USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > The story of Bridgeport > Part 17
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
The school of nursing was organized with the open- ing of the hospital in 1884, just eleven years after
Bellevue opened the first school for nurses in the United States, in 1873.
Today, the hospital has 400 available beds, and a personnel of 423, including 92 graduate nurses and 112 student nurses. Samuel Senior is president of the board of directors of the Bridgeport Hospital and Oliver H. Bartine is superintendent.
In a little building which consisted of three hospital floors and a roof garden, St. Vincent's Hospital at 2820 North Main Street, was formally opened to the public June 28, 1905.
About the time that the need for a new Catholic hospital was felt in Bridgeport, one of St. Patrick's parishioners, Ann Bohan, left a bequest of $14,000 to be used by Rev. J. B. Nihill for a new hospital or school. With this money, the property on which the hospital now stands, was purchased.
The hospital progressed rapidly : in July, 1905, the nurses' training school was opened; a new chapel and community house was finished in July, 1910; the nurses' home was completed in 1915; the new medical annex in October, 1918. January 1, 1926 the hos- pital adopted the eight hour schedule for nurses, in- stead of the customary twelve.
St. Vincent's Hospital today includes nine build- ings and has a capacity of 262 beds. The institution is under the direction of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
The Park City Hospital was organized ten years ago in the building at 695 Park Avenue which was formally the home of Colonel Heff. The hospital has a 35 bed capacity. Dr. N. R. Tolk is head of the hospital, Louis Mitchell is president of the board of directors and Miss Emma Brydges is superintendent.
Englewood Hospital, on Jewett Avenue, a city in- stitution for contagious diseases was opened June 28, 1919. Present capacity is 95 beds, although an addi- tion now being constructed, will increase this to 117. The hospital is under the jurisdiction of the city board of health with George W. Murgatroyd as president of the health commissioners. Miss Vivien Buswell is acting superintendent of the hospital.
The Emergency Hospital and City Dispensary, 835 Washington Avenue, were established November 1, 1918. Both act under the supervision of a self per- petuating board of governors, Dr. James Douglas Gold being the present chairman of the board. Kathryn B. Hehir, R.N., is supervisor of clinics. A
[121]
1836
THE STORY OF
BRIDGEPORT
1936
total of 46,318 patients were treated at the dispen- sary during the year 1935-1936. Some 4000 ambu- lance calls were answered, and there were more than 10,000 other applications for treatment at the Emer- gency Hospital.
AGED AND HOMELESS
Bridgeport has within its confines a number of pub- lic and private homes which care for the aged, the homeless and the sick.
The Hillside Home and Hospital on Bond Street, the city's provision for the aged and chronic sick, was officially opened in 1917. Frank Gerrity is superin- tendent. In connection with the Hillside Home is the Margaret Ford Cottage also on Bond Street, a home for orphans and destitute children, also under the direction of the department of public welfare of the city. The cottage was opened in 1918 and accommo- dates 35 children. Miss Ruby Capewell is supervisor.
The Fanny Crosby Home at 1088 Fairfield Avenue was erected as a memorial to the blind hymn writer, Fanny Crosby, who composed no less than 8000 hymns, translated into every language, before her death, on February 12, 1915. The Home was opened November 8, 1925 and there are about 40 aged men and women there.
The Sterling Widows' Home, 354 Prospect Street, was founded by the Bridgeport Protestant Widows' Society, "for indigent widows". The Society, or- ganized in December, 1849, acquired the home as a gift from Mrs. Sylvanus Sterling in 1885.
The Bridgeport Christian Union, 786 Main Street, founded "to help men when they need help and let them pay when they can pay" was commenced in November, 1909 in a building on Bank Street. The Main Street building which can accommodate 150 in the dormitory and has 80 private rocms, was dedi- cated in 1920. Earl E. Dilley is superintendent. Charles L. Dennis is president of the board of directors.
