Years of Meriden 150: published in connection with the observance of the city's sesquicentennial, June 17-23, 1956, Part 20

Author:
Publication date: 1956
Publisher: Meriden, Ct. : The City
Number of Pages: 410


USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Meriden > Years of Meriden 150: published in connection with the observance of the city's sesquicentennial, June 17-23, 1956 > Part 20


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The company has gained a wide reputation for careful, responsible management of estates. Serving on its board today, as in the past, are men identified with some of the most important interests in the city.


The vault, with full safety equipment, offers complete safety- deposit protection.


The assets of the company, as of December 31, 1955, were


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$319,145. Trust funds amounting to $23,429,090 were under the care of the institution on that date.


THE MERIDEN PERMANENT SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION


The Meriden Permanent Building and Loan Association was organized September 28, 1888. The change in name, substituting the word "savings" for "building," was made last year. The association was incorporated in 1889. The incorporators were Dr. C. H. S. Davis, Orlando Burgess, John Webb, W. W. Mosher, Robert Bowman, William H. Miller, William G. Hooker, W. H. Bulmer, Thomas Vernon, Charles L. Hinman, Albert Furniss, Oliver McCarthy, William H. Neibour, E. G. Pepper, Charles C. Powers, Benjamin Page, H. K. White, E. A. Chapman, and Frank A. Camp. O. W. Burgess became the first president, John Webb, secretary, and W. W. Mosher, treasurer. The first quarters were in the old Byxbee Block in 1889. In 1894, the offices were removed to the Wilcox Block and remained there until the present banking building on Colony Street was constructed. The building was opened for business on March 17, 1922.


Leonard S. Savage, who retired in 1929, was secretary of the institution for 38 years. He died in 1932.


W. M. Miles was president at the time when the present building was opened, succeeding D. F. Powers in that office in 1922. After the death of Mr. Miles in 1938, Irving J. Meiklem was elected president to succeed him, and still holds that office. Albert J. Lirot is vice president and secretary.


In 1950, the banking quarters of the institution were completely remodeled. The front and main floor were rebuilt, and a new facade and vestibule were installed. An addition was also con- structed at the rear. A new vault was another feature of the modernization program.


On April 1, 1955 an important addition to the association's property was recorded when it took title to land and buildings on Colony Street between its headquarters and the driveway of the Post Office on the north. On the property was the office building of the W. H. Squire Company, which it vacated, removing to 204 Colony Street. The old Collins residence, which had been remodeled for office tenants, was part of the deal concluded with the Meriden Title Finance Corporation, Mrs. Robert A. Squire, and Mrs. Roger W. Squire.


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The Collins home was long the residence of Miss Sarah E. Collins, who died in 1949. It was built the year she was born, 1859. The land on which it stood was originally part of the Brooks farm, a portion of which was sold by Judge James S. Brooks, Miss Collins' maternal grandfather, to provide the railroad with a right of way.


In September 1955, the association received a permit to erect a $71,000 one-story addition to its facilities, on the land purchased in April. Removal of the Collins home provides space for a 37-car parking lot. A drive-in window for the convenience of share- holders and savers, reached by means of a horseshoe-shaped driveway, is a feature of the plan. The new addition joins the building on the north side. The assets of the association have increased by more than $5 million in the last four years, making the expansion necessary. As of December 31, 1955, they were $16,991,315.17.


FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION


The First Federal Savings and Loan Association was originally the Fourth Meriden Building and Loan Association, formed in 1900.


The late Fred Mills was president for many years, and was succeeded after his death by his son Stanley Mills. Leo E. Weis- leder was elected president in 1935. He was succeeded by H. Dudley Mills, who had long been executive secretary of the association.


The original office was part of the office of the W. H. Squire Company, when it was located in the Byxbee Block, and collec- tions were made there on Tuesday nights. Later, offices were located in the Morse and Cook Block and the Hall and Lewis Building, now the Cherniack Building. Steadily increasing business produced the need for a larger and permanent home, and the association in 1926 purchased a building on Church Street from Lew Miller, building contractor, who had used it as his own headquarters. The building was remodeled, and served until it was decided in 1940 to erect a new building on the site, and the old building was razed.


