USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume II pt 1 > Part 42
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The Stearnsville Woolen Company, in which the Stearns Brothers were the largest stockholders, was incorporated in 1866. This company purchased all the water power of D. & H. Stearns that had not been sold to the Barkers ; comprising a water privilege with a fall of thirty three feet, to which were attached forty five acres of land, with a store, an office, and thirty cottages. The ruins of the brick mill stood on the up- per part of the water privilege. The new company lengthened the old canal, and in 1866-7 built a wooden mill. one hundred and fifty six by forty feet, two stories high, and nearly furnished it with machinery, when it was burned.
Gardner T. Barker, the father of the brothers Barker, was born at Cheshire, in 1779. He was a prominent citizen of his town. Of his sons,
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John V. was born at Cheshire. in 1807. Charles T. in the same town, in 1809. and Otis R. in Essex county, N. Y., in 1811. The eldest, John V .. learned the business of wool carding and cloth dressing. He came to Pittsfield in 1830, and was employed by Messis. Stearns till 1832. when his brother, Charles T., joined him and they formed the firm of J. & C. Barker. Otis R. became a partner in 1834 and the firm was afterward J. Barker & Brothers.
In 1832 J. & C. Barker purchased of Daniel Stuns the mill built in 1811, which had been naused for some years. They fitted this up, and. as their means increased, added to its height and length till it was three stories high and 180 feet long. They also added a wing of the same height, thirty feet long by twemy wide, and built a boiler house one hundred by thirty feet. In 1860-70 they remove the wing and one en! of the old mill. built around the remainder-in which the machinkey con timmed in full operation meanwhile the walls of a new brick factory. after which they razed the old one and completed the interior. The new mill was 165 by 53 feet, three stories in height.
In December, 1865. the Messrs. Barker bought of D. & H. Steams their entire lower establishment, consisting of seventy acres of land, two stone factories with eight sets of machinery, a wooden weave shop and wool house, one hundred feet long and twenty wide ; two stores, and a large number of dwelling houses.
Charles T. Barker died in April, 1884, since which time the business has been conducted by the surviving partners. The mills when in full operation furnish employment to about 275 persons.
About 1820 a small building was erected on or near the site of the Rufus Allen forge, on Onota Brook, and till 1843 it was occupied by Moses Sweet, as a manufactory of carpenters' tools. In the letter year it was purchased by Solomon N. Russell, a son of Solomon I. Russell. with whom his brother. Charles, became a partner the following year.
In 1845 they converted the little shop into a manufactory of cotton batting, which product was afterward changed to wadding. The mill was burned and rebuilt, and the manufacture of wadding was continued till 1860.
In 1856 the firm hired the Wahconah woolen mill for ten years. A portion of that time they used the mill in the manufacture of army cloths. and the remainder, of balmoral skirts.
In 1863 they built, on Onota Brook, nearly opposite their old batting mill, one of the best and most substantial brick mills in the town. It was one hundred and eighty feet by fifty on the ground, and three stories high. Connected with it was a dye house of seventy five by thirty feet. and also a honse, fifty feet square. for the boiler, picker room, and alry room. It had a capacity for ten sets of machinery. and in sunsons of ordinary prosperity employed about 125 hands. It made various classes of fine woolen goods.
Charles Russell die in 1870. His share in the business was inherited
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by his father, who divided it among his heirs, Solomon N., Joseph. Zeno. Hezekiah S., and Frank W. Russell, and Mrs. G. L. Weed. Hezekiah and Joseph sold their share to their copartners in 1871. Zeno Russell died in November, 1881. The business is still carried on under the firm name of S. N. & C. Russell. The mills contain eleven sets of machinery. and furnish employment, in prosperous times, to abont 225 persons. Fancy union cassimeres are made. The New York city office of the com- pany is at 54 and 56 Worth street.
