USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 31
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THE METAL SPECIALTIES COMPANY
The Metal Specialties Company was organized June 7, 1912, capital $25,000, with John W. Potter, president; Clark Lewis, treasurer; A. L. Schwartz, secre- tary and general manager ; and Cyrus T. Gray, director.
In October. 1913, Harris W. Langley became secretary, and with the resig- nation of Mr. Potter, Mr. Gray became president in February, 1914. In April, 1915, Mr. Lewis and Mr. Langley both resigned and H. H. Heminway was elected treasurer and Charles Bronson secretary. In February, 1917, Mr. Hemin- way became secretary and treasurer, while Mr. Gray remains as president.
The company began business at No. 23 Jefferson Street, occupying a part of a room on the third floor. In 1915 it took two rooms on the top and on the lower floor, and on January 1, 1916, began occupying the entire building. On the Ist of April, 1917, it moved into its new building on East Aurora Street. This is 120 by 190, with an addition 30 by 40 feet, is of sawtooth mill construction, equipped with sprinkler system and electric power.
The company manufactures snap buttons, burnishing and bearing balls, special rivets, metal novelties, selling to jobbers. It employs sixty to seventy-five people.
THE ATLAS MACHINE COMPANY
The Atlas Machine Company was incorporated in March, 1906, with a capital of $10.000, which in 1910 was increased to $50,000. Its officers are: President and treasurer, Adam Callan; secretary, Carlton F. Atwood.
Its output consists largely of metal and wire working machinery.
THE WATERBURY STANDARD TOOL AND MACHINE COMPANY
The Waterbury Standard Tool and Machine Company was incorporated February 20, 1913, with a capital of $10,000, its officers being Jeremiah W. Phelps, president and treasurer; John B. Doherty, secretary. It manufactures automatic machinery of all kinds, but more especially that used for the making of watch parts, and the output is classed among the most perfect in the country. The company occupies two floors of its five-story building at 31 Canal Street. Mr. Phelps has built up a thriving business, as he is looked upon as one of the watch machinery experts of the country.
THE WATERBURY PRESSED METAL AND TOOL COMPANY
The Waterbury Pressed Metal and Tool Company was incorporated February, 1916, with a capital of $25,000. Its president and treasurer, Alfred L. Schwartz, was for many years general manager and secretary of the Metal Specialty Com- pany. The secretary of the new company is Ernest A. Austin. Its output is tool and machine work and all classes of metal stampings.
CHAPTER XX
OTHER MANUFACTURING CORPORATIONS
THE INTERNATIONAL SILVER COMPANY-THE AMERICAN MILLS COMPANY-THE WATERBURY PAPER BOX COMPANY-THE WHITE & WELLS COMPANY-THE KALB- FLEISCH CORPORATION-THE WATERBURY BATTERY COMPANY-THE WILLIAMS SEALING CORPORATION-THE WATERBURY JEWEL COMPANY-THE AUTOYRE COM- PANY-THE LANE MANUFACTURING COMPANY-WATERVILLE CUTLERY COMPANY -THE MORDEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY-THE H. L. WELCH HOSIERY COM- PANY-THE WATERBURY INSTRUMENT COMPANY-THE WATERBURY ICE COR- PORATION-THE SPRING LAKE ICE COMPANY-THE HELLMAN BREWING COM- PANY-THE EAGLE BREWING COMPANY-FEW MANUFACTURING LOSSES.
The Bristol Company was organized in 1889 as a partnership by W. H., B. H. and F. B. Bristol. It was incorporated in 1894 with a capital of $10,000. W. H. Bristol was the organizer and founder of the business, and with the exception of a short interval has been president since incorporation. The company began to manufacture recording steam gauges and steel belt lacing. Business has now been expanded to cover every kind of recording instrument, covering over two thousand different uses. The invention of Prof. W. H. Bristol formed the basis of the Bristol Company's success. He has a record of over one hundred inven- tions, all of them in the line of recording instruments. His electric pyrometer is perhaps the most important. Business was begun in a little wooden building in Platts Mills and since 1894 additions have from time to time been made to the the present factory until the company now has 175,000 square feet of floor space. The buildings are from one to six stories in height, nearly all of mill construc- tion, with sprinkler system.
