USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 42
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 42
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This company had practically the same members as the old firm, Robert Wallace being at the head of both. The water power was improved and a new factory was built farther down the stream, which, being supplied with modern machinery, gave greatly enlarged facili- ties and increased products. Hundreds of dozens of forks, spoons, etc., were turned out daily, whose quality was surpassed by no other factory. By act of the general assembly the name of the above corporation was on the 17th of June, 1871, changed to R. Wallace & Sons' Manufactur- ing Company, under which title business has since been carried on. Beginning with table wares, one branch after another was added until the company makes all kinds of solid silver, nickel silver and silver plated goods. The descriptions of the varied products of the factory fill several large folio volumes, and the designs shown are replete with artistic work. The goods themselves are substantial and very thoroughly finished.
The plant of the corporation is complete with the best machinery. and the two and three story brick buildings occupied cover several acres of ground. The water power has been supplemented by steam, until there is an aggregate of 250 horse power. From 23 to 3 tons of steel and about 1} tons of nickel silver are consumed daily, and 425 skilled metal workers are employed. It is claimed that this company produces more silver plated forks and spoons than any other factory in the world, and that its stamp is taken as evidence of the standard value of the goods. Distributing houses are maintained in New York and Chicago.
The capital of the corporation in 1890 was $300,000, and the officers were: Robert Wallace, president; F. A. Wallace, secretary and super-
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intendent of the works: W. J. Leavenworth, treasurer and general business manager of the corporation.
The old and honorable corporation of Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co. was formed in July, 1866, by Samuel Simpson, who associated with himself a number of practical young business men and skilled art- isans, among them being Almer I. Hall and Friend Miller. The latter had occupied the plant, now taken for a white metal factory, for shops for the manufacture of paper buttons. The motor was water power from Wharton's brook, to which steam was added, there being in 1890, 150 horse power. To this place Samuel Simpson brought his large experience as a manufacturer of electro-plated hollow ware, and he has here built up an establishment which, in its extent and arrange- ment, has but few superiors in the country. The grounds embrace several acres, upon which have been erected five frame and two brick buildings, from two to four stories high, affording a floor space of 26,000 square feet. The latest improved and labor saving machinery is used, and more than 300 skilled operatives are employed. The prod- uct embraces every variety of electro-plated ware of artistic design and finish, for household use and decorative purposes. Show rooms are maintained in New York, Chicago and Montreal, the splendor of the goods displayed attracting general attention. The variety and beauty of the hollow ware produced by this company are not excelled, and their William Rogers flat ware is the peer of similar goods.
The capital stock of the corporation in 1890 was $302,000. Samuel Simpson was the president; Andrew Andrews, secretary; C. H. Brown, treasurer; and Gurdon W. Hull, general superintendent.
Closely allied with the foregoing, and having the same manage- ment, is the Simpson Nickel Silver Company, which was incorporated in 1871 with a capital of $50,000. A well arranged brick factory on Cherry street is occupied, the motor being an engine of 175 horse power. From 75 to 100 persons are employed, under the management of William N. Mix, in producing spoons and other flat ware, which have a well earned reputation. The main building is 35 by 99 feet, three stories high, and spacious wings add to the capacity of the works, which are supplied with good machinery.
Some time about 1858 a part of this plant was occupied by the Fowler Manufacturing Company, to manufacture heavy metal presses, evaporating pans, etc., out of solid sheet iron, by machinery invented by Degrosse Fowler, of Northford. This industry was discontinued about 1860. In the early years of the war the building was vacant. and in 1863 parts of the 5th, 8th and 12th Connecticut Regiments of Volunteers were quartered in this and the lower Hall & Elton build- ing, the troops being in charge of Major-General B. F. Butler.
In 1864 the Marvin Signal Company, composed of Bishop and others, occupied the building, but removed to New Haven October
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17th, 1867. Thence, later, the building passed to Samuel Simpson and the present occupants.