The firm of J. &. E. Peck, in 1816, hired one end of John B. Root's store. on East street, and there commenced the manufacture of tin ware
In the spring of 1828 they purchased the entire establishment of Mr. Root, and continued both the store and tin manufactory till Istit.
In 1844 Elijah Peek and William Barnard purchased the water privi. lege previously occupied by Seymour's forge. a short distance west of that owned by the Messrs. Russell, and built thereon what was intended as a batting mill. Before machinery was placed in the mill Mr. Jabez Peck purchased Mr. Barnard's interest, and the firm of J. & E. Peck com. menced the manufacture of cotton warps. In 1858, Mr. Jabez 1. Pack purchased the interest of his father. Jabez, and in 1864 that of his uncle Elijah, thus becoming sole owner. This mill was burned in 1866. but in the same year was rebuilt, the new building being of wood, 204 by 50 feet, and two stories in height.
Mr. Peck and J. K. Kilbourn, under the firm name of Peck & Kil- bourn, engaged, during the war of 1861-5, in the manufacture of balmoral skirts. Their success led to the erection, in 1864, of a woolen factory farther up the Onota Brook. on the site of the old Hicox forge. This mill is of brick, two stories in height. In 1868 Mr. Peck purchased the interest of his partner, and afterward run the mill on various classes of flannels.
The flannel mill runs seven sets of machinery and furnishes employ- ment to about 90 hands, in the manufacture of white and colored flannels. The warp mill runs 6,000 spindles and employs 125 hands in the mann- facture of cotton yarns.
The Taconic mill was built iu 1856, on the water privilege formerly occupied by the Pomeroy armory, two miles north of the village. It is a wooden structure, 150 by 60 feet. four stories in height, with the usual adjuncts of a woolen factory. It was complete in all its appointments. It was run on union cassimeres, of which it made four thousand yards weekly, and its annual consumption of wool was four hundred thousand pounds. The original stockholders were William C. Allen. William Pol. lock, Theodore Pomeroy, Robert Pomeroy, Edward Pomeroy, Charles Atkinson, Edward Learned. Frank Cone, and James L. Baldwin. Edward Learned was the first president of the company. tienge Y. Learned the first general agent and treasurer, and Charles Atkinson the first superin- tendent. From 1878 till 1850 the business was suspended. In 1850 the mills were leased to Wilson. Glennon & Co., the present occupants. The
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company operates eight sets of machinery and employs about 125 hands. The product of the mills consists of the various grades of fine union cas. simeres.
From Pontoosne Lake to the Wahconah mills the west branch of the Housatonic presents a close succession of water falls. One of the best of these is midway between Taconic and Wahconth. It is formed by the union of two distinct water privileges, on the lower of which, having a fall of only six feet. E. M. Bissell. in 1832, built a four story brick far. tory. 80 by 30 feet in size. A controversy concerning the right to the water privilege arose, and the mill never went into operation, but the building stood idle and uncared for till it was purchased. in 1852, by the newly organized Pittsfield Woolen Company, and repaired and rea modeled.
The company purchased the privilege next above, and by the erection of a massive stone dam obtained a fall of twenty-six instead of six feet. Four sets of machinery were placed in the mill.
The first officers of the company were Henry Colt, president : Robert Pomeroy, treasurer; W. Frank Bacon, secretary and general agent. Among the principal stockholders were Theodore Pomeroy, Edward Learned, and Edwin Clapp.
The upper story of the mill was burned in June. 1801, and the three remaining stories were converted into spinning and dressing rooms. In 1864 another story was burned off, and the mill was repaired as a building of two stories.
In 1862 a fine new brick mill of four stories. 100 feet by 50 in area. was erected a short distance up the stream and supplied with the lost and most modern machinery. In 1870 it ran eight sets of machinery and employed one hundred and fifty hands, one fifth of them girls, making. monthly, twelve thousand yards of cassimeres, beavers, and doeskins. worth from three to five dollars per yard. Its monthly pay roll wal- forty-five hundred dollars.