The Burroughs Home, 2470 Fairfield Avenue, a private institution, was erected in 1903 and accommo- dates 31 aged women. Mrs. Grace Heisler is matron.
The Frank Miller Day Nursery, 210 Pine Street, was opened at the present location November 23, 1923. It operates under the direction of the Associ- ated Charities of which Mrs. C. Nathaniel Worthen is head, and accommodates 50 children. Mrs. Nona Stokes is matron.
The East Side Nursery, 434 Stratford Avenue, accommodates 60 children. Mrs. Helen Curley is director.
The Bridgeport Protestant Orphan Asylum was organized in 1868. The home was first housed in a building on Lafayette Street, dated 1869. Later the home moved to the corner of Fairfield Avenue and Ellsworth Street. This building vras erected in 1899 and was occupied as an orphanage until July, 1935, when the "home" was moved to its new quarters on the Stratfield Road. The new orphanage comprises three Colonial cottages and is known as the "Wood- field Children's Village". More than 800 children have been cared for in past years. First officer was Lydia R. Ward. Mrs. Emily W. Mohr is acting executive director and Mrs. James Gold is president.
The Hall Home Settlement for girls at 715 Main Street is affiliated with the Associated Charities. Mrs. Abner Mitchell is chairman in charge of the settle- ment and Mrs. Helen Rice is director. The home was formerly a girl's club on Golden Hill (1923.) Present membership, 550 adults and children.
The most recent of Bridgeport's institutions is the Fairfield Free Heart Clinic opened April 11, 1936 at 881 Lafayette Street. The clinic was made possible through the generosity of Mrs. F. Donald Coster in co-operation with her husband. Dr. Marcus Backer is medical director.
THE "MELTING POT"
Almost one-third of Bridgeport's population today is foreign born. Those who have the idea that this cosmopolitism is of recent origin will be somewhat surprised to discover that as early as 1850, one-fifth of Bridgeport's population was foreign born.
In that year, William R. Bunnell took the census for Bridgeport and listed the city as having a total of 75 58 persons. Of those, 286 were colored and 1493 foreign. Of the foreign born 1102 were Irish (one seventh of the total population), 188 were English, 138 were German and 65 were of various nationali- ties.
The last U. S. census (1930) listed a population of 146,716 for Bridgeport with 40,759 foreign born and 3314 negroes. In Bridgeport's mixed races it is inter- esting to note that there were five Indians, 62 Chinese and nine Mexicans.
The English were, of course, the first of the Euro- pean nations to be represented in Bridgeport and
[122 ]
1836 THE
STORY
OF
BRIDGEPORT
1936
there are today almost 3000 foreign born English in this city. Note that when the term "foreign born" is used, it includes only those born out of the country, not those of foreign descent.
Then came the Irish, who left the mother country in 1845 and 1846 because of economic stress. There
There are two large sections in Bridgeport today, one on the east side and one in the north end.
Beginning about 56 years ago, hundreds of Hun- garians flocked to Bridgeport and today there is a sizeable colony located primarily in the west end, 4000 foreign born in all.
FLOR ODON
FLORADORA SEXTET
"Tell me, Pretty Maiden, are there any more at home like you?" was the song of the hour in 1900 when the musical comedy "Floradora" was produced. The sextet came to Bridgeport in 1902 and played at Smith's Colonial theater on Main Street.
are now 3000 foreign born from the Irish Free State and 475 from North Ireland in this city.
After the 1848 revolution in Germany, Bridgeport received a number of Germans, there now being 2000 foreign born here.
First Polish citizens arrived in the United States in 1861, although they did not commence coming to Bridgeport until about 20 years later. Most of them settled on the East Side, some 4000 foreign born Polish residing here.
The Italians form the largest foreign group in Bridgeport, numbering about 9000 foreign born. The Italians commenced coming to Bridgeport about 40 years ago, although the largest influx was in 1907.
Armenians came to Bridgeport in 1894. There are about 80 families here today, residing on the east side between Barnum, Central, Stratford and Seaview Avenues.