The formal opening of the new banking quarters took place on July 12, 1941. It is a modified Georgian type, of brick con- struction, with limestone and artificial stone trim. At the time,


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the facilities were thought to be ample, but expansion was required in less than a decade. In 1949, plans were announced by Mr. Mills to construct an addition to double the floor space of the institution, by utilizing the entire rear parking lot and drive- way, thus gaining space 30 by 40 feet. Space in the front formerly occupied by offices was added to the lobby. The completely remodeled building was opened in April, 1950.


In 1936, the conversion of the Fourth Meriden Building and Loan Association into the First Federal Savings and Loan Associa- tion of Meriden took place, when a charter was issued by the Federal Government, gaining more diversified plans of savings, and insurance of all accounts. A direct mortgage reduction plan was instituted at that time.


In his annual report on January 18 this year, Mr. Mills pointed out that the association, entering its 55th year, had increased its savings accounts to more than three times the total of 10 years ago. At the end of 1955, savings amounted to $17,951,503.60, with 18,500 savings accounts in Meriden and the branch in Cheshire operated by the institution. Assets as of December 31, 1955 were $21,109,992.94.


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CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE


Retail Business


MERIDEN IS a shopping center for this part of Connecticut. Located almost exactly in the geographical center of Connecticut, on the main line of the New Haven Railroad, with bus service from all directions and excellent highways and parkways to and through the city, its accessibility is a prime advantage for area shoppers.


But accessibility by itself does not account for the large volume of business done annually by Meriden retail stores. Local mer- chants are, for the most part, alert and progressive. Nearly every older store in or near the center has been altered in recent years to bring it up to date. Many new stores have come into the retail picture since the end of World War II. The style element in merchandise has become increasingly important. Prices and values compare favorably with the offerings presented in much larger cities. Courteous consideration for the customer's needs is stressed everywhere.


The city has cooperated with the merchants by providing convenient municipal parking areas on Church Street, in the new yard between South Grove Street and Butler Street, on South Colony Street, and on Colony Street north of the Post Office. In addition, there are parking areas in connection with a number of stores and privately operated yards where parking space is available for a small fee.


The curbs in the business district are metered, to prevent the monopolization of space and give short-time shoppers a place to park.


The Merchants' Bureau of the Chamber of Commerce, to which 45 local business firms belong, conducts various shopping events throughout the year and helps to keep retail standards high.


It is not the purpose of this volume to list all of the Meriden stores which have come and gone in the last 150 years, or even to mention all that are here at present. Space does not permit any such enumeration. The best that can be done is to give briefly the histories of some of the older establishments.


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Upham's Department store is by far the oldest of these. It traces its origin back to "Squire" Eli Birdsey, shrewd pioneer of the uptown district, who opened a store near the intersection of Broad and East Main Streets in 1836. When the business center drifted westward, the firm of Ives, Upham & Rand opened a store on Colony Street. This was soon after the Civil War, when Col. Charles L. Upham and Lieut. Philip C. Rand became partners of John Ives, who had worked for Mr. Birdsey in the uptown store. When the Winthrop Hotel Block was erected in 1883, the store moved there, and, in 1909, purchased land to the north and erected a large addition. Additional land to the north of the building was acquired in 1913. Col. Upham, who had served brilliantly in the Civil War, who had held the office of mayor, and who had taken part in many civic enterprises, died in 1929. The business was carried forward by his three sons, Charles L., Francis C., and William H. Upham.


Boynton's, Inc., large ready-to-wear store for men and boys, was founded in 1902 as the Besse-Boeker Company. For many years, it was at 19 Colony Street. In 1920, the present four-story and basement building was erected on the site of the old Meriden Y.M.C.A. building. Arthur E. Boynton came here soon after the business was opened, and became the resident managing partner. The store was then known as the Besse-Boynton Com- pany. Carlton P. Spear, Mr. Boynton's half-brother, became associated with the firm, and united with him in purchasing the business from the estate of Lyman Besse in 1930. Later, Clarence E. Carr obtained an interest, and Mr. Spear's son, Lewis M. Spear, also became an executive in the business.


Samuel L. Beloff founded the Styletex Company in 1920, and became one of Meriden's most enterprising merchants in the women's apparel business. His first store was at 19 Colony Street, in the store which had been vacated by Besse-Boynton. In 1941, he purchased the G.A.R. block on Colony Street, and remodeled it into a handsome store of the latest design, later adding the store just to the north of these premises. Mr. Beloff's sons, Arthur and Marvin, are active in the management of the business.


