USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Winsted > The Winsted tercentenarian > Part 5
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Mr. Benjamin prides himself upon his service and repair department, headed by Arthur L. Cooney. All the
Roscoe Benjamin
mechanics have been with him for fifteen years or longer, and his secre- tary, Miss Cora Hopkins, to whom he gives much credit for his continued suecess, has been with the organization thirteen years.
During all this time, Mr. Benjamin has kept up his interest in fine horses. The Benjamin driving park at High- land Lake, is one of Winsted's popu- lar features. ITe has been especially interested in five-gaited Kentucky sad-
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
dle horses. His daughter. Miss Janet Benjamin. has won over fifty blue rib- bons with his tive-gaited dapple gray. Jane Fischer. Two years ago Mr. Ben- jamin purchased through Locke Brown of New Orleans, as a graduation pros- ent for his daughter, the gelding. Gal- lant Victor. one of the most outstand- ing five-gaited horses in New England. She won ribbons with him last year in most of the big horse shows.
Mr. Benjamin was a former burgess of the borongh. Ile is a director of the State Automobile Dealers' Associ- ation, was a director of the Winsted Chamber of Commerce. and is a mem- ber of the Winsted Rotary Chib.
The Rosery Flower Shop
O NE of the most interesting places along Main Street is the Rosery Flower Shop at No. 635 where. in sum- mer and winter, there are always beau- tiful flowers and potted plants to add a note of greeting and cheer. The pro- prietor, J. W. Benbow, has spent his whole life in raising flowers, his father being a florist before him. so it is not surprising that this business, which was begun in M. G. Wheeler's greenhouse on Union Street a half century ago and later carried on by Carl Swenson and Joseph Martell, should have grown rapidly since Mr. Benbow purchased it, July 15, 1922.
At the greenhouses on Moore Ave- nue, there are now 20,000 square feet under glass devoted to raising plants and flowers, Mr. Benbow having re- placed the old plant with modern greenhouses and an np-to-date heating system. He raises all his beautiful flowers, which include 1,000 carnation plants, 8,000 large chrysanthemum plants and 4,000 of the smaller vari- eties, 2,000 Easter lily bulbs, great beds of sweet peas, beautiful roses and all the otlier lovely things. Four men are kept busy in the greenhouses the year around and flowers are shipped daily both in and out of town for all sorts of occasions. Mr. Benbow is a bonded member of the F. T. D. ( Floral Tele- graph Delivery) so that orders given him for flowers are delivered promptly anywhere around the globe, a service that is much appreciated.
Mr. Benbow came from Brookline. Mass., when he was fifteen to Norfolk where his father had charge of Prof. Michael I. Pupin's conservatories for several years, Ile spent two years in the World War, having been an in- structor in gas motors in France. Ile has been fortunate in his floral busi- ness in having Mrs. Benbow to assist him in the flower shop which is al- ways so attractive.
Reubin Toplitz
The New Bargain House
G OOD merchandise, good honest service and good management are the keystones which have built up a successful business in the past sixteen years by the New Bargain House. In- corporated, at 506-508 Main Street. of which Renbin Toplitz is the proprietor and manager. The lines sold by this progressive store are men's. ladies' and children's clothing, shoes and house furnishings. It is because of the satis- factory service and the aim to please the people that the store has grown bigger and bigger, supplying a larger number year after year. The ladies' department is managed by Mrs. Top- litz, who is always ready at any time to give faithful service. Because the public has shown its appreciation of their efforts, Mr. and Mrs. Toplitz in return thank the people for their cor- dial support and patronage. Some of the customers come from long distances and feel repaid for doing so.
The New Bargain House. Ine .. Was established on Armistice Day, 1919. just one year after the close of the World War. Mr. Toplitz had had near- ly twenty years' experience in mer- chandising at that time: thirteen years as the head bookkeeper in a large de- partment store in Odessa, Russia, where Le came into contact with prominent business people. Hle then decided to come to this country and spent six years in the same line of trade he is in at present in New York city. com- ing from there to Winsted. He has become a large taxpayer, owning sev- eral buildings, and takes a great deal of interest in the affairs of the city.
The Winsted Y . M. C. A.
Continued from Page 18
R. Holmes. Charles E. Seymour and Frederic C. Strong. It was opened on September 4. 1916, with J. Frank. lin Leonard, who had been called back to Winsted. as general secretary and J. Edward Reynolds as physical direc- tor.