The Maltby. Stevens & Curtiss Company, electro-platers, complete the list of manufacturers at Wallingford producing that line of goods. The firm of Maltby & Stevens was organized at Shelton, in 1880, with a capital of $40,000, and after manufacturing at that place several years was partially burned out in 1883. In November of that year the firm came to Wallingford. when the present company was formed and the buildings of Hall, Elton & Co. occupied, under a sub-lease from the Meriden Britannia Company. In February, 1887, the Pierre- pont Silver Company, of Seymour, consolidated with this firm. and its machinery for making German silver hollow ware was transferred to Wallingford and placed in the Community building. on the Quinnip- iac. since which time the company has made both flat and hollow ware. The same year the capital was increased to $80.000. E. S. Stevens is the superintendent of the manufacturing department, which gives employment to about 200 persons. D. F. Maltby is the presi- dent of the corporation, and S. J. Bryant the secretary.
The lower Hall, Elton & Co factory was built about 1857 by a com- pany, having among its members Almer I. Hall. Wooster Martin, Henry Martin. Jacob Hall, E. H. Ives and Samuel Parmalee. It was occupied for the manufacture of cutlery, but the business did not prove very successful. In 1866 the Albata Plate Company occupied the building, and was here a short time when the property passed to the present owners.
The H. L. Judd Company, manufacturers of stationers' and orna- mental hardware, was incorporated in 1869 as the Judd Manufactur- ing Company, the present title being assumed in 1887. The original business was established in Brooklyn, N. Y . a branch factory being located at Wallingford in buildings which form a part of the present plant. The company still operates at both places, but the Walling- ford interest has assumed large proportions. The plant on South Cherry street is extensive in its plans and embraces a main building, one story high. 80 by 325 feet, with a wing 60 by 150 feet. The part occupied by the office and the showrooms is three stories high. About 200 persons are employed in the production of plain and artis- tic goods in iron, brass, nickel and the more precious metals. H. L. Judd, the head of the corporation. is a resident of Wallingford and is interested in its material development.
- The Wilson Sewing Machine Company was incorporated Septem- ber 30th, 1882. and when the organization was effected. W. G. Wilson was elected president: R. H. Cowles, secretary and treasurer; and J. H. Sheldon. general superintendent. The company had a nominal capital of $300,000, the greater part of which was represented by the machinery of Wilson and others in their old factory at Grand Cross- ing, near Chicago, which it was proposed to close up and to transfer
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the interest to this place. To encourage the project and to advance the well-being of the borough (since 400 men would be employed ), liberal subscriptions to the stock of the company were made by the citizens, and eight of them donated a site for the new factory. Splendid briek buildings were erected in the northwestern part of the borough, at a cost of $73,000. They embraced a main building four stories high, 40 by 306 feet, and a one story structure, 40 by 200 feet, for use as annealing and engine rooms. In this was placed a 250 horse power Harris-Corliss engine. The factory was formally opened August 9th, 1883, when a grand public reception was given in the building in honor of the event. An address of welcome was made by the Hon. L. M. Hubbard, which received responses by Governor Thomas Waller, the Hon. L. H. Roots, the Hon. Samuel Simpson and others. About 2,000 people, including many distinguished guests from all parts of the state, were present, and the occasion was also a great social event as well as signalizing the opening of one of the finest factories in the county.
The company soon after began operations at this plant, but through mismanagement and other causes was forced to suspend before many months, and in the course of a few years the visions of the prosperity which the new enterprise was expected to bring to Wallingford had entirely faded away. The machinery of the Wilson company was removed, and after the building had been vacant some time it was occupied several months, in 1886, by the R. L. Spencer Company. This was also a foreign interest, and having but a limited capital. like the former, it did not flourish in Wallingford.
Early in the spring of 1889 the above plant was occupied by two new industries whose successful maintenance will add much to the prosperity of the borough, namely, the Metropolitan Rubber Company and the New York Insulated Wire Company. The former was estab- lished at Reading, Mass., in 1883, and in 1887 was incorporated with a capital of $125,000. It is devoted to the manufacture of fine grades of rubber goods for men's and women's wear, a specialty being made of cloth and silk Mackintoshes of fine textures. James Hamilton is the superintendent of this branch of manufactures, and about 300 people are employed.
The New York Insulated Wire Company was incorporated in 1884 in the state of New York, with a capital stock of $500,000, and the factory at Wallingford is operated as a branch of the parent business. The insulation of wire for electrical purposes is carried on according to the Grimshaw process, a most excellent and efficient article being produced. About fifteen miles of wire are prepared daily, and a large number of men are employed under the direction of W. B. Dowse. A. J. Tower is the treasurer of the two companies, C. H. Wilcox being the president of the latter company and Charles A. Place of the former,
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
both of which appear to have entered upon a prosperous carcer at this place.
