USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 57
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 57
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86
486
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Since May, 1889, Norman McD. Crawford has been the superin- tendent of the railway company, which operated, in December, 1889, about six miles of track through the principal streets of the city, carry- ing an average number of 2,200 passengers per day.
To the manufacturing interests of Meriden may be attributed what- ever prosperity the city enjoys, and their development forms one of the most interesting periods in its history. Beginning in a small way, several decades ago, industry after industry has been added, until the city is one of the acknowledged manufacturing centers of New Eng- land, and one that is especially noted for the excellence of its goods. In the infancy of this period, it gained a reputation which has since been greatly enhanced, as one of the principal points in the Union for the production of Britannia, plated and silver wares, lamps, gas and kerosene fixtures, cabinet and builders' small hardware, steel and plated cutlery, shot guns, clocks, pens, fancy tin goods, carriage goods and woolen goods. These still remain principal features, and the plants devoted to their manufacture have assumed mammoth propor- tions. In these establishments other goods are also manufactured, their products having become much diversified. But, in addition, new manufactures have been introduced, in more recent years, such as musical instruments, harness goods, bronze and art goods, and decor- ated wares, whose products give these plants a creditable place among the older establishments, and have added new luster to the fame of Meriden. In diversity of manufactures, quality and quantity of the products, few places of the same size make a better showing than this city; and, what is still more creditable, nearly all have been developed from meager beginnings, by men of small capital, but having a wealth of skill, industry and perseverance, who still control these vast enter- prises, and who are also the leading citizens in advancing the other features in the life of this community.
To these traits of character of its manufacturers, Meriden largely owes its importance as one of the foremost of the young cities of the East. This position caused it to be selected as one of the objects of visit by the South American delegates to the International American Congress, October 10th, 1889. On that occasion an exhibit of some of the manufactures was made, and an epitomized account of the indus- tries was prepared, showing that the factories of Meriden produce, out of the raw material, several hundred articles used in every family in the civilized parts of the globe. It also indicated that here are em- ployed a small army of men, among them being hundreds of skilled mechanics, whose workmanship is nowhere else excelled. Some of the goods shown were characterized by beauty of design and artistic finish, approaching in every respect a state of perfection.
In its early history the town had the usual milling and mechanic in- terests, one of the most notable of the latter being the shoe shop of Comfort Butler, as early as 1765; and later the shop and tannery of
487
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
his son John. For sixty years "Uncle John" was the principal tanner in the town, and at his shoe shop employed a number of men. But aside from these, Samuel Yale is credited with being the pioneer manufacturer of Meriden. In 1791 he began making cut nails in a little shop on the hill, near the Center Congregational meeting house, using a small hand machine. This required each nail to be headed separately. In 1794 he added the manufacture of pewter buttons, which, though coarse, found a ready sale. In this work he had the assistance of his son, Samuel, who was so long one of the leading manufacturers. With the latter was afterward associated his brother, Hiram, and in the course of a few years two other brothers, Charles and William, became interested, and they manufactured pewter and Britannia war. Charles and Hiram Yale removed to Wallingford, and at Yalesville demonstrated the possibility of manufacturing Britannia goods by greater power than that of foot or horse, and by using im- proved machinery.# After this time Samuel Vale had a shop on Liberty street, and still later another one on the corner of Broad and Main streets, where he made tin and Britannia goods.
Following the example of the Yales, a number of small shops were opened in what is now the city, and in other parts of the town, in which tin and pewter or Britannia goods were made. Some of these devel- oped into larger establishments and did a flourishing business until the decline of these interests. Others were abandoned sooner by reason of the concentration of their interests to form a single corpora- tion, whose line of manufacture was expanded to embrace other kinds of goods. In this way passed out of existence the Britannia shops of Isaac C. Lewis, William W. Lyman, Lemuel J. Curtis, James A. Frary, John Munson and others, when the Meriden Britannia Company was formed, in 1852.