Three hundred Albanians are numbered in Bridge- port's foreign population. They commenced coming to Bridgeport in 1900 and settled on Stratford Avenue, East Main Street, Crescent Avenue, Pequonnock Street and State Street.
Greece sent her first representatives to this city about 55 years ago, there now being 500 foreign born here. Many live near the Greek Orthodox Church on West Liberty Street.
Most of the Roumanians in Bridgeport today, and
{123 ]
1836 THE STORY OF BRIDGEPORT
1936
there are 50 or 60 families, live in the west end be- tween State Street, Railroad Avenue and Lee Avenue. First Roumanians came here in 1902.
There are some 40 Syrian families in this city, the first of the group coming here 35 years ago. They live around the southern end of Main and Broad Streets, a few of them being on the east side.
Of Russians there are about 3000 foreign born in Bridgeport, most of them coming in 1904-06, between 1912 and 1915 or in 1929. Many live in the south end of the city near Railroad Avenue and at the southern end of Park Avenue. Others have moved to North Bridgeport and Trumbull where they have small farms.
Czechoslovakia was represented in Bridgeport in goodly numbers as early as 1875. While the last census shows 4371 foreign born of that nationality here, few are Czechs, most of them being Slovaks. They will be found in large groups on the east side of Bridgeport although sections of the colony are mov- ing toward Stratford along Boston, Barnum and Stratford Avenues.
From the district of Eastern Galicia came Bridge- port's Ukrainians, settling on the east side. There are between 200 and 300 here.
Compulsory military training in the old home land, sent a number of Swedish families to this country not a few of them settling in Bridgeport before the turn of the century. Today there are almost 2000 foreign born here.
Bridgeport can boast other nationalities, some 26 in all, races which have contributed their share to Bridgeport's industrial progress, which have given their quota to the medical, dental and law professions in the city, and which have brought old world color to Bridgeport's art, music and literature.
The following, taken from the 1930 U. S. census,
gives some idea of Bridgeport's "melting pot":
Race and country of foreign born whites: Eng- land, 2937; Scotland, 1008; Northern Ireland, 475; Irish Free State, 2709; Norway, 150; Sweden, 1637; Denmark, 335; Switzerland, 119; France, 160; Ger- many, 2100; Poland, 3604; Czechoslovakia, 4371; Austria, 599; Hungary, 3983; Russia, 2648; Lithu- ania, 816; Greece, 468; Italy, 8663; Portugal, 235; Canada --- French, 935; Canada-other, 974; all other, 1833.
CLUBS
There are in Bridgeport today more than 600 clubs and societies of all kinds. Since the entire group can- not be treated in this chapter, only the very earliest are discussed. The rest will be found in the appendix.
The first club to be organized in the little village which later became Bridgeport, was St. John's Lodge No. 3, of the Freemasons, commenced in 1762. Oscar G. Exner is the present head.
The first woman's organization was the Bridgeport Ladies Charitable Society organized in 1813 and be- lieved to be the oldest charitable organization of its kind in the state. Mrs. Walter B. Lashar is now president.
Both the doctors and the lawyers in Bridgeport are organized. The Bridgeport Medical Association was organized December 19, 1866. Dr. Hanford N. Bennett was first president and Dr. George F. Lewis, secretary. There were 14 members. Today there are 167. Dr. B. M. Parmelee is president. Dr. Ellwood C. Weise is secretary.
The Bridgeport Bar Association, originally formed in 1880, was reorganized this past year. President for 1936 is Attorney Jonathan Grout. Attorney Edward J. McCarthy is secretary.
[124 ]
1836
THE
STORY
OF BRIDGEPORT
1936
"BLOW, WHISTLES, BLOW!"
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
"T HERE is nothing of romantic interest in Bridgeport. It's just a factory town", wrote one historian.
That viewpoint smacks of the horse and buggy era of America.