The Wallingford Wheel Company is a prosperous and important concern. A pioneer in the manufacture of wheels at Wallingford is Elihu Hall, who made them as early as 1835. Three years later he engaged in the manufacture of wooden combs. using a building which stood west of the works of Simpson. Hall. Miller & Co., and later added the making of paper buttons. In 1845 he moved to a power higher up the stream, but again returned to the old place, where he carried on a general turning shop, and after 1855 manufactured wheels by machin- ery. In 1864 the firm of Elihu Hall & Co. was incorporated, with a capital of $15,000, E. H. Ives being associated with Hall. Two years later they moved into the old Hall, Elton & Co.'s shops north of the railway station, which were fitted up to manufacture on an extensive scale, and 40 men were employed.
In 1873 the Hall & Parmalee Wheel Company succeeded to the business, and in 1879 the present company took charge of the inter- ests. This company was formed of the old company and the Nauga- tuck Wheel Company, organized in 1878, and which removed to Wal- lingford in April, 1879, to consolidate under the above name. In 1890 the capital stock was $40,000. Bryan A. Treat was the president and treasurer, and Charles C. Treat the secretary of the company, which has been a member of the Wheelmakers' Association since June, 1888, and is producing material only. Since December, 1888, C. W. Robin- son & Co. have occupied part of this building as wheel manufacturers, employing fifteen men.
A singular fatality appears to be connected with the shops of this company. They were almost wholly destroyed by fire March 19th, 1880, and again May 30th, 1888, the aggregate losses being nearly $100,000. Here also was the sad killing of Horatio Hall, in March, 1874, by the insane or crazed by-revenge Swede, John Anderson, whose timely capture no doubt prevented a still greater tragedy than the killing of one man and the wounding of others.
The works of the Sweetland Manufacturing Company, northeast of the railway station, were also destroyed by fire in May. 1884. The main building was a two-story frame, 30 by 125 feet, and was used in the manufacture of chucks. The company had been incorporated in January. 1884. and being burned out so soon after, did not rebuild.
The Domestic Manufacturing Company, incorporated in July. 1886, erected a large frame building near the Wilson sewing machine plant, which was occupied several years, when the interest was transferred to New York city. A large business was done in jobbing in no- tions, card printing, etc. H. O. Rose was the president and general manager.
The Sackett Manufacturing Company was incorporated in May, 1884, and under the management of Mr. Sackett occupied the Com-
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
munity shops in the manufacture of embroidery fixtures for sewing machines, etc. The company removed to New Haven after a few years' business at Wallingford.
Prior to this occupancy the community had a printing house and buildings at the river used for silk mills. The latter industry was established in 1868, and was carried on in connection with the silk mills at Oneida. N. Y., the goods being here only partially completed. About thirty hands were employed, and the interest was carried on successfully a number of years. The printing interest was earlier established, and had at one time attained considerable proportions. Very good work was done in book and job printing, and the fame of the " Mt. Tom Printing House " was not confined to the limits of the town, much work being done for outside parties. Previous to the starting of the silk mills the community purchased a water privilege of Hall, Elton & Co., and improved the water power by building a larger dam, which constitutes the present Community lake. This is about one mile long and contains a large volume of water. The fac- tory was enlarged at the same time, and the privilege, as improved, became valuable. After the removal of the members of the commu- nity the plant was idle until 1884.
In the town have been a number of small manufacturing interests which have passed away. The sites on the brooks east of tlie borough were improved, and the small powers thus afforded were active factors in the town's industries, until the era of concentration and the estab- lishment of large plants caused these smaller factories to be unprofit- able. On other streams, in other parts of the town, a few dams are still kept up to afford power to operate small feed mills, whose use- fulness is limited to the neighborhood in which they are located. On the former streams, on the site of Peck's mills, Ralph Hill started a wooden comb factory about 1834, and later the place was occupied by William Lewis, in making paper buttons, and Hiel and John Munson to manufacture Britannia ware. On this stream the latter afterward built a grist mill, which for more than twenty years has been the property of Father Hugh Mallon. Lower down the stream David Cook and others had a gimlet factory. In this part of the town J. B. Pomeroy made razor strops as late as 1860.
