USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892 > Part 45
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The office of George S. Homer, manufacturer of oil and candles is lo- cated at 23 Centre street, and the factory occupies one and one-half acres of ground facing Front, South and Prospect streets. The busi- ness was established about the year 1850, and in 1857 the firm of S. Thomas & Co. was formed. Ten years later Mr. Homer succeeded to the business, as surviving partner. The factory comprises two main buildings, containing pits, vats, cisterns, kettles, strainers, and hydraulic presses. Seventeen hands are employed and the products of the works rank high in the trade.
Ezra Kelley manufactures chronometer, clock and watch oils at Mount Pleasant. Mr. Kelley was born in Dennis, Mass., in 1798, and came to New Bedford in 1818 and engaged in the manufacture of clocks. He was the first to apply fish oil for the lubrication of clock machinery, and the celebrated oils now produced by him are the result of a series of experiments carried on by him while yet a young man. Mr. Kelley has crossed the ocean ten times, securing orders from the principal watch manufacturers of England, France, Germany and Switzerland. His oils received a diploma at the Geneya exhibition in 1880, and a diploma and medal at the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia in 1876. The business is now conducted for Mr. Kelley by John Wing, a son-in- law.
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
Glass .- The works of the Mount Washington Glass Company are located on Prospect street, just south of the Pairpoint Manufacturing Company's buildings. The product of the company is of the highest standard and its ware ranks with that of the finest glass manufactories in the world. The business was brought to New Bedford in 1869 from South Boston by W. L. Libbey, who purchased the present site and works on Prospect street. These works had been built and occupied by the New Bedford Glass Company, which unfortunately had a short life, owing to financial difficulties. The factory was erected in 1861, under the designs of a practical glass maker, and was well adapted for its new occupants. Besides a commodious glass- house, with a ten-pot furnace, there is immediately joining the works an extensive water frontage with facilities for landing supplies and the shipment of goods. On the first floor are well arranged annealing kilns, selecting rooms, mould room and office. On the second floor is a large machine shop and cutting shop, and on the third floor are the stock and chandelier rooms. On the basement floor are the mixing, packing and engine rooms, and car- penter shop. After being transferred to this city the business was con- ducted under its original name of the Mount Washington Glass Works. The increase of the business, however, soon called for more capital, and Capt. Henry Libbey became associated with the business, the firm name being W. L. Libbey & Company. In 1871 a stock company was formed, named the Mount Washington Glass Company, with a capital of $100,- 000, which was afterwards increased to $150,000. W. L. Libbey was appointed agent and Capt. Henry Libbey, superintendent. In 1872 the management devolved upon Capt. Libbey, W. L. Libbey having re- signed. Although the business rapidly spread, the general depression felt throughout the land in 1873 impaired the company's capital, and Captain Libbey resigned in 1874. The factory was then closed until the fall of the same year when business was resumed, and placed in the hands of Frederick S. Shirley, with Robert G. Tobey as treasurer, and Robert King, glass-house manager, A. H. Seabury acting as president. The company was reorganized in 1876, since which time it has worked continuously. The facilities of the factory were increased in 1881 by the erection of an additional glass-house on the south, provided with an eight pot furnace.
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GLASS MANUFACTURE.
The late A. H. Seabury was president of the company until his death, July 17, 1887, when he was succeeded by Hon. William J. Rotch. An- drew Snow, jr., who has grown up in the business, was elected treas- urer, and has taken an active part in the management of the company's affairs. In 1890 Thomas A. Tripp, manager of the adjacent works (The Pairpoint Manufacturing Company), was elected president and the busi- ness has taken new impetus. The specialties manufactured include opal globes, shades for electric and gas lights and lamps, also fine blown goods. A line of decorated lamps and vases is also produced and the beautiful Burmese ware which recently attracted the attention and pat- ronage of the royal family of Great Britain.
The main stack contains ten pots, and the furnace in which they rest. is twenty-two feet in diameter. The fuel now used is oil gas. The fires are seldom allowed to go out, as the pots, which are made of clay, would crack, rendering the operation expensive. One blast burned contin- uously for four years. Previous to this time it had not been out during eight years. Work commences in the glass-making department at one o'clock on Monday morning and the men are divided into two gangs. The gang which commences at this hour works until six o'clock in the morning, then recommences work at one P. M. and continues work un- till six o'clock in the evening. The second gang works between the hours of seven and twelve o'clock A. M and P. M.
