USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Norfolk > History of Norfolk, Litchfield County, Connecticut, 1744-1900 > Part 20
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Of other manufacturers of home necessities, of which there were several operating in a small way, I would men- tion the tanners and curriers of leather, some of whom combined in a small or larger way the manufacture of boots and shoes, made only to order. One of these was Mr. Na- thaniel Pease, mentioned elsewhere, "who carried on boot and shoe-making extensively for those days, frequently em- ploying ten or twelve men."
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The process of tanning in those days was somewhat slow, using as they did oak-bark, the use of hemlock for tanning not then being known. They used cold liquor (for tanning) entirely, from one to four years being considered necessary to properly tan the heaviest leather.
Other tanners and curriers of leather were Owen Brown, for a few years, mentioned elsewhere; Levi Thompson, Samuel Trescott, who preceded Mr. Levi Shepard, and a number of others, most of them operating only in a small way.
Another most necessary class of artizans in those days were called the blacksmiths. The humiliation and chagrin of some of the generation now on earth has been expressed in this way: "Why must you, whenever you mention my grandfather, always find it necessary to add, 'he was a blacksmith?'" Let such be forever comforted with the assurance that these artists in iron were manufacturers of builders' hardware, etc., all the nails, the hinges, the han- dles, the latches, the catches, the locks, the bolts, etc., necessary to build and finish a house having been made in their manufactories, as well as many useful and necessary articles for the household, all the agricultural implements for the farmers, most of the tools of the carpenter and other mechanics, and numerous other articles. One of these artizans named Canfield had his plant near where the Norfolk Bank Building stands, in the early days. Mr. Asa Foot was planted at the corner of Greenwoods road and Maple avenue. On Beech Flats Captain Benjamin Bigelow was for those days an extensive manufacturer of hand- wrought nails, and introduced the first machine in this region for making cut-nails, which were not looked upon with favor. A half mile farther east was located one of the important iron manufacturers and prominent men of the town. Mr. Hopestill Welch had his residence between the two roads, but a short distance east of the Pond Hill school- house, his shop being located upon the north side of the Colebrook road, not far distant. Mr. Welch was able not only to conduct successfully his manufacturing business,
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but also to serve his town and the state as a soldier in the French war, and later in the war of the Revolution, and this in addition to rearing a noble family of three sons and ten daughters, mentioned at length elsewhere, many of the descendants of whom have been and still are among the most distinguished and honored natives of the town during its entire history.
Mr. Vine Welch, a son of Hopestill Welch, had for a time a blacksmith shop, and his house, near where Johnson's drug store now stands. Mr. Welch after a few years emi- grated west.
There was a "potashery" in the early days near where the "Village Hall" now stands, run, it is said, for many years by Esq. Battelle in connection with his store, thus making a market for wood-ashes.
One of the earliest manufacturing industries in the town was the Woolen Factory, started by Mr. Earl P. Pease, a native of the town. In November, 1805, Silas Hills deeded "to Earl P. Pease 4 acres of land on the east side of the turnpike, bounded north on Giles Pettibone and south on Benjamin Welch, with my dwelling house; and one other piece, with buildings, and carding machines, tools and priv- ileges." He built first a small factory by the side of the turnpike, across the stream from where the large Woolen Factory was built later, which he operated for a number of years. This was probably burned and a larger factory built.
Mr. John H. Bennett says: "Mr. Pease had the first card- ing machine and cloth dressing works in Norfolk. The wool was received and cleansed and carded, then taken home and spun and woven, and the cloth returned to be dyed and napped and pressed. This home-made cloth was very durable, in general use, as good as any made in this country, but would not be called handsome in these days. The first carding machines were imported, very expensive, with hardly any resemblance to the ones now in use. A part of the foundation of the old Pease factory is still there." He manufactured a fine broadcloth and fulled cloths.
From the records it is apparent that Mn. Pease operated
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quite extensively for those days. His factory was burned twice, at least. He became financially embarrassed, was helped over this hard place by some of his well-to-do towns- men, rebuilt and continued his business for several years again, and finally gave up the struggle. Between the years 1814 and 1818 several conveyances of real estate were made to Mr. Pease in connection with his business of manufac- turing. In December, 1818, in a mortgage deed given by Mr. Pease to Nathaniel Stevens and Joseph Battell, mention is made of the land on the east side of the turnpike, the dwelling house in which I live and the shop adjoining, the land leased to me by Lemuel Akins; another piece lying on the turnpike, with fulling-mill, carding-mill, cloth-shops, dye-houses, tools, etc. This mortgage was cancelled in May, 1821.
