history for New London. A committee of six was appointed at this meet- ing to solicit subscriptions for $ 100,000.00.
At a meeting of the subscrib- ers held on the fifth day of March, 1792, at the tavern of Ephraim Minor, the committee reported that the stock had been fully subscribed. At this session the first bank in the state was or- ganized and the following direc- tors, about one-half of whom were residents of Norwich, were chosen:
Gen. Jedediah Huntington Joshua Lathrop Marvin Wait Joseph Howland Guy Richards
Joseph Williams William Stewart Daniel L. Coit Edward Hallam Samuel Woodbridge Joseph Perkins
George Phillips Samuel Wheat.
At a meeting of the directors held March 6, 1792, General Jedediah Huntington of Norwich was chosen President and John Hallam, Cashier.
The bank was granted a char- ter at the May session of the General Assembly of the State of
GENERAL JEDEDIAH HUNTINGTON
THE ELEVEN PRESIDENTS OF THE UNION BANK AND TRUST CO.
During the 143 years of its existence, this bank has had eleven presidents. Their names and terms of service are as follows: Jedediah Huntington-1792 to 1818 George Hallam-1818 to 1825 W. P. Cleveland-1825 to 1834 Jonathan Starr-1834 to 1852 Robert Coit-1852 to 1858 WV. H. Chapman-1858 to 1893 Robert Coit-1893 to 1904 George F. Tinker-1904 to 1915 William B. Coit-1915 to 1920 Charles H. Klinck-1920 to 1922 Alfred Coit, 1922 to date
THE NINE CASHIERS OF THE UNION BANK AND TRUST CO.
The cashiers for the same period have been nine, as fol- lows:
John Hallam-1792 to 1800 Robert Hallam-1800 to 1827 Ebenezer Learned-1827 to 1836 Joseph C. Sistare -- 1836 to 1851 Charles G. Sistare-1851 to 1860 Leonard C. Learned-1860 to 1885 J. Lawrence Chew-1885 to 1905 Carlos Barry-1905 to 1930 Joseph A. Stanners-1930 to date
Connecticut under the title name of "The President, Directors and Company of The Union Bank in New London."
The first meeting of the direc- tors after the incorporation was held June 5, 1792, when ar- rangements . were made for immediate business. The record of this meeting shows that the President was instructed to pro- cure an office seal, desk scales and weights, and to send to Philadelphia for sixteen reams of paper. Notes to be discounted were required to have two wit- nesses to the signature of the maker, and no loan should be made for a longer period than sixty days.
At an annual rental of $30.00 a banking room was secured in the brick building owned by Ed- ward Hallam & Company on the west side of Water Street just below Hallam Street, where the bank was located until it removed to State Street.
At a meeting of the directors held November 18, 1817, it was resolved that the President; Mr. Starr; and Mr. Law be a com- mittee for the purpose of con- tracting for the building of a stone bank on the ground bought of George Williams on the north side of State Street. The con- tract referred to was awarded to Colonel Potter. The entire cost of the building and land was $6,225.00. The bank moved into this building in 1818 and
2582+
NEW LONDON - CONNECTICUT'S OLDEST BANK
1935
occupied it until 1905 when a new building was erected on the same site.
At a meeting of the stock- holders, held March 28, 1865, it was voted to convert the bank into a National Banking associa- tion under the general banking laws of the United States. On January 10, 1882, it was deemed expedient to go into liquidation as a national bank, and that the business be continued as a state bank by the resumption of its charter, of 1792, which had been suspended since 1865.
In 1913 the charter of the bank was amended by the grant- ing of trust powers, and the name of the bank changed to "The Union Bank and Trust Company of New London."
Directors
CARLOS BARRY
W. KYLE SHEFFIELD
ALFRED COIT LAURENCE A. CHAPPELL
LUCIUS E. WHITON JOSEPH A. STANNERS
CHARLES F. WHITE THOMAS E. TROLAND
FRANCIS ALLANACIE
Officers
President, ALFRED COIT
Vice President, LUCIUS E. WHITON
Vice President, CHARLES E. WHITE
Cashier and Trust Officer, JOSEPH A. STANNERS Assistant Cashier, EDWARD BULL, JR.
