History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 68

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 68

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goods have a world-wide reputation and have made a mark in the history of the world's commerce.

CHARLES RIVER IRON WORKS .- In 1860 Deacon Edward Kendall began the manufacture of boilers and steam-engines on a small scale, and very soon associated with him Mr. Roberts, under the firm- name of Kendall & Roberts, and as the business in- creased very rapidly they extended their works from time to time, and the concern was soon known as one of the most thriving, prompt and successful establish- ments of its class in this vicinity, celebrated alike for the honesty of its dealings and for the excellency of its workmanship. Mr. Kendall has now with him his sons, and the firm is at the present time Edward Kendall & Sons, and in addition to the large and sub- stantial new buildings they have lately erected, they are now engaged in extending their limits by filling up the flats adjacent to their works, part of the ma- terial for which they obtain from the excavation which is being made for the extension of the State- House in Boston, about a mile distant.

When this work is completed they will have one of the most extensive and well-appointed plants for the class of work in their line in this vicinity. They now employ more than 200 men, and use 1000 tons of iron and steel, and 1200 tons of castings.

THE CAMBRIDGE ROLLING-MILL is an industry that occupies a very important place among the varied manufacturing interests of Cambridge. It was formerly known as the Boston Rolling-Mill, estab- lished in 1864 by Lyman Kinsley and Edward Paige. It was originally built for the rolling of Swedish iron, but this was abandoned on account of the excessive duties imposed on this iron. Attention was after- wards given to the handling of domestic ores, which, increasing in volume, led to the addition of capacity for the manufacture of refined iron. The premises coming into the possession of the above-named com- pany, Heury H. Gilmore, present mayor of Cam- bridge, was chosen president and James A. Werton, of Manchester, N. H., treasurer. The business is conducted under the names of Gilmore & Eustis, and is known in the iron trade far and near. While con- siderable Swedish iron is used, the bulk of the ma- terials consists of scrap-iron, from which the higher grades of wronght-iron are manufactured. The capa- city of the productions amounts to twenty-five tons per diem, with eighty men employed, and the same quantity when run at night, with 140 men employed. The annual manufacture represents in value from $300,000 to $500,000, according to the market price of iron. The original buildings were destroyed by fire in 1884, but the structures erected in their places were larger in dimensions and better adapted to the nses for which they were built. At the beginning supplies were received by water through Broad Canal, a water- way leading from Charles River, but in later years the enterprising company have found a new avenue through or over which their coal and iron are received

and shipments made. Three spur-tracks leading from the Boston and Albany Railroad branch, enter the premises, and cars laden with coal and other sup- plies are run directly into the sheds and unloaded. The same cars or others receive shipments and de- liver them anywhere in the country or in the Prov- inces.

Wages are paid at this establishment which will compare favorably with those paid in mills of this description. The sum of $1.50 is the lowest grade, while as high as $4.50 and $6 are paid. This latter is of conrse paid for skilled labor. The goods manu- factured by this house have a reputation and a stand- ing in the market which is highly commendable to the gentlemen who conduct the business, which is constantly increasing.

THE AMERICAN RUBBER COMPANY operate an extensive plant for the manufacture of boots and shoes and rubber coats. Twelve hundred persons find employment and turn out an immense amount of goods annnally. The factory is located at Sixth and Potter Streets, East Cambridge.

The corporation which carries on the business is officered by Mr. R. D. Evans, who holds the dual position of president and treasurer. The factory buildings are enclosed in a land area of five acres, and the floor surface of the buildings is of immense capacity.

The corporation also manufacture the best grades of oil clothing in a large factory building located on Clark Street, Cambridgeport, where a great many operatives are employed. The entire industry is of vast proportions and the business transactions are equal to other factories of a similar character in the United States.

F. H. HOLTON & Co .- A rapidly-increasing me- chanical business is that of F. H. Holton & Co., who have extensive copper and brass works on Harvard Street, near the branch tracks of the Boston & Albany Railroad, Cambridgeport. This business was formerly conducted in Boston on a much smaller scale, but in 1887 it was removed to this city, where larger facilities were secured for an increased addition to the business. Commodious workshops were erected to furnish accommodations for the mannfac- ture of copper and brass goods, and for the introduc- tion of a new line of work, that of the manufacture of bath-tubs and copper boilers.

