History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 26

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III > Part 26

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About the year 1855 a co-partnership was formed by Mr. John N. Gamewell and others of New York, for continuing the fire alarm telegraph business, who purchased all of the patents and interest belonging to Messrs. Channing and Farmer, and they were success- ful in the work of placing the system in most of the principal cities in the country. Every improve- ment which inventive genius and mechanical skill conld develop was secured by the company. Mr. Moses G. Crane, who had been manufacturing fire-alarm telegraph apparatus, moved his business from Boston to Newton Highlands in 1873, having fitted up a fac- tory for that purpose. His first year of manufactur- ing in Newton demonstrated that the business would not be a success under old conditions. Boston work- men would not stay here without extra wages. Expert workers being scarce and in great demand, he could see no way out of the difficulty but to get young men and train them. He did so and soon found that grad- uates of the high and grammar schools made rapid progress, and in a few years he had a corps of over fifty as expert and reliable workmen as could be found in the State.

His manufacturing was done almost exclusively for John M. Gamewell & Co., of New York, until that firm was succeeded by the Gamewell Fire Alarm Tel- egraph Company, a New York corporation formed in 1877 with a capital of $750,000. Mr. Crane con- tracted to do all their manufacturing, they to have free use of his patents during the contract time, which arrangement continued until 1886, when Mr. Crane sold to the above company his manufacturing busi- ness and everything pertaining to it. The company occupied his factory until 1890, when they moved into their new and commodious quarters at Upper

Falls, where they employ above a hundred workmen. It may not be out of place here to state that it is gen- erally conceded that to Mr. Moses G. Crane is to be credited a very large share of the great success ot tel- egraphic fire alarms as shown in its practical working to-day. His inventions, the mechanical construction and conscientious and perfect manufacture of the in- struments and machines used therein, have been greatly admired for their simplicity and for the per- fect manner in which they perform their functions.

Their systems of fire and police alarm telegraphy are in use in most of the large cities and towns of this country, as well as in foreign lands.

Including machinists, linemen and operators, this company furnishes employment to more than five hundred men during the working seasons of the year.

The United States Fire Works Company was or- ganized at Portland, Maine, in February, 1886, with a capital of $10,000, for the manufacture of pyrotech- nics. The next winter it was reorganized with a paid-up capital of $20,000, and the works removed to Newton Upper Falls, with its business offices and salesrooms in Boston. This company manufacture the highest grade of goods in their line of business; and have given some of the finest and most elaborate exhibits ever given in this country. Among the most notable may be mentioned the displays given at the National Military Drill at Washington, D. C., in May, 1887, and witnessed by the vast assemblage gathered at that festal occasion. These displays gave the company a national reputation, and since that time they have filled orders from all sections of the country-par- ticularly from the fashionable watering-places in the vicinity of Boston.

During the busy season the company employ from fifty to sixty workmen in the manufacture of their fireworks, and have an annual sale of at least $50,000 worth of goods from their laboratories.

Silk culture and manufacture is an industry that is already well established in this country, and is one that is rapidly increasing year by year ; it already oc- cupies a prominent place in the manufacturing com- munity.

The first attempt at silk culture on this side of the Atlantic of which we find any record was made in Virginia in 1623. Twenty-five years later it was or- dered by the colonial authorities that every planter should raise at least one mulberry tree for each and every ten acres of land they owned, or pay a fine of ten pounds of tobacco. A few years later the govern- ment of Virginia offered a bounty of 5000 pounds of tobacco to any one who should produce a thousand pounds of wound silk in a single year. This impetus given to silk culture so increased the production that the bounty was withdrawn in 1666. This withdrawal virtually ended the silk culture, for a time at least, and planters turned their attention to the more profit- able crops.

Several brief attempts at silk manufacture were

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made during the latter years of the colonial period ; and one that probably was more successful than many of the others was made by Major William Molineaux, of Boston, in spinning, dyeing and manufacturing silk. The authorities, in 1770, gave him the free use of a suitable building in which to carry on his business.

In 1790 the silk manufacture was commenced in the town of Ipswich, Massachusetts, but was limited to handkerchiefs, ribbons, laces and edgings.