Hamrah's moved to their present location, 19 Colony Street, after occupying a store in the Cherniack Building, then the Hall & Lewis Building, for a number of years. The business, conducted by several members of the Hamrah family, handles household


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linens, draperies, lingerie, imported novelties and many other lines. Charles Hamrah conducts an establishment at 75 South Colony Street devoted to rugs, other floor coverings, and rug renovation.


The Reed-Holroyd Company, 7 Colony Street, has a long history dating back to the time when Howard Bros. furniture store occupied the same location. This business was purchased early in the century by the Reed Housefurnishing Company which, in turn, was absorbed by the present company, which also operates stores in Wallingford and Middletown.


The Cherniack Company, another old firm, which began as a fur establishment 69 years ago, purchased the Hall & Lewis building in 1941 and remodeled it to provide quarters for its fur and fashion shop at 2 Colony Street, as well as for its fur-fashion- ing and fur-renovation business. The block is now known as the Cherniack Building.


The New York Dress Goods Store at 25 Colony Street is the outgrowth of the dry goods business founded in 1917 by the late Samuel Umansky. It was originally located at 42 West Main Street. The present store, with basement, was opened in 1919.


The Meriden Furniture Company, 55 Colony Street, was established in 1890 by F. J. O'Neil and C. E. Flynn as O'Neil & Flynn who, in addition to dealing in furniture, conducted an undertaking business. Fred J. Winder was later taken into the firm. Both of the original partners died, and Mr. Winder sold out his interest in the business, which is now conducted by Herman Gold.


The John F. Butler Company, now known as the Butler Paint Company, at 51 Colony Street, is an even older concern. It was established in 1876 under the name of Butler & Larkin. The original place of business was in the Hicks Building on Colony Street, next to the old Meriden House. Later, it was in the Wilcox Block. The present building was erected in 1894 by Mr. Butler in conjunction with O'Neil & Flynn. In 1907, William O. Butler, son of the founder, became connected with the business which he still operates.


The history of Emerson & Whitney, 43 Colony Street, began in 1884, when the New England Boot and Shoe House was founded by J. H. Warshauer. Since 1922, the business has been located in the Colony Building. It was one of the original tenants


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when the building was erected in that year.


Jepson's Book Store, 31 Colony Street, was established in 1910 by Miss Louise J. Jepson. The first store was at Crown and East Main Street. In 1915 it moved to 4 Colony Street, in the Meriden House Block. For a time it was at 7 West Main Street, just around the corner. In 1922, another move took place, into the new Colony Building, which had just been completed. The most recent move, made several years ago, was to the present location.


Stockwell's, 36 Colony Street, is another old business. The Boston & Meriden Clothing Company was doing business at 34 and 36 Colony Street in 1906. In 1915, the business was conducted as the A. T. Gallup Company. By 1920, it had become Gallup, Stockwell & Co., and the present name was adopted when Harry Stockwell, long associated with the business, bought out the Gallup interests in 1935. George F. Lewis and Harold J. Wuster- barth took over the business after Mr. Stockwell's death, and Mr. Lewis in 1956 became the sole proprietor.


Michaels Jewelers is the successor to Michaels-Maurer, a firm which opened a store at 21 West Main Street in 1926. The business actually dates back to 1900, when A. Michaels began business in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The present large store is at 17 Colony Street.


Most of the stores on West Main Street are products of more recent times, although a few had their origins many years ago.


John F. Molloy, stationer, 20 West Main Street, is one of these. He began business in 1904 at 511/2 West Main Street. From there, he moved to the Meriden House Block, then to the Byxbee Block, and from there to 8 West Main Street. As the business assumed larger proportions, especially in the distribution of newspapers and periodicals, he found further expansion necessary, and purchased the building in which the store is now housed, with loading facilities opening on Hanover Street. The building was remodeled, and an addition was constructed running through to the street in the rear. Stanley McGar, associated with Mr. Molloy, is part owner, and the structure is now known as the Molloy- McGar Building.


The Alling Rubber Company at 12 West Main Street was established here in 1912 next to the present location of the Reed-Holroyd Company on Colony Street. In 1919, it was moved to the present location.