The company employs over four hundred people, all highly skilled labor. Its product is sold all over the civilized world. It has branch offices in Boston, New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago, San Francisco and agencies in all foreign countries.
At the Panama Exposition in San Francisco the Bristol Company received the highest possible award on their whole line.
The officers are: W. H. Bristol, president ; Harris Whittemore, treasurer ; S. R. Bristol, secretary.
In 1908 E. H., B. B. and B. H. Bristol sold out their interest to the Bristol Company and moved to Foxboro, Mass., where they established the Foxboro Company, which is still in business there making recording instruments.
THE INTERNATIONAL SILVER COMPANY
The International Silver Company of New Jersey in 1899 succeeded to both Rogers & Brother and the Rogers & Hamilton Company, occupying at the present time the Rogers & Brother plant. The Rogers & Hamilton Company's new plant on Griggs Street remained vacant until 1907 when it was taken over by the Noera Company.
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Rogers & Brother, established in Hartford in 1847, had removed to Water- bury in 1858. The Rogers & Hamilton Company was established with a capital of $50,000 February 14, 1886.
The plant is officially known as International Factory Company, Factory J., but passes locally as "the spoon shop." It has been greatly enlarged since the consolidation and still manufactures the * Rogers & Bro. A-I brand of silver plated ware. These goods are sold all over the world.
In the Waterbury factory about six hundred hands are employed. The secre- tary of the International Silver Company, George Rockwell, is general manager of the Waterbury plant.
Four buildings have been erected since 1907 and further improvements are now contemplated.
THE AMERICAN MILLS COMPANY
The American Mills Company, which was organized in 1881, was incorporated on November 19, 1909, with a capital of $150,000 and with its present executive, Archer J. Smith, as president. On July 7, 1914, the business was extended to include the New Haven Web Company, Hamden, Conn., and the Narrow Fabric Corporation, New Haven, the capitalization being $1,200,000.
In the Waterbury plant of the company 250 hands are at present employed.
Its officers are: President, Archer J. Smith ; vice president, F. M. Chambers, of New Haven ; secretary, C. B. Twitchell, of New Haven; assistant treasurer, J. B. Smith. It manufactures narrow elastic and non-elastic fabrics, and its trade is now worldwide.
Its largest building in the Waterbury plant is just being completed, a two- story and basement factory addition, 300 feet long. The building is also to con- tain the offices of the company.
Its newer construction work began in 1904 and in 1910 it put up a large two- story and basement brick and steel structure, size 64 by 191, and a one-story brick addition.
THE WATERBURY PAPER BOX COMPANY
For many years the paper box industry has been an important one in Water- bury, large numbers of the boxes used for perfumery, cutlery, silverware and toilet articles being manufactured here and shipped to the makers of these articles elsewhere, as well as druggists' boxes and boxes for the local factories.
The factory of R. E. Hitchcock & Company was one of the old landmarks of Waterbury industrial life. Situated on Canal Street, it gave employment to over one hundred people. Mr. Hitchcock was succeeded by his partner and son-in- law, Arthur C. Northrop, under whose regime the business grew and developed until some of the finest box work of the country was done in this factory, espe- cially the fancy boxes used by leading perfumers for putting up their goods. The property passed into the hands of the present owners in 1901 and received its present name, that of the Waterbury Paper Box Company. Since that time it has doubled itself and now employs about two hundred and fifty hands. Its capital was $25,000, increased January 27, 1914, to $50,000.
A plot of ground on South Leonard Street was secured, and in 1904 a com- modious and convenient building, designed especially to meet the needs, was erected.
