USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Dedham > History of Dedham, Massachusetts > Part 22
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 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
PLUMBING. Everett J. Winn came to Dedham in 1870 and entered the employ of Oscar Bingham, proprietor of a plumbing establishment in Boston, with a branch at Endicott, his place of residence. Here Mr. Winn learned the plumbing and gas fitting trade. In 1885 he established himself in business at 545 Wash- ington Street, where he engaged in a large and successful plumb- ing and gas fitting business until his death in 1910. Mr. Winn was succeeded in Dedham Village by the late D. F. Maher and William H. Newman.
MARKETS. The first market in Dedham was established more than eighty years ago in the basement of the Insurance Building on High Street; and the latest market, "Campenello's Open Air Market," was opened in June, 1927, in addition to a grocery and meat market earlier established. J. Everett Smith, in 1862, ran a market on Eastern Avenue, opposite the railroad yard, which at first was open only on Saturday evenings. At that time he had three butcher's carts on the road supplying the vil- lage and surrounding territory. He soon formed a partnership with George F. Richards under the firm name of "Smith & Rich- ards." Their slaughter house was located at Connecticut Cor-
٢٠
233
DEDHAM ENTERPRISES
ner, where all the slaughtering of cattle, lambs, calves, pigs and poultry was done. In 1864 the firm opened a market and provi- sion store on High Street, between Church and Pearl Streets. In 1876 the business was removed to Memorial Hall Square and a few years later the butcher's carts were discontinued. In 1892 Mr. Smith's two sons (Louis D. and Frederick E.), entered the business under the firm name of J. Everett Smith & Sons. Frederick E. Smith succeeded to the business following the death of his father and brother. Mr. Smith had the pleasure of serving, in not a few cases, the third generation of those who had been patrons of the firm through the years. In October, 1935, this market was united with the Union Market under the pro- prietorship of John F. Foster. The market now occupies the stand of the Union Market, No. 572 High Street.
The Union Market was started in 1892 by Stephen Jacobs and William Patenaude. After some years of partnership Mr. Paten- aude succeeded to the business which continued in his family until 1922, when it was incorporated with William P. Delaney as treasurer and manager. The market has occupied the same site on High Street since it was established in 1892. Mr. Delaney ob- serves, "although the average family buys in smaller quantities than formerly, they buy a much larger variety of food and every one wants only the very choicest cuts." While all general mar- kets carry fish, today, the original fish market of the town was established many years ago by George Warren Fisher on Church Street. Over his market he had a billiard room. A Bowling Alley in the rear of the Phoenix House was early established and was succeeded some forty years ago by the "Dedham Bowling Alley," which was set up by James Shine and John Buckley. The Alley is now owned by John Green.
COAL AND ICE. The Fisher-Churchill Company originated with Amory Fisher, who gave up his barber's trade in a venture to keep the people cool in summer and warm in winter by selling them ice and coal at his office on Church Street. He was suc- ceeded by Benson & Redman, who added flour, grain, etc. Later a consolidation was made with C. C. Churchill, located on Harvard Street, corner of High Street, dealer in coal, brick, lime, cement, etc., under the firm name of "The Fisher Churchill Company." The business office of the company is now located on Eastern Avenue.
-
1
8
234
A HISTORY OF DEDHAM
Amory Fisher was Dedham's pioneer in food preservation. Be- fore the inauguration of the family ice supply, foods were placed on cellar bottoms or hung in deep wells for preservation. The ice box was followed by the ice refrigerator which has now given place to electrical refrigeration in hundreds of homes. Abiathar Richards early engaged in the ice business having been granted permission in 1846 to build an ice house at the Landing Place on Charles River near the home of John Bullard. In the development of the milk business in West Dedham, numerous springs fur- nished water sufficiently cold for milk purposes. The ice harvested for so many years in Rodman's and Wigwam Ponds has now given away to chemically produced ice by the Fisher-Churchill Company who now supply the town with artificial rather than naturally produced ice-in their plant on Dwight Street. Amory Fisher's coal business has been extended by the Fisher-Churchill Company to include all kinds of coal including coke, and fuel oil for ranges and oil burners, which are found in so many homes today.
HAY AND GRAIN. Oliver Capen was an early dealer in grain and coal and occupied a part of the freight house on the railroad grounds. John F. Shine established a hay and grain business at 27 Eastern Avenue more than half a century ago-a successful business which long continued in the family, but was succeeded in 1935 by the Fales Grain Company. This Company is affiliated with F. A. Fales & Co., of Norwood, one of the most widely-known hay and grain firms in Norfolk County.