During the early part of the present century quite a number of small silk manufactories were started in Massachusetts. Mr. Jesse Fewkes had a small factory in Newton about the year 1822, where he manufac- tured a superior quality of fine laces, from linen or silk fabric. A thread as fine as No. 250 or 300 was required for his goods, and even a thread of No. 360 would be used on his finest work.

Perhaps the factory of Mr. Jonathan H. Cobb, of Dedham, in 1830 or thereabouts, was one of the most thriving and successful in Eastern New England. His production of sewing silk in 1837 amounted to more than $10,000, and the entire production of the State aggregated at least $150,000 the same year.

Mr. Cobb early interested himself in silk culture, and gave considerable attention to growing the mulberry tree and the feeding of silk-worms. The Morus Multicaulis, or Chinese Mulberry, was the most prolific in foliage and furnished a tender leaf which was a favorite of the worm. But our climate proved to be too cold to admit of its economical culture. Still, there was quite an interest manifest in the agricultural community generally in regard to the propagation of the mulberry, and the principal nurserymen of Newton were among the numbers to enter largely into the growing of the Multicaulis. Several large fields of the Chinese Mulberry were cultivated in the years 1838 to 1840, and thousands of silk-worms were fed. But beyond the reeling of small quantities of silk from the cocoons, nothing was done ; and for the next ten or twelve years the silk culture and manufacture in Newton was an item of history. But in 1852 Mr. Joseph W. Plimpton built a large ribbon factory on Margin Street, West New- ton, and employed a number of skilled workmen in weaving a great variety of fancy ribbons and dress trimmings. In the statistics of industries of the Com- monwealth, in 1855, we find that Mr. Plimpton's pro- ductions amounted to $38,000, and the silk products of the State aggregated $750,000.

In 1857 Mr. Plimpton sold his factory to his super- intendent, Mr. Charles R. Garratt, who continued the business about two years, when the works were destroyed by fire in 1859.

Early in the sixties, Mr. Isaac Farwell, Jr., started a sewing silk factory, at Newton Lower Falls, and was quite successful in his enterprise. About the year 1870 he removed his machinery to Newton Village, near the Watertowa line, and continued the business for a few years longer, then removing to Connecticut.

The cotton factory property belonging to the New- ton Mills Company at the Upper Falls, which had been idle for about two years, was purchased by Messrs. Walter T. Phipps aud Franklin M. Train, co- partners in business-late in the summer of 1%86. The old cotton machinery was taken out, and silk machinery put in its place, thus establishing one of the largest and most flourishing silk factories in the State. The company give employment to about 225 operatives, and require 100,000 pounds of raw mater- ial annually to supply their mill. The raw material used is commercially known as "waste silk," and is imported principally from Japan and China, with occasional invoices from Italy. The manufactured goods are, in the main, spun silk warps, used in plushes, upholstery and dress silk goods-and some hosiery work. The coloring department furnishes any variety of shade required by the purchasers .:

To follow a pound of raw material through all of its various stages of manufacture would occupy more space than this article will allow, but, in brief, an out- line of the process may be given. The first operation is to tease up the waste or raw material into a loose and flaky condition, and then plunge it into large vats to steam or boil, to eliminate the gum and other foreign substances adhering to it. Next it is rinsed and placed upon a system of crates for drying. After becoming thoroughly dried it is taken to the filling and dressing machines, where the process of separa- ting and straightening the conglomerate mass of fibre is commenced. And by repeated operations upon these machines, the fibres are laid out perfectly straight. It is next put through a process of gill machinery, and from thence to the spinning-frames.

The drawing and spinning machinery used for silk is in many respects similar to worsted machinery, with the exception of the adjustment of the draught rollers, which must be made to conform to the differ- ence between the lengths of the staple or fibre.

After the thread is spun to the required fineness for the web, it is ready for finishing. By examina- tion with a microscope a soft down or fuzz will be seen along its surface, which must be removed. This is done upon what is termed a " gasing " machine, where the threads are drawn rapidly through a mild gas flame, so regnlated as to remove the fuzz without in any way injuring the thread. Now the silken threads receive their final finish, and are grouped into the required numbers of threads for a warp, or are reeled into hanks, as may be required for weav- ing.