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One of the departments of the Waterbury Paper Box Company which has always been a very important one is its printing department, which also occupies a portion of the office floor. Established in the first place to meet the needs of the factory itself, in the way of labels, box tops, etc., the work soon grew and developed until fine job printing became a regular feature of the company's work.
In 1913 a 60-foot addition was built, mill construction, giving the company a 300-foot frontage.
Its goods are sold all over the United States to perfumery, toilet goods and silverware manufacturers.
Harry H. Heminway is president, and William H. Beers, secretary and treasurer.
THE WHITE & WELLS COMPANY
The White & Wells Company was a partnership until 1895, when the third in direct descent from the founder of the business, James White, incorporated it for $50,000. Its officers were: George L. White, president and treasurer ; C. H. White, vice president ; W. E. Norris, secretary.
The factory at Naugatuck was run in addition to the old plant at 214 Bank Street. On December 1, 1914, George L. White, who had inherited the business from his father, died and was succeeded by his son, William Henry White. Its secretary is W. E. Treat. The two large factory buildings in Waterbury are now headquarters for a plant that has well-established branches in Nau- gatuck, Bridgeport and New Haven. There has been no increase in capitalization.
TIIE KALBFLEISCH CORPORATION
The Kalbfleisch Corporation of New York, one of the largest manufacturers of acids and heavy chemicals in the United States, has one of its most important plants in Waterbury, located on Railroad Hill Street, near Eagle Street, and employing 120 hands. It began the construction of a local plant in 1904, with a one-story brick factory 50 by 185. This has been enlarged from year to year, with further improvements now in progress. Seven buildings with a total front- age of nearly 800 feet comprise the plant today.
The local manager is J. A. Garde. The officers of the New York company are: President, F. H. Kalbfleisch ; vice president, R. S. Perry ; treasurer, A. B. Savage ; secretary, Richard Sheldrick, all of New York.
Until May, 1917, it was known as the Franklin H. Kalbfleisch Company. At that time it was incorporated under the laws of New Jersey as the Kalbfleisch Corporation.
It manufactures sulphuric, muriatic and nitric acids, all chemicals used by silk, cotton and wool manufacturers in dyes, replacing much of that nature for- merly imported from Germany.
WATERBURY BATTERY COMPANY
The Waterbury Battery Company was incorporated in 1899 with a capital of $125,000, to manufacture opened and closed circuit batteries and to handle battery zincs and battery materials. Its president and treasurer has been and is Charles B. Schoenmehl. Its vice president and general manager is E. E. Hudson, and its secretary and factory manager is M. L. Mattus. At present the company employs about a hundred hands.
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Its first new building was erected in 1904, and in 1910 and 1914 the larger structures were added.
THE WILLIAMS SEALING CORPORATION
The Williams Sealing Corporation was organized October 19, 1909, with John H. Goss, president; N. R. Bronson, vice president; George A. Williams, treasurer and general manager; Charles D. Nye, secretary; J. E. Tackaberry, assistant secretary and treasurer. Its capital is $150,000. It is located at No. 37 Benedict Street, where it has a frontage of 160 feet, and a depth of 120 feet. It occupies two buildings three stories in height, one of which is of mill construction.
The company manufactures "Kork-N-Seal" bottle caps. These are sold to manufacturers of food products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, mineral waters, wines, liquors, patent medicines, fruit juices, and other liquids. It also makes automatic machinery for applying the caps to the bottles, but the cap can be applied without the use of the machine.
The output is sold largely to big manufacturers. The article is being adopted by such firms as the Parke-Davis Company of Detroit, the Standard Oil Company, Scott & Bowne, manufacturers of Scott's Emulsion, and the R. L. Watkins Company of Cleveland. The plant employs 125 people.