In 1864 the Gaylord Brothers established a gimlet and boring tool factory, which was successfully carried on several years, giving em- ployment to more than a dozen of men.
Of the later small factories, the Wallingford Creamery has become a useful industry. It began business in the fall of 1887, and has ex- tended its scope since that time.
Wallingford borough is the seat of the first settlements in the town in 1669-70. For many years it occupied an unimportant place among the towns of the state, but in later years, by reason of its manufactur- ing interests, it has become one of the most prominent of its size and
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
is rapidly growing in population and wealth. In 1887 its directory contained 1,333 names and 72 new buildings were erected; in 1889 67 new buildings were put up and the directory contained 1,736 names, or an estimated population of more than 5,000, about double what it was 15 years ago.
The borough is most beautifully located in the valley of the Quin- nipiac and on the Hartford railroad, twelve miles from the city of New Haven. Within its bounds are high and low grounds, affording many advantages for manufacturing and residence lots, and securing good drainage. The center proper is on a long, sloping hill, on the top of which is Main street, running in a straight line north and south about two miles, much of the distance being arched by stately elms along its sides. Other streets run parallel with it, and all are cut at right angles by numerous cross streets; most of them are well graded, and there are many miles of concrete sidewalks. There are a system of sewerage, and water and gas works, making this one of the finest country places in the state, which fact is attested by the number of attractive buildings and comfortable homes erected in the past twenty years. There are also three large brick and one brown stone churches, fine school houses. banks, public halls and all the accessories of a thriving and well ordered community. The surrounding country is also very attractive, and its general development has kept pace with the growth of the borough, many of its natural advantages now for the first time receiving appreciative attention. The varied interests of the town are noted in the following pages.
The village of Wallingford was incorporated as a borough under an act of the general assembly, passed in May, 1853, with the follow- ing bounds: "Commencing on the Hartford and New Haven Turnpike road, at a point west of the sluice across the highway, near the top of « Town hill,' and near the dwelling house of William M. Hall; from thence east, in a straight line, so as to intersect said sluice, and to the highway running past the factory of John Munson; from thence southerly, in a straight line, to the top of . Long hill,' at the junc- tion of . Long hill' road and the road running from the Town street past George R. Bartholomew's dwelling house to said . Long hill:' from thence westerly, in a straight line, to Doctor Rice Hall's barn; from thence, in a straight line, to Joel Camp's dwelling house, on the said turnpike road; from thence along the turnpike road to the place of beginning, be, and the same are hereby ordained, constituted, and declared to be from time to time, forever hereafter. one body corpor- ate and politic, in fact and in name, by the name of . The Warden, Burgesses, and Freemen of the Borough of Wallingford."
Acting under the provisions of this charter an organization was effected July 4th, 1853. Elisha M. Pomeroy moderating at the meeting. E. S. Ives served as clerk. The first officers then chosen were: War- den. Abner Hall; burgesses, Samuel Simpson, Jerome B. Pomeroy,
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Wooster Martin, Lorenzo Lewis, Ebenezer H. Ives, Frederick W. Bartholomew; treasurer, Augustus Hall; bailiff, Othniel I. Martin. By-laws were adopted June 12th. 1854. Medad Munson was elected warden in 1854-5 and E. S. Ives continued the clerk.
The borough election in 1856 was defaulted, and for a number of years the charter privileges were relinquished. But at the May, 1868, session of the general assembly the borough was re-established under the old title, and Samuel Simpson, one of the seleetmen for the restoration of the charter, was authorized to call the meeting for reor- ganization. This was held in the basement of the Baptist church, July 17th, 1868, and Franklin Johnson presided. The election resulted in the choice of the following: Warden, Samuel Simpson; elerk, R. H. Cowles; burgesses, E. H. Ives, Roswell Moss, George W. Whittlesey, Phineas T. Ives, Henry Martin, Almer I. Hall; treasurer, J. C. Mans- field; bailiff, O. I. Martin.