Assistant Cashier, MALCOLM M. SCOTT
Assistant Trust Officer, JOHN MASTERTON
New- London, in -
WE E Gordon Mill - of
Norwich - Principal and.
of Norwich -
- _ Surety, jointly
and feverally promife, for Value received, to pay to the Prefident, Directors and 'Company of the Union Bank, in New-London, thous hundred .. ยท Dollars, Bon
the Third Day of Angst -next, with lawful Interest till paid. Executed in prefence of Witnefs our Hands. Puber Huntington,
This note which is preserved in the bank vault bears the number 60
THAMES BANK and TRUST COMPANY
Founded 1825
Original Officers and Directors
WILLIAM P. GREENE, President
LYMAN BREWER, Cashier
Directors
WILLIAM P. GREENE
ROGER IIUNTINGTON
JOSEPH PERKINS
WILLIAM C. GHI.MAN
JOSEPH BREED
AMOS II. HUBBARD
CALVIN GODDARD
JONATHAN BREED
Present Officers and Directors
CHARLES R. BUTTS, President
ARTIRUR AL BROWN, Vice President
TIMOTHY C. MURPHY, Vice President WILLIAM G. PARK, Vice President
GEORGE R. FRILOWS, Vice President and Trust Other JOH'N R. TARRANT, Secretary, and Treasurer
Cuvs. B. Lucis. Isn't Treasurer and Iss't Trust Officer
Directors
CHEARIES R. BUTTs ARTHUR NE. BPOWN GROSVENOR ELY WALILK F. LESTER Hoch B CAMPBELL. FRANK B RICKETSON WILLIAM G. PARK HENRY A. TIRREIL. PHILIP A. JOHNSON SIHI PARD B. PALMER TIMOTHY C. MURPHY
CHARLES V. JAMES LAMis J. DoNonUit
F. RUSSELL SMITH
WILLIAM P. GREENE First President, 1825-1843 Director 1825-1842
HE Thames Bank and Trust Company is a successor, through the Thames National Bank, to The Thames Bank which was chartered by the State in 1825.
The earliest record concerning the bank appears in the Norwich Republican Advocate for June 8, 1825, which announces a meeting of the bank commis- sioners at Norwich. The Norwich Courier for Wednesday, June 29th, states that on the preceding Monday the com- missioners, appointed by the General Assembly to distribute the stock of the bank, met at Kinney's Hotel for the exe- cution of the duties of their office. The books were opened at two o'clock, and in the course of four hours subscriptions were received to the amount of more than $800,000, the first instalment of ten dollars per share accompanying each subscription. The stockholders first met on June 30, 1825 and elected directors, and later in the same day William P. Greene was chosen as the first president by his associates. Lyman Brewer was appointed cashier in July, with a salary of eight hundred dollars per year.
The charter of the new bank obliged it to purchase the stock of the Norwich Channel Company and to "maintain a depth of at least ten feet in the channel of the Thames River at common and ordinary tides." This condition was complied with and later they were obliged to also take over all liabilities which existed on such shares of stock as were transferred. The bank was permitted to collect toll from all vessels which sailed into Norwich.
Another provision of the charter was that the bank
should receive deposits from the State school fund, eccle- siastical societies, colleges and schools at par, paying such dividends on these as were paid to its stockholders. As long as the bank operated under the State charter these provisions were fulfilled. In February 1826, the first dividend of $1.50 per share of stock was declared to be payable on the first Tuesday in March.
Meetings continued to be held at Kinney's Hotel until July 31, 1827, when the bank moved to rooms on Main Street, where the jewelry store of John & George H. Bliss is now located. Business continued to prosper through the years and in 1862, the bank erected its own building on the present location on Shetucket Street. This structure was completed in 1864. The bank remained in this building until 1910, when the present building was built.
The Thames Bank relinquished its State charter in 1865, and became The Thames National Bank. On April 20, 1920 The Thames National Bank was granted the right to act in the capacity of a trust company. The present title of the institution was adopted in December, 1929.
In its one hundred and ten years of existence, the Thames Bank and Trust Company has become a strong commercial institution, as its history and present records show. Its growth has been largely due to its constant desire to meet every demand and to render service to its customers. The past furnishes a sound foundation on which to base its future achievements and, with one century fulfilled and a second one begun, it looks forward with confidence to the years to come.
THE
MARINERS SAVINGS BANK
Establishea 1867
YCON DERAYE
One of the Murals in the Mariners Bank
N July 29, 1867, a number of residents of New London and Groton met at the Metropolitan Hotel on Bank Street and organized the Mar- iners Savings Bank. The prime mover in the organization of the bank was Thomas M. Waller, then a young attorney who was afterward to become the Governor of the State and Consul General of the United States at London under President Cleveland.
Nearly all of the incorporators were men who were identified with the then flourishing whaling industry either as owners or masters. At that time the town had a popu- lation of about 10,000.
The Mariners Savings Bank has weathered all the finan- cial storms since 1867 and has been an important factor in the development of the community.
Some years ago P. LeRoy Harwood, Executive Vice- President and Treasurer, decided to assemble in the bank a collection of whaling relics and memorabilia which would keep alive the history and traditions of whaling days.
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