Another pioneer manufacturer at Meriden was Ashbel Griswold, who made tea pots and other articles out of block tin in a shop in the northern part of the present city. His operations extended from about 1810 to 1842. He was also early engaged in the manufacture of Britannia goods, being associated with Ira Couch and others. Will- iam W. Lyman was a partner of the latter at the old Griswold shops, in 1844, but later was at Prattsville with Lemuel J. Curtis. Still later he was at the Frary shop, on the site of the present Malleable Iron Works. After 1855 the Frary shops were used by the American Pow- der Flask Company, of which James D. Frary and others were inter- ested members. It did not continne long. Lauren Merriam had a pioneer shop on the site of Foster, Merriam & Co.'s works, where he made buttons of block tin, about the time of the war of 1812. Later he manufactured ivory combs at Crow Hollow, selling out in 1830. His sons subsequently became leading manufacturers in the town.
In 1828 Nathan F. Goodrich commenced the manufacture of *See history of Wallingford manufactories.
488
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
japanned and tin ware, using a small shop. In 1830 Ezra Rutty came to Meriden, and the firm of Goodrich & Rutty was formed, and the business was much increased. In 1852 Eli Ives was admitted to the firm, which became Goodrich, Ives & Rutty. In 1864, by the retire- inent of Mr. Goodrich and the admission of E. R. Crocker and Nelson Payne, the firm became Ives, Rutty & Co., and so remained until busi- ness was dissolved, in 1875. Large shops in the southern part of the town were occupied, where from 50 to 100 hands were employed and immense quantities of tin ware were manufactured, from 3,000 to 5,000 tons of tin being used annually.
The tin ware manufactory of S. S. Clark, on East Main street, near the railway station, was also for many years an important industry. Mr. Clark was connected with it about forty years, after 1835, and under his management the works assumed large proportions, in which about 60 persons found employment. Before the shops were closed, some time about 1880, lamp goods were manufactured at that place.
In the eastern part of the town Noah Pomeroy and others were engaged in the manufacture of tin ware, and this may be said to have been the leading industry until about 1840. Most of the goods were sold by peddlers from wagons, travelling over large sections of the country.
In the locality still known as Prattsville Benjamin Twiss manu- factured wooden clocks about 1825, and was later engaged in manu- facturing coffee pots at the same place. At a more recent period, prior to 1852, Britannia ware was made in his old shops by Lemuel J. Cur- tis and others.
The manufacture of ivory combs was at one time so extensively carried on in Meriden that it was estimated that two-thirds of those goods produced in America were manufactured in this town. The industry was begun at Meriden by Merriam & Collins, in 1819, who used improved machinery, and for several years had a fine business at Crow Hollow. Their interest passed to Walter Webb & Co., about 1830. Julius Pratt, a practical comb maker. of Saybrook. where the in- dustry in America was first developed, came to Meriden early in 1818. Several years later he and others, as Howard, Pratt & Co., began mak- ing ivory combs in a factory on Harbor brook, below Main street. Finding the water power too feeble at that point, the factory was re- moved to the locality since called Prattsville. In 1824 Fenner Bush became interested in this firin, and when the factory was burned, in November, 1846, through his energy it was at once rebuilt, and for about thirty years it was occupied in the manufacture of ivory combs. piano keys, etc. In 1836 Philo Pratt & Co. commenced comb making, and in the course of years these interests at Prattsville, Crow Hollow and South Meriden were consolidated, Julius Pratt & Co. becoming the principal firm, and Prattsville the main point of manufacture. In 1863 the interests at Meriden and those at Deep River, Conn., were
489
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
united under the firm name of Pratt, Read & Co. (incorporated), and heavy operations were carried on until after 1870, when the Meriden interest was removed to Saybrook, and about that time ivory comb making was discontinued at Meriden.
For several years the Wilmot Brothers, who began business about 1860. manufactured door fenders and other elastic articles. Charles A. Roberts had a factory on Crown street. after 1852, in which he made large quantities of stationers' goods. Both interests and a number of others, which flourished for a time, found a more successful existence in other localities, to which they were removed, or were discontinued here.