LUMBER COMPANY. With the coming of the railroad in 1835 a lumber yard was opened near the railroad station by John Eaton who was still in business in 1850. The Dedham Lumber Company is the successor to various lumber dealers who have car- ried on the business in Dedham Village. In the development of the Oakdale District, C. C. Sanderson opened a lumber yard at Stone Haven.
DAIRY. The Fisher Dairy, established by John L. Fisher in 1861, is now the only dairy enterprise in Dedham. All other dairymen make their deliveries from out of town. John E. Fisher succeeded his father in the business which he conducted for many years, being succeeded in 1928 by the present owner, W. Edward Burke, of East Street.
-
-----
السور
235
DEDHAM ENTERPRISES
THREAD STORE. Nancy Damon sold thread, ribbon, silk and fancy goods in a store on Court Street, opposite the Norfolk House which she later moved to Church Street.
MILLINERY. Millinery was not an early enterprise in Ded- ham. Miss Holmes kept a millinery store under Temperance Hall and was, as far as we know, the first milliner in town; later Sophia and Henrietta Guild had a millinery store on Washington Street. Helen L. Wims of Weatherbee Street now has an only competitor in the "Rose Hat Shop."
BARBERS. Amory Fisher was the town barber. His shop was in his house at 17 Church Street near High, and was for many years the popular resort for all the town news. His pomade was bear's grease which he used freely; he also used the curling iron for those who wore their hair in curls. William A. Walker's hair dressing rooms were located in the Phoenix House; he was suc- ceeded by his apprentice Alexander Nickerson. Thomas Rafferty, located in the Phoenix Block, added hot and cold water baths to his service. Mr. Rafferty was still the old town barber at the time of his tragic death in 1931 and was serving those who had been his patrons for a half century or more. Chris Maas came to Ded- ham in 1887 and continued his well equipped shop during the re- maining years of his life. He died in 1921. Thomas F. Hooban, after many years of service, is still serving his patrons in the Knights of Columbus Block. The shop of J. J. Smith-a colored barber-is still recalled on Washington Street near School.
BEAUTY SHOPS. Mrs. M. Frances Young opened a hair- dressing and manicuring establishment in Greenleaf Block in 1909 and after a quarter of a century is still serving her patrons and is now joined in competition with Bertha's Beauty Shop, Com- munity Beauty Shop, Nichol's Beauty Parlor and the Wilfred Beauty Shop.
PHOTOGRAPHY. With the invention of the daguerreotype Mr. Ward had a gallery over William Fields dry goods store on Church Street. When the ambrotype came into use traveling salons visited the town to be superseded later by regular photo- graphers. Alonzo A. Smith's* Salon stationed in Memorial Hall
* Mr. Smith in 1890 published a series of thirty-one photographic views of his- torie places in Dedham, Including several old houses which have since been removed. This collection is now of great interest and value to all connected with Dedham.
-
.
236
A HISTORY OF DEDHAM
Square is recalled. He specialized in taking pictures of animals. Later Mr. Smith formed a partnership with Henry W. Beal under the firm name of Smith & Beal who specialized in the finest photo- graphical art of the times. They were located on High Street over the Post Office. Later Jonathan F. Guild was for many years the only representative of the art in Dedham. His successors in the profession have been Ross W. Baker and Robert T. Rafferty. Mr. Baker's exhibits have illustrated true art in photography.
TAILORS. The first tailor of which we have record was McWhork, who kept his shop over Dixon's apothecary store; fol- lowed by Lynch, whose shop was in Charles Coolidge's building on High Street. An amusing story* is told of McWhork. Joel Rich- ards, sexton of the First Church, had several times been disap- pointed in not having a new suit of clothes ready as promised. After strong words of remonstrance the interview was closed by McWhork earnestly saying, "Mr. Richards, I solemnly promise you that if I am alive I will have your clothes finished ånd sent to your house Saturday evening." On Sunday morning at daybreak, the bell of the First Church tolled out the age of a person in middle life, and as no one was known to be dangerously ill at that time, it furnished a theme at breakfast on the uncertainty of human life. At the ringing of the second bell for the church service every one who passed the sexton anxiously inquired in whispered tones, "Mr. Richards, who is dead?" With a serious countenance, the answer was solemnly given to each questioner, "McWhork the tailor," with no further comments. Among the late comers was McWhork. Entering the vestibule he approached the disappointed sexton and anxiously inquired, "Mr. Richards, who is dead ?" The answer was quickly given! "You are dead, McWhork! Didn't you promise me that you would deliver my clothes last night if you were alive?" It is sufficient to say that there were no occasions in the future for similar announcements of sudden death while the tailor lived in Dedham, and there was no bill sent for tolling the early morning bell .* Numerous tailors through the years were located in Dedham, whose names are unrecorded. Conrad Hilles, who learned his trade of one of Boston's leading tailors, opened a merchant tailor's shop in Dedham in 1864. In 1900, he admitted
* Clarke's Dedham Memorials.