THE WATERBURY JEWEL COMPANY
The Waterbury Jewel Company was established February 8, 1911, with E. M. Grilley and F. G. Neuberth as partners. It was incorporated February 18, 1915, with F. G. Neuberth as president ; H. M. Werner, secretary ; E. M. Grilley, vice president, treasurer and manager. Its capital is $25,000. With the with- drawal of Mr. Werner, R. F. Neuberth became secretary.
The business was started on Burrall Court, and now occupies the two upper floors of the Standard Tool and Machine Company Building at 31 Canal Street. It manufactures all kinds of small instrument jewels and talking machine playing points. The product represents a high grade of mechanical skill, work being based on processes devised by Mr. Grilley. It employs sixty hands.
SMALL-WIRE DRAWING
The Standard Wire Die Company was organized and incorporated in 1914. Its officers were and are Frederick Quigley, president; Irving Spies, vice presi- dent ; J. P. Wall, secretary, and H. W. Quigley, treasurer. The company manu- factures dies for drawing wire. It makes diamond-wire-drawing dies and diamond tools of all descriptions. They manufacture diamond dies for gauges as low as .0005 of an inch in diameter, and up to one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter. The product includes diamond tools of all shapes for turning hardened steel pinions, rubber, fiber, etc., and diamond drills for drilling glass, eyeglasses, etc. There are only five concerns in this line in the United States.
The company employs twenty high grade mechanics. It has factories in New York, Worcester, and Waterbury.
George Hartley succeeded his father in the manufacture of small steel wire from which hair springs for watches are fabricated. He has built the business up to a commanding position in the trade. In 1915 and 1916 a factory 40 by 40 feet was erected.
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The Hartley Wire Die Company is owned by William M. Hartley, son of George Hartley, and manufactures diamond wire dies of small sizes. It was registered in July, 1917.
Harris Hayden has been for thirty years one of Waterbury's famous diamond die sinkers and is still in business, occupying part of the George Hartley plant.
THIE AUTOYRE COMPANY
The Autoyre Company was organized in June, 1912, for $200,000, with J. H. Cowles, president ; F. M. Peasley, vice president; R. C. Stewart, secretary and treasurer. Its factory is at Main and Oakville streets, in the buildings formerly occupied by the Baird Machine Company, now of Stratford, where it manufac- tures a general line of wire goods, corkscrews, bottle openers, wire loops, fruit jar trimmings, dress fasteners, having automatic machines for all these processes. It employs 150 people.
THE LANE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
The Lane Manufacturing Company was founded in 1850 by Merritt Lane. who had been in the button business with Rufus E. Hitchcock prior to that date. In 1867 Spencer B. Lane, a brother, became manager. In 1894 its officers were : E. D. Steele, president ; Spencer B. Lane, treasurer, and H. B. Lane, secretary. The factory at 50 Elm Street has been occupied continuously since 1873. Merritt Lane died in 1888. In 1896 Spencer B. Lane became president of the company and remained in the position until his death in 1907. The officers now are: President and treasurer, Henry B. Lane : secretary, Charles B. Guernsey.
The company makes metal buttons, buckles and snap fasteners. At present its entire output is snap fasteners.
THE WATERVILLE CUTLERY COMPANY
The Waterville Cutlery Company, founded in 1890 with a capital of $25,000, was built up to a commanding position in the line of cutlery manufacture by its president and treasurer, W. Sumner Babcock. In 1903, after his death, his attorney, N. R. Bronson, became temporary president of the company and in 1904 disposed of it to George J. Babcock, a brother of the former president. In 1913 the Superior Court on application of Mr. Babcock appointed Lawrence L. Lewis receiver with orders to dispose of the property. The order of the court approving the sale and discharging the receiver was recorded October 10, 1913.
THE MORDEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Early in 1904 Miss L. M. Morden, a stenographer, secured a patent on a "loose-leaf" metal ring and in August of that year incorporated the Morden Manufacturing Company with a capital of $40,000. She has since patented other loose-leaf devices and her plant occupies a large loft at 141 Waterville Street. It turns out these devices in great quantities. Miss Morden is the only woman in active executive work along manufacturing lines in Waterbury. The officers of the company in 1917 are: President and treasurer, Miss L. M. Morden ; vice president, B. F. Morden; secretary, A. E. McDonald.