The introduction of electric lighting has created a demand for a new line of goods. This company supplies shades and globes for incan- descent and arc lighting systems, and about ten thousand of these are kept continually in stock. The bulbs for Edison lamps are also blown here and the company makes 150 varieties of incandescent lighting shades. Amberina, or rose amber ware, is another popular novelty made by the company. The pearl satin ware is also made at the works and a patent has been granted to the company for the same. Albert Steffin is the superintendent in the decorating department. The com- pany employs over 300 men and the annual pay roll aggregates over $150,000. They also employ four traveling salesmen and maintain a store in New York city.
The present officers of the company are : President, Thomas A. Tripp ; treasurer, Andrew Snow, jr. ; directors : William J. Rotch, Edward D.
60
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
Mandell, William W. Crapo, Thomas A. Tripp, William Baylies, F. S. Shirley.
The Pairpoint Manufacturing Company is located on the east side of Prospect, south of Howland street, and manufactures all varieties of useful and ornamental household goods, and recently has entered quite extensively into the manufacture of casket hardware. The first build- ing was erected in 1880, was of brick, 120 by 40 feet in area and three stories high. A second building was added in 1881, which was built of wood, three stories high, and 120 by 30 feet in area, and the following year a four story brick building was erected, 150 by 40 feet in area. The company's increasing business demanding still more room, another building was erected in 1890, with an area of 40 by 80 feet, four stories high, and in 1891, still another, measuring 260 by 40 feet in area, four stories high, both of brick. The company employs 500 hands in the factory and fifteen traveling salesmen. It is estimated that 200 young men from the schools of New Bedford have learned trades in this factory and be- come proficient workmen, many of them now having charge of depart- ments. The base of most of the ware is britannia. The britannia metal is poured into brass moulds and is quickly turned out again, leaving the inside of the mould coated with the metal. After being cleaned and soldered the articles go into the plating vats, where a deposit of silver is placed upon them from a solution of the cyanide of the metal, through which a current of electricity passes. There are many other processes which the article must undergo before completion, and many of the de- signs are engraved by hand instead of being stamped. The firm also manufactures ware from german silver. A new engine with a capacity of 275 horse power has recently been placed in the company's engine room, and an independent electric light plant of 1,000 lights is operated. The company also owns an extensive wharf property. The organization of the company was perfected in 1880 with Edward D. Mandell as pres- ident, Alexander H. Seabury as treasurer, and T. J. Pairpoint, super- intendent. The capital stock was originally $100,000, but is now $400,- 000, to which amount it was increased in July, 1887. T. J. Pairpoint resigned as superintendent April 1, 1885, and was succeeded by Thomas A Tripp. Mr. Seabury resigned as treasurer in the following May, and Mr. Tripp succeeded him also. The present officers of the corporation
475
ART INDUSTRIES.
are : President, Edward D. Mandell; treasurer and general manager, Thomas A. Tripp; clerk, F. S. Shirley ; directors, Edward D. Mandell, William J. Rotch, William Baylies.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company .- This company occupies the two story brick building Nos. 112 and 114 North Water street. The business was founded in 1883 by the late William N. Weeden, of New Bedford. In 1884 Mr. Weeden invented a toy engine under an arrange- ment with Perry Mason & Co., publishers of the Youth's Companion, and later this scientific toy was patented, and has been largely manu- factured since. Movable toys are also manufactured, as well as other novelties in metal. A stock company was formed in July, 1887, with a capital stock of $50,000, and the business has steadily increased. The company employs seventy-five workmen with a weekly pay roll of $500. The present officers are as follows : President, J. Arthur Beauvais; treas- urer, Charles E. Barney ; directors, J. Arthur Beauvais, Charles E. Barney, George S. Homer, and Edward S. Brown.
