USA > Connecticut > History of Connecticut, Volume IV > Part 9
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He continued with that firm until 1921, when he determined to
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put his valuable experience to good use in an enterprise of his own. In that year he founded The Plainville Casting Company, a gray iron foundry. He served as president and treasurer of the firm until 1955 when he became chairman of the board, the position he held until the close of his life later the same year. Under his able leadership The Plainville Casting Company progressed rapidly and soon was a major supplier of gray iron castings to many prominent Connecticut and Massachusetts industries. In 1924 he established a branch plant in Westfield, Massachusetts. An important milestone in the company's history occurred in 1930 when the Plainville plant was mechanized with the most up-to-date equipment. This was the first gray iron jobbing foundry in the East to install such equipment, and this fact illustrates the progressive thinking which characterized Mr. Wash- burn throughout his business career. Under his direction the com- pany became a recognized leader in the industry and developed into one of the largest and most progressive independent gray iron foun- dry operations in New England. It supplies gray iron castings for industrial firms manufacturing machine tools, valves, ball bearings, and a variety of other items. The founder's son, Roderick Randall Washburn, whose biographical sketch accompanies, has succeeded him as president and treasurer.
In the course of his long and useful career, Mr. Washburn found time for roles of executive leadership with several other in- dustrial firms in various parts of New England. In 1931 he became managing director of the Vermont Foundries, Inc., of Springfield, Vermont, a responsibility he carried for several years. In 1936 he became associated with the H. B. Smith Company of Westfield, Mas- sachusetts, manufacturers of boilers, radiators and heating apparatus. His purpose in accepting this connection was to reorganize the busi- ness. This done, he was elected its president on May 24, 1938, and served in that office until July 17, 1945, when he was made chairman of the board. He was chairman until September 25, 1951. This com- pany had been in business eighty-nine years and was a pioneer in its field. Under his reorganization, Mr. Washburn liquidated old obli- gations and devoloped the business into a successful and profitable one. The progress of the company, as indicated by the balance sheets and other records, was due to his powers of observation, his capacity for analyzing, and his capable direction of the efforts of his associates. He also served as president of The Foster Machine Company of Westfield, Massachusetts, during 1943-1946. That firm was founded in 1893 and was engaged in the manufacture of textile machines for
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winding all fibers. It developed some twenty models for cone winding.
A recognized leader and authority in the gray iron foundry in- dustry, Mr. Washburn served during World War II as a member of the Iron and Steel Advisory Committee of the War Production Board. On October 2, 1946, he received the Distinguished Service Award of the Gray Iron Foundries Association, and on May 1, 1947, was awarded the Joseph S. Seaman Gold Medal of the American Foundrymen's Association for his outstanding service to the associa- tion and his valuable contributions to the gray iron castings industry. He was president of this association during the year 1938. He also served on the administrative council of the National Foundry As- sociation, and was a trustee of the Gray Iron Research Institute, a technical organization with headquarters in Columbia, Ohio.
His local memberships included the New Britain Rotary Club, which he served at one time as president, and Frederick Lodge No. 14 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Plainville. He was a member of the Farmington Country Club. His religious affiliation was with the Church of Our Savior (Protestant Episcopal) at Plain- ville, of which he was a vestryman. Politically he was a Republican. He served as a member of the Plainville board of finance from 1928 to 1932, and of the board of education from 1928 to 1933. Boating, golfing and hunting were his chief recreations.
In Waterville, Maine, on September 7, 1912, Henry Stevenson Washburn married Lulu Roderick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Roderick of Oakland, Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Washburn had three children: I. Minna, who married Robert Budington, Jr. 2. Henry Stevenson, Jr., who graduated from The Sheffield School of Yale University in 1936, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He was with The Plainville Casting Company until 1940, when he left to enter the United States Navy. Until 1943 he served aboard the U. S. S. "Helena," and lost his life in July of that year when his ship was sunk during the battle of Kula Gulf in the South Pacific. 3. Roderick Randall, who is the subject of an accompanying sketch.
Henry S. Washburn died suddenly at Clearwater, Florida, on March 31, 1955.