The making of bath-tubs has now become a remu- nerative occupation, there not being a similar manu- factory in New England.

The firm has also facilities unequaled for the rolling of sheet copper, and a large business is done in brass work of every description. The factory is situated on the line of the railroad, which enables the firm to receive supplies and to make shipments, a convenience which is highly appreciated.

A new feature is now being introduced, that of the manufacture of galvanized boilers for ranges. Metal

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roofing is also conducted by the firm, and very large contracts are made for the supplying of this line of work. The establishment occupies a ground area of 57,000 feet. The workshops are conveniently ar- ranged for the prosecution of the business, and the machinery, of the most improved pattern, is operated by an engine of 350 horse-power. The employees of every grade number 260 men and boys, and the annual receipts from sales amount to $750,000.

THE GEORGE G. PAGE BOX COMPANY occupies a leading position among the manufacturers of Cam- bridge. They are successors of the late George G. Page, a native of Wentworth, N. H., who came to Cambridge when nineteen years of age, finding employ- ment as a carpenter. In 1884 Mr. Page began the mak- ing of packing-boxes by hand, in a shop on Magazine Street, and in the following year he erected a small factory building on Hampshire Street, the site of the present vast establishment. Success attended his venture, and after a time he introduced horse-power and put in machinery to aid him in the manufacture of boxes and packing-cases. His business was going along swimmingly when his entire establishment was destroyed by an incendiary fire in 1857. He soon re- covered from this disaster by replacing the burned buildings with more substantial ones, better fitted for the prosecution of the business. Improved machin- ery and steam-power were added, which made the new plant more effective in the production of the various manufactures. Fire again visited him in 1873, but the line of insurance he carried assisted him in rebuilding, this time with substantial brick buildings, which now, with several additional ones, af- ford excellent facilities for the conduct of a business which has reached immense proportions. Mr. Page was assisted by his sons, Ovando, deceased, and Wesley L. Page, whom he admitted as partners under the firm-name of George G. Page & Co. On the de- cease of Mr. Ovando Page, in 1882, the present corpor- ation was formed with Mr. Wesley L. Page as president, Mr. Franklin P. Stewart as treasurer and Mr. Clar- ence M. Howlett as clerk, who constituted the Board of Directors. In January, 1886, Mr. George G. Page, the founder of the business, deceased at the advanced age of seventy-nine years. The factory buildings are as follows : factory No. 1 is a brick building 130x50 feet of three stories ; factory No. 2 is a frame building 100x50 feet, three stories high.

A store-house, sixty feet square and two stories in height, stands in the rear of factory No. 1, while on the outside of factory No. 1 stands a brick boiler and engine-house, in which are located boilers having a capacity of 150 horse-power and an engine of 125 horse power. The fullest provisions against fire, in the form of fire hose and automatic sprinklers, are provided, and especial care is taken to remove the collections of sawdust and shavings so that the ac- cumulations are swept up several times during the day and placed in the chute leading to the fire-room,

this being the only fuel used under the boilers. The most improved planers, dressing both sides of the boards at the same time, saws of every description, nailing machines and sandpapering apparatus, find place in this well-conducted establishment.

A special feature of the factory is the printing de- partment, where any form of inscription or device is printed upon the wood in set colors of ink or in a combination of colors. The presses used are espe- cially made for the purpose, and are of the well- known Universal pattern. This work is admirably done and is highly favored. Nearly 10,000,000 feet of lumber is annually used, which is brought to the factory by vessels from the East, the rear of the factory premises abutting on Broad Canal. The company have storage-yards on the line of the railroad, where thousands of feet of lumber are stacked to be seasoned.

Employment is found in this vast establishment by hundreds of men and boys, and the weekly pay-roll is very large.

Mr. Page, the president, is an active and thorough business man and holds the confidence of the hun- dreds of patrons who give the company their orders.

BARBOUR, STOCKWELL & COMPANY, No. 316 Main Street, successors to Morrill & Allen, general machinists, carry on a very large business, employing many hands and operating the most improved ma- chinery, including a steam trip-hammer. The firm manufactures to a large extent the Pingree Switch, a device used on street railways, which works automat- ically by the pressure of a horse's foot. It is far superior, in the opinion of railway managers, to any other device used for such purposes. The firm has a great demand for them from all parts of the country. This establishment has had a long existence and is well known to manufacturers and the trade every- where.