Art Industries .- New Bedford has the honor of being the home of extensive art manufactories, and to tlic firm of Charles Taber & Co. belongs the credit of being the first to engage in this line of manufact- ure in this country. The business has a history commencing with the early part of the present century, when William C. Taber, father of the present senior member of the firm, became a partner with Abraham Shearman, jr., in the book business at the northeast corner of Union and Water streets. From 1835 Mr. Taber conducted the business alone, receiving his son, Charles Taber, as a partner in 1845. A store was soon opened at No. 6 Purchase street, and in 1849, the father having retired, Charles and another brother, Augustus, carried on the business at the corner of Union and Purchase streets. It was at that time the firm of Charles Taber & Co. was established, which has continued to the present day, although constituted of different members. The busi- ness then included the sale of books, engravings and charts, many of which were imported. Later on, upon the withdrawal of Augustus, Abraham Taber and Asa C. Pierce were received as partners by Charles Taber, and still later William C. Taber, jr., became a member of the firm. In 1861 the business was moved to 47 Purchase street, and the following year the brothers, Abraham and William C. Taber, jr., took
476
HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
the two book and stationery stores, and Charles, with Asa C. Pierce, started as manufacturing photographers at No. 6 North Water street. This firm continued until 1871, when Charles Taber assumed entire control of the business. In 1881 he took as partners William C. Taber, jr., and his sons, Charles M. and Frederick. Charles Taber died in 1887, and the firm is now composed of the three latter. The business has grown in magnitude and importance with wonderful rapidity. Aside from the manufacture of photographs, various other branches of the decorative art have been from time to time added to the industry, as well as the important and wonderful manufacture of ambrotypes, the invention of which was the result of an incident which happened in 1860, which developed into the reproduction of engravings by Mr. Taber, which subsequently became a permanent feature of the business. The firm began the manufacture of artotypes about nine years ago, and their productions are to-day recognized as superior in style and finish to any work of like character. The firm now occupies five buildings : The three-story brick and stone structure at the corner of Union and Water streets ; most of the two-story wooden building on Water street next north ; the three-story wooden building on the northeast corner of Union and Water streets ; the wooden building next east, and the three- story wooden building on the south side of Spring street, extending from Water to First street This latter building is used as a frame fac- tory, where numerous styles of frames, and wooden and composition mouldings are made.
The King Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1883, with a capital of $20,000. The company manufactures frames and artistic novelties in the three-story brick building at 147 North Water street. It makes a specialty of pastel or crayon drawings, and of fancy frames for original pictures. The firm manufactures a novelty in the shape of a permanent pastel on porcelain panels. The process of fixing the colors so that they will not rub off is a secret which the company guards care- fully, and its goods are in generous demand. It also manufactures many artistic novelties. The enterprise furnishes employment for about 100 workmen, and has several salesmen on the road. The present officers (1891) of the corporation are as follows : President, George S. Homer ; treasurer and clerk, Charles E. Barney ; directors, George S. Homer,
477
BOOTS AND SHOES.
Charles E. Barney, William H. Washburn, Frank C. Smith, Henry P. Jenney. January 1, 1892, the plant was sold to the Ulman Manufac- turing Co.
The Pierce & Bushnell Manufacturing Company occupies the three- story building at Nos. 72 and 76 North Water street. It manufactures photographs, pastels, etchings, mouldings, etc. Its frame mouldings are ornamented and carved on the premises from original designs, and have an enviable standard for beauty and excellence. The enterprise was founded in 1870, Mr. Pierce at that time severing his connection with the firm of Charles Taber & Co. Mr. Bushnell died in 1882, and in the spring of 1887 a corporation was formed and known as the Pierce & Bushnell Manufacturing Company, with a capital stock of $30,000. The company employs seventy-five hands at present, and the value of the product for 1891 will aggregate $75,000. The present officers are : President, William D. Howland ; treasurer, Arthur G. Grinnell ; direct- ors, William D. Howland, Arthur G. Grinnell, Walter Clifford, Charles W. Plummer, George H. H. Allen.
Boots and Shoes .- The first shoe manufactory in New Bedford of im- portance was that of the New Bedford Boot and Shoe Manufacturing Company, located on the corner of Ashland and Durfee streets, and commonly known as the North Shoe Factory. Joseph Cornell was the president, Edwin P. Taylor treasurer, and William H. Hopkins, the agent. The factory was built in 1860 and employed between fifty and sixty hands. It was in active operation about fifteen years. The build- 'ing is now used as a tenement.
The next establishment was that of the South Shore Boot and Shoe Factory, organized and built about 1863. The factory was located on Washington street at the junction of Fair street. Prominently connected with this factory at different times were George F. Kingman, Henry J. Taylor, Edwin P. Taylor, Josiah Bonney and others. It was burned in 1873. Quite a number of the workmen employed in these factories are to-day working in, or connected financially with, large boot and shoe factories in New Bedford and other cities throughout the State.