In July, 1822, a mortgage was given to Wm. H. Imlay of Hartford, to secure notes payable at the Hartford Bank, upon the woolen-factory and machinery, clothing-shop, tools, water privileges, dwelling houses, land, etc. "Said property is now under mortgage to Joseph Battell."
January 18, 1823, Mr. Pease assigned to Messrs. Augustus Pettibone, Michael F. Mills and Salmon Pease of Canaan, "Grantees in trust of my estate, for the purpose of paying certain debts," the property already mentioned being speci- fied; also "a piece of land on Ragged mountain, so called," etc.
His business matters seem to have been satisfactorily adjusted, and he went on again. In February, 1825, Mr. Pease gave a mortgage to Augustus Pettibone and Michael F. Mills, "upon the new fulling mill about ten rods below my woolen factory on the same stream," etc.
Just how long Mr. Pease continued manufacturing woolen goods does not clearly appear. June 30, 1833, Mr. Wm. H. Imlay of Hartford deeded to Wm. R. Slade and John J. Fenn of Hartford the woolen factory, fulling-mill, buildings, dwellings, privileges, implements of every kind thereto be- longing, etc., in Norfolk, taking a mortgage upon all the property.
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July, 1834, there was an additional mortgage put upon the machinery, etc., in the factory; a partial list of the articles enumerated is of interest, showing as it does some- thing of the extent of the plant, viz., "Three double carding machines. One jack of 160 spindles. One picker. Six power-looms. Two teazling gigs. Three shearing machines. One brusher. One clothier's press. One steamer. 7,000 bobbins, etc., etc., all of which articles are in the third story of our factory building. One fulling-mill. One Indigo- mill. Two blue dye vats. Copper and iron kettles. One turning-lathe and tools; carpenter's shop and tools being under the same roof as the dye-house. One bell and light- ning-rod on said factory, etc."
Messrs Slade and Fenn continued the business about two years. July 30, 1835, they quit-claimed absolutely all right, title and interest in and to the woolen factory property in Norfolk to Mr. Imlay.
For some time, probably about two years, Lawrence and Swift operated the Woolen Factory, manufacturing cloth, it is said. It does not appear from the records that they purchased or owned the woolen factory property, and prob- ably they leased the entire plant from some of the former owners, the assignees, mortgagees or others. Mr. E. Grove Lawrence and Mr. James C. Swift composed the firm. They built a store on the 'Flatiron,' as it was called, conducted it for some time, sold it, built the old Ryan store, carried on business there for a time and sold that out to the Ryans, as is elsewhere mentioned.
September 29, 1836, Mr. Wm. H. Imlay of Hartford deeded the woolen factory property, the fulling-mills, all machinery, etc., to John Ryan, Edward E. Ryan and Matthew Ryan of Norfolk, and Charles Ryan of Dudley, Mass., who formed the firm of J. & E. E. Ryan & Co. After a few conveyances of land, dwelling houses, etc., made soon after to "The Ryans," as they were called, Mr. Imlay dis- appeared from the scene.
July 7, 1840, Mr. Warren Cone, who had been a manu- facturer of scythes for several years, as is mentioned else-
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where, conveyed to Willard Dutton his scythe shop, build- ings and land, bounded by the Forge privilege, the Mill privilege, etc. This property was conveyed in 1841 by Mr. Dutton to Mr. Wm. P. Judd, who seems to have changed it to a "tan-house," and in 1843 Mr. Judd and Mr. E. Grove Lawrence conveyed the property to J. & E. E. Ryan & Co., who changed it into a dye-house.
In January, 1841, Mr. Theodore Gains conveyed to J. & E. E. Ryan & Co. one acre of land beginning at the N. W. corner of the home farm of Lemuel Akins, deceased, in line of the Greenwoods turnpike, with the timber, lumber and saw-mill frame and fixtures, water-wheel, etc. 'The above land and premises is the same I purchased of Sylvester Bradley.'