In July, 1873. the property of the Pittsfield Woslen Company was purchased for one hundred thousand dollars by the Bel Air Manufactur ing Company : president. Hon. Edward Learned ; secretary. E. MeA Learned ; treasurer, Frank E. Kernochan. This new company improved the property, put up new buildings, and added new machinery, at a cost of between twenty-five and thirty thousand dollars. Hon Edward Learned was succeeded as president by E. Mc.A. Learned. The mill was run on the finer grades of fancy cassimeres, and when in full operation furnished employment for about 169 hands
In 1790 King Strong built a saw and grist mill on the fine water passer at a point on the southwest branch of the Housatonic, about one mile from its junction with the Housatonic. In 1833 it was purchased by Josiah Pomeroy & Co., who built there a small plaster, mill. This, in 1839, became the property of Josiah Pomeroy, who converted it into a grist mill. On Mr. Pomeroy's death. in 1951. Noah W. Goo drich bought
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
the mill and run it mostly ou custom work till 1862, when the dam was carried away.
In 1864 Otis L. Tillotson and B. F. Barker purchased the property and converted the mill into a woolen factory. Mr. Barker soon sold his interest to Mr. Tillotson, who, in 1865, admitted Dwight M. Collins as a partner. Anaddition, fifty feet square, was made to the mill, and its capacity was increased from one to two sets of machinery. In 1886 it was increased to four sets Mr. E. Farnham became connected with the Osceola in 1867. In 1873 another building was erected, fifty by sixty feet in size, and three stories in height, and the capacity of the entire establishment was increased to six sets of machinery. New boilers, dye, and wool honses were built and general improvements were made. Additions were made to the real estate till it amounted to'one hundred and fifty acres. with a large number of tenement houses. Mr. Tillotson died in 1873. leaving the property to his brothers. The firm of Tillotson & Collins was succeeded, in 1881. by that of Tillotson & Power, consisting of Wil- liam E. Tillotson and John T. Power. The mills furnish employment to abont 150 persons.
The first mill dam in Pittsfield, a few rods south of the Elm street bridge, built by Deacon Crofoot, was, in 1778, leased from the town, by Ebenezer White, for the term of 999 years.
. In 1832 the privilege, with the considerable amount of land attached to it, was contributed by Mr. White, as stock in trade, to a firm to which Colonel Samuel M. MeKay and Captain Curtis T. Fenn. the other part- ners, furnished the cash capital for building and running a cotton fac- tory. This factory, which was built of brick, in 1832, was eighty feet by forty in area, three stories high, besides an attic and basement.
Messrs. MeKay and Fenn soon bought the interest of their partner, and continued to run the mill until the death of Colonel MeKay, in 1839. when the property was sold at auction, and purchased by Thomas F. Plunkett, who, in 1845. removed the dam down the stream, to a point near the factory.
He also added forty feet to the rear of the building, making it 120 feet long ; and gave it a capacity of twenty-nine cards. over 100 looms. and nearly 4,000 spindles, producing 1,560,000 yards of sheeting annually, and employing 100 operatives.
In 1849 Martin Van Sickler, who became an overseer in the mill in 1840, and Lyman Clapp each purchased a quarter interest in the property, and the firm became Plunkett, Clapp & Co. Work was suspended dur ing the war of the Rebellion. In 1864 Mr. Albert Learned purchased Mr. Plunkett's interest in the factory, and, with Mr. Van Siekler. that of the heirs of Clapp (who died in 1853. and the firm became Learned & Van Siekler. In 1867 Mr. Learned sold his interest to Mr. Van Siekler, who thus became sole proprietor.