A list prepared in 1849 indicated the following manufactories at that time:# Julius Pratt & Co., ivory combs, employed 42 hands; Walter Webb & Co., ivory combs, employed 33 hands; Pratt, Ropes. Webb & Co., table cutlery, employed 75 hands; Curtis, Morgan & Co., locks, latches and small iron castings, employed 50 hands; Charles Parker, coffee mills, latches, vises, Britannia and plated spoons and various iron castings, employed 60 hands; C. & E. Parker, brass and iron cast- ings; Oliver Snow & Co., iron pumps and all kinds of machinery to order, employed 20 hands; Foster, Merriam & Co., casters and a variety of brass and iron castings, employed 14 hands; Julius Parker, harness trimmings, hinges and iron castings, employed 8 hands; Henry M. Foster, spring balances and steelyards, employed 3 hands: Julius Ives, cast iron inkstands, employed 3 hands: H. T. Wilcox, steelyards and bit braces, employed 7 hands; Sanford, Parmelee & Co., augers, skates, rakes and bits, employed 40 hands; Stedman & Clark, plain and japanned tin ware, employed 40 hands; Goodrich & Rutty, plain and japanned tin ware, employed 18 hands; Lauren T. Merriam, plain and japanned tin ware, employed 25 hands: H. W. Curtis, plain and japanned tin ware, employed 8 hands; Charles Pomeroy, plain and japanned tin ware, employed 18 hands; Blakeslee. Stiles & Co., plain and japanned tin ware, employed 4 hands; Charles Waterman, kettle ears and candlesticks, employed 5 hands; Frary & Benham. Britannia ware, employed 10 hands: William W. Lyman, Britannia ware. employed 6 hands: Isaac C. Lewis, Britannia ware, employed 8 hands; S. L. Cone. Britannia ware, employed 4 hands; L. G. Baldwin, Britannia ware and spoons, employed 5 hands; Crocker & Pratt, brass and plated articles, like letters for signs, lamp chains, stove ornaments, etc., employed 20 hands: Edwin Birdsey, wood turning, wooden combs and packing boxes, employed 15 hands: Birdsey & Williams, bone buttons, em- ployed 12 hands; H. Griswold, bone buttons, employed 20 hands; Calvin Coe, neat's foot oil, ground bones and gypsum, employed 4 hands; William Hale, suspenders, hands worked at their own houses; Jedediah Wilcox, carpet bags; W. K. & S. L. Treat, sashes, blinds and
* By Reverend Perkins.
490
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTV.
doors, employed 5 hands; Osgood & Co., platform scales, employed 3 hands; Samuel Yale, tin ware and lamp screws, employed 4 hands.
The Meriden Britannia Company is one of the oldest and strongest corporations in the city, having been organized in 1852 and incorpor- ated under its present charter in 1873. Its capital stock is $1,100,000. It is also preëminently the corporation which has caused the name of Meriden to be known in nearly all parts of the civilized globe as the " Silver City," and one of the chief manufacturing centers of New England. It is, moreover, the corporation which controls the largest establishment in the world devoted to the manufacture of silver ware and silver plated goods, producing 4,000 different articles and having an annual output of nearly $4,000,000 worth of goods. Its plant is in the center of the city and consists mainly of substantial, huge brick buildings, most of them five stories high, and having an aggregate floor space of nearly ten acres. In them are arranged over 5,000 feet of shafting, turned by the most powerful engines, which operate every device of labor saving machinery, and yet the services of nearly 1,200 hands are required to carry on the business of the company. It has been estimated that the plant with its attendant good will and reputation is worth $20,000,000. Such a vast enterprise is not the growth of a day. but can be created only by genius having the ability to conceive a plan and persistently carry it out until this business has become the foremost of the kind in the world.
Like most other great successful American manufactories, this concern was evolved from a small beginning by men having more push and application than capital. Those who founded it have ever since been the directing heads and have been inseparably connected with its development and growth. They have, also, in the past forty years, been closely identified with the progressive interests of the town, which has kept pace with the development of this industry, the one growing up with the other.