William H. Bowden became gener- al secretary in 1917 and during his term of office. lasting six years. the indebtedness of the "Y." in spite of the World War, was reduced to about $5,000. E. Leslie Woods next served as general secretary for eleven years. 1932-1934. During his teri. a boys' work secretary was employed a part of tlie time in addition to a physical di- rector. The work of the association was developed along many new lines. but. unfortunately, did not receive the financial support necessary and. while the endowment fund was built up to nearly $15,000. the association indebt- edness accumulated to about $16,000.
The present general secretary, Carl F. Scofield, was appointed in the spring of 1934. The membership of the as- sociation was increased 100 per cent during the year from 266 to 535. The eurrent expenses were paid and a small amount applied upon the indebtedness.
To give some idea of the use made of the "Y." the swimming pool was used during the year by 11,586: 190 boys were enrolled in 16 character building clubs. meeting in 431 sessions with an attendance of 4.782. In the physical department there was an at- tendance of 9.865 in 644 class sessions : 4.687 attended informal period: 1.058 attended thirty-three supper meetings. and 839 attended twenty-three lectures.
The physical director is Harold L. ('rossman and the boys' work secretary is Roberts D. Burr. The present officers of the Y. M. C. A. are: President. D. Fletcher Alvord : vice-president. Homer I. Ihuntington ; corresponding secretary. Charles Arnold: treasurer. Clifford L. Marsh: assistant treasurer. R. M. Smith : directors. the officers ex officio. .A. C. Bristol. Il. S. Case. W. V. Davey. G. R. Ilolmes. Judge H. H. Howd. R. E. Larkin. C. L. Maloney. H. G. Manchester. C. B. Moore. William Mul- valy. H. W. Oviatt. L. W. Schaefer. 1I. D. Sisson. J. Albert Smith. Rev. A. S. Woodworth. C. W. Winslow: trustees. E. B. Gaylord. W. G. Man- chester. L. L. Chase. D. B. Tiffany, F. C. Strong and E. R. Holmes.
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
The Manchester Farmhouse, built in ITS)
E. Manchester & Sons
Began Business in 1857-Distribu- tors of Red Star Brand of Feed
E. MANCHESTER & SONS. >pe- cializing in dairy and : poultry feeds make seven different formulas. sold under the name of the Red Star brand for more than twenty-five years. which have been proven by actual use to be better feeds and at lower prices than the more widely advertised brands. They also handle commercial fertiliz- ers and tested heavy farm scods. This firm. composed of George E .. and Harry G. Manchester. was established.in 1894 with their father. the late Edward Manchester, as the senior partner. They conducted the large dairy farm ou Spencer Street which Mr. Manchester had owned since 1859 and had been in his family since 1783 except for a short period in the 1790's. For many years there were over 100 cattle on this farmi which at one time comprised 1.000 acres. In 1880. Mr. Manchester estab- lished the Winsted Creamery on hi- farm and was one of the first to pro- duce creamery butter in western Con- necticut. The creamery is still being operated as a milk station under a lease to Frank W. Beach, who conduct. the farm. In the early nineties, the Manchesters began the manufacture of ice cream, which was continued for about thirty years.
The grain business was a natural development from the use of large quantities of feed in their own dairy. The business was begun at the farm where there was a storehouse and in 1913 they purchased the property now known as Manchester's Feed Mill at 465-467 Main Street. formerly the Win- sted Machine Shop. A large storehouse
was erected in the rear spanning Mad River and giving them a siding privi- lege on the New York. New Haven & Hartford railroad where grain is re- ceived in carload lots. These splendid facilities with modern trucks make it possible to deal in grain at wholesale as well as retail and their trade covers a wide area.
Having made a special study of feeding and rations. the Manchester brothers installed the necessary ma- chinery for mixing grain in large quantities from formulas that have proven very successful.
George Manchester is a graduate of Wesleyan University. a member of the Alumini Council. and a trustee of Wil- braham academy. and Harry Manches- ter is an almunus of Connecticut State College, vice-president of the board of trustees, and a former president of the Winsted Rotary Club.
Burkett, Gowns and Hats
BURKETT. gowns and hats. 370
Main Street. announced the open- ing of their new dress shop early in June with a complete line of smart ready-to-wear gowns and hats. offering an extraordinary opportunity to the women of Winsted and neighboring towns to be beantifully dressed at a surprisingly low price. Wedding par- ties are invited to consult Burkett when they desire the unusual in trous- saux. bridal and bridesmaids' gowns. They also carry "work room models." designed and created in their own work room, which are unique because of their lovely fabries, unnsual details and beautiful workmanship. They are made with infinite care and precision
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The late Edward Manchester
for which the shop is noted and they cannot be duplicated elsewhere.