In 1798 James Brown, who had learned the art and mystery of tan- ning from Captain Nathan Pierson, a wealthy tanner of Richmond, built
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a tannery next to the Elm street bridge, on Water street. He had pre- viously established similar works on the north side of Silver Lake. It is not known whether or not he abandoned them on the completion of the new tannery. Evidences have been found which show that the site of Mr. Brown's works on Water street had previously been occupied by a tannery, but when and by whom is unknown. In 1800 Mr. Brown ad- mitted his brother, Simeon, as a partner in the Water street tammery, and for a long time under their proprietorship, as well as in other hand, it has had a prosperous history. Olcott Osbom purchased the works in 1843 and conducted them until the latter part of 1848, when he sold out the business to Benjamin Dean. After conducting the business a little more than one year. Mr. Dean sold to Owen Coogan, who continued side proprietor of the works until 1881, when he took his sons, William J. and Clement F., into partnership, forming the present firm of O. Coogan & Sons. The business employs on an average about twenty hands. The buildings were destroyed by fire on the morning of February 13th. 1885, and were immediately rebuilt.
The iron forge of John Snow, at what is now Coltsville, of which an account has been given elsewhere, was succeeded, in 1826, by a tannery established by Alexander Dorn. The tannery was sold a few years after- ward to John Chase & Brother, who. in their turn, sold it, in 1835, to Royal Weller. In 1837 it was purchased by H. V. & A. P. Dean. Stow. ell Dean succeeded H. N. in 1840 : and, in 1543, Benjamin Dean succeed . ed A. P .. the firm becoming S. & B. Dean, who carried on the tannery until 1847, when Olcott Osborn was admitted as a partner.
In 1848, the tannery was converted into a paper mill. and the Deans sold their interest to James Wilson and F. W. Gibbs, the firm taking the name of Wilson. Osborn & Gibbs. In 1850 Mr. Wilson sold to his part. ners. In 1851 Hon. Thomas Colt purchased Mr. Osborn's interest, and in 1855 that of Mr. Gibbs.
In 1862 the mill was demolished, and in 1863 Mr. Colt built on its site a brick mill 150 feet by 50 in area, and two stories in height, besides a basement and attic, and a " lean to " of 100 feet by 28.
In 1879 the mill was purchased by Crane & Co., and its subsequent history will be found in the history of Dalton.
A few rods below the Bel Air factory is a water power of 17 feet head, on which. at an early day, stood a saw mill. In 1776 Deacon Na. than Barber built there his fulling mill, and in 1816 this was succeeded by a factory, 30 by 40 feet in size, erected by Caleb Goodrich and Spencer Churchill. Mr. Goodrich became sole owner of this in 1817, used it fona turning mill, and leased power and room for various minor manufactures. among which were lead pipe, wheel hubs, buttons, carding, and carpen ters' planes. In 1849 the building was burned. The same year Mr. Goodrich replaced it by a wooden mill, 80 by 30 feet, and three stories high, in which he conducted the turning business till 1850, when he sold the property to George H. Clark. Charles T. Bulkles, and Otis Cole, jr.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
The new proprietors remodeled and enlarged the building, and con- verted it into a flouring and meal mill, giving it the name of Wahconah. In 1861 Asahel A. Powell purchased Mr. Bulkley's interest, and in Jas! Doctor Clark sold to his partners, Cole & Powell.
In 1818-9 Caleb Goodrich built-on the side of Wahconah street op. posite the mill just described, and next south of the entrance to the Pittsfield Cemetery-a stone mill, 69 feet by 49 in ater, and three stories high. It is on the same privilege with the Wahe mah touring mill: but, standing lower, has 19 feet head of water. It was first occupied, for a couple of years, by George A. Buntel and Khenezer Condrich. The Russell Brothers then hired it, as has been stated, for ten years. John- than M. Jones & Sons then run it for one yem on balmoral skines. In 1866, T. G. Atwood and Lyman Abbre bought it of Cole & Powell, who had purchased it with their upper mill in 1850, and for several years manufactured flannels, tweeds, and balmoral skirts. In 1871. Messi's Cole & Powell repurchased the mill, and removed to it the meal portion of their business, and it became the Wahconah meal mill. In 1875, Otis Cole became the sole owner of both mills, and they have since been sue- cessfully conducted by him. The mills are conveniently fitted up and furnished with modern improvements. The annual prodnet of the mills is about 6,000 barrels choice flour. 1,500 barrels rye flour, and aboat 100. . 000 bushels of other grains.