RODERICK RANDALL WASHBURN
In the course of his two-decade tenure of service with The Plain- ville Casting Company of Plainville, Connecticut, Roderick Randall Washburn advanced steadily to the presidency of the firm, an office
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he has held since February 1955. He has been prominent in the ranks of leadership in his industry, serving on the administrative council of the National Foundry Association since 1948, and as president of the Gray Iron Research Institute in 1956-1957. He is also treasurer of the Connecticut Branch of the National Metal Trades Association.
Mr. Washburn was born in Winsted, Connecticut, on August 24, 1916, the son of the late Henry Stevenson Washburn and of Lulu (Roderick) Washburn. His father, founder of The Plainville Casting Company, is the subject of an accompanying biographical sketch.
Graduating from Westminster School in Simsbury, Connecticut, in 1934, Roderick R. Washburn entered Dartmouth College, where he took his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1938. Interested in all sports at college, he was captain of the gym team in his senior year. In 1940 he joined the United States Navy, and served four years on the cruiser U. S. S. "Brooklyn." Subsequently he was transferred to Northwestern University, where he was placed in charge of the gun- nery department of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps unit. He held the rank of lieutenant commander.
Mr. Washburn joined The Plainville Casting Company on a full- time basis in 1938, and advanced through positions of increasing re- sponsibility in its various departments. He was made vice president in 1946, and became president of the company in 1955. He also serves on its board of directors. The company, founded by his father in 1921, manufactures gray iron castings for the machine-tool, valve, ball-bearing, and many other industries. At its plant and offices on South Canal Street in Plainville, it has one hundred and eighty em- ployees on its payroll, and there is a branch at Westfield, Massachu- setts, which employs seventy-five persons.
Mr. Washburn is a director of the Bristol Savings Bank. He is a Republican in politics. A Mason, he is a past master of Frederick Lodge No. 14, and he is also a member of the Farmington Country Club. He and his family attend the Episcopal Church.
In New York City, on February 17, 1943, Roderick Randall Washburn married Jane Parker, who was born on August 22, 1917. She received her degree of Bachelor of Arts at Sweet Briar College in Virginia, in 1939. Mr. and Mrs. Washburn have three children: I. Linda Parker, born on November 17, 1945. 2. Henry Stevenson, 3rd, born on September 4, 1947. 3. Anne Parker, born November 24, 1950. All three children attend Renbrook School in West Hartford.
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GILMAN C. GUNN, SR.
Under the direction of its founder and president, the Groton real estate and insurance firm of Gilman C. Gunn and Sons, Inc., has won recognition and attracted a considerable volume of business over the last decade. Gilman C. Gunn, Sr., came to the city in 1946, with a broad background of experience in managing various New England enterprises. He has become active in promoting new building projects at Groton.
A native of Hanover, New Hampshire, he was born on June 30, 1894, son of William H. and Zelphia (Trotter) Gunn. He attended the public schools of Lebanon, New Hampshire, and beyond that point his education has come through his own self-directed effort, and has included courses in appraisal and management, real estate and insurance. In 1925 he began the operation of a food store and meat market at Keene, New Hampshire, and continuing in this busi- ness until 1930, headed the first self-service store in that state. He organized his own real estate and insurance business at Keene, New Hampshire, in 1930, and operated this firm until 1943. Coming to Connecticut at that time, he conducted the Masonic Service Center at New London until 1946.
Since he came to Groton in 1946, Mr. Gunn has been in the real estate and insurance business, in which his sons, Gilman C., Jr., and Leonard W., have joined him to form the present firm. In addition, Mrs. Gunn is now its secretary and treasurer. The firm, which has its headquarters at 791 Long Hill Road, deals in city, suburban, shore and country properties ; handles mortgages ; and acts as business coun- sellors and brokers. It arranges sales, rentals, insurance, appraisals, and management of property. The agency holds an organizational membership in the National Association of Real Estate Boards, and also in the New London Real Estate Board, the Connecticut Association of Real Estate Boards, the New London and Suburban Insurance Boards, the Multiple Listing Service, and the Groton Chamber of Commerce.
During his years of residence in his native New Hampshire, Mr. Gunn became active in realtors' groups. He was one of the or- ganizers of the New Hampshire Board of Realtors, and served as its president in 1938-1939. In 1936, Governor Francis Murphy of that state appointed him one of a committee of ten working on constitu- tional amendments to the New Hampshire constitution.