The formation of the company was prompted by the successful experience of Horace C. and Dennis C. Wilcox, as salesmen of Britannia goods, for some of the small manufacturers of that ware in this locality. In 1850 those energetic young men came to Meriden and arranged to sell the products of the factories of James Frary, William W. Lyman. Lemuel J. Curtis, Isaac C. Lewis, all of Meriden; and John Munson and Samuel Simpson, of Wallingford. After two years all concerned were satisfied with the arrangement and convinced that still better results would be obtained if their interests were more closely united. The company was now organized by these parties, who continued to produce Britannia goods at their respective factories several years, all being tributary to a central office erected on the site of the present plant. Isaac C. Lewis was chosen the first president; Horace C. Wilcox, secretary: George R. Curtis, treasurer. The latter has held his office continuously, having the assistance of George M. Curtis in more recent
491
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
years. In 1865 Horace C. Wilcox was elected president of the cor- poration and Isaac C. Lewis the superintendent. Mr. Wilcox died August 27th, 1890, and his eldest son, George H. Wilcox, succeeded as manager of the company. In 1865 Dennis C. Wilcox was elected secretary, an office to which George H. Wilcox was afterward elected and in which he still serves.
After a few years successful business by the company it began the erection of factory buildings near its office, where its outlying inter- ests were concentrated, the smaller shops being abandoned. Since that time other buildings have been put up as the business demanded, until the plant has attained its present magnitude. In recent years a branch factory was located at Hamilton, Ontario, in which 300 hands are employed, who produce goods for the Canadian trade.
The company originally manufactured ordinary Britannia ware, but soon began the production of goods of a superior quality. purchas- ing the entire interests of Simeon S. and Asa H. Rogers, of Hartford, who also engaged in its service. The Rogers Brothers were estab- lished in 1847 and were silver platers of superior reputation. Their processes and trade mark, "1847, Rogers Bros., A 1," thus became the exclusive property of the Britannia Company, and have proven to be of great value. The trade mark stamped upon knives, forks and spoons here manufactured, is everywhere taken as evidence of their superior quality.
The company keeps employed a large force of artisans of the greatest skill in designing and engraving, thus keeping abreast or even in advance of the changing fashions of the times, in producing myriads of articles of utility or ornament. But in every line of goods the best material only is used in the manufacture, and all are treated alike by the same careful process in electro-plating, which was here brought to a state of perfection.
The Wilcox Silver Plate Company had its beginning as the Wilcox Britannia Company, which was incorporated December 26th, 1865. The present name was adopted in May, 1867. Jedediah Wilcox was the first president of the company, and W. C. Humphrey, the secretary and treasurer. The original capital of $250,000 has been increased to $370,000, the company by growth and absorbtion becoming one of the strongest in the city. With this body was merged the original Parker & Caspar Company (incorporated in May, 1867), of which John E. Parker, Charles Caspar, Philip S. Pelton and Samuel Dodd, Jr., were members. For many years the latter has been the secretary and treasurer of the present corporation, A. S. Collins being the president.
The works of the company, on Pratt street, were erected in 1866, upon the site of the burned woollen mills and are large and convenient. The main building is of brick, four stories high, 40 by 350 feet. Other buildings in the plant give a total capacity for nearly 400 operatives. The company manufactures an immense variety of silver plated
.
492
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
goods, of designs of a very high standard, and contemplates the manu- facture of German silver ware at an early day. The output is about $700,000 per year, which finds ready sale in many lands, and the prod- uct is steadily increasing.
The Meriden Silver Plate Company was organized as a corporation under the laws of the state, in the spring of 1870, by Charles Caspar, George R. Curtis, W. R. Mackay, Isaac Cornwall, W. E. A. Bird and others. The two first named were the principal officers. W. R. Mackay was chosen the superintendent and has since so served. In more recent years George R. Curtis was elected president; F. E. Knight, vice-president; and R. H. Curtis, the secretary and treasurer. Beginning in a small factory, in which 25 hands were employed, the works have been enlarged and improved until, in 1890, the real estate was valued at $76,000. The main building, on North Colony street, is six stories high and has dimensions 60 by 90 feet. It is of brick in the Eastlake style and contains an attractive office. A glass cutting shop is 30 by 64 feet, in which 30 men are employed in cutting and engraving glass most artistically, for use on the company's plated ware. This embraces many novel and chaste designs, principally in hollow ware, the services made by this company being noted for their handsome appearance. In all departments several hundred men are employed.
Wilbur B. Hall's silver plated ware factory, in the eastern part of the city, was established in 1882. The products are a very large variety of small silver plated table ware and articles for ornamental use. From twenty to thirty people are engaged in this line of work.