For twenty years or more the Ryans did a large business manufacturing broadcloths, satinets, cassimeres and woolen goods of various descriptions, mostly for the southern trade. They were enterprising business men, and excellent citizens, who did much for the town in helping business of all kinds, giving employment to a large number of men and women, making a market for lumber, wood, wool and all kinds of farmers' produce. About 1850 they built the large four-story factory building upon the site now occupied by the Aetna Silk Company's Mill. To secure a reservoir of water for an emergency, they obtained by purchase from A. & S. Tibbals and others the right to Tobey Pond, built and strengthened the dam there, and improved the natural water course from Tobey to their own mill pond. Soon after coming here they bought out the store of Lawrence and Swift, where they conducted a large mercantile business, Mr. Matthew Ryan being the merchant, and with his son Charles continued that branch of the business several years after the factory was shut down, until their death. Mr. John Ryan was the financier and business manager, being ably seconded by Mr. Edward E. Ryan, who was the active outside man and general agent. Financial embarrassments came upon the firm a few years prior to the breaking out of the civil war. The firm was broken up about the be-
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ginning of the year 1857. Mr. John Ryan, who was an educated man and true gentleman, soon left town, and went into the practice of the law in Illinois, where he was quite successful. Mr. Edward E .- Ryan returned to Massa- chusetts and soon afterward went West. When the latter was about leaving town he said to a friend: "I have spent twenty of the best years of my life in Norfolk; have used my best efforts in business, and leave the town poorer by several thousands of dollars than when I came here a young man." -
Upon the breaking up of the firm of J. & E. E. Ryan & Co., the 'Norfolk Woolen Company' was organized, with an advertised capital of $73,000. A. A. Lane of New York was President; T. Ransom of Bridgeport, Treasurer; Matthew Ryan of Norfolk, Secretary. This Company did some business for a time, but not long after was broken up, and the property passed into the hands of outside parties. The large factory building and machinery had stood idle for many months, was kept insured, and just as the war broke out in the spring of 1861 the factory was burned by an incendiary fire unquestionably; and forthwith there was work for every woolen factory in the country, day and night.
The next water privilege on the stream below was first used about 1830 by Jonathan Kilbourn, who had previously been in business in Colebrook, his native place. He put in a carding machine and made from the wool "rolls," as they were called, from which women spun yarn for knitting, and the yarn which they wove into cloth on hand looms. This cloth was then taken to Mr. Kilbourn's factory, dyed, fulled, dressed and finished. About 1840 the carding of rolls and spinning of yarn by women on hand wheels began to be superseded by the spinning jack, which spun yarn for hand-knitting. In about 1843 Mr. Kilbourn and his son Henry put in a spinning jack and power looms, made yarn and satinet, and, as mentioned elsewhere, also made wooden bowls. Other enterprises started at this place are men- tioned below. Blackberry River furnished the power for
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running machinery, and must have been a more permanent stream then than recently, before the heavy timber in the valleys and on the hills had been cut off. Large wooden over-shot wheels were used, which furnished at that time ample power.
The first iron wheel in town was put in for the Norfolk Manufacturing Company in 1852, in the stone building now owned and used by the Hosiery Company, and was liked so well that others put in iron when their wooden wheels gave out. Now there is not a wooden water wheel in any building on the stream.
"About the middle of the century textile manufacturing seemed to increase, and yarn made in factories for hand knitting became so plenty and cheap that the old-fashioned hand spinning wheel was laid aside with the hand weaving looms, and nearly all cloth and yarn was made in the fac- tories. Machine knitting had not then come into general use, and fashioned hosiery was hardly known, being knit on hand frames, and too expensive for general use."
Several companies were formed in this town for the pur- pose of manufacturing, subsequent to 1850, most of which had a rather brief existence.
Some of these companies were: 'The Norfolk Manufac- turing Company,' organized 1852, for the manufacture of Cotton Warp, Knitting Cotton and Wrapping Twine; John J. Hinchman, President; Joseph K. Kilbourne, Secretary. The stone mill, long owned and occupied by the Hosiery Company, was built in 1852 by Mr. Hinchman, who was a prominent man in the Hosiery Co.
"The Welaka Company,' organized 1854, capital $15,000. Manufacturers of Woolen Yarn; William W. Welch, Presi- dent; Orlo J. Wolcott, Secretary. In 1857 John K. Shepard was President and S. G. Bird Secretary. The two concerns last named operated at the old Kilbourn stand. The We- laka Company failed and their property was sold at auction to Porter, Butler & Co. in 1858.
John H. Welch & Company, organized 1854, capital $4,000. Manufacturers of Cotton Hosiery, Wrappers,
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Drawers, etc. This concern operated some hand machines for a time in the old gambrel roofed Welch house, and did the first machine knitting ever done in this town.