At the present time, in addition to his major business interest, Mr. Gunn serves on the board of directors of the Groton Bank and
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Trust Company, of which he was chairman of the organizers. He is a charter member of the Groton Chamber of Commerce. A Rotarian, he served as president of the club at Groton in 1955-1956. He is also a past master of his lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons, at Keenc, New Hampshire, and he belongs to the higher bodies of the Scottish Rite. Holding the Thirty-second degree, he is a member of Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He and his family attend the Congregational Church.
As a veteran of World War I who served as a sergeant in Com- pany A of the 74th Infantry Regiment, 12th Division, Mr. Gunn is active in the American Legion. He served as commander of the Gordon Bissell Post at Keene, and also as district commander.
At Sunapee Lake, on August 1, 1915, Gilman C. Gunn, Sr., mar- ried Bernice Hesseltine of Claremont, New Hampshire, daughter of Frank and Florence (Merrill) Hesseltine. The couple have two sons, Gilman Carlton, Jr., and Leonard Wesley, who are the subjects of accompanying biographical sketches.
GILMAN CARLTON GUNN, JR.
Partner with his parents and his brother in the real estate and insurance firm of Gilman C. Gunn and Sons, Inc., of Groton, Gilman Carlton Gunn, Jr., holds office as its vice president. In recent years, he has taken a full role in community affairs, serving on school, public facility and governmental committees. In addition, he recently com- pleted a term as president of the Chamber of Commerce.
Born April 20, 1923, at South Woodstock, Vermont, he is the older son of Gilman Carlton, Sr., and Bernice Frances (Hesseltine) Gunn. His father is the subject of an accompanying biographical sketch. The younger Gilman C. Gunn completed his public school education at Keene, New Hampshire, graduating from high school there. After studying at Northampton Commercial College in Mas- sachusetts, he left for wartime service in the United States Navy, in which he enlisted in June, 1942. He served until October, 1945, and was a yeoman first class aboard the submarine "Grouper."
Shortly after his return to civilian life, he took a position in No- vember, 1945, with the General Electric Supply Corporation at Boston. He remained with that organization until July, 1948, when he joined Gilman C. Gunn and Sons. The firm, which has attracted a considerable proportion of the area's real estate and insurance business over the last decade, has its headquarters on Long Hill Road.
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Mr. Gunn was vice chairman of the Pleasant Valley School Build- ing Committee, and he has also served as chairman of the Eastern Point School Building Committee, and two years as president of East- ern Point Parent-Teacher Association. He was also a member of the Town Charter Drafting Committee, and is chairman of the Sewer Authority, of the Town of Groton. He served the city's Chamber of Commerce as president in 1957.
He is also well known in insurance men's and realtors' circles. He currently holds office as secretary and treasurer of the Groton Association of Insurance Agents, and is a member of the board of directors of the Connecticut Association of Insurance Agents.
Affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons, Mr. Gunn is a member of Brainard Lodge No. 102. He is presently serving as its senior warden, and should be its Master as of August 1959. He and his family attend the First Congregational Church.
Gilman C. Gunn, Jr., was first married to Shirley Joan Peck, on October 30, 1943. On January 6, 1951, he married, second, Ruth Audrey Davega, daughter of Harry S. and Dorothy (Roth) Davega. She has three children by a previous marriage: I. David B. Bolton, born in Washington, D. C., on March 17, 1943. 2. Michael D. Bolton, born March 14, 1944, at Halifax, Nova Scotia. 3. Bruce Bolton, born at New Rochelle, New York, on September 14, 1946. Mr. Gunn too has two children by his first marriage: I. Gilman C., 3rd, who was born at Boston, Massachusetts, on December 24, 1945. 2. Bruce L. born December 25, 1946, at Brockton, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Gunn have one child born to their marriage: Glen Harry Gunn. He was born at New London on September 20, 1957.
LEONARD WESLEY GUNN
Vice president of the Groton real estate and insurance firm of Gilman C. Gunn and Sons, Inc., Leonard Wesley Gunn has been with the organization since the beginning of his business career. He is a veteran of naval service in World War II, and is taking an active part in the programs of real estate and insurance groups.