What was formerly a pastoral landscape is today a dynamo of industrial energy, in turn transformed in- to an infinite variety of goods. The 19th century poet and writer found his inspiration in a grazing herd and meandering brook. The majority of 20th century people and their writers enjoy the "country", but realize there is poetry in the assembly line and in the intricacies of trade.
Bridgeport became the center of the world, in a sense, during the World War. Munitions, manu- factured here by the ton, said their say importantly and thunderously on the western front.
Ever since, Bridgeport has been a center, in a way, of the industrial world.
Goods and machines, manufactured here, play a role in every American industrial city and in practi- cally every large industrial plant in the world.
Automatic machines, built in Bridgeport, turn out products that are rebuilding the Russia of the Soviets. Planes fabricated at our doorstep have opened and are opening new air routes across azure seas. The story is endless.
RICHARD WAS FIRST
There must be a beginning for all things and it is believed that to Richard Nichols belongs the credit of having started the Bridgeport industrial ball rolling in 1730 when he opened a little store, with wharf, warehouse and shipyard, at the head of the tidewater on the Pequonnock River, at the Berkshire Mill Pond.
Between the years 1790 and 1806, forty men came to Bridgeport from abroad, settled here and became prominent business men. Their professions included merchants, hatters, joiners, blacksmiths, cabinet makers, attorneys, printers, and one physician in 1806.
The first real industry and the nucleus of the in- dustrial center was a tiny weaver's shop on Main Street just south of Gold Street where Samuel Porter and his son made blankets.
The second industry was the salt works north of Gold Street, sponsored by Isaac Sherman, Sr., during the shortage of salt after the war of 1812. The salt water was pumped from the river into evaporating vats by a windmill. The vats disappeared soon after 1830. Near by, was the first slaughter house in an old yellow building that was removed from Main Street in 1871 in order to open Congress Street.
The first store within the limits of the city was operated by Stephen Burroughs before the Revolu- tionary War near the foot of State Street on the water's edge. Burroughs conducted a grain trade with Boston and a West Indies trade as well.
The second store was built by Major Aaron Hawley who sold the same after the Revolution to Daniel Young of Norwich. This was the principal store dealing in groceries and dry goods, and was lo- cated on Water Street near Union Street.
Saddleboxes, combs, casks and barrels, hats, pewter ware, coal and iron, and patent leather figured in the early industries in this city.
Saddleboxes, for packing saddle equipment, were made here as early as 1815 by Porter Sturges in his shop and lumber yard on Middle Street at Golden Hill.
Comb making was introduced in 1830 by Moss K. Botsford of Newtown; the cooperage business flour- ished in the early days because of the East India trade and the whaling business which required casks; hats were made as early as 1792 by Thomas Gouge who had a shop at the corner of Beaver and Middle Streets.
Pewter cups, spoons, plates and buttons comprised the output of B. W. Stillman and Company at Old Mill Green. Near the same site, the manufacture of shirts was commenced in 1836.
Then there was the coal and wood yard of Roswell Lewis who supplied the pine wood to be used as fuel for the locomotives of the Housatonic railroad in 1840, and the foundry of David Wheeler and J. R. Young who supplied the railroad with necessary materials.
The manufacture of patent leather was commenced here in 1845 by S. J. Patterson who made carriage
[ 125 ]
1836 THE STORY
F
BRIDGEPORT
1936
tops, boots and trimmings. The Bridgeport Patent Leather Company came into being in 1849.
CARRIAGES AND SADDLERY
Carriage making and saddlery were two of the most important industries in Bridgeport a hundred
Brewster and Company; Wood Brothers; Hincks and Johnson; and Nichols, Peck and Company.