The shoe manufactory of Hathaway, Soule & Harrington, is located at the corner of Acushnet avenue and North street. The company man- factures hand sewed and machine sewed goods, making a specialty of
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
Goodyear welt. They have branch factories at Middleboro and Cam- pello, where they manufacture medium grades of shoes. The business was started in a very small way by Savory C. Hathaway, who began manufacturing shoes in July, 1865, on Hillman street, with two em- ployees. Three months later Rufus A. Soule became a partner and the firm was known as Hathaway & Soule. In December, 1865, they moved to the brick building on Pleasant street, corner of Mechanics" lane. One floor only was occupied at first, but soon afterward the en- tire building was leased and finally a wooden addition at the north was built and occupied. In 1874 a four-story brick building, 32 by 100 feet in area, was erected by the firm at the corner of North Second and North streets, and another building of wood recently completed has an area of 45 by 158 feet and is also four stories high. The present floor surface exceeds forty-two thousand square feet, and the business has gradually increased; the sales for the year 1890 were $1,200,000. The firm now employs in all its factories 650 hands and its total pro- duct is 500,000 pairs annually. Herbert A. Harrington was admitted into partnership in 1876 and the firm became Hathaway, Soule & Har- rington. Under this name the firm was incorporated in 1890 with a capital stock of $250,000. They have at present fifteen traveling sales- men, with salesrooms and offices at Boston and New York. The firm is very proud of the class of workmen it employs and many men have gone out from this factory to accept responsible positions in shoe factories elsewhere.
Tinkham & Gifford .- This firm is composed of Elisha B. Tinkham and Jesse Gifford, and manufactures ladies', misses' and children's shoes, hand sewed, hand turned, Goodyear welts and Mckay sewed. They occupy the three-story brick building at Nos. 19 and 21 North Second street. The business of which the present firm is an outgrowth was established by Paulding, Reed & Gifford in 1873, who were succeeded by Reed & Gifford in 1880, and they in turn by Tinkham, Reed & Gifford in 1881. The present firm of Tinkham & Gifford was made by the withdrawal of Mr. Reed in 1890. Mr. Tinkham was one of the first to manufacture ladies' fine shoes in New Bedford. Paulding, Reed & Gifford first began business on William street in the building now occupied by Smith Brothers. When Hathaway & Soule moved from
479
CARRIAGE MANUFACTURE.
their factory on Pleasant street to their new quarters on North Second and North streets, Mr. Tinkham occupied a part of their new building. He afterwards took the wooden building just south of the Hathaway, Soule & Harrington factory, and carried on his business there. Tinkham & Gifford have occupied their present location since 1881. They em- ploy forty- five hands and have a capacity of nine hundred pairs per week.
C. F. Watkins, manufacturer of men's foot wear, is located at 92 Pleas- ant street. He began business in 1877 in the same location, and at present employs about twelve hands. His factory has a capacity of from fifty to sixty pairs per week.
Schuyler Brothers, manufacturers of ladies' and gentlemen's foot wear of all kinds, established their business in 1882. They are located at 76 Purchase street and employ eighteen hands, with an average capacity of 200 pairs per week.
Carriages .- Brownell, Ashley & Co., manufacturers of fine grades of carriages, in all varieties excepting coaches, are located at the corner of Fourth and Spring streets. Seventy years ago, when the manufact- uring interests of New Bedford, outside of those industries directly or indirectly connected with the whale fishery, were extremely limited, Joseph Brownell, the father of J. Augustus Brownell, started a modest business on the corner of Fourth and Spring streets, of which the present manufactory is a legitimate outcome. About ten years later he removed his business to the two-story stone structure on the southeast corner of the same streets. A little over forty years ago the present proprietors, J. Augustus Brownell and Joshua B. Ashley, were admitted to the firm. A repository was built in 1854, with dimensions of 100 by 50 feet, and four stories high. H. G. O. Cole occupied this building for a few years, but later on he removed to a location on Acushnet avenue, and Brownell, Ashley & Co. took possession of the building. The company employs thirty men, and in connection with its regular carriage work does all kinds of repairing.