If you have ideas of your own about the kind of dress you have always longed for or the style most suitable to von. Burkett will be glad to co-oper- ate in designing and fulfilling those ideas. If you wish to be quaint and romantie with flowers, frills and fur- belows. if you wish to be sophisticated. modern. severely tailored or whatever your wish, Burkett can assist you to realize your wish.
H. L. Holcomb, Stationer
H. L. HOLCOMB. stationer, at 627 Main Street. makes a specialty of so many lines that are necessities in the home and office that people have formed the habit of running into this store to supply their wants, such as stationery, greeting cards for all or- casions, office supplies. magazines and the latest novels, rental library books. fountain pens and pen repair service. picture framing. typewriter repairs and rentals, automobile glass and 1,000- and-one things that go to make up a first class stationery store.
Mr. Holcomb had been a bank clerk when he purchased DeMars' Art Store. February 1. 1914. He has greatly ex- panded the lines. this store naturally -nevoeding the former stationery stores which had been conducted in the sec- tion beyond the time of most people's recollection following the Civil War when B. Frank Marsh had a stationery store in the West Winsted postoffice. of which he was postmaster.
Visit Holcomb's and you'll find what you want in stationery.
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
The Moore & Alvord Insurance Agency
Began Business in 1848-Repre- sents Many Old Insurance Companies
IT is a double satisfaction in the pur- ehase of an insurance policy of any kind to know that it is a protection against loss because it is issued by a company of great stability and in- tegrity and also to know the agency in which it is written is prepared to give immediate and satisfactory serv- ice. The slogan. "Insure and Besure." of the Moore & Alvord Insurance Ageney, which has become so well known throughout this section. is more
D. Fletcher Alvord
than a catchy phrase because years of experience has proven that the insured is sure of the protection when the loss comes and of immediate attention and a satisfactory settlement.
An agency which has stood the test. as well as the insurance companies it represents, well toward a century with all the vicissitudes of contlagrations and money panics is something to be proud of. The Moore & AAlvord In- surance Agency of 690 Main Street dates back eighty-seven years and still represents one of the companies, the Aetna of Hartford. which it represent- ed when the agency began business in 1848. besides other large companies which were established soon after that time, including the Home and the Con- tinental.
When this agency, the second oldest in Connecticut, was established the population of the town was 2.100. Win- sted and West Winsted were two small Office of Moore & Alvord Insurance Agency render its clients.
villages and the first railroad was not Imilt until a year later. The founder was Deacon John Hinsdale, president of the Winsted Savings bank for many vears and great-uncle of D. Fletcher Alvord. president and treasurer of the agency today.
The first policy written by Mr. Hinsdale was in the Aetna upon a dwelling in Colebrook and has been continued in force ever since. The second policy was on the Rockwell tan- nery. a large four story structure own- ed by James S .. and John T. Rockwell at Main and Division Streets, used for tanning sheep skins with liquor from hemlock bark. and taken down in 1928 by the owners of the gasoline station.
Among the other companies repre- sented are the Travelers. since 1858: the Home, since 1864: North America. since 1866, and the Continental and Connecticut since 1870. Policy No. 199 in the Aetna, which is now in posses- sion of the agency. insured the Cook Axle Co. for $8.000 on its plant. now owned by the Franklin Moore Co. on White Street. beginning March 15. 1855, for one year.
After conducting the agency for eighteen years. Mr. Hinsdale took his son-in-law, Robert R. Noble, into part- nership in 1866 and continued until 1870. when A. N. Beach became a part- ner under the name of Noble & Beach. 1 little later. Mr. Beach's son-in-law. Charles K. IInnt. agent for the West- ern Union Telegraph Co., who estab- lished the first telephone exchange in Winsted in the 70's. became the junior partner and the agency was conducted under the name of Beach & Hunt for more than twenty-five years until 1898. when it was acquired by Darwin S. Moore and the name became the Moore Insurance Agency. Another twenty-five vears passed when in 1923 D. Fletcher Alvord and William C. French became interested in the agency and the name was changed. as now designated. to the Moore & Alvord Insurance Agency. In- corporated. Mr. Moore retired in February. 1928, after being in the in- surance business thirty-four years.