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THE H. L. WELCH HOSIERY COMPANY
Henry L. Welch in 1870 started the business which in 1890 he incorporated as the H. L. Welch Hosiery Company with a capital of $80,000. In 1895, on the death of Mr. Welch, his interest went to his daughter, Mrs. F. Samson of Hart- ford, and to her children. It was doing a big business in fine knit underwear and under the management of Frank B. Buck grew so that its Waterville building was enlarged.
In 1914, at the beginning of the war period, many of its best hands left it to go into munition-making lines and the business began to drop off. The buildings were disposed of in 1916, the realty going to John W. Hard, who is the purchasing agent for the Chase interests. All the machinery and stock were sold to other concerns in this line of manufacture. In September, 1917, the papers dissolving the corporation were filed with the secretary of state.
THE WATERBURY INSTRUMENT COMPANY
The Waterbury Instrument Company was incorporated in 1915 for $25,000 and until 1917 its work was done in the plant of the Waterbury Jewel Company. This year it was established as a separate concern and is now busy perfecting its reproducer for talking machines. Its product is not yet on the market. The officers are: President, C. H. W. Newton; secretary, Henry M. Werner ; treas- urer, Joseph Wilhelm.
THE WATERBURY ICE CORPORATION
The Waterbury Ice Corporation was organized in 1902 with a capital of ยท $15,000. Its first officers were Charles R. Vaill, president, and Charles B. Everett, secretary and treasurer. It was located on Brook Street until 1915, and is now at 74 Watertown Avenue, where it has 500 feet frontage on the avenue with an average depth of 60 feet. With a spur track from the trolley line, it easily handles and stores the ice it cuts at Lake Quassaug. The plant has a capacity of 150 tons, with storage at the lake for 8,000 tons. The company uses twenty teams in warm weather for delivery, employing eighty people in the summer season. The company does 75 per cent of the ice business in Waterbury.
THE SPRING LAKE ICE COMPANY
The Spring Lake Ice Company has two large ice houses in Reedville, and is owned by George E. Storm. It furnishes over 20 per cent of the ice supply of Waterbury.
THE HELLMAN BREWING COMPANY
The Hellman Brewing Company, one of the three largest breweries in the state, was established in 1878 by Frederick Nuhn in a small building on its present site. In 1881 Martin Hellman and Michael Kipp bought the plant and erected the present main building, 512 stories high with a tower, used now for malt bins. In 1895 the business was enlarged by the addition of an ale plant and a two-story brick stable. The ale plant is three stories in height, 40 by 40. In 1901 the Hygeia ice plant was built. In 1916 storage cellars were added and this year a large addition is being built to the wash house.
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Martin Hellman, who had bought out his partner in 1889, died in 1895, and his widow, Mrs. Martin Hellman, incorporated the business with a capital of $50,000. The original officers were: President, Mrs. Martin Hellman; vice president, William Hellman; secretary and treasurer, William D. Richardson. In 1902 William Hellman died and his brother, Charles M. Hellman, took his place on the board. Mr. Richardson died in 1914. The present officers are : President, Mrs. Martin Hellman; secretary and treasurer, Charles M. Hellman.
In 1901 the plant of the Hygeia Ice Company, part of the Hellman brewery, was built at 1095 Bank Street. It is equipped to manufacture ice from distilled water by what is known as the can system-that is, freezing the water in cans. It is sold only at wholesale and the greater part of its daily 60-ton output is bought by the Waterbury Ice Corporation.