On the water privilege next below the factory built by Daniel Stearns in 1810, there was, in 1823, an old off mill : but in that year the privilege was bought by the Pittsfield and Hancock Shakers, who erected a dam. and in the following year a wooden grist mill, forty feet by thirty. two stories high, and containing two run of stones. The Shakers intended it for their own special convenience, but the excellence of their work soon gained it favor, which continued to increase until, in 1867, it was neces sary to almost entirely rebuild it.
The mill then erected is sixty-three by forty two feet in area, with three stories of wood, and a stone basement fifteen feet high.
In 1865 Charles Morgan built, on the southwest branch of the House tonie. a quarter of a mile below the Barkers' Railroad mill, a wooden factory fifty feet by thirty in size, in which he made satinets for about a year. It was then sold to George W. Adams, who converted it into a grist mill, with four run of stones. In 1800, it was bought by George W. Sprague. The present owners are M. V. Sprague & Co
In May, 1874. all the water power of the town being occupied, and there being a strong public desire to extend manufacturing, after a series of public meetings a company was organized, with a capital of $12,000. for the purpose of erecting a building with steam power, to be leased, in such portions as might be needed, to other parties. The first officers were: President, Nathan G. Brown ; secretary and treasurer. A. J. Waterman: directors, William R. Plunkett. D. J. Dodge. J. H. Butlei. E. D. G. Jones. Daniel Sprague, and George N. Dutton.
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TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.
A site for the building was presented by Hon. E. H. Kellogg. and it was erected at an expense, including engines and other machinery, of $52,000. It is two hundred feet long by fifty wide, besides some ault- buildings. The third story was leased from October, 1874, to Edward Saunders, who established in it the Saunders factory for the manufae. ture of silk thread. This company failed in 1876.
The lower story was leased to the Pittsfield Tack Company, which was organized August 7th, 1875. The second story was leased in 1550 to the Terry Clock Company. The Tack and Clock companies continued to occupy the building until the close of 1883, when they removed to their present quarters.
The upper floor was occupied by the Bel Air Company from June. 1883. till July, 1884. Since the latter date the building has been unoccu- pied. The present officers are : O. W. Robbins, president ; F. F. Read. treasurer and superintendent.
The machine works on MeKay street, now operated by William Clark & Co., were established by Gordon Mckay about the year 1841. 1 few years afterward the firm of MeKay & Harbach was formed, and a few months later, that of MeKay & Hoadley. Mr Harbach being suc ceeded by John C. Hoadley. MeKay & Hoadley continued to carry on the business till 1852, when they removed to Lawrence. Mass., and won. succeeded by John E. Dodge and Almiron D. Francis. In the spring of 1855 David A. Clary bought out Mr. Dodge and the firm became Francis & Clary. This firm continued for ten years and in 1865 Mr. Francis sold his interest in the business, and the firm of Clary, Sedgwick & Russell was formed. Two years later Mr. Sedgwick withdrew from the business. which was continued by Clark & Russell until 1822 when Mr. IL. S. Rus. sell became sole proprietor of the business and owner of the property. In 1874 Mr. Russell sold the property (with the exception of the boiler shop, which he retained and has since conducted to E. D. G. Jones. The manufacture of boilers was begun by Mr. Mckay soon after he started in business, and has been continued to the present time. Mr. Russell employs about twelve men and does a business varying from twenty to forty thousand dollars per year. The firm of William Clark & Co. was formed in 1872, and consisted of William Clark, his two sons, H. C. end J. W., and E. D. G. Jones. They occupied the building opposite their present works until 1874, when the business was removed to its present location. The class of work done includes general machine and foundry work and the manufacture of rotary pumps and paper mill ma chinery. The business furnishes employment to about forty five persons.