The demand for this company's goods has at times been so great, that they were obliged to employ a duplicate number of operatives, and run their ma- chinery during the entire night-time, for weeks, and sometimes for months together, to fill their orders.

In the summer of 1867 Mr. George E. and William H. Wales, who lived on Greenwood Street, in the Oak Hill district of Newton, started the fruit preserving

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business in a small way, under the firm-name of Wales Brothers.

From the want of better accomodations, the first season's work was done with an old cooking stove set up under a large elm tree near their house.

The year's production was about fifty dozen tum -. blers of jams and jellies, and the gross amount of sales realized nearly $600. The next season a small building with two rooms about ten by twenty feet each was provided for the business. In 1873 Mr. George E. Wales purchased his brother's interest, and since that time he has remained the sole proprie- tor. The same year he built a new building twenty - four by forty feet, and two stories high, to accommo- date his steadily increasing demands for preserves.

In the year 1884 the works were removed to Cedar Street, Newton Nentre, and a commodious new factory erected, with about 8500 square feet of floor space ; and last year (1889) the production of pre- serves reached 2500 dozens of tumblers, at a value of nearly $25,000.

The value of the works in 1867 was about twenty- five dollars, and at the present time about $7500 are invested in building and apparatus for carrying on the business.

At first the sales of the Messrs. Wales' goods was slow, for they adopted the rule to commence with, that nothing but good fruits and the best of sugar should be used in their manufactory, which enhanced the cost beyond that of other manufacturers. This standard they have strictly adhered to.

They also adopted at the beginning the name of " Home-made " preserves, a name well earned by the scrupulous care taken at all times to keep everything clean, pure and free from adulteration by chemicals or coloring materials. These merits have given them the first prizes at several exhibitions in mechanics' fairs and other places. The goods are largely sold in Boston and vicinity, although consignments are fre- quently made to some of the principal Southern and Western cities. Certain varieties are shipped to Eng- land, China, and even to Africa and elsewhere.

In the year 1807 Mr. Ziba Bridges removed from the town of Holliston to Newton, and purchased about two acres of land with a forge-shop thereon, of Ed- ward Fisher, at the Lower Falls, where he started what proved to be a thriving and profitable business. A few years later he purchased a few acres of land upon the top of the hill near the Newton factories at the Upper Falls, and built a brick dwelling-house, and a frame forge shop upon the premises, thereby extend- ing his business, in which he continued for about twenty years.

Mr. Bridges had two sons, twin brothers, who de- veloped in childhood a strong mechanical turn of mind. These lads had for playmates the sons of Mr. Joseph Davenport, a near neighbor to them,- and as the Davenport boys were also mechanically

inclined, it was very natural for them to spend their leisure hours in rudely constructing mechanical de- vices with jack-knives and hammers. In after-life these lads formed a co-partnership in business for building railway cars.

Mr. Charles Davenport and Albert Bridges located in Cambridgeport, and Mr. Alvin Davenport and Al- fred Bridges in Fitchburg, and carried on their works with a firm-name of Davenport & Bridges.

They made valuable improvements in the railway car, first by building the long eight-wheeled car, with end doors and platform such as are now in general use.

Their second improvement was a peculiar mechan- ical arrangement to give the body of the car an easy and graceful motion while running.

From the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics' As- sociation report for 1837, No. 429, we make the fol- lowing extract, viz. :

"The improvement here claimed by Davenport & Kimball (Mr. Kimball was father in-law of Mr. Albert Bridges), we understand to be first, the manner of attaching the curs to the engine, as well as to each other, by which the endden shock in startiog or stopping will be avoid- ed. And secondly, the curs are to be connected by a platform at the ends. By this means one may pass through the whole length of the train on the inside, as the doors are at the ends of the car, and you enter by stepping upon a platform between them."