WILLIAM CAMPBELL & COMPANY .- Boiler-making in this city is an industry of considerable importance, and affords occupation for scores of skilful workmen. This firm has a reputation of furnishing ouly the best work produced from guaranteed materials. The shop from which the work is delivered is located at No. 354 Main Street, and embraces all modern facili- ties for the fabrication of warranted products in steel and iron. The business of the firm is excessively large and with a constantly increasing demand. Iron tanks, for the holding of water and for manufacturers' uses in other ways, are also made to order. The Messrs. Campbell have been located in their present premises · for a number of years, and whatever is wrought by them may be depended upon as being first-class in every particular.

THE AMERICAN NET AND TWINE COMPANY OC- cupy premises located at the foot of Second Street. The land area embraces 11,200 feet, upon which stands a brick factory building of four stories.

In this building 250 male and female operatives

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find employment. The machinery used to operate the business is of the latest and most improved pat- tern. A large amount of the manufacture of nets is done by hand, as no machinery has been invented to take the place of deft, female fingers. Netting for hammocks, seines and for other uses are produced here.

The annual product represents 1,000,000 pounds of raw material. A ready market is always found for the goods, not only in the United States, but in Sonth America, to which country large shipments are made. Large factories are run by the company in Canton, Mass., for the manufacture of all kinds of twine, principally of the kind required in the making of nets.

The business was established in Boston in 1842, and removed to Cambridge fifteen years ago. The busi- ness is the largest of the kind conducted in the country, and is known far and near. The building is well guarded against fire, as antomatic sprinklers are placed freely about it. Regulations of the most posi- tive character are in force throughout the establish- ment against the careless handling of matches or other agents likely to cause accidents of this descrip- tion. The business is a remunerative one, and affords a handsome revenue to those connected with it.

CARRIAGE MANUFACTURE .- Cambridge has been more or less noted for its industry of carriage-build- ing. Fifty years ago, at least, Mr. Walter M. Allen did a large business in the manufacture of carriages of the then prevailing style. His factory, of modest pretensions, stood in Allen Street at the corner of North Avenue, where now stands the factory of Francis Ivers & Son.

Mr. Allen confined himself to the making of plain but substantial vehicles, which found ready sale be- cause of the reputation of their maker.

Mr. Ivers began business early in 1861, but when the shot was fired at Sumter he closed up his place and enlisted in the army. Upon returning from the war he began business again, and from that time un- til now he has prosecuted a thriving business.

He makes a specialty in the manufacture of the " Ivers buggy," a design of his own, which is patented. This vehicle is noted nearly the world over for its sym- metry and beautiful pattern, its lightness and dura- bility. No gentleman's carriage-house is complete without one, as is attested where a nice turnout is desired.

Mr. Ivers does not wholly confine himself to this specialty, for he also builds light pleasure wagons, which find ready sale on account of the reputation of the builder.

Quite recently he has admitted his only son, Mr. Frank H. Ivers, to the business, and the result is that the firm is constantly pressed for every variety of ve- hicle, more especially the celebrated buggy.

A vast amount of fine repairing gives employment to skilled workmen. The premises cover a large

amount of territory, the several workshops and ware- rooms embracing thousands of feet of floor room. Quite near the factory of Messrs. Ivers, on North Avenue, is located the carriage factory and mart of the Brothers Henderson, who began business in a modest manner in 1856.

The Messrs. Henderson do not confine themselves to any special line of work, as they manufacture every possible style of vehicle, from the modest ex- press wagon to the more pretentious landan.

The firm mannfactures beach wagons, buckboards, omnibusses and every other conceivable vehicle for which there may be a demand.

The brothers employ about sixty men the year round, and they effect sales amounting to $150,000 per annum. They occupy 70,000 feet of land, and their buildings havea floor capacity of five acres. Their products are shipped to most remote places, so well known have their manufactures become. They deal fairly and have no hesitation in warranting their goods.

Messrs. Charles Waugh & Co., at Nos. 442 to 450 Main Street, Cambridgeport, rank in a very high or- der as builders of carriages, light wagons, heavy caravans and drays. They also give their attention to the building of sleighs, pungs, etc., and deal largely in horse clothing and stable equipments. The firm was originally known as Waugh Brothers. They be- gan business in 1873 on premises which had long been occupied for blacksmithing and carriage-building. The present company was formed in 1884, since which time the business has greatly increased.