'The Lawrence Machine Company, organized 1854, capi- tal $25,000.' This company built the long stone shop which was afterward used for various purposes, and a large foun- dry; they put in this shop the second largest overshot water wheel in the country, it was said, it being 42 feet in diam- eter. These buildings exhausted the capital of the com- pany. The stockholders doubled their stock in 1856 and organized as the Empire Company, capital $50,000. Manu- facturers of Planters' Hoes, Machinery and Castings of every description. Egbert T. Butler, President; Nathaniel B. Stevens, Secretary, Treasurer and Agent.
In the "Norfolk Almanac," "for the year of our Lord 1856," "published for S. D. Northway Mfg. Company," was the following article:
"Lawrence Machine Company. Capital $25,000. Estab- lished 1854. E. G. Lawrence, President; N. B. Stevens, Sec- retary and Treasurer; A. J. Elwell, Agent. Directors: E. G. Lawrence, Aaron Keyes, O. B. Butler, J. K. Shepard, A. A. Spaulding, E. D. Lawrence, N. B. Stevens, A. J. Elwell. This establishment was built the past season, in the most thorough manner, of beautiful grey granite, quar- ried from the surrounding hills.
The main building is 233 feet long by 40 wide, one and one-half stories high, with an attic of one story, and wheel house attached 80 by 20; pattern house 22 by 40. A shop for wood work 40 by 70, three stories high, and the whole propelled by a water wheel 43 feet in diameter. They are engaged in the manufacture of Machinery and Castings, of every description. Also Wagon and Car Axles, Trip Ham- mers, Saw-Mill Cranks, Ship Irons, etc., and in almost every article in the line of Machinery made of Wood or Iron. This establishment enjoys unusual facilities for doing work prompt and well, and on the most favorable terms. Orders are respectfully solicited."
Norfolk, October 1, 1855.
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'N. B. Stevens &Co.,' organized in 1853, had their works on what was then named 'Patmos Island,' by some Spirit- ualists, and the name still remains. A flourishing business in the manufacture of Planters' Hoes was done on Patmos Island, and later in connection with the Empire Co. Quite a little village sprang up, a flourishing store was carried on there for a few years, but the breaking out of the civil war in 1861 put a speedy end to this business on Patmos Island and in the Stone shop a little farther up the stream. Further mention of Planters' Hoes will be found near the end of this chapter.
Not long after the breaking out of the war a company was formed, and through the effort and influence of Dr. William W. Welch a contract from the U. S. government was secured for the manufacture of Springfield muskets for the government, the work being done in the long stone shop of the Empire Company, but it did not prove a great financial success. The first Government contract for Spring- field muskets was satisfactory. A second contract, when guns were plenty with the Government, was not satisfac- tory. For a time after the war the manufacture of revolv- ing pistols was carried on by the same company, which was called "The Connecticut Arms Company," with about the same result. Still later this fine plant and water-power was used by the 'Hartford Spring and Axle Company' for several years, but at length they abandoned the place, moved their machinery to Dunkirk, N. Y., and the fine plant is unused, and going to decay.
Mr. Augustus Roys and Augustus Smith in South Norfolk started about 1835 and carried on a tanning business, tan- ning heavy leather. After the death of his father in 1842, Harlow Roys continued the business and erected a large building, tanning principally sheep-skins, building up quite a large business. A flourishing village, with a large general store, Post-Office, etc., sprang up in that locality. Mr. Roys furnished an Omnibus every Sunday to carry to church at the centre those from South Norfolk who wished to attend church who had not teams, and the omnibus was usually
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loaded. In 1855 'The S. D. Northway Manufacturing Com- pany' was organized; Capital, $25,000; some Waterbury men being interested in the Company, and succeeded Mr. Roys, who went to New York in business. This concern advertised as 'Manufacturers of and dealers in all kinds of Leather. Depot, 38 Spruce St., N. Y .; S. D. Northway, President; Myron Perry, Secretary.' The business of the company seemed to flourish for a short time. Their large tannery was burned about 1856 and rebuilt, but not long afterward they went into a decline, and nearly every vestige or sign of their business, their buildings, and of the village even, has disappeared.
To show the contrast between South Norfolk as it is in 1900, and as it was in 1856, forty-four years ago, when the large tannery was in operation there, when there were en- terprising, well-to-do farmers on all sides, and a thriving village had sprung up there, having a flourishing store, Post-Office, etc., the following advertisement of 1856 is inserted: "S. D. Northway M'fg. Co., South Norfolk, Conn., Manufacturers of Book-binders, Suspender, Pocket-book, Piano-Forte, Trunk, and Boot and Shoe Maker's Leather. Depot, 38 Spruce Street, New York. Also dealers in all kinds of Dry-Goods, Groceries, Hardware, Boots and Shoes, Hats and Caps, Crockery, Flour and Provisions, Varnishes, Fluid and Phosgene, etc., etc.