Saddlery vied with carriage making in importance. William Peet, a tanner and saddler, was established on Broad Street even before 1800. Then came Smith and Wright; Fairchild, Lyon and Company; Lyon,
RID
BLUE RIBBON HORSE & CGE.CO
THE BLUE RIBBON HORSE
CARRIAGE BUILDERSOLDAL
"ANY STYLE TO ORDER"
In the days when this city had a countrywide reputation for "fine equipages", the Blue Ribbon Horse and Carriage Company held forth at 132-168 Cannon Street and occupied a most important place in Bridgeport industry. (1903.)
years ago, in fact it was "the thing" to be identified with either of the trades. Previous to 1833, carriage making had been confined to the shop of Carier and Porter on Middle Street, and to Mott and Burr at Clinton and North Avenues.
Then the firm of Tomlinson, Wood and Company was formed, building a factory at the head of Cannon Street which prospered for many years. Other car- riage making firms were: Haight; Hurd, Fairchild and Company; Burr and Haight; George Keeler; Union Carriage Company; Haight and Hubbell;
Calhoun and Company, consisting of Hanford Lyon, Philo C. Calhoun, H. K. Harral and Willys Lyon; Calhoun, Lacey and Company; Seth Jones of Ridge- field; Barnum and Grumman; Grumman and Wilson; Wilson and Doremus; Isaac and Levi Sherman; Wade, Crosby and Company; Thompson, May and Company; S. F. Hurd and Company.
Saddles, bridles, harnesses, trunks, portmaneaus, valises, whips, spurs, holsters, saddlery ware and cot- ton web were made.
Furniture making was established here early in the
[ 126 ]
1836 THE
STORY OF BRIDGEPORT
1936
1800's, and it is believed that William Peabody was the first cabinet maker. In 1834, Nathan Bucking- ham, founder of N. Buckingham and Company, furniture dealers, located on Water Street. Jacob Kiefer was another early furniture maker. He intro- duced machinery into furniture manufacture in 1850, and organized the Furniture Manufacturing Com- pany in 1852. G. E. Nothnagle, founder of the fur- niture company, G. E. Nothnagle and Son, was in the furniture business here in 1886
In 1860, there were 96 manufacturing establish- ments in town employing 2196 males and 1131 females. The sewing machine industry employed 550 men; carriage making, 408 men and seven women; saddlery and harness, 254 men; spring and axle industry, 147; shirt industry, 1000 women and 11 men.
Other industries of the times included the manu- facture of hoop skirt rings, saddle trees, wocden wheels, candles, flour, meal, marble, patent leather, beer, porter, carriage hardware, boots and shoes, lumber, machinery, sash, doors and blinds, shirts, and varnish.
EARLY SEWING MACHINES
The manufacture of sewing machines was one of the most important industries in the early history of the city. As early as 1832 Walter Hunt of Stratford and New York made a sewing machine but did not perfect it. It has been claimed by some that later sewing machine inventors incorporated some of his ideas in their machines.
The story of the Singer Manufacturing Company is told a little later in the chapter. There were other companies. One of these was fostered by Elias Howe of Spencer, Mass.
In 1844 Howe conceived the idea of using two threads and forming a stitch by aid of a shuttle and a curved needle with an eye in the point. He claimed that his machine was the first to sew a seam by machinery.
Howe came to Bridgeport in 1865 and set up a small factory on Kossuth Street. In 1883, most of the buildings burned down and were only partially rebuilt.
The American Hand Sewing Machine Company on South Avenue, was another early company, lo- cated here in 1884, but long since out of business. Jerome B. Secor also made sewing machines in a
factory on the corner of Broad Street and Railroad Avenue.
Brass goods were made here as early as 1864 when Belknap and Burnham started to make brass goods for steam, water and gas in a small shop on Cannon Street. In 1874, Eaton, Cole and Burnham acquired the property and the rights of the company.
For thirty years the company continued and was then sold to the Crane Company of Chicago. The latter operated the Main Street plant of Eaton, Cole and Burnham for some time but sold it to Jenkins Bros. in 1920. At the South Avenue factory of the former Eaton, Cole and Burnham Company the Crane Company added several new buildings.