The buildings occupied by the firm are of ample di- mensions, covering thousands of feet of land and having a large area of floor-room. The most modern machinery is used to expedite the work, the power being furnished by an electric motor of five horse- power, which runs a saw, planer drills, blower and other attachments. The finest work is produced by skillful workmen in the several branches, and nothing in the shape of new work or in the form of repairs leaves the establishment without the closest inspec- tion and with the fullest guarantee.

The firm has recently built police patrol wagons for the Cambridge police service, and for that of the town of Revere. It is needless to say that the work was first-class in every particular.

The Messrs. Waugh & Co. have also built a wagon of their own design, for the chief of the Boston Fire Department, which is pronounced an excellent piece of work. The company consists of Mr. Chas. Waugh and Mr. Chas. E. Pierce, both yonng men full of energy, and holding a high position in the community.

An industry of considerable note and pretentious in character is that carried on by Mr. Charles E. Pierce and Mr. Chas. Wangh ; it is the manufacture of tin cans and boxes for the storage of various com- modities, such as crackers, confectionery, etc. Their place of business is at Nos. 446 and 418 Main street,

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Cambridgeport, next adjoining the carriage works of Charles Waugh & Co.

The productions of tinware here alluded to are of various designs, but all have à setting of glass in order that the contents may be exposed to view. The demand for this line of goods is very great, and the firm is pushed to keep pace with it, notwithstanding the large number of hands employed. These goods are principally made to order, and find their way all over New England. Mr. Pierce is a practical tin- smith, and all the work produced by the firm is warranted. A large annual revenue is derived from the business.

THE REVERE SUGAR REFINERY, established in 1872 as successors of the Eagle Sugar Refinery, em- ploys 150 men to handle the yearly out-put.

The firm-name of the proprietors is, Nash, Spauld- ing & Co. The factory premises embrace a large territory, and the establishment in which the sugar is refined, and in which the superior syrup is made, is an extensive building of six stories.

The annual receipts from the sales are from $600,000 to $1,000,000. This represents the manufacture of about 1200 barrels of sugar per diem, and 10,000 barrels of syrup annually. The industry is one of the leading ones in this community. The refinery is situated on Water Street and Miller's River, East Cambridge.

LUMBER .- The lumber business of Cambridge has always stood at the forefront, because of the excellent water facilities afforded by the Charles and Miller's Rivers. On those streams several extensive lumber plants have been established during the past seventy- five years. At present there are but few left of those in existence twenty-five years ago, the business hav- ing been abandoned. Those who occupy premises on the water-front above the Canal, or Craigie Bridge, on the Charles, are greatly hampered in the receipts of freights, because of the railroad bridges crossing the stream at the eastward of Canal Bridge. Delays are frequent in the passage of vessels through the railroad drawbridges, which occasion great incon- venience to wharf owners. In view of these draw- backs, Mr. George W. Gale, the largest retail lumber dealer in Cambridge, retired his business from the water to premises at the corner of Main and Portland streets, numbered from 386 to 342 on Main Street. The premises occupied by Mr. Gale embrace a ter- ritory of 75,000 feet, upon which he has erected storage buildings of large dimensions, and so arranged as to admit of the reception of supplies directly from cars bringing them from the East, West, North and South, from which points of the compass he has large shipments. The branch tracks of the Boston and Albany Railroad, running from the trunk line to tide-water in East Boston, enable Mr. Gale to have freights delivered in his yards, over a spur track, from the most remote places. This feature, of which Mr. Gale is the originator, has been an innovation in