-
1
237
DEDHAM ENTERPRISES
his son, Charles, who had taken special training in New York City, to partnership under the firm name of C. Hilles & Son. After more than seventy years the firm is still doing business in Memorial Hall Square. Wolf Luftman, a ladies' and gentlemen's tailor is still located on High Street after a quarter of a century of service. Harry Pearlman is located at 390 Washington Street.
PRINTING AND PUBLISHING. Nathaniel and Benjamin Heaton were the early printers and publishers of the town. They were located "about 60 rods east of the Court House." In 1796 Herman Mann became their successor and continued the publica- tion of the Columbia Minerva which they had previously estab- lished. For half a century the Mann family, (Herman Mann, Herman Mann, Jr., and William H. Mann), exercised a powerful influence in this section through their printing and publishing business. For many years Herman Mann was a noted printer and publisher issuing not only books and pamphlets but a music book as well-Watt's Hymns for use in churches. The last book published by this house was the "Historical Annals of Dedham," by Herman Mann, Jr., and issued in 1847. John Cox succeeded to the business. Other job printers have been the several pub- lishers of the weekly press, W. L. Wardle & Co., C. G. Wheeler, The Neighborly Associates *. Present printers are: The Tran- script Press, Inc., Rogers Press and the Riley Press.
BOOK BINDING. Henry F. Beale established in 1898 a book binding business in connection with court work, in which he is now succeeded by his son, Frank E. Beale.
BAKERS. Nathaniel Hewins, the first baker in the town was located on School Street near Franklin Square. Early each morning the jingling bells of his baker's cart could be heard through all the streets, supplying the townspeople with their warm rolls, bread, and crackers. Robert Stewart, baker and con- fectioner was located at the corner of School and Washington Streets. Ziegler's bakery on High Street, forty years ago was serving the Dedham public; followed at 404 Washington Street by Granville M. Stoddard's bakery. O'Leary's Bread Store was located on Church Street where he advertised to furnish hot
* The association was organized by the Rev. William T. Beale "To help young men to help themselves."
1
1
238
A HISTORY OF DEDHAM
breakfast rolls and brown bread just from the oven on Sunday mornings. Here the High School boys and girls spent their pen- nies for candy, or a lunch, at recess time. The above were fol- lowed by other bakers and baker's carts all of which have disap- peared. Helmer's bakery, which had long supplied the town, went out of business in 1933. The J. P. Food Shop now offer this line of foods to the people of the town.
RESTAURANTS. With the establishment of Courts in Nor- folk County, Dedham became a very busy place, as judges, law- yers, and witnesses met at the beginning of each term and re- mained until their cases were finished. There were ample hotel accommodation for all. With the extension of the Boston and Providence Railroad to Dedham in 1835, conditions changed as the traveling public had an opportunity to come and go at will. There was no occasion for restaurants before this time. The first restaurant of which we have record was kept by Warren Fisher on Church Street. Dunkel's Bakery of Roslindale, specializing in birthday and wedding cake, had a food shop and restaurant in the Phoenix House which was later succeeded by a regular restaurant. Klemm's "Restorant" was located on Eastern Avenue in the large square house now occupied by Parker's Boston Express. Freder- ick Klemm was a very highly educated German with a thorough University education; his wife was a most hospitable Irish wo- man who practised her belief that "cleanliness is next to God- liness." Klemm's Restaurant was a very popular place. With increased facilities for travel, and the closing of hotels, boarding houses became a necessity and those who provided comfortable and convenient boarding and lodging houses should be held in grateful remembrance-Mrs. Almira Kimball on Spruce Street, Mr. and Mrs. Sınall on Church Street, Miss Helen Brown and Mrs. Charles W. Wolcott on Court Street, are especially recalled. The following places of entertainment are serving the public to- day-The Community Kitchen, Gilbert's Cafe, Quinlan & Rae, and the Dedham Inn.