In 1926, the corporation purchased
for its business office the former home of the Winsted Savings bank. an old Winsted landmark which had been re- modelled in recent years, giving splen- did facilities with its large vanlt and fine equipment for conducting the in- surance business. It is said to be one of the best insurance offices in the State.
It is interesting to note that this building was erected in 1851. three years after the agency was founded. and the founder was president of the bank for many years before his death.
In 1851. a hole was cut through the ceiling of the vault from the second floor and $60,000 in cash carried away by the burglars, becoming one of the notorious bank robberies of that period. In 1867. Mr. Hinsdale advertised that the capital and surphis of the six-
William C. French
teen insurance companies represented by the ageney was $200.000. This is not as much as one of the companies represent- ed advertises today and the total capi- tal and surplus of all the companies represented would run into hundreds of millions of dollars. Mr. Hinsdale also published a list of satisfied policy holders in 1867 who had suffered losses by fire, among them being a number of prominent residents. There has not been a decade since that an equally im- pressive list of citizens who have re- ceived satisfactory settlements of fire losses but would willingly give written testimonials of the fact.
The Moore & Alvord Insurance Agency writes all kinds of insurance except life. insuring against losses of every description by companies of the strongest. financial backing. and prides itself upon the service it is able to
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARLIN
Barreuther Bros., Chevrolet Dealers
Established Automobile Business in 1920 in City Hall Block
A the automobile industry has grown to be one of the greatest industries in the country so in Win- sted it is one of the most important lines of business and among the leaders is the well known firm of Barreuther Brothers at 7 and 11 Lake Street. of which Charles Barreuther is the pro- prietor, occupying the entire floor of the City Hall block, one of the sub- stantial and historic buildings of the city, of which he is the owner.
The Barreuther brothers, Charles H., and the late John H. Barreuther, established their automobile business in the fall of 1920, taking the ageney of the Studebaker cars and in 1921 be- coming the representatives in this sec- tion of the Chevrolet, one of the best known of the General Motors products which for service and quality in the low price field has built up a great repu- tation for economy in transportation. The demand has far exceeded the pro- duction of this popular line of cars which for upkeep, replacements and expense of operation is very low.
Charles Barreuther was in business with his brother, John, thirty-two years up to the time the latter died in 1927 when Charles took over the entire busi- ness.
He was born January 16. 1870, and has spent his entire life in Winsted. His father, Conrad Barreuther. came to Winsted in 1855 and lived for many years in the sightly place on Pratt Street overlooking the city. Charles attended the Fourth School and enter- ing the West Winsted high school de- cided that factory work was more to his liking than studying Latin verbs.
He was employed by the William L. Gilbert Clock Co. for several years and then engaged in business with his father. The brothers bought the City Hall block in 1909. This four-story building was erected in 1876 by the late Warden William L. Camp as a rival to the Music Hall ( Winsted Opera House), a strong rivalry ex- isting at that time between what was known as West Winsted and the "Flat." There was a large auditorium with a stage and balcony occupying the two upper stories and many fune- tions were held there, including church festivals, concerts and school exercises. The County court and clerk's office
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Charles II. Barreuther
were located in this building for a time and the hall was used by the Salvation Army when it was first established in Winsted in the early eighties. Later Company M, First Regiment. C. N. G., had its headquarters there after the armory was burned in 1908.
Mr. Barreuther has always taken an interest in civic affairs. In 1896 he married Miss Lulu Klaus of Bridge- port. They have two daughters, Trene and Marion.
Claude F. Tatro, Contractor
CLAUDE F. TATRO. of 281 Wal- uut Street, contractor and builder. learned his trade with one of the best known builders of Hartford. Robert Portens, by whom he was employed for twelve years before he came to Win. sted in 1915. After working for Ed- ward R. Berkley for five years, Mr. Tatro began taking contracts and since 1921 has done much building in Win- sted and surrounding towns. Mr. Tatro bas employed as high as twenty-five men in the boom periods.
A few of the residences he has built are Claude Avery's, the Hart sisters' on Crescent Street, Mrs. Lucy Heeb- ner's, Mrs. Henry Hodge's in Cole. brook and one which received mnuch publicity was the Stanley With house in Collinsville, which was awarded the architeets' prize by the House Beauti- ful magazine.