The machine works of May & Chapel were established in August. 1864, by W. H. May and N. Chapel. The firm occupies a two stol! framed building 75 by 37 feet, at No. 72 Fenn street, and does a general machine and foundry business. When in full operation thirteen persons are employed.
The shoe factory of Robbins & Kellogg was established in 1870 by
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HISTORY OF BERESHIRE COUNTY.
the present firm. The main building, a three story brick structure. 40 by 160 feet, was erected in 1870 and enlarged in 1880. The store house was built in 1884. The business furnishes employment to about 450 hands, who manufacture weekly about 12.000 pairs of ladies and gentle- men's fine shoes.
The Pittsfield Tack Company was organized Angust 7th, 1875, with a capital of $30,000. The first officers were : Jabez I. Perk, president : George N. Dutton, clerk and treasurer : J. L. Peck, George N. Dutton. J. R. Warriner, Edwin Clapp. E. S. Francis, directors. Mr. D. M. Col. lins was elected director in 1884 in place of Edwin Clapp, deceased. The company occupied the lower story of the Kellogg Steam Power Com- pany's building until January 1st, 1884, when the business was removed to the lower story of the Terry Clock Company building. erected in 1893 by E. D. G. Jones and S. N. Russell. All kinds of tanks and small nails are manufactured, and abont twenty-five hands are employed. About thirty tons of iron are used monthly.
The Terry Clock Company was organized in Pittsfield in 1880. Eli Terry, grandfather of the present superintendent, was one of the first clockmakers in the country, having commenced business in Waterbury. Conn., more than ninety years ago. The present company has an author- ized capital of $15,000, of which 88, 500 has been paid in. The first off cers of the company were : E. D. G. Jones, president ; H. S. Russell. clerk and treasurer ; C. E. Terry, superintendent : E. D. G. Jones, S. N. Russell, George H. Bliss, directors. The company occupied the second floor of the Kellogg Steam Power Company's building until December. 1883, at which time the business was removed to its present location in the new Terry Clock Company building. The company manufactures nearly one hundred and fifty different styles of clocks. About 110 per- sons are employed and more than 2,000 clocks are produced weekly. The present officers are : E. D. G. Jones, president ; C. E. Parker, clerk and treasurer ; C. E. Terry, superintendent and manager: E. D. G. Jones. S. N. Russell, C. E. Parker, directors.
The Sprague Brimmer Manufacturing Company, consisting of M. V. and Arthur Sprague, and Edrie C. Brimmer, was organized in 1880. The company at first occupied a two story frame building. 30 by co feet, on Railroad street. This was enlarged in 1883 by the addition of a three story frame structure. It by So feet. The business furnishes employ. ment to about 100 persons, who turn out about 300 dozen shirts per week.
The Willey Robinson Manufacturing Company, of 4S North street. employ about 25 hands. They make custom and sale shirts and operate the Franklin Steam Laundry. The business was established in 1881 by B. F. Willey.
The Berkshire Overall Company. West street, was incorporated in 1881. John S. Wolf is president and George W. Prace is treasurer and secretary. The company employs about 20 hands and manufactures 4,000 pairs of overalls per year.
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TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.
The Berkshire Knitting Mills were established, in Central Block. in April. 1882, by Dwight M. Collins. William E. Tillotson, and John T. Power. The business furnishes employment to about 90 hands, and about 70 dozen of fine underwear are manufactured daily.
In February, 1878. S. K. Smith, formerly superintendent of the Saunders Silk Company, established a silk mill in Putsti. bl. He entered into a partnership with W. B. Rice, forming the firm of Smith & Rice. who continued to operate the mills until January 1st, 1881. The business is now conducted by A. H. Riee & Co. Mr. Smith erected a three storied frame building 45 by 132 feet. on Robbins avenue, in which he establish ed a second silk mill in January. 1882. This mill he operated independ- ently until April. 1884, when the present firm of S. K. Smith & Co. Was formed. consisting of S. K. and M. B. Smith, and George D. Foote About 50 hands are employed. The goods manufactured incluido silk and mohair braids, button hole and machine silk, sewing silk, saddlers' silk, silk floss, etc.