the transaction of the lumber business, and it has been found to far supersede the old custom of receiv- ing freights by water. In the storage buildings re- ferred to Mr. Gale has provided pockets or indepen- dent spaces in which dressed lumber is stood on end, instead of being piled up. This lumber is of various dimensions, and when stored is easily selected by length and width. Upon receipt of the various grades of domestic lumber, they are stored in a build- ing in which a temperature of 70° is constantly kept up through steam pipes leading from an eight-horse- power Campbell boiler. This continuous tempera- ture tends to thoroughly season every board, thus making them superior to kiln-dried lumber. Builders who want first-class lumber patronize Mr. Gale, on account of this feature of preparing the stock for immediate use. Spruce boards and timber find stor- age out-of-doors, when not dressed. Mr. Gale deals largely in supplying building frames direct from the mills in the East, so that the purchaser only pays for what he receives, there being no waste, every timber being cut and fashioned according to the plan of the building, which is forwarded with the order. This unique trade is constantly growing, and many builders prefer to give their orders in this way, than to be subjected to the old fashion of framing the building themselves. Mr. Gale deals largely in lime, plaster, cement and hair, all of which come to him by rail. Now he can order a car-load of lime fresh from the kilns, but when he occupied the wharf he was obliged to have a cargo of this commodity sent to him in the fall of the year, before the rivers were closed by ice, when he would store it in his sheds to slacken by the atmosphere, and to become less valuable for plastering or mortar-making. Builders appreciate this, and, therefore, Mr. Gale has a large patronage in this direc- tion. From boyhood until 1885 Mr. Gale was asso- ciated with the lumber business on the water-front, but since he established himself on his present premises, no inducement could prevail upon him to change places by returning to the waterside. Mr. Gale does strictly a retail business, and would not undertake to wholesale under any circumstances. He now handles about 10,000,000 feet of lumber per annum, and the business is constantly increasing. Every appointment on his premises is first-class in character, as Mr. Gale does not believe in doing any- thing that bears the semblance of being slipshod or devoid of system.

JOHN P. SQUIRE & Co .- The extensive and cele- brated pork-packing establishment of John P. Squire & Co. is located at East Cambridge, and the land and buildings cover about twenty acres, and is the largest business concern in the city. Their business amounts to more than fifteen millions of dollars annually, and they employ about one thousand men. The number of hogs slaughtered is about seven hundred and fifty thousand. The capacity of their ice-houses is about 42,000 tons. The firm consists of John P. Squire,

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Frank O. aud Fred. P. Squire and was started in 1842 by the senior partner aloue in a comparatively small way, but has been constantly growing in magnitude until the present time, and the amount of their husi- ness for the year ending in April of this year (1890) was over $15,000,000.

KENNEDY'S BAKERY-This establishment, now so well-known all over the country from Maine to Geor- gia, was originated by the late Artemas Kennedy, in 1839, when he came to Cambridgeport and began business in the brick building on Main Street, where he remained for six years, when he built a dwelling- house and bakery on the adjoining lot, and for ten years he baked only four barrels of flour daily into crackers, all rolled and docked singly by hand, and pitched into the oven one by one. In 1855 steam was introduced and the product was increased so that nine barrels of flour were turned out daily. In 1861 the business had so increased that an office was opened in New York City, and it was found necessary to run night and day, and in 1869 the first reel or mechan- ical oven was built, capable of baking twenty barrels of flour a day, and from time to time more reel ovens have been added, and in 1875 a large brick building was erected on Green Street with four large mechan- ical ovens, which weresubsequently increased to eight, and in 1887 another factory was added on Franklin Street, and now there are ten reel and nine tile ovens constantly in use, and employment is given to three hundred and seventy-five persons. Branch stores have been established in various cities and every part of the United States canvassed by salesmen.

The Chicago branch hecame so important that in 1881 a factory was huilt, but in two years it was entirely destroyed by fire. Another factory was at once erected, having six ovens of the very largest capacity, and now this plant is producing as many goods as the Cambridge house, the output averaging $5,000 per day. A few statistics will give some idea of the amount of business done by this concern, which fig- ures can be relied upon, being taken from their books. Sixteen hundred tons of coal were burned last year; from two hundred to two hundred and fifty barrels of flour are a day's work at present, varying according to the class of goods baked ; of eggs the daily average is 6000, but on special occasions 1000 dozen have been used in one day. Fourteen hundred pounds of butter and thirty-four hundred pounds of lard are used daily, or nearly two tous and a half daily for shortening. One hundred and seventy gallons of milk, two tons of sugar and one hundred and fifty gal- lons of molasses are used every day. These are among the principal ingredients used, but others might be mentioned, such as raspberry jam, of which twenty- nine tons were used last year, besides soda, raisins, currants, cocoanuts, spices, etc., all of which are bought by the ton and often by the carload. One hundred and forty tons of butter are, during the month of June, bought and placed in cold storage for

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 68

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034