Mr. Tatro is a member of the Win- sted Men's chorus and he has been con- nected with various church choirs. Ile has been the principal sponsor of the North End Junior Ski Club, giving the club the use of his land, helping it to build its ski hill and doing much to develop this very popular sport in Winsted.
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Barreuther Brothers' Garage ut 7 and 11 Lake Street
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
J. C. Burwell, Inc.
President of Lumber, Coal and Oil Firm in Business Sixty-seven Years JOHN CLINTON BURWELL. sen-
J ior member of the firm of J. C. Bnr- well, Incorporated. dealers in lim- ber, eoal and range and Furnace oil. has the record of having been in busi- ness the longest of anyone in Winsted -- sixty-seven years-and. what is al- most equally as remarkable, the butsi- ness has always been carried on in the same location. Naturally. as it has grown, more territory has been oreu- pied so that it covers two or three or- dinary city squares. When he was asked where the business was located when he came to Winsted, a young man of seventeen, and entered the em- ploy of Watson & Dutton, wholesale and retail dealers in Inmber, flour and groceries, Mr. Burwell made a charac- teristic reply : "Why, right here in this building," meaning the office, corner of Depot and Charles Streets.
It's a long look backward to the day's right after the close of the Civil War in President Johnson's administration when Mr. Burwell, having attended the Winchester Institute the last winter of the war under Benjamin Pettibone, came to Winsted from his father's farm on West Hill and boarded in the home of his employer, Deacon Thomas Watson, on Prospect Street, father of the Iate Mrs. Henry Gay. Those were days of canals and ox teams, the lum- ber coming from Michigan and Wis- consin by the Great Lakes and Eric Canal to Albany: the shingles from Maine by boat to Bridgeport. and coal by boat to the same port until the Con- nectieut Western Railroad was built when it was brought by boat through the Delaware & Hudson Canal to Ron- dout, N. Y.
After four years, when he was twenty-one, Mr. Burwell was taken in- to partnership and the firm became Watson, Dutton & Burwell. They did an immense business even for these days, selling humber all over Liteh- field County. They had one whole train of twenty cars of shingles from Maine. Four years later the firm be- came Watson & Burwell. they having bought Mr. Dutton's interest. and three years later. upon Deacon Watson's death. Mr. Burwell became the sole proprietor. Soon afterward he bongla the coal business of Edgar Dutton. whose yards were on Willow Street. In order to get his private siding Mr. Burwell bought two houses at a high price and to get the third had to build a new house on Bridge Street for Thomas Secry.
During the money panic and hard times in the seventies. William L. Gil- bert bought 200 barrels of flour and
John Clinton Burwell
had Mr. Burwell store it for him and when either of them heard of a poor family that was having a struggle to get along Mr. Gilbert directed Mr. Burwell to deliver a barrel of flour, with special instructions not to tell where it came from.
April 1, 1921. the business was all- corporated when Mr. Burwell took his sons. William C. and Theodore W. Burwell, into partnership with him. William, a graduate of Trinity Col- lege. has been associated with his fath- er twenty-nine years and Theodore not quite as long. They recently added range and fuel oil to their other lines. which cover himber from the great lumber states, brick, cement and other building materials, and high grade an- thracite coal.
Mr. Burwell was born in Maple Hollow, New Hartford. December 9. 1850, the eldest of nine children of John S. and Clara Lewis Burwell. Ile is descended from one of the oldest families in Connectiont. the Burwells Being among the first to settle in the New Haven colony where the inni- grant ancester. JJohn Burwell. received a special grant of a mile square of land on the Sound shore, including the territory now ocenpied by Savin Rock.
H. & L. Morrison, Jewelers
IT is a pleasure to walk into a high I class jewelry store and see the dis- play of diamonds. the fine line of watches and all the beautiful things that are made in sterling silverware by nationally advertised silversmith> com- bining the highest skill and art and to know that articles are standard goods and just what they are represented to be and are fully guaranteed. It is a pleasure to select a gift whether it be
for a graduation present. a wedding. for Christmas, a birthday or some other occasion at HI. & L. Morrisons' jewelry store at 572 Main Street.
This firm prides itself in carrying standard. nationally advertised goods. In watches their lines consist of the Hamilton. Gruen. Bulova and Elgin. which mean the best in watches. In sterling silverware. there are Gorhams. Towle. R. C. Wallace. Roger. Lunt & Bowlen and the International Silver products in the most beautiful patterns and designs. There is always a satis. faction in buying this kind of goods.
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