In 1SSO W. C. Stevenson began the manufacture of weaving shuttles and reeds, and in May. 1884. the W. C. Stevenson Manufacturing Com- pany was formed. The factory is located on Clapp avenue.
In 1850 Winslow & Henry began the business of manufacturing tin- ware and dealing in peddlers supplies. In 1858 Mr. Winslow sold his interest in the business to Harvey Henry, and the firm became L. d. H. Henry. In 1865 Homer I. Grant became part owner with Harvey Henry. After Mr. Grant's death the business was conducted by Mr. Henry alone until 1873, when Louis Blain became a partner. In 1852 Cyrus C. Henry was admitted as a partner, and the firm became Henry. Blain & Co. All kinds of tin. sheet iron, and copper ware are manufactured. The firm also deals in wooden and glass wares, and Yankee notions. Four. teen persons are employed in the shop, and sixteen peddlers on the road.
The carriage factory now owned by Lyman C. Learned, on Clapp avenue, was established in 1808 by Jason Clapp, who was succeeded by his son, Edwin Clapp. In 1874 Ebenezer and George Dunham commented business in this shop, and in 1884 it came into the possession of the press ent proprietor. In 1867 George Van Valkenburg established a carriage manufactory on MeKay street. In 1879 the business came into the pos. session of S. M. Cooley. The business is now carried on by Arthur N. Cooley, and furnishes employment for about twenty men. Mr. Van Valkenburg has been located on Liberty street since ISSO, and employs ten men. The wagon shop of A. T. Clair, on Liberty street, furnishes employment to six men.
Messis. C. H. & W. A. Booth established themselves in the Immber business on Fenn street in 1859, and in 1865 removed to First street. W A. Booth retired from the business in the spring of 1553, since which time C. H. Booth has conducted the business alone. He manufactures sash. blinds, doors, and other kinds of wood work, and employs abient fifteen hands.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
Elias Werden, of First street, commenced the sash and blind business in 1868, and two years later began to make picture frames, step ladders, hat racks, and various other articles of wood. a business which he still continues. He employs about twelve men. The furniture factory of Z. A. Ward. on Depot street, was established in 1874. Mr. Ward em- ploys about twenty men, and manufactures a great variety of fine articles of furniture.
The paper box factory of M. A. Pennock was established in Central Block. Pittsfield. in 1882, and in 1884 the business was removed to the old Methodist church building on Fenn street. Mr. Pennock employe about fifteen hands.
The brewery of Messrs. Gimlich & White, on Railroad and Onytt streets, was first established in 1877. The business has steadily increased from the beginning, and the establishment is now the long s ot its kind in Western Massachusetts. In 1880, the business demanding increased facilities, the present brewery was erected. It is a five story brick struc- ture, forty by eighty feet. with a capacity for brewing 16,000 barrels per year. About sixteen men are employed.
William H. Teeling & Co. are extensively engaged in the cracker business on Northrup street, near North. Mr. Teeling commenced busi ness in Pittsfield in 1852. The present factory was built in 1883. It is a four story frame structure 45 by 57 feet, and has a capacity for baking 100 barrels of crackers daily. The firm consists of W. H. Teeling and E. B. Wilson.
Hotels and Stores .- It does not appear that there was ever a lack of hotels in Pittsfield, and in early times the section about the park was well supplied with them. Mention has been made of some of these ravens.