In the report of the same association for 1841, No. 378, we copy another extract, viz. :

" Most persons who travel by railroad experience a continual repeti- tion of enddet jars or shocks, arising from the sideway movements of the fluages of the wheels of the car against the rails of the track. The improvement made by Messrs. Davenport & Bridges is to obviate the above effects of the lateral motion by springs, snitably arranged. And in order to accomplish this the body of the car is supported on springs by means of suspending or pendulous bars, winch permit a lateral motion of the rmoniog machinery, independent of the body of the carriage, and sids- springs are disposed so as to reduce the shock of the wheels upon the rnils. A letter written in a car with these improvements, while run- ning at the rate of twenty-five miles per hour was exhibited, which to all appearances was as well written as if done in a counting-room."

The inventors of these improvements in passenger cars received a silver medal from the association.

By the foregoing extracts and descriptions it will be seen that the valuable improvements in railway car- riages at that time belonged to Newton's sons. And very likely the early conceptions of them were made in their native town, before developing them in their workshops in other places.

In the extreme northeasterly part of Newton, quite near to the Brighton line on South Street and upon the eastern slope of the Norcross, or Waban Hill, was the residence of Mr. Hiram Tucker, who was a paint- er by trade, and who followed the business for several years of his early life. He had a desire to improve the quality of painters' supplies, and gave the subject special study, which resulted in his compounding a liquid bronze, for coating metals used in the manu- facture of chandeliers, lamps, bedsteads and other metallic household goods. The Penrhyn marble, or

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painted slate, or other stone or iron used for mantels and fire-frames, is another of his inventions.

About the year 1872 he built a large varnish fac- tory at a cost of ten thousand dollars, near his dwell- ing, and manufactured a superior quality of coach- varnish, which he was enabled to produce by a pecu- liar method he had of treating or preparing the oils and other compounds used in its manufacture. From eight to ten thousand gallons of varnish was consid- ered by him to be a fair annual production. He car- ried on this branch of his business in connection with manufacturing enterprises he had in other localities outside of Newtoa, until his death, only a few years ago, when the works were discontinued, and his buildings utilized for other purposes.

In my research for historical matter and incidents I have spent considerable time in looking up eld rec- ords at the Middlesex and Norfolk registries of deeds, and at other places where information could be found. The Boston Public Library has been a prolific source of valuable information-so has the Newton Library ; and the town and city records have been of value in preparing this article.

I am also indebted to quite a number of the older inhabitants of our city for valuable assistance in pro- curing many facts pertaining to the earlier industries, both from record and memory, or tradition.

I am specially indebted to Dr. Charles F. Crehore, of the Lower Falls, for valuable records and docu- ments connected with the paper manufacture of that village; and from the citizens generally, ,whom I have interviewed, I have received a willing and hearty response to my interrogatories, for which I return thanks for their kindness in assisting me in the work.

CHAPTER VIII.

NEWTON-(Continued).

CLUBS, SOCIETIES, ETC. BY EDWIN B. HASKELL,

NEWTON is a. city of villages, mainly the homes of people whose business is in Boston. Eight flourish- ing villages have grown up on the lines of the two railroads which run through the city limits. These are thoroughly equipped with post-offices, stores, churches, schools and public halls, making each section essentially a distinct community. There are several others still in embryo about the new stations of the so-called Circuit Railroad, which forms an easy means of communication between the different sec- tions. The number of villages has naturally led to the formation of an unusually large number of clubs and societies in proportion to the population, each

village having its full quota, while some of more gen- eral interest have all parts of the city represented in their membership. Of the latter class the Newton Horticultural Society is a good example, and, as it is one of the oldest and most useful societies in the city, it is proper to give it the place of honor.

THE NEWTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY .- This society was the outgrowth of a series of meetings held at Newton Centre by the active and enterprising young men of that place. The first annual meeting was held in Lyceum Hall, October 16, 1854.

The officers of the permanent organization were: President, Alfred Morse; Vice-Presidents, John Ward, Jr., and B. W. Kingsbury ; Secretary, C. N. Brackett; Treasurer, Henry Paul; Executive Com- mittee, Geo. K. Ward, B. W. Kingsbury and E. J. Collins.

The society started under very favorable circum- stances financially, and its affairs were conducted by those who were very much interested in its workings, some of whom are the active members to-day.