Their stock of Dry Goods is complete, and they do not mean to be undersold by their neighbors. Among their stock of Groceries may be found Sugars, as cheap as the cheapest. Teas, black and green. Coffee, ground, burnt and unburnt. Spices of all kinds; Molasses and Stewart's Syrup that is all right; Pork by the barrel and pound; Fish of various kinds; good old Cider Vinegar, etc., etc.
Also Flour, Meal and Feed kept constantly on hand, and for sale low for Cash, and Cash only. Cheese, butter, pork, poultry, Eggs, etc., wanted, for which the highest market price will be paid.
N. B. Particular attention paid to filling orders for Eng- glish Dairy Cheese, and Butter."
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In 1856 South Norfolk was a busy place. Signs of life and prosperity appeared on all sides. People in wagons and loaded teams coming and going every week day, and on Sunday the "omnibus" with its full load for church. In 1900, it is very quiet there.
In 1853 the "Norfolk Leather Company" was incorporated with a Capital of $6,000, as manufacturers of and dealers in all kinds of "Book-binders', Suspender and Pocket-book makers' Leather. Depot, 27 Courtlandt St., New York." The first officers were William W. Welch, President; Eg- bert T. Butler, Secretary. Later, Egbert T. Butler was chosen President and Business Manager, and acted as such until the company failed. The stockholders of this company were William Yale, Harlow Roys, S. D. Northway, Egbert T. Butler, Aaron Keyes, E. Grove Lawrence, Dr. Wm. W. Welch, Edmund Brown and Benjamin W. Crissey. They bought and for a time operated a small tannery which had been built in West Norfolk by Wm. Yale. Harlow Roys, it was said, was the principal business agent of the company. Under the incorporation laws of the state at that time the stock- holders of a company were liable for all the company's debts. This Company proved to be the most disastrous business venture to a part of the stockholders, in the history of the town. An enormous debt compared with the capital of the company was incurred by the managers. The coming storm was foreseen, and all the stockholders took shelter from it, save four, and upon those four men fell the entire burden of the enormous debt. Each of the four stock- holders mentioned paid $7,315.78 of the "Norfolk Leather Company's" indebtedness.
In 1810 Mr. Samuel Cone and his brother, Mr. Warren Cone, then young men, sons of Daniel Hurlbut Cone of Win- chester, came to Norfolk. They at first carried on black- smithing, shoeing oxen, etc. In 1811 they bought of Mr. Lemuel Akin the mill site just at the foot of Buttermilk Falls, their dam having been formerly known as the "An- chor-shop dam." The west part of the dam is still stand-
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ing. This conveyance from Mr. Akin was "eighteen rods of ground, beginning at the south-east corner of the old An- chor-shop dam," etc., "with privilege of raising the water, but so that it does not injure the grist-mill and saw-mill which stand above; reserving the privilege of taking water from the dam or flume as shall be most convenient to carry to a tan-works, if the grantor or his assigns should set up any on land adjoining the conveyed premises. Nor have the grantees any right to set up an oil-mill on said prem- ises."
On this privilege the Messrs. Cone built, or used the old Anchor shop, for a Scythe shop, and for several years to- gether successfully manufactured grass and grain scythes, which were sold in all this region and what was then 'the west,'-employing a number of men, and running several trip-hammers. In 1818 Mr. Samuel Cone sold to his brother, Mr. Warren Cone, his interest in this mill-privilege, which was "deeded to them by Mr. Akin, Rufus Pettibone, and others," and also his interest in the house lot, "being land conveyed to S. and W. Cone, July, 1816, by Munson C. Gay- lord and wife." Mr. Warren Cone continued the manufac- ture of scythes at this place until 1840, when he sold the shop and privilege to Willard Dutton. The "house lot" mentioned above, has been known from 1816 until the pres- ent time as "the Cone place," the original house having been built by Edward Strickland about 1750. The old house of the "lean-to style," stood a few rods south of the fine house which Mr. Cone built in 1836, in a most thorough manner, and which is still in fine condition. Mr. Cone was a prominent man in all town affairs; represented the town in the Legislatures of 1834 and 1838; was chosen Deacon of the Congregational church, November, 1845, and held the office until his death, May, 1852, at the age of 63.
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