Later, under the new by-laws of August, 1868, the following were appointed: Prosecutor, Jonathan M. Andrews; assessors, Samuel C. Ford, O. I. Martin; constables, John Ives, S. M. Scranton, S. N. Ed- wards, J. M. Hall, G. N. Andrews.
After the first election, in 1868, and until 1881 the wardens were: Samuel Simpson, two years; John Munson, four years; Ebenezer H. Ives, one year: Charles D. Yale. two years; Robert B. Wallace, one year; and B. A. Treat, two years. In the same period the clerks were: R. H. Cowles, Andrew Andrews, C. H. Brown, Joseph W. Allen and George D. Munson.
At the January, 1881, session of the general assembly, the charter of the borough was revised and amended. New limits to the bounds were set and the corporate privileges and powers were very much en- larged, to permit the establishment of a sewerage system, water works, the improvement of the fire department, and to make other improvements commensurate with the growth of the place. The power of local legislation was vested in " The Court of Burgesses," by which title the warden and the burgesses were now styled.
Under the amended charter, an election was held in November, 1881, with the following result : Warden, Bryan A. Treat; burgesses, R. H. Cowles, J. C. Mansfield, W. J. Leavenworth, P. McKenna, Albert D. Judd, Martin P. O'Connell; clerk, C. H. Brown; collector, R. S. Aus- tin; treasurer, Thomas Pickford; assessor, Thomas Kennedy, 2d; aud- itor, Henry L. Hall, Ist; bailiff, L. A. Northrop. L. M. Hubbard, Esq., was appointed borough attorney, and Mareus E. Cook road commis- sioner. The expenditures of the borough for the year ending No- vember, 1881, were $6.831.41, and the net debt was not quite $4,000. The following year the borough expenses were more than $10,400. In 1886, the by-laws of the borough were amended.
Bryan A. Treat was elected to the office of warden annually until 1885, when George E. Diekerman succeeded him. In 1886 William
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
M. Whittaker was elected; in 1887, R. C. Morse; in 1888, Henry F. Hall; and in 1889, George E. Dickerman. The clerks were: 1881-2, C. H. Brown: 1883-7. Fraray Hale: 1888-9, George T. Jones. In 1889 the treasurer was W. I. Todd; the collector, R. S. Austin; and the auditor, Henry L. Hall.
By act of the general assembly, passed February 23d, 1886, the borough court of the village and town of Wallingford was established on the first Monday of April. 1886. Of this court Leverett M. Hub- bard was appointed judge and F. C. Bartholomew deputy judge. Upon the expiration of their first term they were reappointed.
The matter of improving the drainage of the borough was a ques- tion for the consideration of a special meeting of the freemen. Sep- tember 28th, 1885, and the court of burgesses was appointed to freely investigate the same. As a result of their labors it was decided to establish a system of sewerage, and ordinances pertaining to the same were enacted in August, 1886. In the same month, the borough con- tracted with the H. Wales Lines Company to construct about 2,000 feet of sewers, of pipes from 12 to 20 inches in diameter, at a cost of $3,345. Since that time the work of laying sewage pipes has con- tinued, with beneficial results to the community. In 1888 over one mile of sewers was built, at an expense of $8,923.09, a little more than one-fourth of which was paid out of the general treasury of the borough.
The improvement of the streets of the borough in a more sub- stantial manner and according to modern methods was begun the fol- lowing year. At a special meeting. October 5th, 1887, the court of burgesses was instructed to purchase a large steam power stone crusher, which was set in operation the following winter, and large quantities of crushed stone have since been placed upon the principal streets, producing a hard and smooth surface. In 1890 most of the streets were in an improved condition, and the sidewalks especially commended themselves by their excellence. There were nearly twenty miles constructed of smooth concrete, and the borough claimed more good walks than any other town of its size in New England.
But the organization of the water department has made more apparent the benefits derived from the new charter, which have been realized in the construction of the water works under its provisions. The matter of a system of supplying pure water was discussed as early as 1870, and periodically thereafter until the organization of the present department. Pending this the general assembly, on the 23d of March, 1881, authorized the formation of the Wallingford Water Company, as a corporate enterprise, providing the borough would not avail itself of the provisions of its charter on the matter. This, how- ever, was done in 1881, when the first board of water commissioners was chosen, viz .: B. F. Harrison, P. T. Ives and H. B. Todd, with John
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