George L. Brownell, manufacturer of hearses, carriages and under- taker's wagons, came to New Bedford from Westport in the year 1830. Four years later he began business for himself in a small way. His business rapidly increased and in 1846 he was forced to make extensive
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
additions to his premises. In 1853 he built a new shop on Third street, where he located for the next ten years. Here, however, his business outgrew his premises, and in 1863 he purchased the large stone build- ing at the corner of Aucshnet avenue and Cannon street, formerly oc- cupied as an oil manufactory by S. Leonard & Sons. This building was occupied by Mr. Brownell on November 12, 1863. His factory now gives employment to 100 skilled workmen, and is superintended by Giles G. Barker. Mr. Brownell is engaged in building hearses, coaches, and undertaker's wagons for the New England, Southern, and Western trade, and also ships his products abroad.
Clarence Lowell, carriage manufacturer, 274-278 Acushnet avenue. Mr. Lowell came to New Bedford and began his business in 1875, locat- ing himself on Middle street and employing four hands. His business rapidly increased, and in 1879, in order to accommodate hisestablishment he removed to his present location, employing at that time ten hands. In 1889 he built his present factory, a large three-story brick building, at a cost of $25,000. He now employs twenty-eight hands, and his manufactory is the second in point of size in the city. His annual sales amount to between $50,000 and $60,000, his trade being largely south- ward from Boston and in this vicinity. His product is a general line of light work and bears an excellent reputation.
The carriage manufactory of H. C. Hathaway occupies the building at the corner of Acushnet avenue and Elm street. The business was established by Forbes & Sears in 1862 at 33 Elm street. In 1872 Mr. Sears withdrew and Henry H. Forbes continued the business. About 1877 Charles H. Forbes purchased the establishment and conducted it for a short time, when J. R. Forbes succeeded to the business and operated the factory for twelve years. He sold out to H. C. Hathaway in February, 1891. Mr. Hathaway is at present engaged in the manu- facture of carriages and deals in harnesses. He also has weekly auctions of horses and carriages. Fifteen men are employed.
Caskets .- The New Bedford Casket Company was incorporated in 1889 with a capital of $50,000, which has since been increased to $75,- 000. The company's works are located upon the square bounded by Pope, Seneca, Acushnet avenue and the Old Colony tracks. The build- ings comprise a three- story wooden structure on Seneca street, a two-
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MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRIES.
story building on Pope street, and a two-story brick dry house adjoin- ing both buildings. Its products consist of burial caskets and under- taker's supplies, and the goods are rapidly gaining favor throughout New England. The officers of the company are : President, William A. Kirby; treasurer, Alfred G. Studley ; clerk, Geo. P. Brock; direct- ors, William A. Kirby, Jacob B. Hadley, Charles H. Adams, Benjamin F. Brownell, James N. Parker, Weston C. Vaughn, jr., Robert F. Ray- mond.
Bakers .- David A. Snell conducts a large steam bakery at the north- west corner of William and North Water streets. The business was established here in the fall of 1857. In 1858 Charles D. Capen was taken in as a partner, and the business increased by the accession of the bakery of Jacob B. Hadley. In the fall of 1859 Mr. Snell sold his inter- est in the business to his partner, and established the first patent bakery in New England. The manufacture of ship bread declined with the whaling interests, and in 1867 Mr. Snell moved into his present build- ing and began the manufacture of fancy crackers and cake goods. At present forty hands are employed and the consumption of about 8,000 barrels of flour per year entailed.
John McCullough manufactured ship bread at No. 13 Centre street. He succeeded to the business of Jonathan Buttrick in 1889, who had carried it on since 1879. The bakery was originally established about 1822 by Enoch Horton, and subsequently passed into the hands of Watson & Manchester, and then Samuel Watson alone, who carried it on for more than forty years. At present four men are employed.
Paper Boxes .- Coffin Brothers are located at 38 Middle street, and manufacture all kinds of paper boxes. The business was established by Frederick Coffin in 1854 on Clark's Point. He moved to Tallman's block shortly after, and was alone in the enterprise until 1875, when the firm name was changed to Coffin Brothers, his brother Charles H. coming into the business. The present proprietors, Walter H. and Arthur S. Coffin, were received into the firm in 1883, upon the death of Charles H. Coffin. They became sole proprietors in 1890 upon the death of Frederick Coffin. About twenty-five hands are employed.
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