In 1808 political feeling ran high, and it was alleged by the democrats that Captain Merrick. the popular landlord on the corner of North and West streets, had refused to furnish them the usual Fourth of July dinner, and a collation was spread for them by Captain lared Ingersoll in his orchard. They resolved to have a place of their own for their pa- triotic festivities, and in October 1808, they purchased from Rov. Thomas Allen, for $1.600. a lot on the corner of North and East streets. This lot was conveyed in 445 undivided parts, and the following were the pur- chasers, who held from one to five parts each : Simon Larned, Joshua Danforth, Ezekiel Bacon, John B. Root, Jared Ingersoll. Phinehas Allen. Simeon Brown, Oramel Fanning. Septemius Bingham. James Brown, Tim- othy Childs, John Dickinson, Henry H. Childs. Charles Bishop. Robert Merriam. John Chamberlain, Seth Montagne, Daniel Sackett, Oren Good rich, James Root. Joel Stevens. William Stevens, Timothy Hurlbut. Simeon Butler, John Falls. David Pierson, jr. William Francis, jr .. Oliver Root, Jesse Goodrich, Seth Moore, Elijah Bags. Horace Allen. Eldad Francis, Joshua Baker, Oswald Williams, Samuel Williams, JJames Hubbard, Richard Robbins, William D. Robbins, Elijah Robbins, Jona than Yale Clark, John Churchill. 2d, Sylvester Robbins, James Hubbard.
TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.
jr., Robert Francis, Lelabod Chapman, Stephen Hurtbut, Josiah Francis. jr., Thomas Stockin. Amasa Jeffords, Daniel Stauns, Simon Langworthy. William James, Ethan Janes, Silvester Lingworthy. Avery Welch. Aphor- Weller. Enoch Weller, Constant Luce. William Griswold, Uriah Lathrop. Linus Parker, Tertullus Hubby. David Bush, Rival Millard, filleon Gunn. William Brattle. Apple on Tracy, Joseph Shaver. Junges Mise ley. Zebulon Herrick. Ludowick Standen. Oliver P. Dickinson, Simon Griswold, Elias Keeler, Hosea Merrill, and Robert Santin.
The hotel was completed in the summer of 1 10, and opened by Simeon Griswold. It was a superior house for this period, an toithrough Mr. Griswold stated that he relied for support on general rather than partisan patronage it was chiefly resorted to by democrats.
In the war of ISI2 the officers and soldiers of the cantonment mayle it their place of resort, and the British soldiers on parole took their de and their wine at Captain Campbell's coffee house, a handsome and obut modious tavern on Bank row. When partisan divisions became less virulent the Pittsfield Hotel felt the effect of excessive hotel facilities -as did the Union Church of religious. It was soll to the trustees of the Berkshire Medical College in 1822.
The merchants here were the middle men in both the outward and in- ward course of traffic. They were the media for the exchange of the prod. ucts of the farm, loom, anvil. forge, and tammery for the necesarios with which the people were supplied. and the luxuries in which they imbulged
Of the earliest merchants of Pittsfield but little is known. Proloibl; the keepers of taverns also kept goods for sale. Colour James Baston did so, as did also Captain John Strong. Colonel Easton and Capavia David Noble had stores separate from their taverns. Their business was broken up by the Revolutionary war, and Captain Noble contributed most of his goods to the army then besieging Generals Gage and Howe in Bes ton. Deacon Josiah Wright appears to have continued a store ou tiposite of that of Captain Noble, on the north side of West street, beyond Opolis At the close of the Revolution migration from the seaboanl bront! hither active and intelligent business men, who came in search of new fields of enterprise. Colonel Joshna Danforth and Colonel Simon Lared came in 1784, and commenced business as partners; but soon after wand the former occupied the store built by him on the corner of East and See ond streets, and the latter a similar store farther cast.
As before stated, traffic was carried on mostly by batters In theab. sence or scarcity of coin and the worthlessness of the Continental car rency this was necessary.
From the meagre files that remain of the Berkshire Grade it is learned that, in 1798-9. Perez Graves had Succeeded Colonel Larmetih hi- store on Bast street, and John Burgoyne Root afterward Because his partner. Jonathan Allen & Co. Rev. Robert Green, and Hotare Allen Were merchant at that time, and De. Timothy Child's had built a nol eine shop on North street.
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