THE EAGLE BREWING COMPANY
The Eagle Brewery was established in 1901 by Thomas Finnegan and Paul Snese. In 1902 it was taken over by Thomas H. Hayes and Mr. Finnegan and incorporated in July, 1903, for $25,000, with Thomas H. Hayes as president, and Thomas Finnegan, secretary. The present four-story main building, 150 by 80, was erected in 1902 and is used for the manufacture of ale, lager and porter. The brewery's capacity today is from 80,000 to 100,000 barrels a year.
Thomas H. Hayes died April 11, 1913, and he was succeeded in the presidency by his widow, Mrs. Thomas H. Hayes, who still holds that position. In 1917 a modern bottling shop, 100 by 50, was erected.
Its officers today are: President, Mrs. Thomas H. Hayes; vice president, Thomas Finnegan; treasurer, Thomas E. Guest; assistant treasurer, Daniel J. Leary ; secretary, Michael T. Hayes.
FEW MANUFACTURING LOSSES
The record of industrial growth of the past quarter century has been marked by few removals of manufacturing plants. The additions, as the history shows, have been extensive.
The Baird Machine Company, which was incorporated in July, 1894, moved its plant to Waterbury in 1900. At that time its president was J. H. Baird and its secretary John M. Hopkins. It remained here until 1912, erecting a factory in 1907 and 1908. In 1911 it decided to move to Stratford, where it is now located. It makes automatic machinery.
The Manville Brothers Company was organized in 1897 and incorporated by R. C., W. W. and G. H. Manville. The firm manufactured automatic machinery along lines similar to the output at present of the Rowbottom Machine Company, to whom the business was finally sold in 1912. In 1902 George H. Manville withdrew from the firm and organized the G. H. Manville Pattern and Model Company, which was incorporated in 1913.
The National Wire Mattress Company incorporated in Connecticut in Febru- ary, 1902, for $20,000, with R. B. Hill as president and William J. Fielding as treasurer. Its connections were such that in 1906 it decided to move to New Britain, where it is now located and is known as the National Spring Bed Company.
The Waterbury Crucible Company incorporated in Connecticut in November, 1904, with a capital of $50,000. Its officers were: President, Edgar B. Seidel : treasurer, Levi S. Tenney of New York; secretary, F. S. Little of New York.
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It was located at Meadow, corner of Benedict Street, where it had a two-story brick factory, size 51 by 76. In 1910 it decided to remove to Detroit to be nearer its trade.
The Standard Electric Time Company manufacturers of self-winding clocks, regulators, electric tower clocks, electric time plants, was located at 23 Jefferson Street.
The officers of the company were George L. Riggs, president ; J. J. Estabrook, secretary.
In 1908 when E. H., B. B. and B. H. Bristol moved to Foxboro, Mass., they made this a part of their new business. It was then repurchased by George L. Riggs and associates, who moved it to Springfield, where it is now located.
CHAPTER XXI
THE MASONIC ORDER AND OTHER FRATERNITIES
EARLY MASONIC HISTORY-HARMONY AND CONTINENTAL LODGES-MASONIC CLUB- CLARK COMMANDERY-EUREKA CHAPTER, R. A. M .- WATERBURY COUNCIL, NO. 21-THE WATERBURY MASONIC TEMPLE-TIIE ODD FELLOWS-NOSAHOGAN LODGE -ENCAMPMENT AND CANTON-DAUGHTERS OF REBEKAH-KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS -B. P. O. ELKS-KNIGIITS OF COLUMBUS-ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS- UNITED WORKMEN-FORESTERS-LOYAL ORDER OF MOOSE-IIEPTASOPHS-EAGLES -RED MEN-UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS-WOODMEN AND OTIIER FRATERNI- TIES-FRENCH, ITALIAN, SWEDISH AND GERMAN SOCIETIES-LABOR ORGANI- ZATIONS.
The past twenty years in Waterbury have been remarkable for Masonic activity and Harmony Lodge has played a very important part in the wonder- ful growth of Masonry, thus continuing and developing the work begun by Worshipful Brother Byington and his associate workers and brethren 120 years ago, when the lodge was founded.
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