OLD TIME FIRMS
Oldtimers will remember other well known fac- tories about Bridgeport: the Howe Corset Machine Company on Knowlton Street in 1883; Couch and Wisner which made fine ladies' shoes at 430 Water Street in 1870; the knife and fork factory located on East Washington Avenue in 1876; the Bridgeport Tack Works at South Avenue and Water Street in 1884; Glover Sanford and Sons, hat makers, at 318 Crescent Avenue in 1877.
Nor must the Diamond Saw Company, established here in 1885 be forgotten, for this industrious plant turned out 20,000 saws weekly. The Bridgeport Boiler Works established in 1886; the Spring Perch Company, first on John Street, organized in 1847 for the making of springs; and the H. O. Canfield Com- pany, rubber goods, first the I. A. Canfield Company, which in 1883 was turning out $120,000 worth of dress shields every year, are other "old timers".
The Bridgeport Coach Lace Company, 805 Wood Avenue, with factories at Holland Avenue is believed at present to be the oldest industrial concern in the city, commenced in 1837. Fancy brocades, window pulls, tassels, elastic webbing and suspenders were made in earlier days. Today, elastic webbing is the most important product.
Other old time companies include: the Connecticut Web and Buckle Co., 71 Know!ton Street, 50 years old, making elastic webbing and metal goods; Pem- broke Laundry, started during the Civil War and be- lieved the oldest laundry in the United States; Craw. ford Laundry commenced at 216 Middle Street by George E. Crawford who, previous to 1888 had been in the laundry business in New Haven, and who
[ 127 ]
1836
THE STORY OF
BRIDGEPORT
1936
started business in this city by ironing all the shirts himself; A. H. Nilson Machine Co., 1525 Railroad Avenue, tools, jigs and machinery, 1892; Forge Co., now Heppenstall Forge Co., 95 Howard Avenue, drop forgings, 1883; the Locomobile Co. established at Seaside Park in 1901.
Bridgeport has several large stores of historic im-
JACOB ARNOLD. 15T
"CHOICE HAVANAS
"Samp Mortar Rocks" and "Sea Side Club Ponies" were specialties of the Jacob Arnold cigar factory, 449 Water Street, in the early 1900's. The firm was established in 1865.
portance, among them being the D. M. Read Com- pany founded by David M. Read of Hoosac Falls, N.Y., who came to Bridgeport in 1857. Later, Read associated with W. B. Hall and opened a dry goods and carpet store at what was then 227 Main Street, now No. 955. In 1869, the firm moved to the north- east corner of Main Street and Fairfield Avenue, and in 1926 to its present location, northeast corner of Broad and John Streets. In 1884, a joint stock com- pany was formed under the name of the D. M. Read Company. David M. Read died in 1893. Charles A. Goerner is now president.
'The first stone in the foundation of the Howland Dry Goods Company was laid in February, 1887, by John G. Howland who opened a shoe store at 407 (old number) Main Street. A new building was erected in 1894 at the northwest corner of Main and Cannon Streets. Several additions increased the building to its present size. John G. Howland is now chairman of the board of directors and Samuel C. Parker is president of the company.
Next door to Howlands, at 1061 Main Street, is the Smith-Murray Company which dates back to
1894. It is now under Howland management. Meigs and Company, northwest corner Main Street and Fairfield Avenue, was established in 1888; A. T. Gallup is president. Foster Besse Company, clothiers, 956 Main Street, came to Bridgeport in 1877.
Jewelry houses were early establishments in Bridge- port. Davis and Hawley Company, 966 Main Street, was here in 1838; G. W. Fairchild and Sons, Incor- porated, 997 Main Street was established in Bridge- port in 1865. The firm of Henry C. Reid and Son, 1134 Broad Street, was founded by John Reid who came here after the Civil War to work for Warner and Parker, one of the earliest jewelry firms in the city. Philip Segee was the first jeweler in town, 1846, with a shop on Main Street. Albert Johnson, Main Street, is the oldest active watchmaker.
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.