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The greatest change on West Main Street in recent history occurred in 1941, when seven blocks of property on the south side of the street, extending from the Connecticut Bank and Trust Company building to Katt Bros. store were sold to the Tishman interests of New York City and several large stores were con- structed to take the place of the old stores which were razed. The only exception was the Sugarman Block, which had been opened in 1937. New companies were formed to hold the properties and erect and lease the new stores. Occupying the stores built at that time are Genung's, Inc., one of a series of stores operated in New York state and Connecticut by the same firm; the W. T. Grant Company, which moved from across the street to the largest of the new stores on the south side of the street; Nugent's Dress Shop, Berley's, and the Miles Shoes Company. The Genung store has nearly 30,000 square feet of floor space and the Grant store contains 32,000 square feet.


E. F. Powers Shoe Store was at 27 West Main Street at the time of the Centennial. Years later, it moved to 6 West Main Street. Manning & Conwell's Shoe Store, which had been located on Colony Street, took over the business at this location.


Church & Morse were at 8 West Main Street in 1906, remaining there until 1925, when their hardware business was removed to 25 South Colony Street, where the premises were completely remodeled, with two stores thrown into one. Church & Morse was established in 1872 under the firm name of Church & Sprague, and was reorganized under the present name in 1879.


The J. C. Penney Company, one of the large system of stores operated throughout the country under that name, has been established here since 1928 at 43-45 West Main Street.


The F. W. Woolworth Company, formerly on Colony Street, moved to 35 West Main Street, when the ground floor of the Derecktor Building at Colony and West Main Streets was com- pletely remodeled. The block in which the store is located was purchased this year by Maurice Zuckerman, owner of the Woman's Shop in the same building. The changes in the Dereck- tor Building included a large store for the Liggett company, and a store with entrances on Colony Street and West Main Street for Kresge's.


The business of the J. Lacourciere Company at 55 Grove Street was founded in 1900. It is one of the oldest stores in the


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city handling paints and artist's supplies.


Bullard, Fowler & LaPlace, Inc., 75-79 West Main Street, was established in 1926 by Irving M. Fowler, H. M. Bullard, and S. R. LaPlace of Deep River. All three of the founders have since died, but the furniture business has been continued.


Brown's Department Store, 54 West Main Street, was founded in 1932 by Aaron Brown, who began the business as the Meriden Bargain Store at 58 West Main Street. The store was later expanded to take in the stores at 54 and 56 West Main Street, and the present name was adopted.


The Growers Outlet at 82 West Main Street was started in 1934 in a building erected by the Griswold, Richmond & Glock Company, an old Meriden firm long since disbanded.


At 20 Pratt Street, the men's clothing business of Harry Israel, Inc., dates from the business established by the late Harry Israel in 1904 at 641/2 East Main Street. Since his death, it has been conducted by his brother, William Israel. The present large store was opened in 1928, and has been remodeled several times since.


Also on Pratt Street is the firm of Oscar Gross & Sons, men's and boys' clothiers, at No. 28, a store which was originally known, when it was at 76 West Main Street 50 years ago, as Hyman & Gross. Since the death of Oscar Gross, the business has been conducted by his two sons, Samuel and Louis J. Gross. The store has been greatly enlarged under their management.


One of the oldest stores in the downtown section is Little, Somers & Hyatt at 77 East Main Street which was started in 1872 by Hubert Little as H. Little & Co. When J. E. Somers joined the firm, the name was changed to Little & Somers. The present name was adopted in 1883 when I. B. Hyatt bought an interest. Willard C. Hyatt is the active head of the concern, which specializes in paints, artists' materials and decorating.


Wusterbarth Bros., 82 East Main Street, was founded in 1900 on Miller Street, and was for many years at 45 Pratt Street until it removed to the present location in 1930. Originally dealing in sporting goods, it has specialized in toys in recent years.


Broderick & Curtin's Pharmacy, established 1886, was at its present location, 42 East Main Street at the time of the Centennial. It is now owned and operated by Thomas Joyce.


Charles J. Hayek's jewelry store, 17 East Main Street, is successor to the store once conducted by A. Langner at 20 West


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Main Street, which later became Langner & Hayek, and remained under that name until Mr. Hayek took over the business, which is now operated by his son, Charles J. Hayek, Jr.