The C. Rogers & Bros. Silver Plating Establishment # ranks as one of the foremost in the city of Meriden. The firm comprises the three Rogers brothers-Cephas B., Gilbert and Wilbur F .- who began busi- ness in 1866. At first only a small building was occupied in the manu- facture of coffin trimmings, tea-pot knobs and flat table ware, but which proved to be of such a fine quality that the business has steadily expanded since that time, until 300 persons are employed. The plant at the foot of Butler street consists of a number of large brick build- ings, erected with a view to their convenience and adaptation to the wants of this industry. The line of manufacture has been increased, that of brass furniture being lately added. Among the recent improve- ments is a new brass furnace which will give the firm still greater opportunity for diversified products. The flat ware of the Rogers Brothers has become justly celebrated for its excellence and many new designs in plated goods and German silver have been originated and patented by them, which has still further enhanced their reputa- tion as silver workers.
Edward Miller & Co.,t manufacturers of lamps, chandeliers, bronze and brass goods, have one of the largest establishments of the kind * See biography of Cephas B. Rogers. + See also biography Edward Miller
493
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
in the state. The works embrace immense brick buildings, equipped with the most approved machinery that experience can suggest and money procure, and the plant is alike creditable to the city and the corporation which has created it. When about 15 years old Mr. Miller was employed by Horatio N. Howard, manufacturer of lamp screws, oil screws and candlestick springs. He afterward was employed for about two years by Stedman & Clark, manufacturers of tin ware, in- cluding candlesticks and lamps, on East Main street. He then formed a partnership with his father, under the firm name of Joel Miller & Son, and began the manufacture of these goods in an old shed on Broad street, using foot power lathes and presses. The partnership continued until Edward was 20 years old. when he bought out his father's interest. His business increased and horse power was soon substituted. Later a larger shop, with steam power, was occupied, in which the brass parts of fluid lamps were made. In 1856 his shop was burned down. Larger works took its place, and after the manufacture of brass kerosene lamp goods was begun, the business increased very rapidly. In 1866 the firm was incorporated under the laws of the state, with a capital of $200,000, which has been increased to $250,000. Edward Miller was chosen president of the corporation, and has since remained at its head. W. H. Perkins served many years as treasurer, an office later filled by Edward Miller, Jr.
In 1868-9 a large brass rolling mill was erected, and the manufac- ture of sheet brass on a large scale was begun. Various articles are also produced of copper and German silver, and in more recent years many kinds of bronze ornaments have been manufactured, in addition to the specialties of the firm-the celebrated Rochester lanıp, in a variety of patterns, and Niagara oil and gas burners. Many skillful metal workers are employed, and in all nearly 500 persons find occu- pation in these works.
The Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Company was incorpor- ated in January, 1875, with a capital of $300,000, the corporators being Walter Hubbard, Nathaniel Bradley, Charles F. Linsley and George R. Hubbard. These have also since been the officers of the corpora- tion, which has become one of the largest of its kind in the world. The beginning of this vast enterprise was on a small scale, some years before the incorporation, and the business was developed to its present magnitude by the skill, tact and energy of the members of the com- pany whose name it bears, and who started out with a determination, to which they have studiously adhered, to produce only the best goods of the best material. Hence the association of the general trade mark, " B. & H.," is synonymous with the excellent quality of the wares, and more especially of the lamp and lamp goods which have brought the corporation fame and wealth. With the expansion of the capacity have come increased variety of manufactures, all of the same high type of character as the original products. Chief among these are
494
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
gas fixtures, bronzes, art metal goods in ornaments, table and fireplace furniture, the diversified interests giving employment to the highest artistic and mechanical skill. A variety of ingenious machinery is also used. In all its appointments this establishment may fairly serve as a model manufactory of high grade metal goods, of which lamps continue the staple articles. The many good points of the " B. & H." lamp have popularized it not only in this country, but in many of the markets of the world, large shipments being made to South America.
The Bradley & Hubbard plant is near the center of the city, on the main line of the New Haven railroad, and its acres of large brick buildings have been especially erected for the uses of the corporation, and to afford working capacity for the thousand people in its service.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.