Born October 1, 1926, he is a native of South Woodstock, Ver- mont, and a son of Gilman Carlton Gunn, Sr., and Bernice (Hessel- tine) Gunn. His father, and his older brother, Gilman C. Gunn, Jr., are subjects of accompanying sketches. Completing his public school education at Keene, New Hampshire, Leonard W. Gunn graduated from Keene High School. From 1943 to 1946 he served in the United
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States Navy as a radarman, and resumed his education after the war, attending New London Junior College and Boston Institute of Real Estate Practice. Since 1950, he has been with Gilman C. Gunn and Sons, Inc., in his present capacity of vice president.
Mr. Gunn is a member of both the New London Real Estate Board and the New London Insurance Board. He also belongs to the National Association of Real Estate Boards; and as a member of the New London Multiple Listing Service, served as its president in 1958. A Kiwanian, he served as president of the club during its 1958 term. He was also president of the Acadia Club, and is a member of Brainard Lodge No. 102, Free and Accepted Masons at New London. He and his family are members of Groton Congregational Church.
In Groton, on August 21, 1948, Leonard Wesley Gunn married Olive Anderson of that city, daughter of Karl Martin and Anna (Leaf) Anderson. Mr. and Mrs. Gunn have three children: I. Sigrid, who was born on June 6, 1951. 2. Christine, born October 25, 1955. 3. Martin, born February 9, 1958. All three children were born in New London.
BERNARD A. KOSICKI
A prominent member of the Middletown bar, Bernard A. Kosicki has capably filled the office of state's attorney for Middlesex County for the past decade. He is a native of Middletown, and was born on May 16, 1900, son of Waclaw J. and Bronislawa ( Michalska) Kosicki.
After attending local schools and graduating from high school, Bernard A. Kosicki entered Wesleyan University. There he took his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1921, and at the same time completed the requrements for the degree of Master of Arts, which was awarded to him the following year. Having decided to seek a career in the law, he enrolled in professional courses at George Washington University, which granted him the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1925. While studying in the nation's capital, Mr. Kosicki concurrently held a posi- tion as chief of the patent and trade mark section of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, and after graduation from law school, remained in this post until 1927.
In that year he returned to his native city of Middletown and opened offices for the practice of law there. He has been there since, with his only absence of any duration coming at the time of World War II. From 1941 to 1944 he served in the United States Army and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. He remained in the Reserves
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and in the National Guard, and in 1950, held the position of chief of staff, 43rd Infantry Division, United States National Guard, with a commission as colonel. In 1958 he was promoted to the grade of Brigadier General and, at his request, placed on the inactive list.
Mr. Kosicki was Assistant Attorney General of the State of Con- necticut from 1929 to 1935. He returned to that office in 1945 and served until 1948. Meantime, he had also served as assistant state's attorney, 1930 to 1941, and as prosecuting attorney in Middletown, 1936-1941. He has been state's attorney for Middlesex County since 1948. He was a member of the military staff of Governor Raymond E. Baldwin from 1939 to 1941. He has served as a member of the Connecticut Veterans Advisory Commission, and locally as chairman of the Veterans Regional Center of Middlesex County. He has been a member of the Polish Relief Committee and of the Charter Revision Committee of Middletown.
As a lawyer in private practice, Mr. Kosicki is currently director and counsel of the Middletown Savings Bank. He is counsel for the following organizations: Middletown City School District, Industrial Securities Corporation, Dainty Maid, Inc., Russell Manufacturing Company, Mildrum Jewel Company. He is local counsel for Standard Financial Corporation, Travelers Insurance Company, First Federal Loan and Savings Bank of New Haven, and the Southern New Eng- land Telephone Company. He is a member of the American Bar As- sociation, and of the Connecticut Bar Association of which he was a member of the council from 1948 to 1951. Also a member of the Middlesex County Bar Association and the Middletown Bar Associa- tion, he has served as president of both.
Mr. Kosicki is a member of Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity and of Phi Beta Kappa national scholastic honor society, and also belongs to the Attorney Generals' Association, the Reserve Officers Association, and the National Guard Officers Association, the Ameri- can Legion, the National Exchange Club, the Knights of Colum- bus and the Falcons. Between 1922 and 1927, when he was hold- ing his federal government post, he contributed articles on foreign patent and trade mark law to Department of Commerce and trade publications. Mr. Kosicki's favorite outdoor sport is tennis.