UPTOWN SECTION


In the vicinity of Broad and East Main Streets, the original shopping district, are stores with histories running far back into the past. The J. F. Raven Hardware Company, 294 East Main Street, had its origin when Eli C. Birdsey engaged in the hardware business in 1854 in the same location. Upon Mr. Birdsey's retire- ment in 1917, the present company was formed, with J. F. Raven, Carl E. Raven and Guy Dutton in the active management. Carl E. Raven today is the head of the business.


Fred L. Yale started in the grocery business in 1878 in the Coe Block next to the Center Congregational Church, a building torn down before the beginning of this century. The business was later moved to the Barnes Block on East Main Street, and finally to the present location, 298 East Main Street. Elwood Yale succeeded his father as the head of the concern, and his two sons, Frederick E. Yale and Oliver M. Yale, have long been associated with him in the business.


The Lynch Drug Company, 298 East Main Street, was founded in 1868 by E. Lyman Marvin, and was the third drug store to be established in the city. In 1870, Mr. Marvin bought out the store of Davis & Greenfield at the present location. He was succeeded by his stepson, Willis N. Barber in 1891, who conducted the business until 1919, when his interest was purchased by Raymond M. Lynch, who took his brother William into partnership. The business changed hands in 1952, when the Lynch brothers sold out their interests to Walter J. Kopcza, Frank V. Chester, and Bernadine S. Potrepka of Southington.


Anthony Mercaldi's shoe repair shop at 302 East Main Street, known as the American Shoe Repairing Company, has been in business for more than half a century. Anthony P. Mercaldi, Jr. is associated with his father in the business.


CONSTRUCTION FIRMS


Meriden has a number of long established construction firms which have acquired far more than a local reputation. They do a large volume of business annually in many states.


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RETAIL BUSINESS


The Lane Construction Corp., 965 East Main Street, occupies the large administration building erected for it in 1951 near the Wilbur Cross Parkway. The business was started in 1890 by John S. Lane, then of Hartford, who erected a stone-crushing plant on land leased from Bartholomew & Coe. Mr. Lane's first road work was in Windsor Locks that same year, and, from this start grew the present large business, which executes contracts throughout New England, New York, and in Pennsylvania. The Lane Construction Corp. was organized in 1902 to take over the road building department. The company has built hundreds of miles of excellent roads, including the new type of super-high- ways, airports and other work of a similar nature. Arthur F. Eggleston is president of the firm, and also of John S. Lane & Son, Inc., which includes the quarry interests.


The H. Wales Lines Company, builder and distributor of building materials, with offices and yards at 134 State Street, is successor to George Bassett, who began business in 1843. He sold out to Perkins & Lines in 1864. From this small beginning grew the extensive business which has erected thousands of buildings in towns and cities scattered through several states. The late H. Wales Lines, who joined the business as a young man with experience in bricklaying, had a large part in the growth of Meriden. The business became H. Wales Lines & Co. in 1878, and the present company was formed ten years later. Nearly every important building in Meriden erected during the nineteenth century, and many in this century, were built by this firm. The present City Hall was one of its contracts. Charles S. Phelps, long associated wtih Mr. Lines, is chairman of the board, and Carl R. Langer is president.


The L. Suzio Construction Company, another large contracting firm, was founded by the late Leonardo Suzio in 1896. Many large highway contracts in Connecticut are the work of the Suzio organization. The L. Suzio Concrete Company, an affiliated concern, supplies ready-mixed concrete, and has a plant on Westfield Road. Henry D. Altobello is president and treasurer of both companies.


Another old contracting firm is the James T. Kay Company, 127 State Street, which specializes in plumbing and heating. It was founded in 1872 by the late James T. Kay, and has been conducted for many years by his son, Frank E. Kay.


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RETAIL BUSINESS


The G. R. Cummings Roofing Company, 198-210 State Street, has carried out important contracts in many states. The business was established in 1899 by the late G. R. Cummings, and the present company was incorporated in 1921. It has one of the most modern and complete plants of the kind in the country. George R. Cummings, son of the founders, is president and treasurer.


C. N. Flagg & Co., Inc. was organized in 1910 to do steam- fitting and plumbing contracting for larger buildings. Plant modernization became a specialty, together with wholesale piping and supplies. The firm has handled large contracts in many states. Its warehouses are at the corner of Griswold and Cambridge Streets, and the general offices were moved recently to Elm Street. Since the death of Charles N. Flagg, the founder, Peter Flagg, his son, has been the executive head of the concern.




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