LIVERY AND SALES STABLES. James McLane, "Big Jim," as he was familiarly known had a sales stable on Washing- ton Street, (Dedham Bowling Alley), where for many years he did an extensive business in farm work, and driving horses with a
-1
239
DEDHAM ENTERPRISES
wide circle of customers in this and the surrounding towns. "Smugler," who had made 2.11 on the race track, and at that time the champion horse of the world, was exhibited for two days at McLane's stable. The livery stable of Sanford Carroll was lo- cated where the Dedham Hotel now stands. George W. Toomey's stable on Washington Street near the Phoenix Hotel, was at one time the largest livery stable in Norfolk County. John Kennedy and John F. Shine also engaged in the same business on Eastern Avenue, corner of Bryant Street. Joseph Fisher & Son of West Dedham did a flourishing business during the Civil War in supply- ing horses which met Government requirements for the army. Buyers were sent to the West and many horses raised on prairie farms were brought to West Dedham and sold to the United States Government. After the war, coach and driving horses were also in demand.
LAUNDRIES. For more than two centuries Monday was wash day in all New England homes. With the coming of the Chinese, laundries with hand work were set up in many towns. The first Chinese laundry in Dedham was established on Church Street, for so many years a leading business street of the town; followed by laundries on Washington Street and Eastern Avenue. The first Chinamen had to run the gauntlet of the many tricks of mischievous boys, but with time all this thoughtlessness has passed away. The Dedham Custom Laundry was established on Washington Street by C. W. Wragg, previous to 1900, a small business which employed only one delivery wagon. In 1899 the business was purchased by William E. Patenaude. A new build- ing was erected on the original site which was superseded in 1913 by the present plant on Mother Brook, which under the late Mrs. Patenaude's special management, was expanded until twenty- two delivery trucks were required to take care of the output. In accordance with Mrs. Patenaude's business practise the building is equipped with the most modern devices. For thirty-five years the laundry industry has furnished employment to many Dedham people, and in the recent years of the depression has been an en- couraging factor in the unemployment situation. Approximately fifty people are now employed at the laundry on work brought . in from twenty-six towns within a ten-mile radius.
1
3
L
240
A HISTORY OF DEDHAM
PUBLIC SERVICE. Previous to the opening of the Boston & Providence Railroad, Dedham depended upon the stage for trans- portation. The stage of Spencer Clarke is first mentioned in the annals of the town. In February, 1814, Martin Marsh, who was soon joined by John Ellis in the enterprise, commenced to run a stage in competition with Clarke. On February 11, 1814, the Dedham Gazette made the following announcement: Martin Marsh respectfully informs the public that he has commenced running a stage from Dedham to Boston. The stage left his tavern, the Norfolk House, each week day at 7 o'clock in the morning in the summer and at 8:30 during the winter season. The stage re- turned from Davenport's Tavern, Elm Street, Boston, at 4:30 in the afternoon. Fair each way, 621/2 cents. In 1828 the stage was run by Francis Alden from the Norfolk House at 7 o'clock in the morning, passing through Roxbury and arriving in Boston at 8:30. On Monday, Thursday and Saturday an additional stage left at 7:30 in the morning passing by the manufacturing; establish- ments in East Dedham and thence by the Brush Hill Turnpike direct to Boston, arriving at 9 o'clock. Fair, 50 cents. In West Dedham a village coach, first run by Deacon Reuben Guild car- ried the mail and connected at Dedham with Boston trains. About 1860 Mr. Guild was succeeded by Joseph Fisher whose stage made two round trips daily ; one in the early morning and one in the late afternoon. Thomas C. Mitchell came to Dedham in 1880 and in connection with George M. Morse's livery, drove the Depot Car- riage of the town. In 1887 Mr. Mitchell began the service for himself, and with the assistance of his son, Thomas B., has con- tinued the business to the present time, covering a period of nearly a half century of friendly, courteous and kindly service to his many thousand patrons. With the custom of the times, the busi- ness is now called a taxi-cab service and with Mr. Mitchell the following are now serving the public in this capacity, Nay's Taxi Service, Berry's Taxi Service, Black's Auto Service, Dan's Taxi Service.
GARAGES. Sidney Colburn operates the oldest garage in Dedham, the business having been established by Stephen Jacobs in 1909 on Williams Street. From a small beginning it has been developed to its present proportions, being fully equipped for all
......
241
DEDHAM ENTERPRISES
kinds of garage service. Other garages followed in quick suc- cession : Black's Auto Service, Dedham Square Garage, East Ded- ham Garage, Flood's Garage, Hartnett Square Motors and Mac- Donald's Garage; also the Oakdale Community Garage and Bus Lines.