The meetings were at first held at the houses of the members, where horticultural and agricultural ques- tions were discussed, but they soon ontgrew the limits of private accommodations.

It was the custom in the early years of the society to hold monthly meetings during the winter, at which refreshments were provided, and the social part was quite an important feature.

At the annual exhibition of the year 1856 every section of the town (now city) was represented.

In 1862 an exhibition and festival was held at Newton Corner, the proceeds of which were placed in the hands of a committee of three to be divided among the soldiers of the town. Winter meetings were held that year and they were addressed by per- sens well known in horticulture. In April, 1866, a member made a report in the form of an address, urging a more systematic effort to destroy the cater- piliar. The address was printed and distributed among the residents of Newton. Successfui efforts were being made from time to time to increase the membership of the society and, by a vote, ladies were invited to join the society.

In the season of 1866-67 committees were ap- pointed to study the habits of birds beneficial to horticulture and to awaken an interest in the citizens to set shade-trees by the side of the streets. A series of prizes were offered for the best and most success- fully grown group of shade-trees.

A committee was appointed in April, 1868, to culti- vate and propagate various plants, seeds and vege- tables to be distributed among the members. Mr. Henry Ross was chosen chairman of that committee, and under his supervision a report was made in the following spring that there were several thousand plants and many bushels of improved potatoes await- ing distribution among the members.

For a number of years past the Agricultural Bureau

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at Washington has distributed seeds to the citizens of Newton through the society.

In 1875, in an essay read at one of the meetings on " How to Beautify our City," the removal of fences from the front of residences was advocated. The society passed the following vote: "Resolved, That the members of the Newton Horticultural Society use their influence toward beautifying the City of Newton by advocating the removal of fences from fronts of residences, thus giving the effect of a series of parks without the outlay of large sums of money."

A committee was appointed to prepare a list of the best varieties of pears, which list was printed and dis- tributed among the members and others.

The society has had a continuous existence for over thirty-five years, and its members claim for it a fair share of the praise given to Newton for its beautiful streets, set with fine trees, the taste displayed in laying out private places, and the absence of fences.

The thanks of the residents of the city are due to the members of the society who were present at its birth, who have clung to it through its many years of existence, who have given it energy and the ability to perform its work and slied an influence over the whole city. Among those who can be mentioned are J. F. C. Hyde, Geo. K. Ward, John Ward, C. N. Brackett, John Stearns, Geo. F. Stone, Lyman Morse, H. HI. White, Wm. Aiken and Henry Ross. Among those who joined later we find E. W. Wood, Geo. S. Harwood, Chas. W. Ross and many others.

The present officers are:

President, D. D. Slade ; vice-presidents, A. T. Syl- vester and N. W. Farley ; treasurer, E. A. Wood ; auditor, W. H. Gould ; executive committee, E. W. Wood, C. N. Brackett, J. R. Leeson, C. W. Ross, L. H. Farlow.

THE JERSEY STOCK CLUB OF NEWTON .- On the 17th of May, 1866, a meeting was held at the resi. dence of Hon. Wm. Claflin for the purpose of organ- izing a club having for its prime object "The breeding and improvement of Alderney or Jersey Cattle." At this meeting a committee was appointed to prepare a constitution and by-laws, and to nominate a list of officers for the club. The first organization was pre- sided over by the following list of officers, elected June 11, 1866 : President, Hon. William Claflin ; vice- president, Geo. C. Rand; corresponding secretary, Edwin F. Waters; recording secretary, James T. Allen ; treasurer, E. Porter Dyer ; board of directors, J. J. Walworth, George Frost, Wm. E. Plummer, J. F. Edmands, Henry Billings, N. P. Coburn, Thos. Rice, Jr. ; herd book committee, Thomas Drew, George E. Allen, Joseph Walker.

A constitution and by-laws were adopted June 20, 1866. The club immediately provided itself with pure blood Jersey bulls for the improvement of the herds owned by members, and yearly exhibitions of stock were held until the year 1870, when the mem-

bership becoming so large as to make the club too cumbersome as a social institution, it was dissolved in January of that year.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 26

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278