On February 9, 1937, Bernard A. Kosicki married Hazel Fielding Chadsey, daughter of Herbert J. and Letta (Brooks) Chadsey. The couple are the parents of three sons: I. Bernard Brooks, who was born at Middletown on November 29, 1939. A graduate of Middle- town High School, he is now attending Wesleyan University. 2. Paul
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Jerome, born August 30, 1943; attending Middletown High School. 3. John Lawrence, born December 2, 1948.
HAROLD L. FREE, JR.
As president of Free Motors, Inc., Harold L. Free, Jr., is Old Saybrook's franchised dealer in Chevrolets. He has had nearly three decades of experience in automobile retailing.
A native of Tarrytown, New York, he was born on June 7, 1907, son of Harold L., Sr., and Charlotte C. (Scharstien) Free. Both of his parents died in 1949. Completing his secondary studies at Wash- ington Irving High School in Tarrytown, the younger Harold L. Free began advanced studies at Union College in Schenectady, New York. However, he left the classroom to begin his working career with the engineering division of the Westchester County Highway Depart- ment, in 1925. He remained with the department for one year, then entered private business, becoming associated with his father in the real estate and insurance sales field in Tarrytown.
In 1929 he began his experience in automobile sales in that city, representing a Ford agency. He continued in the same connection until 1931, and thereafter until 1939, sold Chevrolets in Tarrytown. Leaving to come to Connecticut, he established the first Free Motors, Inc., at Naugatuck. This Oldsmobile and Chevrolet agency, he man- aged from 1939 until October, 1956, when he came to Saybrook. The reason for his change of location was the loss of his business in con- sequence of the flood which struck Naugatuck in the fall of 1956. At Saybrook, he has again prospered, dealing in the car which can con- sistently claim the highest sales records.
Active in the Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Free is currently serving as its vice president. He is a Rotarian, and a member of the New York Athletic Club, the lodge of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Naugatuck, and Shepard Lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, also at Naugatuck. He also be- longs to the Baldwin Bridge Yacht Club. His favorite pastimes are bowling and fishing. He and his family attend the Episcopal Church.
On September 26, 1936, Harold L. Free, Jr., married Janet Biesantz of New York City, daughter of Harry A. and Elizabeth (McCulla) Biesantz. The couple are the parents of two children: I. Roberta McCulla, who was born at Tarrytown, New York, on January II, 1939. She is a graduate of St. Margaret's School at Waterbury, and is now attending Wheaton College, Noroton, Massa-
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chusetts. 2. John Warner, 3rd, born in Tarrytown on November 26, 1941. He is a student at Old Saybrook High School.
LEWIS P. BAILEY
For some years, Lewis P. Bailey has been influential in the busi- ness affairs of both New London and Groton. In the latter city he is president of the Christie Plating Company and of the Groton Bank and Trust Company. He is a director of several organizations, and has held public office in his borough.
A native of Groton, he was born on May 1, 1899, son of Henry L. and Louisa S. (Holloway) Bailey. His parents too were born in that city, which his father served as town clerk for thirty-five years prior to his retirement. He is now deceased. Lewis P. Bailey graduated from Groton School and Norwich Free Academy, in Norwich, com- pleting his courses at the latter institution in 1917. In 1917 he entered active wartime service in the United States Naval Reserve, and held a rating as quartermaster, second class. Concluding his naval service with his honorable discharge in 1919, he was engaged in various lines of work until 1924, when he joined Max Pollack and Company, Inc., of Groton. He remained fifteen years with this firm, becoming super- intendent of its plant.
Since 1939, Mr. Bailey has been with the Christie Plating Con- pany, becoming associated with the late Howard E. Christie as a partner. The firm was incorporated in 1947, and at that time Mr. Bailey was named vice president and treasurer. He has been president since 1954. His executive position as president of the Groton Bank and Trust Company dates from 1953, and he is also a charter director of the bank. He serves on the boards of directors of the New London Building and Loan Association, and the Starr Burying Ground As- sociation of Groton.
From 1942 to 1954, Mr. Bailey served as utilities commissioner of the Borough of Groton. He is a former director and president of the New London Young Men's Christian Association. In his home city he belongs to the Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Con- necticut Manufacturers Association, and is also identified with the American Society for Electroplating, through his organization, the Christie Plating Company, which holds a research membership in that national body. He and his family attend the Congregational Church.
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