CLEANSING AND PRESSING. The Dedham Wardrobe Company was established by George Gannon in 1882 as a branch of his Boston business. Later Mr. Gannon moved to Dedham where he continued the business until his death in 1928. He was succeeded by the present proprietor Francis Levangie. Others en- gaged in the business are: The Dedham Dye House and Peter Pan Cleansers and Dyers Company.
FLORISTS. More than sixty years ago Michael Tierley built the first greenhouse in Dedham and was succeeded in the business by George and Richard Cartwright. In East Dedham, P. J. Tuohy has served the public as a florist for many years. M. E. Ward conducts a business which was established by George M. Morse more than a half century ago. In 1873 Elmer P. Morse, formerly connected with the Botanical Department of Harvard University, purchased the business which he conducted for nearly a half cen- tury. His immediate successors in 1917 were Gladys Dean and Helen Copeland. The Washington Street greenhouse was built in 1907 by Henry A. Stevens who was succeeded in 1926 by the present owner Frank Drewett. "Dedham Flowers " was original- ly incorporated as the "Dedham Flower Shop." James P. O'Neil has a well established floral business in the East Dedham district with greenhouses located at 3 Bussey Lane, near St. Mary's Cem- etery.
TELEPHONE EXCHANGE. While the telephone was in- vented in 1876, the public was slow in recognizing its convenience and utility. The New England Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany began operations in the late fall of 1883. While an "Ex- change Limit" was established in Dedham in 1884, a central office was not set up until 1893. Previous to that time the few tele- phones in use were served from a central office in an adjoining town, probably in Boston. In 1893 Dedham became a separate telephone entity there being thirty-eight telephones in town. Dr. A. H. Hodgdon, who settled in Dedham in 1884, had one of
-
44"
242
A HISTORY OF DEDHAM
the first, if not the very first telephone in his office at the corner of Franklin Square and Church Street. The early growth of the telephone was slow in Dedham as elsewhere. In 1900 there were only 136 telephones; in 1910, 786; on September 1, 1935, there were 2,554 telephones in Dedham.
EXPRESS COMPANIES. In connection with the stage coach business an express service naturally sprang up and "letters, packages, and small bundles" were advertised "to be carried and errands punctually done for the usual prices." Samuel C. French's West Dedham Express was the successor of Messrs. George and Charles French who did all the teaming to and from Boston for many years. They also engaged in the wood business and delivered wood to some city customer, cut on the ancestral acres of their progenitors who settled in West Dedham more than two hundred years ago. Parker's Medfield and Boston Express connected with trains at Dedham for many years and was later purchased by Joseph L. Fisher. It is now known as Parker's Dedham & Boston Express. Other express companies serving the community are Hamilton & French and the Railway Express Agency.
FILLING STATIONS. The first filling station was opened in 1908 by Everett J. Winn at the corner of Richards and Washing- ton Streets. Those needing gasoline helped themselves at the tank and recorded their purchase on a sheet posted in the office. The number of filling stations has constantly increased until there are now thirty-seven licensed places in town where gas is sold. The Jenney Filling Station at the head of Court Street, was the first thoroughly equipped station for automobile service.
EAST DEDHAM. With the introduction of cotton manufac- turing in 1808, and woolen manufacturing in 1821, a variety of stores and shops sprung up to meet the needs of the growing population which included Grove Hall for social purposes. Benja- min Boyden was the pioneer in the dry and West India goods business. His store in Boyden Square* occupied the same site for more than a century. Here residents received their mail for many years. Mr. Boyden is recalled as saying, "Before the house de- livery of mail there was a drawer full of letters here which had been refused by the addressee, because they were known to con- tain the bills of local doctors." The business conducted on this
* Now known as Hartnett Square, East Dedham.
D
243
DEDHAM ENTERPRISES
site was known successively as Boyden & Norris, Boyden & Bailey, and Bailey & Newcombe. The store house used by the several firms was originally the Chapel built by the Rev. Dr. Burgess where he held services for his converts and the residents of Mill Village. Benjamin Boyden soon had competitors in not only the Mill Store, but with William Tapley and Conlon & Finn, all of whom had grocery stores. Mr. Conlon soon retired from the busi- ness and Richard M. Finn became the sole owner. Mr. Finn ex- tended the business and took orders in Readville, Hyde Park, Fairmount, and parts of West Roxbury. He carried a full line of family groceries, and on appointed days, his wagons went out on their routes, one loaded with barrels of flour and sacks of potatoes, and the other wagon loaded with small groceries. Mr. Finn con- tinued in the trade until over ninety years of age, ever alert, courteous, and upright in all business transactions. The grocery business in East Dedham is now conducted by three chain stores, namely : the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, the First National Stores and the Economy Grocery Stores.
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.